How Bupa is Redefining Tech-Enabled Dentistry

In this episode of The TechDental Podcast, Dr. Randeep Gill sits down with Mark Allan, GM of Bupa Dental Care, to unpack how one of the UK’s largest dental organisations is approaching AI, data, leadership, and workforce transformation at scale.

This is a rare, behind-the-scenes conversation on what actually works when deploying technology across hundreds of practices, why data maturity matters more than shiny tools, and how leadership mindset shapes the future of corporate dentistry.

A must-listen for dental executives, founders, investors, and operators building for scale.

1. Why most large organisations fail at technology adoption
2. Data maturity vs tool adoption – the real bottleneck in AI
3. Rolling out AI across 380+ practices with employed and self-employed clinicians
4. How AI note-taking is already cutting admin time by ~50%
5. Using X-ray AI to improve patient understanding and trust
6. Why structured data is the true long-term competitive advantage
7. Connecting oral health data to whole-body healthcare insights
8. The strategic intent behind Bupa’s Clinical Training Academy
9. Workforce development as a driver of clinician attraction and retention
10. The “Feeling at Ease” philosophy and patient trust at scale
11. Leadership lessons from running one of the UK’s largest dental networks
12. Why personalised, data-driven healthcare will arrive sooner than expected

1. AI does not fix broken processes; structure comes first
2. Scaled dentistry requires flexibility, not rigid standardisation
3. The biggest gains from AI come from admin reduction and patient education
4. Data silos are the silent killer of digital transformation
5. Leadership alignment is built through listening, not mandates
6. Dentistry is uniquely positioned to lead preventative, personalised healthcare

Mark Allan

GM, Bupa Dental Care

Mark leads nearly 400 practices across the UK, overseeing care for over one million NHS patients. His background spans insurance, finance, and healthcare leadership, bringing a rare blend of commercial discipline and purpose-driven strategy to corporate dentistry.

Connect with Mark:

1. LinkedIn Mark Allan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-allan-02641b6/
2. LinkedIn Bupa Dental Care - https://www.linkedin.com/company/bupa-dental-care-uk
3. Instagram - @markallan.bupadental

Dr. Randeep Gill

Founder, TechDental | DentaCFO

Most conversations about AI in dentistry focus on tools. This episode focuses on systems, leadership, and execution. It is a practical, executive-level discussion on how scaled dental organisations should actually think about AI, data, and transformation.

If you are building, buying, or leading in dentistry and want signal over noise, subscribe to The TechDental Podcast on your preferred platform.

Website: www.techdental.com

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-randeep-singh-gill-576580357/

DentaCFO: www.dentacfo.com

People-First AI: The Leadership Framework Behind Scalable Dental Tech

AI adoption in dentistry is accelerating, but results remain inconsistent.

In this episode of The TechDental Podcast, Dr Randeep is joined by Aleksandra Osipova, founder of Apricity Lab and former Chief AI Officer, to explore why most AI initiatives fail to scale and what leaders must do differently.

This conversation focuses on people first AI, systems thinking, leadership maturity, and operational readiness. Aleksandra shares practical insights on how dental organisations can implement AI responsibly, build trust with teams, maintain data integrity, and create feedback driven systems that deliver measurable return on investment.

This episode is essential listening for dental executives, founders, and leaders of growing groups who want to move beyond AI hype and build scalable, resilient technology strategies.

1. Why AI does not fix broken processes and instead amplifies them
2. What people first AI means in real organisational settings
3. How systems thinking in dentistry applies directly to AI implementation
4. Why leadership mindset determines AI success more than technology
5. How iteration, feedback loops, and KPIs drive sustainable AI outcomes
6. Why data integrity and governance are critical in healthcare AI
7. How to introduce AI without breaking culture, trust, or teams
8. The leadership capabilities required to scale AI responsibly

1. AI hype versus operational reality in dentistry
2. People first AI as a leadership framework
3. Systems thinking and organisational readiness
4. Iterative AI rollout and continuous improvement
5. Measuring success through stable KPIs
6. Data bias, governance, and regulatory considerations
7. Trust, transparency, and employee engagement
8. The future of scalable, human centred AI in dental organisations

Aleksandra Osipova

Founder, Apricity Lab

Former Chief AI Officer

Four time founder and AI strategist

Aleksandra advises organisations on how to design systems that allow AI to scale responsibly while enhancing human capability and decision making.

