Neil Sikka joins Payman to reflect on a career that has moved from single-surgery NHS dentistry in Bethnal Green to building a ten-practice London group, selling to Bupa, and now helping shape clinical strategy across one of the UK’s biggest dental organisations.
He talks candidly about the Barbican Dental Care years, why he chose cultural fit over the highest offer when selling, and why he still practises one day a week after decades in the profession.
This is also a conversation about service. From funding a dental carriage on India’s Lifeline Express to supporting Dentaid and Mercy Ships, Neil’s work outside the surgery is just as revealing as his business story.
Expect thoughtful reflections on the mouth-body connection, Bupa’s future, clinical excellence, personal branding, charitable dentistry and the quiet art of getting on with people.
In This Episode
00:01:00 - Bupa, leadership and clinical voice
00:02:45 - From Bethnal Green to Barbican
00:06:40 - Growing ten practices
00:10:30 - Selling the business
00:14:00 - Risk, reward and optimism
00:16:10 - Lifeline Express
00:21:35 - Mercy Ships and Dentaid
00:28:20 - Childhood and family
00:35:15 - Why he still practises
00:37:30 - Blackbox thinking
00:45:30 - Life inside Bupa
00:52:00 - Bupa Training Academy
00:57:00 - Mouth-body connection
00:59:15 - Personal branding
01:07:25 - A week in Neil’s life
01:18:15 - Dental learning and mentors
01:22:30 - Music, golf and real tennis
01:25:45 - Fantasy dinner party
01:28:40 - Last days and legacy
About Neil Sikka
Neil Sikka is Chief Dental Officer for Bupa Dental Insurance and Director of Dentistry at Bupa Dental Care.
Before joining Bupa, he founded and grew Barbican Dental Care into a ten-practice London group, building a corporate dental plan model for major employers. He continues to practise one day a week and has long supported access-to-care projects through Dentaid, Mercy Ships and India’s Lifeline Express.
