Well-prepared for success: Arnold Gangaidzo explains how small, consistent, well-considered moves allow him to stay ahead of the curve.
Arnold Gangaidzo is generous with his time. Dentists are rarely blessed with much of it; practice owners even less so. Nevertheless, he graciously earmarks almost an hour of this precious commodity to discuss the career he cherishes and his evident dedication to mentorship and ‘paying it forward’.
He is the proud owner of Lancashire Smiles Dental Practice, a private practice in Kirkham, which opened its doors in September 2024 – four months ahead of schedule. This early launch speaks volumes about Arnold’s drive and strategic mindset.
In essence, he doesn’t leave things to chance. Every step in his career has been part of a well-crafted plan. His approach? Small, consistent, well-considered moves – always with the bigger picture in mind. His mobile calendar is filled with milestones, large and small. Launching his squat practice was a major one.
‘I like setting big goals and visions. I set January 2025 as the date I would open a dental practice, but it happened in September last year. I like creating challenging targets and then adding mini-goals to that journey. I think that’s how I completed the practice quicker than planned.’
Straight talking
This flair for foresight forms both the foundation of his success and the core of his mentoring. As the co-founder of DentalmentorUK, Arnold helped aspiring dentists navigate their careers. He now runs a Mastering Aligners community, aiding colleagues in building their confidence and profitability with clear aligner therapy.
His dedication to mastering the fundamentals of tooth movement to ensure long-term success demonstrated a maturity beyond his years. He began working with a mentor while providing Invisalign for his first cases. He subsequently enrolled in an orthodontic course, Straight Forward Straight Wire, led by two consultant orthodontists, Professor Jonathan Sandler and Dr Alison Murray. He completed a diploma in clear aligner therapy, taught by specialist orthodontist Dr Raman Aulakh, immediately afterwards.
Now, as an established provider, he applies the same structured mentoring approach to guide aspiring aligner providers toward excellence through his comprehensive programme.
True to his philosophy, he generously shares his time and knowledge – often available outside of working hours – to ensure the next generation of dentists is well-prepared for success. For Arnold, it isn’t solely about personal achievement – it’s about helping others thrive.
Securing opportunities
Ambition and aspiration took root early. As one of five sons, his parents left Zimbabwe for the UK in August 1999 to settle in Buckinghamshire. Arnold deeply appreciates their sacrifices, including leaving their home, family, friends and successful careers to secure better opportunities for their children.
‘Essentially, my family left Zimbabwe because of its political landscape. My parents gave up everything, leaving behind family and connections to provide my brothers and me with a better future. Before conditions worsened there, Dad was an engineer, and Mum was a nurse; they enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. Arriving here, they sacrificed the life they had established. Dad went to university to train as a mental health nurse, and Mum had to retrain to practise.
‘Acclimatisation happened, but it was probably more of a shock for my parents than for me, as I was very young. I made new friends and quickly adapted to the culture.
‘In terms of school, it was all about being in the top sets; it almost felt like a mission. It was self-imposed pressure, as I had to find a way to make it work because we had been gifted with an opportunity. I had a social life and was part of a football team but remained laser-focused on my studies. I got into Aylesbury Grammar School before we had to relocate to Derby.
‘I only recently discovered that finances were tight, and after just one term at a paid-for school in Derby, I had to switch to a state school nearby. It was a blessing in disguise; moving to a school with diverse backgrounds exposed me to different personalities and made me aware of how varied families are. I concentrated on doing well, with medicine my primary aim.’
At the school, there was an acceleration group for pupils primed for Oxbridge, which Arnold attended.
‘Looking back, it was hugely beneficial and competitively enriching. In that environment, achieving 90% was expected, and only full marks were something to celebrate. I thrived on it. I applied to medical school at Cambridge but was turned down at the interview. I achieved the necessary grades but realised it’s not just about that; it’s also about how to present yourself favourably in an interview. I have since used this experience to coach others.’
A different path
Arnold explored alternative routes into medicine, and a science course at the University of Leicester that could lead to medical school caught his attention.
He met the criteria for a university place, knowing that if he excelled, he would be back on track to becoming a doctor. However, his long-term strategy took an unexpected turn. He explains: ‘Leicester was a revelation for me. I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, own a business and build an asset that would benefit the children I hoped to eventually have. I reflected on what I truly wanted in life, and dentistry jumped out as the vehicle for me.’
As he progressed, setbacks along the way – resitting an exam at dental school but receiving strong support from his clinical partner is a good case in point – also gave him insight.
Having nailed his foundation year, his next step helped to shape the mentor he was to become. He hasn’t forgotten these experiences, which gave him a new lease of energy and a fresh perspective to ‘crack on and go again’. They were, he believes, pivotal moments, and mentorship quickly became a part of his everyday.
‘DentalmentorUK was established to equip aspiring dentists – people like me, without family or connections – with everything they needed to know to gain admission to dental school based on merit, so we’d coach on how to create a strong application, for example. It’s like educating my younger self.’