1. LinkedIn (Personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-osipova/
2. LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/apricity-lab/

The TechDental Podcast explores the intersection of technology, leadership, and business in dentistry.

Hosted by Dr Randeep, the podcast features founders, executives, clinicians, and innovators shaping the future of dental organisations through better systems, smarter use of AI, and disciplined leadership.

Follow The TechDental Podcast on your preferred platform to stay ahead of how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping dentistry.

Website: www.techdental.com

Contact: [email protected]

Subscription Dentistry, AI & the Playbook for Scalable Dental Groups

In this episode of The TechDental Podcast, Dr. Randeep Singh Gill is joined by Matthew Hadman, Head of Dental Groups at Patient Plan Direct, to unpack what actually enables dental practices to scale into resilient, high-value groups.

Matthew brings a ground-level view of consolidation, working closely with independent practices, emerging groups, and DSOs across the UK. This conversation moves beyond surface-level growth tactics and focuses on the operational foundations that determine whether scale creates leverage or chaos.

You will hear a practical breakdown of:

• Why strategy and centralised teams must come before acquisition velocity
• How subscription dentistry underpins EBITDA stability, valuation, and clinician retention
• The most common mistake practices make when converting NHS patients to private plans
• Why white-labelled plans are a strategic asset for DSOs protecting brand equity
• Where AI and automation will drive the biggest uplift in plan adoption and retention
• The leadership mindset required to scale without margin erosion or cultural drift

This episode is essential listening for practice owners, group leaders, operators, and investors navigating dentistry’s next growth phase.

• Scaling from 4–5 practices to 10+ without operational breakdown
• Centralised finance and operational teams as a growth prerequisite
• Subscription revenue as an investor-grade signal
• NHS to private conversion without commoditising care
• Prevention-led dentistry as the core patient value proposition
• White-labelling vs corporate branding in DSOs
• AI-driven onboarding, nurturing, and retention
• Leadership under consolidation and change

Matthew Hadman is Head of Dental Groups at Patient Plan Direct, supporting hundreds of practices and DSOs with recurring revenue strategy, NHS-to-private conversion, and scalable membership plan infrastructure. He works closely with leadership teams navigating consolidation, operational maturity, and exit readiness.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewhadman/
• Website: https://www.patientplandirect.co.uk

The TechDental Podcast explores how AI, automation, data, and modern operating models are reshaping dentistry’s business landscape. Featuring founders, operators, investors, and leaders building the future of dental care.

• Website: https://www.techdental.com
• Email: [email protected]

Subscribe, follow, and share to stay ahead of where dentistry meets technology and scalable business thinking.

In this episode, we explore one of the most overlooked drivers of success inside dental groups: the human architecture behind the leadership team. While DSOs invest heavily in equipment, digital tools and infrastructure, very few measure the psychological and behavioural alignment of the people responsible for scaling the organisation.

Soma Pirityi, Forbes 30 Under 30, VC-turned-founder and CEO of Etter Technologies, joins us to break down how psychometric AI is transforming investment decisions, organisational performance and board-level dynamics. With over 10,000 startup teams analysed and 150 top-tier investors interviewed, Soma exposes why 70% of leadership teams are fundamentally misaligned without realising it.

For dental CEOs, PE-backed groups and high-growth operators, this conversation reframes how you think about team chemistry, succession, roll-ups and valuation.

