# #306 Building Together — Gauri Pradhan & Shivani Bhandari

An episode of [Dental Leaders Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1482901418), 27 Aug 2025, 1 h 45 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/f47b45cc/podcast/play/106464564/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-7-5%2F1c274526-06bd-e993-dab9-b629bc4a5cc3.mp3

Two remarkable women share their extraordinary journey from India to building three thriving NHS practices in the UK. Gauri Pradhan and Shivani Bhandari discuss their innovative therapist-led model that's revolutionising NHS dentistry, creating happy workplaces where staff genuinely want to be. From navigating the brutal ORE exam process to developing a groundbreaking patient app, they reveal how genuine friendship and shared values can build something remarkable. Their refreshing take on NHS dentistry challenges every assumption about what's possible in modern practice. In This Episode 00:01:05 - Practice ownership journey and location in Cheltenham 00:03:20 - Family background in dentistry and choosing oral surgery 00:06:25 - Decision to move from India to the UK 00:09:25 - Shivani's path from dentist to dental nurse to management 00:12:15 - Team culture and treating staff like family 00:20:45 - First practice acquisition during COVID 00:28:15 - Innovative therapist-led NHS model 00:35:20 - Making NHS dentistry work profitably 00:50:00 - DPS UK app development and technology innovation 00:58:45 - Blackbox thinking - learning from clinical mistakes 01:08:20 - ORE exam struggles and eventual success 01:26:20 - Future expansion plans and business philosophy 01:34:40 - Fantasy dinner party guests 01:37:15 - Last days and legacy advice About Gauri Pradhan & Shivani Bhandari Gauri Pradhan is a qualified oral surgeon who moved from India to the UK, eventually transitioning to general dentistry after completing her ORE qualification. Shivani Bhandari made the bold decision to pivot from dentistry to practice management after working as a dental nurse with Oasis. Together, they own three mixed practices in the Bristol and Cheltenham area, pioneering an innovative therapist-led model that's making NHS dentistry both profitable and enjoyable for their teams.

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