Dentistry Show London 2025: Reflections from the Stage

The Dentistry Show London 2025 has wrapped up, and what a fantastic event it was. Thousands of dental professionals filled the halls to discover new innovations, connect with colleagues, and learn from speakers across the profession. For me and the Bremadent Dental Laboratory team, this year was particularly special because I had the privilege of taking to the stage for not one but two sessions.

Looking back, I am grateful for the turnout, the questions, the conversations, and the chance to shine a light on the often-hidden world of the dental lab. Both sessions were designed to be dentist friendly, honest, and insightful,  and from the feedback we received, they struck the right balance of education and entertainment.

Fireside Chat with Dr. Manrina Rhode: Mind the Gap Between Dentist and Techie
One of the highlights of the weekend was sitting down with Dr. Manrina Rhode for our fireside chat, Mind the Gap Between Dentist and Techie.
Manrina hardly needs an introduction. With over 20 years in practice since graduating from Guy’s in 2002, she is the founder of DRMR Clinic in Knightsbridge and has completed more than 14,000 veneers. She is one of the most respected cosmetic dentists in the UK and brought a wealth of clinical knowledge to the discussion.
We began by reading out each other’s bios — a lighthearted way to break the ice and set the tone. From there, we dived straight into the realities of the dentist–lab relationship. Too often, this relationship feels transactional: impressions go in, crowns come out, and communication in between is minimal. We wanted to show how it can be something more meaningful.

Our conversation covered:

• Why the dentist–lab relationship is often seen as transactional and how to build genuine partnerships that improve results.
• What makes a good cosmetic dentist and what makes a good cosmetic dental technician.
• The importance of communication and trust, including how to strip away jargon and manage patient expectations more clearly.
• How technology, digital workflows, and first-fit systems are reshaping collaboration between clinics and labs.
• Real stories from the chair and the bench — including both successes and the moments where things went wrong but were rescued through teamwork.
  
  

The Q and A at the end was lively. Dentists asked honest questions about impressions, turnaround times, digital workflows, and the role of the CDT in supporting complex cases. It was refreshing to have such open dialogue, and it reinforced why sessions like this are so valuable.

Solo Talk: A Day in the Life of a New Generation Dental Laboratory
The second session I delivered was my solo talk, A Day in the Life of a New Generation Dental Laboratory.
This was a chance to lift the lid on the daily operations of a dental lab and show dentists, nurses, and practice managers exactly what happens on the other side of the bench. Many in the audience admitted that before the talk, the lab process was something of a mystery. By the end, they had a clearer picture of the systems, checks, and communication that go into every case.

I walked the audience through the day-to-day flow, including:

• Collecting and booking in cases, both physically and digitally.
• Working with analogue and digital impressions, from casting models to 3D printing.
• Organising and allocating work to departments and technicians.
• Designing, fabricating, finishing, and signing off appliances with strict quality control at each stage.
• Invoicing, dispatch, and delivering cases back to clinics.
  
• Communication with practices through phone, email, and WhatsApp.
• Internal communication through face-to-face chats, department phones, and group messaging for updates.

There were laughs too.
We explored the gap between what people think technicians do versus the reality, illustrated with memes and stories from real lab life. The point was not just to entertain but to show the pressures and responsibilities labs face and why they matter for every dentist’s daily workflow.

The audience takeaway was clear: when practices understand how labs really work, they can collaborate better, set realistic expectations, and ultimately deliver more predictable results for patients.

Why This Matters for Dentists
Both sessions reinforced one important message: dentistry is a team effort. It is not just about what happens in the surgery, it is also about what happens in the lab, in the communication between professionals, and in the leadership decisions that guide every case.

For dentists, this matters because your patients do not just see the final crown, denture, or implant, they see the outcome of a collaboration. By understanding the processes, pressures, and possibilities in the lab, you can manage patient expectations more effectively, avoid costly remakes, and build stronger relationships with your laboratory partners.

A Personal Reflection
As someone who started as an apprentice at 16, became the UK’s youngest Clinical Dental Technician, and later took over Bremadent through a management buyout at 25, it was a privilege to stand on stage and share this journey. Over 20 years as a Dental Technician, more than a decade as a CDT and lab owner, and now overseeing 3,000+ cases a month, these experiences shape my perspective and my passion for bridging the gap between dentists and labs.

The feedback I received after both sessions was humbling. Dentists told me they finally understood why labs sometimes request new impressions, why turnaround times vary, and why communication is not a nuisance but an essential part of achieving consistent results. Some even said they would be heading back to their practices with new ideas to strengthen their lab relationships. That, to me, made the entire experience worthwhile.

Closing Thoughts
The Dentistry Show London 2025 reminded us all that dentistry is not just about science and technology, it is about people and collaboration. From my fireside chat with Dr. Manrina Rhode to my solo talk on lab life, the common thread was simple: stronger relationships between dentists and labs lead to better outcomes for patients.

At Bremadent Dental Laboratory, our motto remains Together, we can make your patients smile. Speaking at the Dentistry Show was an opportunity to live that motto on a bigger stage, and I am grateful to everyone who joined the sessions, asked questions, and engaged with the conversation.

If you missed the talks or would like to learn more about how Bremadent can support your practice with prosthetics, implants, digital workflows, and reliable communication, get in touch with us today.

Your patients deserve the best. Let’s make it happen, together.