• Why 65% of businesses fail due to team-related issues, not strategy or capital

• The “Big 20” traits that predict whether leadership teams succeed or collapse

• How psychometric AI quantifies dynamics like resilience, risk appetite and alignment

• How misalignment shows up in dental groups (vision, growth speed, hiring philosophy, leadership style)

• The rich vs king paradigm and why founders often unknowingly pull in opposite directions

• How private equity uses psychometric AI to de-risk deals and validate leadership teams

• How DSOs can integrate ETA’s reporting into board meetings, hiring and scaling playbooks

• Why perfectionism is the biggest hidden barrier in healthcare, biotech and med-tech founders

• The future of due diligence: psychometric AI becoming a standard alongside financial DD

• Leadership lessons from Jobs vs Gates: why culture-fit beats raw talent

Dental groups make multi-million-pound decisions based on financials and operational data, but rarely measure the behavioural engine driving those numbers.

Soma argues that the next five years will see psychometric AI become a standard requirement for investment, PE roll-ups and CEO evaluation.

This is foundational listening for:

• CEOs of private dental groups

• PE-backed DSOs

• Multi-site operators

• Clinical directors transitioning to commercial leadership

• Investors evaluating dental consolidators

• Founders preparing for fundraising, exits or board restructuring

Connect with Soma:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soma-benedek-pirityi/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eta-technologies/

• Website: ETA Technologies – https://www.eta-technologies.com/

Hosted by Dr Randeep Singh Gill, The TechDental Podcast explores the intersection of dentistry, AI and intelligent business thinking, with conversations for founders, operators, investors and innovators shaping the future of dental care.

www.techdental.com

[email protected]

If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a dental leader or founder who needs to hear it.

Follow for weekly insights on AI, leadership and the future of tech-enabled dentistry.

AI in dentistry, dental leadership, DSO strategy, dental private equity, psychometric AI, leadership alignment, dental group scaling, startup teams, AI for dental business, dental M&A, DSO board strategy, behavioural analytics, AI-driven decision making, dental innovation, high-performance teams, dental CEO mindset, team misalignment, ETA technologies, venture capital AI, operational excellence dentistry

Title: AI Doesn’t Fix Chaos — It Exposes It: The Clarity Blueprint with Alexander Michael Gittens

In today’s episode, global strategist and AI researcher Alexander Michael Gittens joins me to break down one of the most important truths in modern dentistry:

AI doesn’t solve chaos. It multiplies it.

Across 400+ organisations and billions in value created, Alexander has seen the same pattern repeat:

clarity, character and culture determine whether AI accelerates performance — or exposes every weakness in your operation.

This conversation goes deep into strategy, trustworthy AI systems, scaling DSOs, valuation psychology, and the mindset that separates fragile organisations from scalable ones.

If you’re a practice owner, DSO leader or operator navigating AI transformation, this is one of the most important episodes you’ll listen to this year.

Clarity, operations & the “Clarity Gap”:

• Why undocumented workflows silently destroy ROI
• How fragmented habits cause DSOs to lose control as they grow
• The difference between roles, responsibilities and outcomes
• Why clarity is the real engine of scale — not technology

Trustworthy AI & system design:

• Why AI exposes your operational weaknesses before improving anything
• How “human-in-the-loop” and “feedback-loop” models reduce risk
• Why clean, consistent data is non-negotiable
• How AI amplifies culture — good or bad

Scaling DSOs & multi-site organisations:

• Why AI fails without mapped workflows
• How to design systems that can be copied and pasted across sites
• Why private equity buys trust, not just profit
• How micro-behaviours inside practices compound into valuation outcomes

Leadership, mindset & performance:

• Why culture determines whether teams accept or resist transformation
• The link between character, consistency and EBITDA
• How to align change with outcomes staff already care about
• How clarity turns leadership into a scalable discipline

Personal philosophy and resilience:

• How Viktor Frankl’s work shaped AMG’s leadership worldview
• Why life is “10% what happens and 90% how you respond”
• The formula for being the “Best Possible Me × Biggest Positive Impact”
• How to choose what to say yes to — and eliminate everything else

“AI doesn’t fix chaos — it exposes it.”

“Trust is competence × character × consistency.”

“Clarity is the bridge between confusion and scale.”

“Every action should be treated like it’s the only thing your legacy is judged on.”

“AI will multiply your culture before it ever improves your operations.”

