UK Dentists: Collect your verifiable CPD for this episode here >>> https://courses.dentistswhoinvest.com/smart-money-members-club

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Clear aligners just got more expensive for UK dental practices, and not because the lab raised prices. A tribunal-driven VAT change means aligner labs now charge 20% VAT, turning what used to be a familiar cost into a new margin pressure you cannot ignore. We sit down with specialist dental accountant David Hossein to unpack what changed, what stays VAT exempt, and how to think about pricing when the aligner market is already fiercely competitive.

From there, we zoom out to the issue that could matter even more than aligners: HMRC’s widening focus on healthcare and the line between exempt medical care and vatable cosmetic dentistry. We talk through real-world scenarios dentists see every week, from orthodontics with a health rationale to “wedding smile” makeovers, and why ancillary treatments can follow the VAT position of the main treatment plan. The practical takeaway is blunt: your clinical notes are your evidence. If the notes say cosmetic, expect VAT questions. If the notes clearly record a genuine health purpose, you are in a far stronger position.

We also cover other VAT triggers inside a modern dental practice, including standalone teeth whitening, Botox, retail sales, and the VAT registration threshold of £90,000. Then we get into a sleeper issue that catches growing practices: reverse charge VAT on Google Ads and Facebook Ads, where big marketing spend can contribute to the VAT threshold even though it is an outgoing cost. We finish with the knock-on effects of VAT registration, the limits of partial exemption recovery, and why VAT can complicate practice sales and legal agreements.

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Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. The views expressed on this channel may no longer be current. The information provided is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. Investment figures quoted refer to simulated past performance and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results/performance.

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UK Dentists: Collect your verifiable CPD for this episode here >>> https://courses.dentistswhoinvest.com/smart-money-members-club

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A dental practice can be flat-out busy and still leak revenue through cancellations, slow follow-up, and admin that drags on long after the last patient leaves. We sit down with Mike Beech, AI expert at Agilio Software, to get practical about where artificial intelligence in dentistry actually makes a difference right now, and where it still needs a human in charge.

We unpack the two big use cases that matter most to principals and practice managers: AI for dental marketing and AI for operational efficiency. On the marketing side, we talk AI receptionists, conversational appointment reminders, instant rebooking after cancellations, and chasing treatment plans that never get booked. We also explore how AI can support social media and paid ads, from content ideas to faster creative, so you can keep your brand voice while moving quicker across Instagram, Meta ads, TikTok, and email marketing.

On the operations side, we dig into compliance and back office systems that flag what’s overdue, prompt training, and reduce the constant “who still hasn’t done this?” stress. We cover AI scribes and newer practice management software that can draft notes and referral letters, plus the growing role of AI in dental X-ray analysis and patient communication. Finally, we tackle an important trust question: should AI always disclose that it’s AI, and how close are we really to robots in the surgery?

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Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. The views expressed on this channel may no longer be current. The information provided is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. Investment figures quoted refer to simulated past performance and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results/performance.

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UK Dentists: Collect your verifiable CPD for this episode here >>> https://courses.dentistswhoinvest.com/smart-money-members-club

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VAT is creeping into places UK dentists never expected and it is rarely obvious until the bill, the threshold, or the HMRC letter arrives. We sit down with Vanessa and VAT specialist Veronica Donnelly to make sense of why “dentistry is exempt” is no longer a safe shortcut, and what dental practices need to check before small edge cases turn into expensive problems.

We unpack the Invisalign VAT ruling and why it matters even if you never register for VAT: suppliers can charge VAT that you cannot recover, quietly raising your cost base. From there we widen the lens to the bigger risks, including reception desk retail sales, cosmetic dentistry services, teeth whitening, and how mixed treatments are judged using the principal purpose test. The key message is simple: VAT is standard rated by default unless you can prove an exemption applies.

Then we get practical on compliance. We talk reverse charge VAT on overseas services such as Google advertising, marketing and offshore “shared services”, and why those costs can count towards your VAT registration threshold on a rolling 12-month basis. We also cover what HMRC look for in patient notes, why written diagnosis and medical purpose matter, what “retrospective” can mean in real terms, and how confidentiality works if HMRC request records.

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Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation or individual financial advice. For that, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. The views expressed on this channel may no longer be current. The information provided is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and all tax rules may change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, you should speak to a regulated, independent professional. Investment figures quoted refer to simulated past performance and that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results/performance.

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