On Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, 2019, Henry Schein Dental together with the Henry Schein, Inc. affiliates Software of Excellence, MediHoldings and BioHorizons hosted the first Dental Innovation Symposium at the Pullman London St Pancras hotel. The companies demonstrated their commitment to helping health care professionals operate successfully and deliver quality patient care by providing insight into the latest dental innovations.

In addition, the event – the new home of the award-winning Digital Symposium and Good to Great Event – offered 300 participants a two-day clinical and dental business programme with 12 hours of training and educational sessions that featured informative, thought-provoking presentations and hands-on breakout sessions.

“With this event, we were able to attract a high number of dental professionals interested in successfully managing and growing their business as well as in being at the forefront of dental treatment to achieve successful patient outcomes,” said Patrick Allen, Managing Director, Henry Schein Dental in the UK. “It is Henry Schein’s aim to provide the clinical, business, technology and supply chain solutions the dental profession needs and to help them smoothly integrate those into a full practice workflow.”

While day one focused on business growth and practice performance, leadership and teamwork, implantology, orthodontics, marketing and communication, as well as finance and introduced participates to all the key components that together will help drive their success, day two delved deeper into the details and provided understanding on the best practice processes and tools needed. On the second day, digital dentistry and lasers were part of the lecture programme.

Dr James Goolnik, Founder of, and Dentist at the Bow Lane Dental Group and Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, shared his experience of running a practice and explained how to set business objectives and how to control them. Ann Barker, CEO of MediEstates revealed “the method behind the multiple”. In her educational talk, aimed at dental professionals who are looking to expand or start their portfolio, Anne talked through the key areas that influence the practice sales market focusing on how the acquisition of multiple practices increases the group EBITDA, with particular emphasis on the current market, the valuation methodology, and what is driving the multiple. She laid down insights needed to consider purchasing multiple practices. Yasmin Downie, Customer Success Consultant, Software of Excellence, provided a hands-on guide to using an intuitive practice performance dashboard to identify opportunities and risks, and introduced participants to the different reports and analytics that thy can access using the Software of Excellence cloud MPC.

Dr Dev Patel, Principal Dentist at Dental Beauty, explained how to take patient service to the next level step-by-step. He gave tips on how to create an environment that welcomes patients and how to involve the team to create an outstanding patient journey. In an interactive workshop, Rebecca Lyon, Head of Customer Experience, Software of Excellence, used real-life scenarios to demonstrate a customer-centric workflow that also benefits the practice team and business as a whole. Andy Boyce created an interactive session to help dentists refine and enhance communication skills in order to build a foundation of trust that will lead to improved patient education and increased patient satisfaction.

Laura Horton, owner of Horton Consulting and Michael Bentley, Business Consultant in Laura’s team unveiled how to get buy-in from the team and how to work towards the same goal ,and how and why it is important for dentists to expand their offering and let their patients know about it. Dr Sinead McEnhill, Director, Belmore Dental Implant Clinic, gave insights into the digital approach for marketing and how to engage the team in all aspects of digital dentistry. She also explained the advantages of digital versus analogue techniques and how quickly dentists can achieve a return on their investment. Dr Robert Dyas, Oral Surgeon at Pure Dental Clinic, took a pragmatic approach and discussed how investing in the latest products and technology can save time as well as enhance surgical skills as long as dentists have the basics right.

The President of the Digital Dentistry Society UK, Dr Julian Caplan, gave a broad overview on previous scanning technologies. He also presented the science behind the new Primescan technology and the benefits of this new technology. Dr. Simon Chard’s session focused on maximising aesthetic results with chairside restorations, using CEREC software to create a seamless and stress-free workflow for anteriors, how hand-finishing ceramics can take restorations to the next level and how the accuracy and speed of Primescan can streamline the workflow. Dr. Chard is a Cosmetic and Implant Dentist and Owner of Rothley Lodge Dental. Dr Eimear O’Connell, Principal Dentist, Bite Dentistry, explained how to merge CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) to plan implant placements, how to design, and mill and print a guide, how to use Tibases and how to deliver predictable screw retained crowns. Dr Ian Buckle, Owner of Buckle Advanced Dental Care, explained how to go beyond scanning by engaging patients with cosmetic, orthodontic and diagnostic digital applications through 3Shape solutions.

In a variety of further implant-focused lectures, dental professionals gained insights in innovative treatment methods and materials. Prof Simon Wright, Principal Partner of Glencairn Dental and Oral Surgeon, Prof Cemal Ucer from ICE Manchester, provided an overview on where digital implant dentistry is and how dental professionals can get involved. They explored the full digital workflow, the limitations and the benefits. Dr Jameel Gardee’s presentation about Digital Smile Design aimed to update, maintain and develop the participants’ knowledge and skills when undertaking indirect smile rehabilitation procedures utilising modern techniques, emerging technologies and treatments. Jameel is Partner and Dentist at the Glasgow Smile Clinic.

Through case discussion, Dr Ferhan Ahmed’s session explored the clinical benefits and science behind Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-PRF). In a live step-by-step demonstration, he provided an increased understanding of the difference between platelet concentrates and for what indications they are used, and why it is suited to implant grafting. Dr Pynadath George, Owner and Principal Dental Surgeon at Belmont House Dental Surgery, focused on opting for implant placement in the pterygoid region as an alternative approach for those patients who have minimal bone for the clinical to work with. His session contained a theoretical part to cover the theory behind this approach and a hands-on training part to learn how to place an implant in the pterygoid region.

Another important topic was the 3D printing for implants and surgical guides. Dr Chris Lefkaditis, Dental Surgeon, Hellesdon Dental Care, gave an overview of various 3D printing technologies. At the end of his session, delegates understood the advantages and applications of 3D printers in dentistry and the use of 3D printing in implant dentistry. Dr Robin Horton, Owner and Principal Dentist at Wayside Dental Practice, gave insights in the use of lasers in general practice and the different types of lasers that can be used in dentistry. He also covered laser safety, how lasers work and which procedures are better served using lasers. Dr Francis Scriven, Owner of Anglia Orthodontics, focused on Henry Schein Dental Orthodontics’ Carriere® system and how it works. He gave two sessions; one introducing the system, situations and case studies, and one demonstrating the Carriere® Aligner.

Inspirational Speaker, Coach, and Author, Steve Head, held two presentations in which he explained how to create a great place to work, how to more positively impact on others and how to keep going under pressure. He underlined the power of self-talk and the importance of team work and a focus on the good. He gave examples for simple techniques to get the best out of yourself and the team so that patients have the best experience every time. Most of his tips were also applicable in everyday situations.

A dental practitioner stated at the end of the event: “The information that was provided was relevant and focused. It allowed me to take practical advice and solutions to problems back to my business.” Another participant said: “The motivational speaker was engaging and inspirational. An opportunity to look at challenges and opportunities in dentistry not just from a clinical standpoint.”


During the breaks, delegates were able to mingle and exchange with the speakers and participants and had the chance to meet with leading dental manufacturers, including headline sponsor Dentsply Sirona, and Henry Schein business partners showcasing their latest innovations. At the event’s exclusive exhibition area, an expert team was available to discuss the clinical, digital, and business ambitions of the participants. Amongst the exhibitors were 3Shape, Acteon, B.A. International, Coltene, Dürr Dental, Finance4Patients, Formlabs, GC Europe, ICE Postgraduate Dental Institute and Hospital, Ivoclar Vivadent, Microminder, Optident, ORDO, and W&H .

Thanks to its great success, the Dental Innovation Symposium will come back in 2020.