What Is a Mixed Dental Practice (NHS + Private)?
A Mixed Dental Practice is a clinic that delivers dentistry under both the NHS contract and private care.
It combines NHS-funded treatments (measured by UDAs – Units of Dental Activity) with private treatments such as cosmetic dentistry, implants, Invisalign, or membership plans.
Why Does a Mixed Dental Practice Model Matter for Owners?
Mixed practices represent the majority of UK dental businesses. They balance the security of NHS income with the higher margins of private work.
Challenges include:
- Cash Flow Timing – NHS payments in arrears vs private deposits in advance
- Profitability Differences – NHS UDAs may be low-margin, private high-margin
- Resource Allocation – balancing chair time between NHS commitments and private growth
- Associate Pay Splits – different structures for NHS vs private treatments
Example:
- NHS contract value: £600,000
- Private income: £400,000
- Total revenue: £1,000,000
DentPulse would segment performance to reveal profit drivers vs drag across the two streams.
What Are the Benefits and Risks of Running a Mixed Practice?
| Benefit | Risk |
| Stable NHS income | Lower margins, UDA clawbacks |
| Upsell to private care | Patient confusion on NHS vs private eligibility |
| Risk diversification | Complexity in reporting & pay splits |
| Attractive to buyers | Over-reliance on NHS contracts can reduce value |
How Does DentPulse Support Mixed Dental Practices?
| Feature | Function |
| Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting™ | Models NHS, private, and plan income side by side |
| Revenue Recognition Engine | Splits NHS UDAs vs private treatment delivery |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ | Shows owner take-home after both income streams + tax |
| APEX™ + PCPT™ | Benchmarks associate & chair profit across NHS and private |
| OWS™ Integration | Scores wealth outcomes for mixed models |
DentPulse gives owners clarity, comparability, and control — across both NHS and private dentistry.
DentPulse Tip™
“A mixed dental practice is only as strong as its balance.
Too much NHS risks margin erosion. Too little NHS risks cash flow volatility.”
Related Glossary Terms
- NHS Dental Practice – practices fully contracted to NHS
- Private Dental Practice – practices funded only by private income
- UDA (Units of Dental Activity) – measure for NHS activity
- Hybrid Revenue Model Forecasting – proprietary DentPulse tool
- Treatment Profitability – compares margins across NHS and private cases
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Mixed Dental Practice | A practice delivering both NHS and private treatments |
| Purpose | Combine NHS security with private profitability |
| DentPulse Advantage | Hybrid revenue forecasting + profitability split analysis |
