Eight out of ten (82 per cent) of dentists say celebrity culture has rocketed demand for dentistry work, with customers looking for a ‘Hollywood smile.’ A further 60 per cent have seen patients reference a specific celebrity smile they want to copy.
Top of people’s list is actor Margot Robbie, with the nation’s most sought-after smile, with Love Island’s Jack Fincham in second place. Hustle star Anne Hathaway was voted third.
The research also found one in four Brits are unhappy with their teeth (27 per cent), with nearly two thirds (59 per cent) willing to spend money in order to achieve the ‘perfect smile,’ – an average of £1,121. In Brighton, those willing to spend money said they would splash the most cash - £2,157 on average, with Londoners close behind willing to spend £1,738.
Over a fifth of dentists surveyed said they were considering taking out a loan in the next two years, with the most common reason being a desire to start a new practice (45 per cent), followed by wanting to buy more machinery or equipment (30 per cent).
Barclays has a specialist team of relationship managers working the length and the breadth of the UK dedicated to helping a whole range of businesses, including dentists, grow.
Aria, principal dentist and owner of Harrow Dental Practice in Hornchurch, Essex, said, “I’ve seen a massive increase in patients wanting cosmetic dentistry, in particular tooth whitening and braces, with many clients bringing in photos of celebrities to show me their dream smile.
“Support from Barclays has enabled me to keep up with demand and extend my practice. I’ve also invested in technology, with a scanner that can create an image of how teeth will look after surgery in just 60 seconds, which has more than doubled the number of patients visiting my practice.
“It’s clear that tech, including 3D printing and AI, will shape the future of the industry and it’s great to have a relationship manager to talk through the opportunities for investment in these areas.”
As part of a wider package of support for SMEs across the country, Barclays also recently announced a £14bil lending fund, aimed at businesses at several stages of growth and development.
For more information on Barclays Business Banking, visit https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/