MiSmile reports back from its NEXT Conference and Gala, marking 10 years of resilience, innovation and community spirit in the MiSmile Network.
On 12 September 2025, the MiSmile community came together at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London for the MiSmile NEXT Conference and Gala. This year was not just another instalment of the network’s flagship event. It marked a remarkable milestone: 10 years since Dr Sandeep Kumar founded the MiSmile Network, which has grown from 20 pioneering practices in 2015 to more than 500 today.
What followed was a day that combined world-class education with celebration, energy and connection. It showcased why MiSmile is more than a business network. It is a community committed to one mission: giving patients beautiful smiles.
A decade of change – and growth
The day opened with a welcome from Align Technology’s Dan Gallagher, who reminded the audience: ‘We don’t want to stand still – we want to continue to grow.’ That spirit of progress is at the heart of MiSmile.
Align’s senior general manager, Evran Koksal, put the scale of achievement into perspective. The year 2025 marks the year of 20 million Invisalign smiles worldwide, and MiSmile members have been responsible for more than 60,000 of them. ‘The community is so important,’ he said. ‘We are proud of what the MiSmile Network has achieved, and we’re committed to continuing this partnership and delivering best-in-class service together.’
This spirit of collaboration ran throughout the day. Delegates were reminded that MiSmile is not only about growing practices, but about belonging to a family of like-minded clinicians.
A founder’s vision
Dr Sandeep Kumar, founder and CEO of MiSmile, took to the stage to share the story of the past decade. From disrupting the status quo in 2015, to adapting and scaling during the pandemic, to winning Brand of the Year at the Dental Industry Awards in 2024, MiSmile has built a track record of resilience, innovation and community spirit.
Sandeep reflected on three key lessons from his journey:
- Choose your hard – growth always comes with challenges, but the right ones are worth it
- Focus on one thing – ‘What you focus on gets done’
- Take courage – sometimes a single brave decision can change everything.
He also shared how MiSmile Media, launched just a year ago, has already grown into a leading dental marketing agency, with ambitious plans for the future. And he unveiled the network’s next evolution: ‘We are going to be the home of practice growth. Whether it’s training your teams, marketing your practice, or helping you hire the right people – we are here for you. We mean business.’
As if to underline that point, Sandeep announced the launch of a new practice diploma and teased his upcoming book, Mastering Your Invisalign Marketing due in January 2026.
But above all, his message was one of gratitude. ‘I never imagined we would be here today when I started this 10 years ago. Your passion and commitment is what makes MiSmile what it is – it is our success together, and today is about celebrating that.’
Future-focused learning
The NEXT agenda was packed with sessions designed to inspire delegates and help them shape the future of their practices.
Futurist Amelia Kallman explored how emerging technologies are changing the way we live and work. From AI agents that act as ‘smart digital assistants’ to the shift towards the ‘generative web’, she highlighted opportunities for practices to streamline operations and focus more on patient care. But her core message was reassuring: AI will not replace clinicians. Instead, it will enhance the human side of dentistry. Leaders, she argued, must become ‘adaptation engineers’ to guide teams through change with empathy and integrity.
Entrepreneur Bejay Mulenga MBE dived into the expectations of gen Z and gen alpha – today’s young patients and tomorrow’s workforce. For them, privacy, authenticity and sustainability are non-negotiables. One in three already say their smile equals confidence.
He offered practical tips for practices: use video testimonials to build trust, make WhatsApp the new reception desk, empower staff as content creators, and design clinics with social media in mind. His message was clear: your next patient has already checked you out online before they ever walk through the door.
‘Whatever they do to you, how you respond is up to you’
Nigel Risner, communication expert and author, kept the room engaged with his ‘zoo keeper’ model of communication styles. He challenged practices to tailor their interactions to the personalities of their patients and teams – whether they value cutting-edge tech, need detailed plans, or prefer a wait-and-see approach. From small, branded touches to the power of ‘feedforward’ instead of feedback, his session was full of practical ways to inspire loyalty and improve the patient journey.
Dentist Dr Sam Hainsworth delivered a timely reminder of the importance of resilience. Quoting Viktor Frankl, he reminded delegates: ‘Whatever they do to you, how you respond is up to you.’ Resilience, he argued, is not a fixed trait but a skill that can be built – and it starts with leaders setting the tone for their practices.
Clinical directors Dr Bhumita Shah and Dr Oliver Smart hosted a session on the importance of a joined-up approach to treatment. Their ‘360° approach to multidisciplinary treatment’ encouraged delegates to think beyond single-discipline solutions and consider how general practice and orthodontics can work seamlessly together to deliver the best outcomes for patients. For a community committed to creating beautiful, healthy smiles, it was a timely reminder that collaboration across specialisms is as important as collaboration across practices.
Collaboration with Align Technology
Align Technology’s commitment to the MiSmile community was clear throughout the day. Jody Carter shared how the company is shifting its focus from product to customer experience, citing research showing that 88% of people value experience as much as products. ‘My aim is to make Align a company you love to work with,’ he said. ‘We are committed to doing our best for you and your patients.’
It was another sign of the close partnership between Align and MiSmile, united by a shared purpose: improving lives through smiles.
The Gala: a celebration like no other
If the conference was about learning and inspiration, the Gala was about joy, connection and celebration.
Sandeep opened the evening by reminding delegates that MiSmile is built on collaboration: ‘We work together, we collaborate – that’s what this community is about. You are the heartbeat of this business.’
There was also a heartfelt focus on Operation Smile, with a pledge to raise £1 million in the years ahead. That evening alone, the community contributed £15,000 towards life-changing surgery for children born with cleft conditions, and to date the MiSmile Community has raised almost £400,000 for Operation Smile.
And then the party began. Traditional dhol drummers filled the room with rhythm, while singing waiters had guests dancing and conga-lining their way around the ballroom. The MiSmile Awards recognised outstanding contributions from across the community, before the night ended with a true sense of shared achievement and optimism for the future.
Looking ahead: the NEXT chapter
The MiSmile NEXT Conference and Gala 2025 was more than an anniversary. It was a moment to reflect on a decade of growth, to celebrate what has been achieved, and to look forward with confidence and excitement.
For delegates, it was a day to connect, learn, and grow together. For MiSmile, it was a chance to declare what comes next: to become the home of practice growth, to keep supporting clinicians in giving patients the smiles they deserve, and to continue building a community where no one has to stand still.
As one delegate summed it up: ‘It’s been life-changing to be part of MiSmile – and I cannot wait for the next 10 years.’
To find out more about MiSmile, and how you could be part of this incredible community, visit join.mismile.co.uk.
This article is sponsored by MiSmile.
