I have been a dentist now for nearly 30 years. Throughout most of that time, I tried my hardest not to buy a practice. I saw it as a badge of honour! I continued to enjoy the freedom of being an associate dentist which allowed me to go home without the worries of whether staff were going to show up for work or if the monthly revenue would cover the bills.

This year, that plan changed. I decided it was time to buy a dental practice, and that has given birth to Harmoni Dental. I feel I have the experience, having worked at many places over the years, to take the best examples of management and clinical care and produce the type of practice I’ve always wanted to work in. Harmoni Dental's first practice, in Kingston-upon-Thames, will be opening its doors in January 2026. We are taking over a practice previously known as Kingston Smile Studio that has been closed since 2021.

The Current State of UK Dentistry: Why I Had to Change

For most of my career, I've felt a moral obligation to provide some NHS care during my working week, as I am a huge believer in the NHS as a whole. However, the current system, introduced in 2006, is quite frankly crumbling. Recent reports from the Nuffield Trust and The King's Fund paint a grim picture, confirming what the British Dental Association (BDA) has warned: the vast majority of practices cannot take on new patients.

The Reality: The BBC and BDA have reported that up to 96% of dental practices in the UK are currently not accepting new adult NHS patients. This lack of access, combined with real-terms funding cuts, forces practices to constantly prioritise bottom line over patient care. The cost of running a surgery far outpaces NHS income, making the ethical provision of full treatment nearly impossible. Since Harmoni Dental Kingston holds no NHS contract, this led me to ask: Is there a truly viable and affordable private dentistry solution in Kingston that doesn't compromise on quality?

Our Solution: The Dual-Range Ethos

At Harmoni Dental we have developed a dual pricing philosophy to ensure every patient finds value and quality.

Harmoni Essentials: Quality Care at an Affordable Price

We are introducing Harmoni Essentials as our budget range for essential dentistry. This quality care will not be much more expensive than traditional NHS treatment and is deeply focused on prevention, provided in conjunction with our Harmoni Care Plans. We strive to keep these prices as low as physically possible to provide an avenue back into regular dental care for those who cannot normally afford private fees.

Harmoni Signature: High-End Functional Aesthetics

I genuinely enjoy providing a high level of dental care for those who want the best they can get. My work on Harley Street providing big smile makeovers and high-quality functional dentistry will be brought directly to Kingston. Our Signature Range will be priced on a par with premium private prices in the area, utilising the latest technologies for exceptional results.

The Technology Advantage: Driving Efficiency Without Compromise

Over the last five years, I have developed a thorough understanding of the AI and Machine Learning ecosystem, having built platforms and CRMs for dentists. AI has reached a point where it can be a very useful adjunct for driving efficiencies. We will be using AI and other data-led technologies for task management, appointment scheduling, triaging, cost tracking and in many other areas.

We will use bespoke integrate software solutions to ensure our practice runs as leanly and efficiently as possible. This helps clinicians use their time better, which allows us to reduce our prices for the end customer, the core pillar of Harmoni Essentialls, without ever compromising on quality.

Building Trust: Our Promise on Pricing and Sales

The foundation of Harmoni Dental is a commitment to ethical, honest patient care, starting with the team we bring onboard. Their commitment to our mission is vital.

No Hard Upselling: Sales with Clinical Integrity

I constantly hear from friends outside dentistry about experiences where they feel their dentist is constantly trying to upsell them to expensive treatments they aren't interested in. While a dental surgery is, of course, a business, I passionately believe that sales in the medical arena must be fundamentally different from other consumer products.

Our ethical commitment means we will always inform patients of all their options—from the most basic preventative treatment to the most complex elective procedures. However, our approach is centered on honestly explaining the benefits, risks, and transparent costs. When providing elective treatment, we ensure the patient fully understands the value of the procedure, as well as the implications of delaying or not proceeding with it. We will never push on our patients.

Transparent Pricing: Ending the "Fillings From..." Headache

I have a genuine pet hate of ambiguous "fillings from..." prices. That uncertainty will not happen at Harmoni Dental. Our policy is simple, clear, and focused on patient confidence:

• A filling of a certain size costs this. Our prices are completely transparent.
• Our patients will never go to reception and find the bill a nasty surprise.

We have defined three clear sizes for simplicity: small (in the middle of the tooth), medium (involving one edge of the tooth), and large (involving more than one edge). This clarity is absolutely essential to me.

Harmoni Care Plans: The Foundation of Prevention

Our Harmoni Care Plans are the key to keeping patients coming back regularly and understanding how important their oral health is, especially as the links between oral health and systemic health become clearer every day.

We offer a selection of plans to suit different budgets, and crucially, our Essentials Range—which is focused on prevention and keeping costs at a bare minimum—will only be available to those who sign up for a Care Plan. This commitment allows us to budget for the best materials, offer consistent monitoring, and guarantee long-term patient care in a way the current NHS system cannot support.

Conclusion: Our New Chapter Begins Soon

So, after all these years in practice I am genuinely excited for this new chapter. We are relishing the final stages of this transformation, rebranding the old Kingston Smile Studio into the state-of-the-art Harmoni Dental. We are pouring our heart and experience into fitting out the practice with the latest technology, ensuring every detail reflects our promise of high-class care and clinical integrity. We truly cannot wait to open our doors in January 2026 and personally welcome our new Kingston patients, delivering the ethical, quality, and affordable dental service this community deserves.