The Dental Business Manager
The Dental Business Manager
Simple, realistic step-by-step advice for every situation
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I’m Tony, and at heart I’m a family man. I have two children and a wonderfully patient wife of more than 25 years who has supported me through every stage of my career.
I spent 25 years with Tesco, eventually managing large stores across Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Leading multi-million pound retail operations taught me the importance of strong systems, clear communication and well-trained teams — principles that still shape the way I work today.
In 2015 I moved into dentistry, joining Dr Alastair Smith at Pallant Orthodontics to lead the business side of the practice. What followed became an 11-year partnership focused on building a modern orthodontic practice with a clear vision for sustainable private growth.
During that time the practice grew from a team of six to more than thirty people across two sites. One of the most significant projects was developing a brand-new specialist orthodontic practice from the ground up — from securing the premises and preparing the business case for lenders to overseeing the full design, build and launch.
Alongside this, I led several other initiatives including introducing treatment coordinators into practice, managing NHS orthodontic contract tendering, leading a full practice rebrand, and establishing in-house 3D printing laboratories.
Over the past two years I have been developing my own consultancy, TDBM, supporting dental practices across the South with the operational side of running a successful practice. I also deliver training for practice managers, run informal practice manager forums to encourage peer support, and am a guest speaker for Dental Monitoring.
I believe the best progress happens when you work alongside owners, managers and teams, understanding how their practice really operates and building practical solutions together.
Dental practices are unique businesses, often shaped by the owner’s original vision and preferences. As a result, there is rarely a single standard way of working and teams are usually extremely busy. With this in mind, any support or intervention must be handled carefully. My aim is never to disrupt the critical day-to-day running of the practice, and any changes are always developed through close collaboration with the owner and team.
The business side of dentistry can be complex and time-consuming, but it does not need to be. Over many years I have developed practical systems and processes that simplify operations, improve efficiency and support sustainable profit growth. My role is to help practice owners and managers strengthen the business side of their practice — from recruitment and team development to strategic planning. Whether you are navigating the current economic climate, considering a move to private dentistry, or dealing with a specific challenge, I would be very happy to discuss how I might help.