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A strengthening dental market

The past few years have placed significant pressure on dental professionals and practice principals, particularly around recruitment, rising costs, and patient access. However, the latest findings from Dental Elite’s Interim Goodwill Report demonstrate clear resilience within the dental market.

While buyer appetite varies between independent purchasers and corporate groups, overall market confidence is steadily increasing. Location, practice type, and business structure continue to play a decisive role in shaping acquisition activity and valuation outcomes.

Dental Elite’s transaction data from April to the end of September 2025 confirms that the market is not only stable, but gradually strengthening. For principals looking ahead, this analysis provides valuable insight into pricing trends, buyer behaviour, competitive dynamics, and long-term planning considerations.

What is driving goodwill growth?

One of the clearest indicators of market strength is the consistent rise in average deal values.

According to the End-of-Year Goodwill Report (March 2025), the average sale price across all practice types was £1,276,078. This has since increased to £1,458,050 in the latest Interim Goodwill Report.

This uplift reflects:

  • Greater buyer confidence,

  • Increased competition for high-quality practices, and

  • A growing pool of active purchasers in the market.

Private and mixed practices continue to command the highest average prices, achieving approximately £1.55 million and £1.50 million respectively. These models are particularly attractive to both independent buyers and corporate groups due to their income stability, scalability, and future growth potential.

NHS practices remain a strong and reliable segment of the market, with an average sale price of £1.15 million. These are often viewed as lower-risk investments due to their predictable revenue streams and established patient bases.

Buyer priorities in today’s market

Although demand remains strong, independent buyers and corporate groups typically approach acquisitions with different priorities.

Independent buyers tend to focus on stability and predictability, particularly in terms of financial performance. Their preferred acquisition profile generally follows this order: mixed, then NHS, then private. This reflects a desire for balanced income streams, lower risk, and reassurance, especially among first-time buyers.

Corporate groups, by contrast, continue to show strong appetite for private and private-leaning mixed practices. Their acquisition strategy is often driven by scalability and recruitment feasibility, as NHS practices tend to present greater staffing challenges in comparison to predominantly private models.

Across all buyer types, there is a clear willingness to pay a premium for high-quality “big stock” assets. These include:

  • Strong financial performance,

  • Robust private income, and

  • Well-established management structures.

For principals considering a sale, understanding where your practice sits within this framework can significantly strengthen your positioning in the market.

Evolving buyer demographics

Market consolidation is continuing to reshape the structure of dental ownership.

The Interim Goodwill Report shows that 62% of acquisitions were made by first- or second-time buyers, down from almost 70% the previous year. This suggests:

  • A growing number of repeat buyers, and

  • Ongoing expansion among smaller multi-site operators.

There are now approximately 4,500 practices owned by multi-site groups, alongside more than 600 individuals or organisations who own two or more practices.

For principals planning a sale, understanding the range of potential buyers, their priorities, and their investment strategies is essential. A diverse buyer landscape reduces reliance on any single purchaser type and increases the likelihood of achieving a successful transaction.

Next steps for practice principals

Market intelligence such as Dental Elite’s Interim Goodwill Report plays a crucial role in supporting informed decision-making. By analysing live transaction data and tracking buyer behaviour, Dental Elite helps principals navigate the sales process with greater confidence and clarity.

One recent client described their experience as follows:

“Our experience with Dental Elite has been amazing. The team were wonderful throughout the process, making it smooth, easy, and comfortable. They were always there when we needed them.”

For principals considering their future, the current market presents a positive outlook characterised by rising goodwill values, diverse buyer demand, and increasing competition for quality practices. Whether you are planning to sell now or in the years ahead, understanding these trends can help you make more strategic, confident decisions.

For more information, contact Dental Elite:
Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email info@dentalelite.co.uk or call 01788 545 900.

Learn more in the latest Interim Goodwill Report at:
https://dentalelite.co.uk/goodwill-report

“My experience using the service has been exceptional. I would rate the service 5 out of 5 Ted Johnston was the person dealing with the sale. He was committed, supportive and gave, what I felt was 150% to get the practice sold. I cannot speak too highly of him. I would definitely use the service again and most definitely recommend others to use Dental Elite.”
Dawn Pickering
“We were very happy with the service received from Dental Elite. I would rate the service we received as a 5 out of 5. Everyone I dealt with over the long process from start to finish was very helpful and friendly. Because it was a long process, we had several people helping us at various stages, all were fantastic. Without a doubt, I would use Dental Elite’s services again.”
Jacqui Setters
"From the very start Dental Elite was nothing but professional, friendly and efficient. Lottie, Nick, and the rest of the team have helped and supported us every single step of the way. Our sale proved to be challenging, however, we could always rely on the whole team to get us past the finish line. Thank you Dental Elite. You have been amazing!"
Lenka Wong
"Tommy was extremely helpful and knowledgeable throughout the entire finance application process. He guided us step by step, provided clear explanations, and ensured that we understood all our options. I highly recommend Tommy to anyone in need of financial assistance. Thank you, Tommy!"
Mahyar Bettany
“My experience working with Phil and Carl was very positive, they were both professional, helpful and knowledgeable. They gave me the ultimate confidence from the get-go, which is definitely what you need when you’ve got someone managing the sale. “I certainly would recommend Dental Elite's services to others – They were excellent!”
Michelle Bates
“I have tried to sell my practice before and never really liked how other brokers approached me as a client, but when I spoke with Julie Randle I had a gut feeling that she was the right person to sell my practice. Dental Elite found me the right buyer who would approach dentistry the way I do. Selling your practice can be a very stressful process and I absolutely relied on Julie, especially when there were major renegotiations. I can’t praise Dental Elite highly enough, right from initial valuation to doing viewings and through to completion they were absolutely excellent. I would heartily recommend Dental Elite to others.”
Mike Elrich
"Excellent service. Very efficient and great/prompt communication. I would highly recommend Luke Shelton!"
Rushin Patel
"We used the services of DE finance to buy a practice. Luke Shelton was very helpful. He knew the whole process, was very pro active, quick with communications to resolve things. He also got us the best market rate at very favourable terms which wasn't available in the open market. Thanks Luke"
Saleem Mulla
“We chose Dental Elite after we initially had the practice on sale with another agent who had overvalued the practice. I worked with Phil Kolodynski then Carl Wetton. They were both highly professional and helped guide us through the sales process.”
Stephen Potter