Marketing is essential for every dental practice to grow and be successful in the long-term. However, with so many promotional channels available, it can be difficult to identify, implement and manage the most effective options. Add to this the fast-paced evolution of digital platforms, and you have a minefield that dental professionals must try to navigate while still running a business, caring for patients and so much more.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one area that dental professionals should be utilising. Its objective is to improve the practice’s visibility online, increasing the website ranking and making it easier to find for more of the right people.
Shaz Memon, founder of Digimax Dental, considers general uptake of SEO among the dental community to date:
“An interest definitely exists among the dental community for SEO and using it to elevate practice marketing. There has never been a time in marketing when online visibility was more important than it is today for any business.
“The real challenge is not in simply achieving exposure to a huge audience, but in being visible to the right people. For example, a TikTok post might get a million views, but bring in zero new patient enquiries. Compare this to 100 views via organic online searches and the number of new patients increases substantially. This could be the difference that brings in an additional £50k for the business. Consequently, a strong visibility strategy is critical to every practice’s successful marketing campaign.”
Adding to the complexity of effective online marketing has been the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These algorithms are changing how users receive information, often designed to provide short-form answers or shortcuts to sources for further reading. Shaz reflects on how AI-driven SEO might affect how individuals find a dental practice’s website:
“There has been a clear shift in how patients access information online in the last couple of years. They are often using AI snippets to research treatments, for example, and to better understand what’s out there, rather than to find a specific practice. For dental practices, it is increasingly important to understand how they can adapt to be a part of that movement. Early adopters in this space will see the most benefits, because a higher volume of users will create new challenges in terms of competition for space on the ranking system. We need to understand if traditional SEO is still relevant today, or whether we should diversify the practice marketing plan to give AI engines what they’re looking for.”
Despite the potential for AI-driven SEO to elevate practice promotion, Shaz cautions professionals against putting all their eggs in one basket. He clearly advocates for a comprehensive approach to marketing that encompasses different activities and avenues for the best results.
“AI is an extension of organic marketing, not a replacement,” he says. “There is a huge misunderstanding that SEO – or AI-focused SEO – alone will drive business growth. In reality, it is only one element of the overall strategy needed. A combination of organic SEO, social media, paid advertising and more will drive traffic to the website. From here, the web pages must be designed to incite action and encourage enquiries. It must all work together to work well.
“I would also hasten to add that if dental practices need to streamline their online marketing activities, organic SEO should always be prioritised. It is a trusted and proven way of marketing in the long-term. Without sufficient time, investment or expertise when changing plans to incorporate AI-driven SEO, this may do far more harm than good. It’s definitely not something to jump into and try out without adequate knowledge.”
Shaz will explore this entire topic in more detail during a session at BDIA Dental Showcase 2026. Taking the Business Theatre podium on Saturday 14th March at 14:00, he will present “AI, Google & SEO: Ranking smarter with dentistry’s most trusted marketing channel”. Attendees will discover more about how AI is influencing SEO and patient search behaviour, as well as how they can future-proof their rankings with a strategic approach that drives real-world patient growth.
About the seminar, Shaz adds:
“Dental professionals will leave the session knowing how to safely and effectively start improving their practice visibility on their own. I hope to give them the tools they need to transform their marketing plans with a practical approach. I will discuss what I’ve learnt over 20 years in dental marketing, having invested in understanding user behaviour and combining this with knowledge of the dental profession. There are no shortcuts to success in this field and anyone who suggests otherwise is not doing it with a long-term view.
“I’m looking forward to sharing all this and more in London in March. The first ever BDIA Dental Showcase I attended was the most successful show we’ve ever been to. It is a trusted name among dental exhibitions and conferences and I’ve always had a phenomenal experience. I’m excited to be part of it for 2026.”
BDIA Dental Showcase
13th-14th March 2026
ExCeL London
Find out more at www.dentalshowcase.com
