Dental market gains ground with stronger confidence and deal activity, says new report

2024 was a pivotal chapter for the UK dental market, marking a transition toward a more-sustainable, quality-driven, and independently-led landscape, according to a new report.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has launched its Dental Market Review 2025, which offers a panoramic view of the UK dental business sector, spotlighting important areas, including sector ownership structures, market dynamics, pricing patterns, the appetite of banks to lend within the sector, and an extensive sentiment survey of dental professionals.

MARKET OVERVIEW

The report begins by updating the ownership structure of the UK dental market, recording a total of 12,223 dental practices throughout the country.

Of these, 2,203 are owned by corporates and larger groups – more than 30 sites – while 2,065 are run by mid-sized and smaller groups – 3-29 sites)
And 7,955 are owned by independent operators with one to two sites.

Of the corporates, mydentist leads the way, with 511 practices, followed by BUPA Dental with 380, and PortmanDentex with 376 practices.

While in the past year more than 80% of Christie & Co deals were agreed with independent owners, in the first half of 2025, the company saw the re-entry of corporate and group buyers into the market, buoyed by stabilising interest rates and a renewed focus on quality over scale.

Many larger groups spent much of 2023 and 2024 refining their portfolios and operating models and are now expected to return to acquisitive strategies, but in a more-targeted, strategic fashion.

KEY TRENDS

In 2024, 74% of Christie & Co’s completed deals were to independent operators with one to two sites; 11% to mid-sized and smaller groups with 3-29 sites; and 15% were to corporates and larger groups with more than 30 sites.

Analysing these deals revealed that, across all buyer types, there is a sector-wide movement away from purely NHS dentistry towards mixed and private practices.

Between H1 2023 and H1 2025, corporate buyers increasingly targeted private dental practices, reflecting a strategic shift toward higher-margin, consumer-driven models amid NHS funding challenges.

And small and medium-sized groups also leaned more toward private and mixed (private) acquisitions.

While independent and first-time buyers initially preferred NHS practices, they began pivoting toward private models by 2025.

This shift reflects changing buyer expectations, increased access to funding, and a response to the perceived stability and profitability of private dentistry amid NHS uncertainty.

This balance is creating a competitive environment, and for owners considering their next step, it represents a moment of real opportunity to achieve strong outcomes and maximise long-term value

Deferred consideration has emerged as a strategic mechanism in dental practice transactions, especially in corporate acquisitions.

Small groups and independents, while less-frequent users of deferred structures, still show notable engagement, especially in recent periods.

This suggests a growing sophistication and a willingness to adopt corporate-style deal mechanics to remain competitive.

In 2024 and H1 2025, 16% of deals had deferred consideration – including 36% of corporate and large group deals, and 12% of small group and independent deals.

PRICING

The UK dental market has continued its recalibration following a 9.4% price decline in 2024, with early 2025 data indicating a 2.9% increase in prices, signalling stabilisation and selective growth.

Buyers, especially consolidators and private equity groups, are prioritising quality, seeking practices with stable teams and growth potential.

And, as corporate buyers re-enter the market, competition is expected to drive up average multiples and deferred pricing.

Independent operators remain a powerful driving force, yet we are also witnessing the return of corporate and group buyers who are now acting with greater discipline and selectivity

Valuation multiples have largely steadied, with NHS and private practices maintaining strong buyer interest, while mixed practices saw only minor pricing adjustments.

Associate-led practices are expected to retain stable EBITDA multiples, with potential for growth driven by increasing buyer appetite and a robust opportunity pipeline.

Private and private-led practices are well positioned to benefit from strong buyer demand, particularly in elective and cosmetic dentistry. London and the South East remain high-value regions, with associate-led practices in London achieving EBITDA multiples up to 7.7x.

In 2024, 68% of all accepted offers were at, or above, the asking price, which included 49% over the asking price. Some 48% of offers not accepted were also at, and above, the asking price, which is most likely due to competitive interest and multiple offers being received on individual market opportunities.

SENTIMENT IN THE SECTOR

In June 2025, Christie & Co reached out to over 38,000 dental professionals from across the UK to get their views on a range of topics.

Key findings include:

• Overall, more feel positive or neutral about the sector than feel negative, where 73% of hygienist/therapists feel that is the case (reflecting the highest proportion), while 54% of others in the sector reflect the lowest proportion
• 48%-77% feel demand for NHS dentistry has increased, compared with 50%-65% in 2024, suggesting that overall patient demand for NHS dentistry continues to rise year on year
• 40% of respondents feel that demand has increased for high-end elective treatments. In 2024, 40% of respondents also felt the same. This would suggest that there is potentially an ongoing and continued easing in patients choosing to defer such treatments
• It was felt that the greatest area of growth is likely to come through general dentistry (2%-30%), with specialist services (24%-26%) just marginally behind
• The majority (86%) of respondents feel that digital dentistry is at the forefront of future growth. Some 90% of those respondents in the private operational segment feel this is the case, 86% of those in the mixed segment, and 63% of those in the NHS-focused segment
• Almost half of the respondents (49%) feel that they are most likely to invest in new technology and equipment in the coming 12-24 months. 29% of respondents say that recruiting additional staff is their next most-likely investment
• Overall, the largest potential influencers in decision making are operational costs (29%), cash flow (24%) and recruitment and retention (24%). While in the main, and across the mixed and private operational segments, those influencers are broadly in line, there is a clear differential from those who work or are involved in the NHS-led segment, where the largest influencer at 34% is felt likely to be recruitment and retention

Paul Graham, managing director of medical at Christie & Co, said of the findings: “Independent operators remain a powerful driving force, yet we are also witnessing the return of corporate and group buyers who are now acting with greater discipline and selectivity.

“Alongside this, the emergence of new investors and fresh capital entering the sector is driving consolidation, but in a more-disciplined, strategic way than in previous cycles.

“This balance is creating a competitive environment, and for owners considering their next step, it represents a moment of real opportunity to achieve strong outcomes and maximise long-term value.

“Following the market correction a couple of years ago, this renewed stability has been long overdue and it’s encouraging to see it gathering pace now.”