00:00 Intro

01:00 Alexander’s journey from global strategy to AI research

02:00 What separates scalable vs fragile organisations

03:20 Why clarity is the foundation of all transformation

05:00 AI reveals your operational weaknesses

06:00 Trustworthy AI: human-in-the-loop & feedback-loop models

08:30 The “I-AMG” digital twin & quality scoring framework

10:00 The Clarity Gap inside DSOs

12:00 How to build repeatable, copy-and-paste systems

14:00 Private equity, trust and valuation psychology

17:00 The cultural impact of AI

19:00 Why teams resist change

21:00 Aligning technology with staff outcomes

23:00 Mindset, purpose and Viktor Frankl

28:00 The formula: Best Possible Me × Biggest Positive Impact

33:00 How to choose what to say yes to

36:00 Strategy, AI & human performance

37:00 Where to connect with Alexander

Alexander Michael Gittens is a global strategist, researcher and thought leader whose work has created billions in value across 400+ organisations worldwide. His expertise spans corporate strategy, machine learning and trustworthy AI systems designed for high-stakes decision-making.

He is the creator of the “Clarity Gap” framework and the I-AMG digital twin model used to evaluate organisational excellence at scale.

Connect with Alexander:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amgittens

Website – https://www.rupertrodney.com/

LinkedIn –https://www.linkedin.com/in/amgittens/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/rupert-rodney/

TechDental Podcast → https://www.techdental.com

Contact → [email protected]

DentaCFO - https://www.dentacfo.com

Contact → [email protected]

If this episode brought you clarity, share it with a dental leader who needs it. Follow the show for weekly episodes on AI, strategy and the future of dental business performance.

AI, Data & The Future of Scalable Dentistry with Ross Drynan (Henry Schein One)

In this episode, Ross Drynan, Head of Partnerships at Henry Schein One, joins us to break down the real mechanics of digital transformation in dentistry. After 11 years inside one of the industry’s most influential software organisations, Ross has seen thousands of practices scale, stall, and reinvent themselves. This conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually drives performance: data quality, leadership, team engagement, and the right partnerships.

We explore how AI is shifting from hype to measurable operational value, why data hygiene is now a strategic advantage, how cloud PMS ecosystems unlock innovation, and why people and behaviour change remain the hardest part of transformation. This is a practical, grounded and insight rich discussion for forward thinking dental leaders.

Modern dental business transformation:

• Why consistency beats intensity in growth
• The role of culture, team engagement and behavioural standards
• The two core KPIs that underpin every high performing practice
• How poor data hygiene blocks innovation and multiplies operational chaos

AI, automation and the future of workflows:

• Where AI provides real value today inside dental practices
• Why AI cannot fix bad data and why data consistency is now essential
• How to use AI for admin reduction so humans can focus on patients
• The progression from LLMs to full ecosystem automation

Cloud PMS and the new innovation ecosystem:

• Why cloud unlocks integrations that legacy on premise systems cannot
• How to migrate responsibly without disrupting patient trust
• How DSOs can modernise at scale without “open heart surgery”
• The difference between specialised partners and PMS bloat

Leadership and high performing teams:

• Why digital projects fail when humans are not prepared
• How to build a vision and strategy with your team
• The importance of communication, training and shared purpose
• How to eliminate friction by aligning people, workflows and mission

• “Technology is just a tool. What matters is leadership, vision and an engaged team.”
• “AI will touch everything in dentistry. Not next year, but definitely in the next 5 to 10.”
• “Without clean data, AI does nothing but multiply the chaos.”
• “You cannot be the best at everything. Partnerships are the growth engine for the next decade.”

00:00 Intro

02:00 Ross on 11 years inside Henry Schein One

03:20 What really drives practice performance

05:40 Leadership, culture and behavioural standards

06:50 No fluff business transformation

09:40 Data hygiene and AI readiness

10:20 Where AI provides value today

12:30 The future of AI in dentistry

15:20 Data consistency, cloud migration and modernisation

20:10 Digital transformation for larger groups and DSOs

25:00 Why software projects fail

29:30 The 47 percent revenue uplift from integrated systems

32:00 Partnerships, APIs and the new ecosystem

35:00 Quick fire round

39:00 Where to connect with Ross

Ross Drynan

Head of Partnerships, Henry Schein One

Ross has spent more than a decade helping practices modernise through technology, data standardisation and behaviour change. He works across cloud PMS, APIs, integrations and strategic partnerships that enable dental practices to innovate at scale. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn or through the Dentally Community.

