Spilling the Teath UK: The Future of Dentistry at Meliora Dental

This time on Spilling the Teath UK, we took a trip up north to visit Dr. Kunal Rai at Meliora Dental in Leeds. If you’ve been following along, you know we love talking about how dentistry is evolving, and today’s chat was no exception. From moving to a mixed model practice to embracing AI, Kunal’s story is one that every dentist on the fence about the future should hear.

From Computer Science to Dentistry – A Unique Journey

Kunal’s path to dentistry wasn’t the usual one. Before he was shaping smiles, he was shaping code – pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. But sitting in front of a computer all day wasn’t for him, and with a family background in medicine, he decided to pivot to dentistry. He studied at Charles University in Prague and qualified in 2015 before working with Bupa for eight years.

Even then, the vision was clear – he wanted his own practice, a space where he could offer the very best patient care. In 2023, that vision became reality when he took over Round Arrow Dental, now known as Meliora Dental. The location wasn’t just convenient – it was personal. His own grandmother had been a patient there.

Saying Goodbye to 100% NHS – A Defining Moment

When Kunal took over, Meliora Dental was operating on a 100% NHS model. But as he quickly realised, this approach wasn’t sustainable for the quality of care he wanted to deliver.

"Patients were coming in with six, seven, eight fillings at a time, and all I could do was put in a silver filling or do an extraction. I knew I had to change something.”

And so, the move to a mixed model began. The practice reduced its NHS contract from 21,000 UDAs to 13,000, prioritising regular patients while setting clear expectations for emergency drop-ins. The shift wasn’t easy. Patients who had relied on NHS access didn’t always take the change well – some even became aggressive with staff.

But through it all, Kunal stayed firm. By transitioning to a mixed model, he wasn’t just protecting the practice’s viability; he was unlocking the ability to offer high-quality, advanced treatments that simply weren’t possible under NHS constraints.

Tech That Transforms Patient Experience

With more financial flexibility came the ability to reinvest in the practice. Kunal didn’t just pocket the extra income – he used it to enhance patient care.

Game-changing investments included:

- Second Opinion AI – Making X-rays instantly understandable for patients

- AI Voice Notes – Automating notes, allowing for more patient interaction

- iTero Scanner – Elevating diagnostics and treatment planning

- Boxly – Freeing up reception teams from marketing admin overload

With AI-driven tools like Second Opinion AI, he found an unexpected side benefit – patient trust skyrocketed. Before, when he diagnosed cavities, patients had no visual reference and often doubted his recommendations. Now? They can see the problem areas clearly marked on their X-rays.

"A picture is worth a thousand words. Before Second Opinion AI, I had patients leaving bad reviews, thinking I was trying to upsell unnecessary treatment. Now, they see it for themselves.”

The results speak for themselves:

- A 48% increase in treatment uptake post-diagnosis

- A 75% increase in premium treatment upgrades (e.g., white fillings instead of silver)

Technology isn’t just making life easier for dentists – it’s giving patients the confidence to invest in their oral health.

The Future of Dentistry: Precision, Prevention, Efficiency

So, what’s next for practices looking to level up? According to Kunal, dentistry is moving away from a reactive model (fixing problems as they appear) and towards a proactive one (preventing them before they develop). Technology will be the key driver in this shift.

"Scepticism is natural, but AI is here to make us better clinicians, not replace us. When digital X-rays first came in, people resisted them too. Now they’re standard.”

His advice? Don’t just modernise your practice – modernise your approach. Patients today are tech-savvy. If they see you embracing the latest tools, they’ll feel more confident in your care. If they don’t? They’ll go elsewhere.

Final Thoughts: What’s Your Next Move?

Whether you’re thinking of going private, investing in AI, or just reimagining your patient experience, the time to act is now. To wrap up, we’ll leave you with two questions:

1. What piece of technology would you invest in next if money wasn’t a barrier?
2. Where do you stand on moving to a mixed model practice?

Drop us your thoughts – we’d love to hear from you!

See you on the next Spilling the Teath!