From ‘probably fine’ to provably compliant 

What have practices learned about dental compliance in 2025, and what are inspectors focusing on in 2026?

Dental practices entered 2025 under more pressure than ever. Time was tighter. Expectations were higher. And compliance increasingly sat in the background until something brought it sharply into focus. 

Across the year, our compliance advisors worked closely with practices of all sizes. Looking back, clear patterns emerged – not just about where practices struggled, but about the quiet gaps that caused the most stress when scrutiny increased. 

The pressure points practices kept running into 

In 2025, most practices weren’t struggling because they didn’t care about compliance. They were struggling because the way compliance lived inside the practice hadn’t kept pace with how it’s now being assessed. 

Across practices, we repeatedly saw: 

• Evidence that existed, but wasn’t easy to find, review or explain 
• Actions logged, but not clearly followed up or communicated 
• Compliance knowledge sitting with one person, creating pressure and risk 
• Assumptions that things were ‘probably fine’, until something triggered closer scrutiny.

These weren’t dramatic failures. They were small gaps that built over time, and they were often the areas inspectors, advisors and practice teams ended up spending the most time on. 

The shift we saw in confident practices 

One of the clearest lessons from 2025 was that confidence didn’t come from doing more compliance. It came from doing it differently. 

‘Change can feel challenging at first, especially when teams are already stretched,’ says Sam Spriggs, compliance manager. ‘But when practices are supported properly and take things one step at a time, it leads to more confident and sustainable compliance.’ 

Practices that felt calmer and better prepared moved away from relying on memory and last-minute fixes. Instead, they leaned into clearer systems, shared responsibility and visibility. 

As Bilkis Hussain, head of compliance, has seen first-hand, that shift made a tangible difference. ‘Practices that leaned into structured systems felt calmer and more prepared. Compliance stopped being something they feared and started becoming part of how they worked.’ 

For many teams, 2025 also marked a change in mindset. Compliance wasn’t just about inspection readiness, it became something that protected patients, supported staff and safeguarded the practice. 

‘When teams understand why something matters, not just what they need to do, everything changes,’ says Pat Langley, clinical director. ‘Engagement improves, responsibility is shared, and compliance becomes much more sustainable.’ 

What inspectors are focusing on now 

As we move into 2026, expectations around governance, evidence and accountability continue to rise. In many cases, the rules haven’t changed dramatically – but how compliance is being assessed has. 

Inspectors are spending less time asking whether something exists, and more time exploring how it’s used, reviewed and improved. 

Across the sector, we’re seeing increased focus on: 

• Clear audit trails, including how actions are reviewed, followed up and closed 
• Real-time evidence, rather than retrospective explanations 
• Consistency across multi-site practices, without losing local accountability 
• Demonstrating learning, not just recording training.

From the perspective of Amrita Nijjar, compliance strategy and advisory manager, the difference between confidence and stress is rarely about perfection. ‘The practices that feel most confident treat compliance as ongoing rather than reactive. 2026 will reward those who build habits now, rather than scramble later.’ 

Having policies and records is no longer enough, inspectors want to see how they’re used. 

What confident practices are doing differently 

Looking ahead, the practices that feel most confident aren’t trying to fix everything at once. They’re making small, steady shifts in how compliance works day to day. 

In particular, we’re seeing stronger outcomes where practices: 

• Move compliance out of individual heads and into shared systems 
• Build simple routines that make evidence easier to maintain 
• Ask questions early, before pressure builds 
• Treat compliance as part of everyday working, not a separate task.

Why support matters more than systems alone 

One of the strongest messages from 2025 was just how important support really is. 

‘Compliance can feel isolating if you think you’re expected to know everything,’ says Annabel Clarke, head of customer success. ‘What we aim to do is reassure practices that they don’t have to have all the answers, that’s what we’re here for.’ 

Dentistry Compliance brings structure and support together through a clear compliance platform, backed by experienced advisors who understand the realities of dental practice. Regulations are translated into practical, achievable actions, with support available when questions arise – not just when something feels urgent. 

How to feel more confident about compliance in 2026 

If any of these pressure points feel familiar, a demo will show how practices are addressing them in practice – with clearer systems, shared visibility and expert support. 

Book a demo to see how Dentistry Compliance can help you move from ‘probably fine’ to confidently compliant.

Dentistry Compliance team 

Annabel Clarke 

Head of customer success 

Bilkis Hussain 

Head of compliance 

Pat Langley 

Clinical director 

Patricia Santos

Compliance advisor

Amrita Bhambra Nijjar 

Compliance strategy and advisory manager 

Sam Spriggs 

Compliance and client solutions manager 

This article is sponsored by Dentistry Compliance.