A useful learning curve
At the practice he joined as an associate after his year as a foundation dentist, the practice manager was instrumental in helping him settle in – and then excel. Embarking on a course led by two orthodontic specialists to establish a comprehensive understanding of the discipline, he learned how to assess, diagnose and treatment plan. He then applied these theories to his provision of clear aligner therapy.
It’s a solid foundation indicative of his ‘small steps to a bigger picture’ approach.
‘I completed the two-and-a-half-year orthodontic course to enhance my dentistry skills and offer fixed braces. I required equipment and materials, so the practice manager provided them. I offered aligners, so the practice invested in a scanner.
‘I was providing dentistry under the NHS but as I developed good rapport with patients, they would opt to have private treatments with me. I quickly reached a point where I needed to work longer private hours to accommodate these types of patients, so I staged my transition that way, building up my days. It was a useful learning curve.’
Testing the waters
Around this time, the principal decided to expand, and Arnold found himself at the helm of a squat practice.
‘I was suddenly functioning as a business within the business to benefit the bigger business – training staff to carry out scanning, developing TCOs skills with the dental nurses and marketing the practice. It was the first indicator that I could confidently handle whatever was coming through the door.’
And so he began feverishly squirrelling away any extra income into a savings account destined towards starting his own practice. Without the luxury of financial support from elsewhere, he knew he would have to fund it himself.
‘I set a target of raising £100k and then went to the banks with a business plan. Having saved a sizeable amount each month, I tested the waters. I felt ready as a leader and clinically; now it was just the finances. Was I ready to invest in this and take that step?’
Long story short, the bank gave him the green light, and he chose the site of a former carpet showroom as his premises.
‘I had given a lot of thought to what kind of space I wanted, and I could reimagine this shell as a dental practice. It was an empty carpet showroom with three floors – the first and second are residential – and the ground floor was ours to lease.’
A clear vision
Without patients and a need to build up a list, he drew on his ‘business within a business’ experience. As a result, this was the easiest part.
‘As soon as the building work began, I started nurturing a waiting list to ensure we had interested potential patients lined up before opening.
‘I focused on establishing a strong online presence to attract the right audience. I used Facebook and Instagram to engage with potential patients and collect contact details. I had a marketing-savvy friend who assisted us in sending out a bi-monthly newsletter, keeping our audience engaged.
‘A significant part of our strategy involved sharing a 3D render of the practice, giving people a clear vision of what we were creating. We asked potential patients what they needed and wanted from a dental practice, which helped tailor our services to their expectations.
‘By the time we opened, people were already familiar with us, trusted us, and felt connected to the practice. Consequently, the conversion process was very easy.’
Remarkably, having introduced potential patients to his dental plan so early on, he achieved his first-year plan-patient target within weeks of opening its doors.
So, what’s next for Arnold? As a firm believer in building skills from the ground up, he aims to expand the Lancashire Smiles brand into new areas, applying his experience to drive further improvement.
Representation and reality
Outside of practice ownership, Arnold is a key driver within the Black Dental Network (BDN), a community of connection that supports Black dentists and dental care professionals to become the best versions of themselves.
The BDN began as more of a social event, with eight Black dental professionals who all shared similar backgrounds and experiences meeting in London. Representation within the profession was not great, and Arnold – involved since its inception – now steers media communications.
‘Dentistry is not often spoken about as a career for Black students,’ Arnold says. ‘It’s great to share struggles, but we want more. Dentistry is a thriving industry that offers a rewarding career with wonderful opportunities. As a group, we want to empower and support ambitious Black dentists and DCPs to achieve their potential and become future leaders.’
BDN has grown significantly since that first social dinner in May 2022. Staging its first annual dinner and conference in 2023, it quickly burgeoned.
‘Our success gave us the confidence to host a two-day event this year, which included practical hands-on workshops and breakout sessions. It was intense – a bit like organising a wedding!’ Arnold laughs.
These events are now firmly established in the dental calendar, further raising the BDN’s profile. However, there remains work to be done. ‘Black representation in dentistry is achievable,’ Arnold says. ‘But it’s still a long way to make that a reality. For students, seeing people who look just like them makes a difference.’
Feeling blessed
Meanwhile, it is his family that remains the cornerstone of his life. His day begins at 5.30am, a time he reserves for admin tasks and prayer, so his evenings remain sacred for family time.
A disciplined schedule safeguards this balance. Recently, he eliminated his regular Saturday clinics, allowing for uninterrupted weekends with loved ones.
He feels genuinely blessed, from the parents who prioritised their children’s future to his wife, Rumbi, a GP, who has financially supported his dream. He says: ‘For a long time, while I was saving for the practice, we lived on Rumbi’s income, and for that, I am forever grateful.’
Success isn’t just about achievements, it seems – it’s about impact. Arnold’s journey continues to lift others. Fuelled by love and gratitude, it represents more than just a nod to paying it forward; it’s a philosophy that should perhaps serve as a lesson for us all.
Follow Dentistry.co.uk on Instagram to keep up with all the latest dental news and trends.
