Posted in Posts
On 7 July 2026, the Upper Tribunal handed down its decision in HMRC versus Align Technology. HMRC won. Clear aligners are now standard rated for VAT, not exempt. Matt Everatt shares his thoughts. If you make or supply orthodontic appliances, retainers, or even mouthguards and occlusal splints, this matters. What actually happened Align had been…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt details what dental 3D printing, artificial intelligence and platform models tell us about the next three to five years in the lab sector. We all know the Blockbuster story, or we think we do. The market leader, nine thousand stores, a brand so dominant that ‘renting a film’ and ‘going to Blockbuster’ were…
Posted in Posts
The GDC has finally said what many of us have known for years about the shortage of dental technicians. But before we sound the alarm, we should ask the right questions. Every year the General Dental Council publishes its Registration Statistical Report. Every year the dental profession scans it for headlines. Dental therapist numbers up, hygienist numbers up, nurses…
Posted in Posts
‘Being busy is not the same as being successful’ – Matt Everatt asks lab owners to consider whether their hard work is truly paying off and suggests how to ensure it does. In the fast-paced dental lab world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being constantly busy: cases coming in, 3D printers whirring, acrylic…
Posted in Posts
Laboratory’s Matt Everatt explores what the General Dental Council’s (GDC) response to his Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request means for the world of dental technology. In May 2025, I submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the General Dental Council (GDC) after months of silence following an earlier joint inquiry from myself and…
Posted in Posts
Tackling the technician shortage: Matt Everatt asks a panel of experts if attracting people to dental technology is achievable. At this year’s North of England Dentistry Show, a panel discussion addressed the alarming decline in the number of dental technicians entering and remaining in the profession. Hosted by Matt Everatt, the discussion brought together lab…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt explains why he believes the GDC is ‘heavy-handed’ and ‘overly punitive’ in its regulation of dental technicians – and the GDC responds. The General Dental Council (GDC) plays an important role in safeguarding patients and maintaining trust in dental services. However, when it comes to its approach to regulating dental technicians, the GDC…
Posted in Posts
With not long left until the 2025 Dentistry Awards deadline, Matt Everatt shares how to enter and why the dental lab community should get involved. I know awards can divide opinion. I make no apologies about this, but I love them. Some see them as a genuine mark of excellence, while others remain sceptical, believing…
Posted in Posts
Planning to give your employees a Christmas bonus? Matt Everatt shares the tax implications involved. As the festive season approaches, many employees might find themselves hoping for a Christmas bonus or gift from their employer. If you’re a lab or practice owner, you might be thinking of how to reward your team in the most…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt pens a poignant poem ahead of the festive season, addressing the feeling of disillusionment across UK dental labs. I have been writing about the dwindling numbers of dental technicians over the last few years. Despite my ever-positive outlook on our profession, I cannot ignore the voices and noises made by my peers. Just…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt looks at what yesterday’s autumn budget announcement means for UK dental laboratories. Dental laboratories in the UK, like many small businesses, have been hit hardest in this autumn’s budget, and will face a challenging financial landscape in the coming months. In the 2024 autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced big changes to national…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt predicts when dental technicians will cease to exist and whether the workforce’s steady decline is reversible. Following the new CPD cycle and payment of the ARF, the General Dental Council (GDC) has released the latest figures on the number of registered dental care professionals. Every group has increased in numbers with the stark…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt shares the importance of celebrating and recognising the unsung heroes of dentistry: dental technicians and clinical dental technicians. I would like to offer a massive ‘high five’ to my colleagues and peers this CDT and Dental Technician Appreciation Month. It is more than just a date on the calendar, it’s a heartfelt acknowledgment…
Posted in Posts
With a worsening recruitment crisis, Matt Everatt questions the future of dental technology – are we able to train more dental technicians in time? Just over a year ago, I wrote my third article about the decline in numbers of dental technicians. With recruitment still being an issue, I thought a follow up was long…
Posted in Posts
Matt Everatt discusses what he has learned from his side hustles and how they can improve your mental health. What is a ‘side hustle’? I’m not talking about moonlighting or, as us northerners say, ‘a fiddle job’. A side hustle is an additional job or activity that someone takes on alongside their primary source of…
Posted in Posts
Perfection paralysis: Matt Everatt discusses the importance of embracing failure rather than hiding from it, and the positive change this can have for your team. A couple of years ago I wrote an article about how, in dentistry, the fear of failure can lead to stifling innovation. Our clinical colleagues may fear failure for reasons…
Posted in Posts
You may be fortunate to have a few clients on your doorstep. But, as Matt Everatt warns, if you ever need to go looking for new clients, you might want to follow these crucial steps… ‘We can often fall into the habit of thinking every customer thinks or buys the same way you do…’ Back…
Posted in Posts
The College of General Dentistry has awarded fellowships to dental technicians and clinical dental technicians for their contributions to the profession. On Thursday 15 June, the College of General Dentistry (CGDent) awarded fellowships to UK dental technicians (DTs) and clinical dental technicians (CDTs). This was in recognition of their contributions to the profession. Amongst those…
Posted in Posts
As May marks Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) Awareness Month, Matt Everatt sheds light on what this unfamiliar and misunderstood condition is and why the dental profession should be aware of it. My wife has recently been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a genetic connective tissue disorder. EDS is characterised by joint hyper-mobility, skin hyper-extensibility and variable…
Stay updated with relevant information about this webinar
