Dentistry Show Birmingham 2026 - thank you for being part of it

We've finally had a chance to sit down, catch our breath and reflect on what was a fantastic couple of days at Dentistry Show Birmingham 2026. Since then, we've been following up on conversations, carrying out audits and speaking with practice owners about the challenges and opportunities we discussed on the stand. Our feet have barely touched the floor - but we wouldn't have it any other way.

If you visited our stand, attended our speaker session, stopped for a chat, shared an idea, picked up a brochure or simply said hello, we'd like to say a huge thank you. Because for us, the show wasn't really about marketing, SEO or technology. It was about people.

Of course, we spent plenty of time talking AI, SEO, local visibility and the future of dental marketing. What was interesting, though, was where those conversations often ended up. A chat about SEO would quickly become a conversation about patient trust. A question about AI would lead to a deeper discussion about how patients make decisions, what they're looking for when choosing a dentist, and how practices can communicate their expertise more effectively.

Very few people were asking how to "game Google" or chase shortcuts. Instead, they wanted to talk about how patients research treatments, how trust is built online, and how they can better showcase the expertise they already have.

A theme that surfaced repeatedly was that many practice owners weren't necessarily unhappy with their marketing. They simply wanted more visibility, better understanding and greater confidence in what was happening behind the scenes and how it connected back to their wider business goals.

Conversations that stuck with us

A big highlight of our show experience was our speaker session with Feel Good Dental’s Dr. Nirmalan (Niz) Patkunan, sharing how practices can leverage specialist expertise to strengthen their visibility online.

The response blew us away, but what we enjoyed most were the chats that followed. The session opened the door to discussions around authority, trust, patient education and how practices can share what makes them different in a way that genuinely helps patients.

We lost count of the number of chats that touched on AI search and changing patient behaviour.

Not because people were worried about it, quite the opposite.

In fact, most practice owners seemed genuinely curious. They wanted to understand what was changing, what wasn't, and how they could adapt without losing sight of what makes their practice unique.

Brilliant businesses and the people behind them

One of the real joys of Dentistry Show Birmingham is catching up with the businesses doing great things across the industry. From clinicians and practice owners to suppliers and innovators supporting them behind the scenes, there's always something to learn.

It was a pleasure catching up with familiar faces including the wonderful Punita from Foxley Lane Dental, as well as meeting and reconnecting with practice owners from across the UK, all facing different challenges - but united by the same desire to build thriving practices and deliver outstanding patient care. Listening to Reena Wadia being interviewed post lecture about prevention and patient education was a great reminder that great dentistry has always been about helping patients understand and improve their long-term oral health.

We were also lucky to be surrounded by some fantastic neighbours throughout the event, all doing incredible things in their field. Fyous were behind us showcasing some genuinely innovative orthodontic technology, while DENTSTOCK and founder Rasnaam Singh Tiwana were brilliant neighbours across the aisle - and a real pleasure to spend time with.

Bryant Dental was impossible to miss. From the stand itself to the products on display, Connor Bryant and the team created one of the standout experiences of the show, and generated a huge amount of interest throughout the weekend. The team at Dentally also showcased a stand that was beautifully executed, and reflected the clean, intuitive experience they're known for. PÄRLA's stand was another standout for us (though we’re still slightly disappointed we never managed to get hold of one of their super cute caps or water bottles!)

We also loved getting to know Loven and the team at Chairsyde. They're such an approachable, generous bunch who were great fun to spend time with, doing some really interesting things around patient communication and understanding, with such a beautifully designed, welcoming stand.

We were also gutted we never got to catch Adrian Dray in the Leaders’ Lounge with VoiceStack. We’ve long admired Adrian's thought leadership around behavioural science, patient communication and patient decision-making - topics that feel increasingly relevant as dentistry continues to evolve. Hoping to catch-up at a future event soon!

More than a trade show

On stand, we spent a lot of time running audits for practices who dropped by. What often started as a quick look under the bonnet turned into much bigger discussions about visibility, growth and the challenges practice owners are navigating right now.

Those discussions gave us plenty to think about, and we've actually pulled together a separate article exploring some of the biggest marketing, AI and patient behaviour trends that emerged from the show. If that’s something you’d like to check out, you can find it here.

More than anything, it reinforced the value of simply being in the room.

There's been a lot of discussion over the past few years about whether industry events are truly "back". From our perspective, the Dentistry Show Birmingham 2026 certainly felt busy, energetic and optimistic.

The value of face-to-face interaction is hard to replicate. In the space of two days, you can learn more about the challenges, opportunities and ambitions of the industry than you sometimes can in months of Zoom calls.

While Transcend’s Ali spent much of the show on the stand and in speaker sessions, Steve spent a lot of his time walking the halls, introducing himself to exhibitors, and starting conversations around future partnerships and collaborations. What struck us most was how open people were. Practice owners, consultants, software providers, suppliers and clinicians were all willing to share ideas, experiences and lessons learned. There was a genuine sense of collaboration running through the event - and that's something we hope never changes.

