England's Smile Rooms buys Glasgow clinic in first Scottish deal

What's the deal? Smile Rooms, an English dental group, has acquired 1 Smile Dental Clinic in Glasgow, marking its first move into Scotland. The four-surgery, predominantly private practice sits on Renfield Street and serves about 5,000 patients. The deal value was undisclosed.

What each side brings: 1 Smile has built a reputation for cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry under brothers Dr Ryan Shum and Dr Dean Shum, who have owned it since 2021. The pair sold to focus on family commitments but will stay on clinically. Smile Rooms now runs nine clinics across England and Scotland.

Why now? The purchase lands amid a run of Scottish dental transactions. In May, Irish-founded Truly Dental entered Scotland by buying a private Glasgow implant clinic, while Clyde Munro has kept expanding through local deals.

Market expansion: For Smile Rooms, Glasgow is a targeted foothold rather than a consolidation play. Director Hanel Nathwani said the group was "particularly attracted by its strong patient-centred ethos, experienced clinical team and prime location in the heart of Glasgow."

What's the endgame? Nathwani said immediate plans are to support the existing team and "invest further in the practice where appropriate." On wider ambitions, he added the group "will always consider opportunities that align with our long-term vision and values."

The signal: Christie & CoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s 2026 market review describes strong buyer demand across Scotland, with corporate groups, larger operators, and independent buyers competing for attractive practices. Smile Rooms' first Scottish site shows how English groups are now entering that contest — one modernised, private clinic at a time.

Read more: insidermedia.com

Image credit: JHTNS-DMA