Dental Market Insight 2025: the South of England

Paul Graham, managing director of medical at Christie & Co), shares an overview of the dental market in the South of England

The dental market in the South of England offers a compelling environment for dental operators.

Strong patient demographics and a growing preference for private care have created a highly-competitive marketplace where quality practices rarely remain available for long.

And banks continue to provide favourable lending terms, supporting expansion and acquisition strategies for independent buyers.

WHAT KIND OF PRACTICES ARE ON THE MARKET IN THE SOUTH?

The market in the South has a strong private focus, with the majority of practices for sale operating on a fully- or predominantly-private basis and only a small proportion offering mixed-income streams.

The practices that we have on the market vary in size, from single-surgery clinics generating revenues in the region of £200,000-£500,000, through mid-sized practices with three to four surgeries achieving £750,000-£1.1m, to larger five-surgery sites exceeding £1.25m.

Both freehold and leasehold arrangements are available, with freehold sites typically linked to smaller or mid-tier operations.

Regional highlights include high-performing practices in London, the Home Counties and the South West, where revenues surpass £1.5m, alongside a strong private leasehold opportunity in the Channel Islands.

Overall, the market demonstrates significant revenue diversity and a clear skew toward private dentistry, supported by a mix of ownership structures and geographic spread.

WHO’S BUYING AND WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

Buyer appetite in the South remains strong and is focused on practices with strong fundamentals in sustainability and clear growth potential, whether through additional chair time, specialist services, or physical expansion opportunities.

Across the South, there is a clear shift away from NHS-heavy practices toward private and mixed-income models, reflecting both patient demand and buyer priorities.

Independent operators continue to dominate the market, but we are seeing renewed interest from corporates and emerging groups, particularly in high-margin private clinics and mixed practices with scope for expansion.

While the independent sector has driven activity in recent years, we expect that many corporates who paused acquisitions in 2024/2025 will now re-enter the market, adding further competition for quality assets.

First-time purchasers are also active, encouraged by accessible bank funding and confidence in dentistry’s resilience.

Geographically, demand is concentrated in commuter towns and urban centres where patient demographics support higher levels of private treatment.

While buyer demand remains strong, purchasers are increasingly well informed and commercially astute.

Operational issues such as low UDA performance, recruitment challenges, or outdated equipment are quickly identified during offer stages and can influence negotiations.

Buyers are prioritising practices that demonstrate robust fundamentals in family dentistry and a clear pathway for future growth.

As a result, sellers must present a compelling proposition that combines stability with tangible opportunities for value creation under new ownership.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MARKET IN THE SOUTH

Looking ahead, we expect the South to remain one of the most-competitive regions in the UK dental market

Private dentistry will continue to dominate, supported by strong patient demographics and sustained demand for high-quality care

With many corporates looking to re-enter the acquisition space and independents maintaining their growth ambitions, competition for well-performing practices will intensify

Sellers who can demonstrate consistent performance, operational resilience, and clear growth opportunities will be best positioned to attract strong buyer interest and secure successful transactions in this competitive market.