The TechDental Podcast

How Bupa is Redefining Tech-Enabled Dentistry

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Description

Episode Title

How Bupa is Redefining Tech-Enabled Dentistry

Episode Description

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.

What We Cover

  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

Key Takeaways

  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

Guest

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/