Barclays reveals dentistry industry booming

• Barclays Business loans to dentists have near doubled in the last two years*
• Eight out of ten UK dentists (82 per cent) believe celebrity culture has increased demand in consumers looking for a ‘Hollywood smile’
• Over a quarter of Brits surveyed said they are unhappy with their smile
   

Barclays Business Banking reveals it has seen the number and value of loans to the UK dentistry industry almost double* in the last two years, as dentists race to expand premises and invest in new technology to keep up with consumer demand.

Eight out of ten (82 per cent) of dentists say celebrity culture has rocketed demand for dentistry work, with customers looking for a ‘Hollywood smile.’ A further 60 per cent have seen patients reference a specific celebrity smile they want to copy.

Top of people’s list is actor Margot Robbie, with the nation’s most sought-after smile, with Love Island’s Jack Fincham in second place. Hustle star Anne Hathaway was voted third.

The research also found one in four Brits are unhappy with their teeth (27 per cent), with nearly two thirds (59 per cent) willing to spend money in order to achieve the ‘perfect smile,’ – an average of £1,121. In Brighton, those willing to spend money said they would splash the most cash - £2,157 on average, with Londoners close behind willing to spend £1,738.

Over a fifth of dentists surveyed said they were considering taking out a loan in the next two years, with the most common reason being a desire to start a new practice (45 per cent), followed by wanting to buy more machinery or equipment (30 per cent).

Barclays has a specialist team of relationship managers working the length and the breadth of the UK dedicated to helping a whole range of businesses including dentists grow.

Jane Khaliq, Industry Director at Barclays Business Banking, said: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of dentistry practices growing rapidly – and many are looking to expand their business further, from investing in new machinery or expanding premises.

“New technology in this area is paving the way for expansion in the sector, as innovative solutions are helping to fulfil Britain’s desire for the ‘perfect’ smile.

“Our team of over a thousand relationship experts across the UK are primed to support SMEs as they look to diversify and grow their businesses.”

Dr Aria, Principal Dentist and owner of Harrow Dental Practice in Hornchurch, Essex, said: “I’ve seen a massive increase in patients wanting cosmetic dentistry, in particular tooth whitening and braces, with many clients bringing in photos of celebrities to show me their dream smile.

“Support from Barclays has enabled me to keep up with demand and extend my practice. I’ve also invested in technology, with a scanner that can create an image of how teeth will look after surgery in just 60 seconds, which has more than doubled the number of patients visiting my practice.

“It’s clear that tech, including 3D printing and AI, will shape the future of the industry and it’s great to have a relationship manager to talk through the opportunities for investment in these areas.”

As part of a wider package of support for SMEs across the country, Barclays also recently announced a £14 billion lending fund*, aimed at businesses at several stages of growth and development.

For more information on Barclays Business Banking, visit: https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Research of 2,005 UK adults (18+) was conducted by Opinium between 3rd -7th May 2019 
• Research of 101 dentists was conducted by Opinium between 3rd -13th May 2019

*More details on the lending fund and Barclays’ broader range of support for SMEs can be found at: https://home.barclays/news/2019/04/sme-lending-fund/. 

*The £14.7bn UK-wide fund is made up of £11.3bn from Barclays Bank UK PLC and £3.4bn from Barclays Bank PLC, and is a three-year commitment.#

This fund is intended for SMEs at several stages of growth and development. It includes a range of business lending services to participating UK businesses (subject to application and status) including:

• Business loans, commercial mortgages and overdrafts up to £250k working capital 
• Cash flow funding for investment in growth, management buy-outs and business acquisition#
• Loans for innovative businesses looking for growth funding, capital and environmental investment
• Maximising government schemes like The Enterprise Finance Guarantee programme, which is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Case-studies, images and interviews are available upon request.