Thank you

Events like this don't happen without a huge amount of hard work from those behind the scenes. A huge thank you to Charlie Summerly for all his support around our speaker session, and to Hollie and the wider CloserStill Media team for creating such a fantastic event and making everyone feel so well looked after.

We'd also like to thank Joe, Emily and the team at 19-ninety for helping bring our stand to life. They were an absolute pleasure to work with and played a huge part in helping everything come together.

For us personally, the show also felt like an important milestone. Before Transcend Dental became a dedicated dental growth agency, we spent years working behind the scenes on award-winning dental and orthodontic projects. Being at Dentistry Show Birmingham with our own stand, our own speaker session and a growing network of our own clients, partners and collaborators felt pretty special.
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Most of all, we came away feeling genuinely grateful. Grateful for the connections, the ideas and the generosity people showed in sharing their experiences with us.

So, if you were part of our Dentistry Show Birmingham experience this year, thank you. We loved every minute of it and we're already looking forward to next year.

Frequently asked questions

What should dental practices do after attending a dentistry trade show?
Dental practices should use the weeks after a dentistry trade show to review their notes, compare supplier conversations, identify useful ideas and decide which actions support their wider practice goals. The most valuable follow-up often comes from turning event conversations into clear next steps, rather than letting brochures, notes and good intentions disappear once normal practice life resumes. Many practice owners leave with ideas around patient communication, operational efficiency, dental marketing, SEO for dentists and AI-driven patient discovery. The most valuable next step is deciding which opportunities align with your wider business objectives and patient growth goals - and using that as a launch pad for the next step.
Why are live practice audits useful at dental events?
Live practice audits are useful at dental events because they give practice owners a clearer view of how their website, visibility and patient journey are performing in real time. A short audit can quickly highlight where enquiries may be lost, where visibility could improve and which areas deserve closer attention after the event. Live practice audits often uncover opportunities across dental SEO, website performance, patient conversion and local visibility. They help practice owners understand where enquiries are being lost and which improvements are most likely to support future growth.
How can dental practices choose the right suppliers after Dentistry Show Birmingham?
Dental practices can choose the right suppliers after Dentistry Show Birmingham by looking beyond the stand, brochure or sales pitch and assessing whether each supplier understands the realities of running a dental practice. Good partners should be able to explain their approach clearly, show relevant experience and connect their recommendations to the practice’s goals, capacity and patient journey.
How can dental practices turn event inspiration into action?
Dental practices can turn event inspiration into action by choosing a small number of priorities, assigning clear ownership and reviewing how each idea fits their wider practice strategy. After a busy event, it’s tempting to act on everything at once, but the strongest results usually come from focusing on the changes most likely to improve patient experience, visibility or operational efficiency. Rather than chasing every new trend, practices should assess which developments in AI search, Dental AEO, SEO for dentists, patient communication or workflow automation are most relevant to their patients, team and long-term business objectives.
What can dental practices learn from other exhibitors at Dentistry Show Birmingham?
Dental practices can learn a lot from other exhibitors at Dentistry Show Birmingham, including how different businesses communicate value, design patient experiences and use technology to solve practical problems. Looking beyond direct competitors often gives practice owners fresh ideas for improving communication, systems, branding and patient support. Exhibitors also often provide insight into emerging dental technology, patient communication tools, Dental AEO strategies, marketing platforms and operational systems that could influence future practice growth.

How can practice owners make the most of dental conference conversations?
Practice owners can make the most of dental conference conversations by looking for repeated themes, practical advice and ideas that connect back to their own growth plans. At events such as the Dentistry Show Birmingham, useful insight often comes from informal chats as much as scheduled sessions, especially when practice owners speak openly about the challenges they’re facing.
What questions should dental practices ask marketing suppliers at trade shows?
Dental practices should ask marketing suppliers at trade shows how their work connects to real business goals, patient enquiries, reporting, treatment growth and long-term practice performance. The best conversations go beyond services and packages, helping practice owners understand what will be measured, why it matters and how activity supports growth. Whether discussing dental marketing, SEO for dentists, Google Ads or Dental AEO, practice owners should understand how success will be measured, how activity supports patient acquisition and how recommendations connect to wider business goals.
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What makes face-to-face networking valuable for dental practice growth?
Face-to-face networking is valuable for dental practice owners because it creates space for honest conversations, shared experiences and practical learning that can be difficult to capture online. Speaking directly with other practice owners, clinicians, suppliers and consultants often helps practices identify new opportunities, understand emerging dental industry trends and make better-informed decisions about future growth.
Why do supplier relationships matter in dentistry?
Supplier relationships matter in dentistry because practices rely on trusted partners across technology, systems, marketing, patient communication, equipment and business support. Strong relationships help practices make better decisions, access specialist knowledge and build a network that supports both clinical care and commercial growth.
How should dental practices review their marketing after a major dental event?
Dental practices should review their marketing after a major dental event by asking whether their current activity is clear, measurable and aligned with the type of practice they want to build. A useful review should consider website performance, dental SEO, Dental AEO, Google Business Profile visibility, enquiry quality, patient conversion rates and how effectively enquiries are being converted into appointments. Reviewing these areas together often provides a clearer picture than looking at individual marketing channels in isolation.
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