• Dentally Community: https://community.dentally.com/
• Henry Schein One UK: https://www.linkedin.com/company/henry-schein-one-uk
• Connect with Ross on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-drynan/
• TechDental Podcast: www.techdental.com
• Contact: [email protected]

If you found this conversation valuable, share it with a dental leader who needs to hear it. Follow the show for weekly deep dives into AI, business intelligence and the future of dental practice performance.

AI in dentistry, dental data analytics, cloud PMS, Henry Schein One, Dentally, digital dentistry, practice growth, dental leadership, dental automation, operational excellence, dental software integrations, dental business intelligence, practice performance KPIs.

In this episode, Dr Randeep Singh Gill sits down with Rasnaam Singh Tiwana, founder of Dentstock, to unpack how data, automation and AI are reshaping procurement, decision-making and operational efficiency in independent dental practices.

Rasnaam shares the origin of Dentstock, built during the chaos of post-COVID supply chain disruption, and explains why procurement has remained overlooked for decades. He breaks down how practices routinely overspend, how small data points lead to huge operational wins, and why predictive, transparent, supplier-agnostic procurement is becoming a strategic superpower for the next generation of dental owners.

This conversation goes deep into AI as a founder tool, the mindset required to build in the cognitive age, and what independents can learn from the corporate DSO playbook without losing their identity.

• Why procurement has been overlooked and misunderstood
• How Dentstock helps practices save 15–25% on costs
• Operational blind spots in independent practices
• How small data points lead to large financial gains
• The rise of AI as a “co-pilot” in dental operations
• How to respect clinical freedom while improving efficiency
• Why corporates win on systems and data
• How independents can close the gap without losing culture
• The founder mindset needed to innovate in difficult times
• Rasnaam’s take on the future of procurement and automation

• Most practices don’t know what they spend or why
• Cost control isn’t a spreadsheet task; it’s operational intelligence
• AI is best used as an advisor, not an autonomous agent
• Transparency is the new currency in procurement
• Community-driven intelligence beats traditional supplier reps
• Clinical freedom + data-driven decision-making = competitive advantage

Rasnaam is the founder of Dentstock, a UK-based group purchasing and procurement optimisation company helping independent practices achieve DSO-level operational intelligence. He brings experience from clinical practice, health-tech and community leadership and is passionate about transparency, cost control and modernising dental operations.

Website: https://www.dentstock.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dentstock

Website: https://www.techdental.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techdentalmedia

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-techdental-podcast

Email: [email protected]

Please follow, rate and review The TechDental Podcast on Apple Podcasts. It helps more dental innovators find conversations like this.

• How AI improves diagnostic accuracy while strengthening patient relationships
• The critical role of trust, regulation, and transparency in AI adoption
• Why education—not resistance—is key to responsible AI integration
• How to introduce AI into your practice ethically and effectively
• The leadership lessons behind Pearl’s global growth
• Why the future of dentistry is collaborative, not automated

• 00:02:10 Automation and the “High-Friction, Low-Judgement” Rule

• 00:04:59 Founding Dent CFO: Building AI from the Ground Up

• 00:10:40 The True Cost of Building an MVP

• 00:14:15 The Long Game of Entrepreneurship

• 00:16:11 The Evolution of Start-Ups: From Servers to “LEGO-Style” Companies

• How AI agents are redefining customer experience across real estate and healthcare
• Why up to 30 per cent of leads are lost, and how automation can close that gap
• What it means to build a truly AI-ready practice rather than add another tool
• How trust, transparency, and data discipline drive sustainable adoption
• The difference between replacing people and reallocating human focus
• Why leadership mindset, not technology, determines the success of automation
• How human connection remains the foundation of every future-proof business