Stop Selling, Start Caring: Ethical Perio Conversations that Convert

Course Overview:

Are you struggling to upsell periodontal treatments?

Finding it difficult to convince patients to commit to necessary care, despite clearly explaining the benefits?

Do you feel there just isn’t enough time during appointments to properly educate your patients?

“Stop Selling, Start Caring” addresses these common challenges by transforming your approach to patient conversations through psychology-driven, ethical communication techniques. Designed for dental professionals, this course helps you shift from traditional selling to genuine patient care, significantly increasing treatment acceptance and patient satisfaction.

Our Speaker:

Poppy Dunton – Dental Business Consultant & Dental Therapist

PG Dip in Periodontics for Hygienists and Therapists

PG Dip in Restorative Dentistry for Therapists

ILM level 7 in leadership and management

Level 7 Paralegal in Employment Law

Menopause Coach

Johnson and Johnson Clinical Award Winner

Faculty Board Member for Royal College of Dentistry Therapists Board

Oral health educator 

University Clinical Tutor 

GDC 179942

With nearly two decades in dentistry, Poppy Dunton has built a career spanning clinical, managerial, and consultancy roles. Starting as a dental nurse in 2006, she qualified as a dental therapist before becoming a practice manager, leading a busy NHS practice with 65 staff. In 2017, she played a pivotal role in establishing a 10-surgery squat practice and vaccination centre.

Now a consultant, Poppy specialises in business strategy, compliance, and periodontal protocols. Developing a structured periodontal workflow designed to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiency. With a strong focus on leadership, she provides CQC support, performance coaching, and tailored business solutions.

Qualified in menopause support (MSCC), Poppy takes a holistic approach to patient care. She is passionate about empowering dental teams with the knowledge, structure, and confidence needed to enhance both clinical practice and business success.

Why should you listen to me (Poppy)? 

Because I know what it feels like to be in the clinic, doing everything by the book—explaining the disease, presenting the options, giving it your all—and still watching patients walk away without booking in. I’ve been there, and I’ve learned that the answer isn’t more jargon or harder selling. It’s better connection. I was lucky to be taught by a mentor who showed me how to present treatment plans with empathy, clarity, and confidence—something I now teach others through my own method, “Tell-Show-Do.”

I believe wholeheartedly that ethical communication is one of the most powerful tools we have in practice—not just for increasing revenue, but for improving outcomes and restoring trust in dentistry. My work as a menopause coach opened my eyes even further, showing me how systemic issues, especially in older women, are often overlooked or misunderstood. That frustration became fuel for research, and it’s made me even more passionate about truly listening to patients and meeting them where they are.

Outside the clinic, I carry the belief that every day is a school day. That means I’m always learning, always evolving—and I bring that curiosity and openness into every course I deliver. I don’t just speak from theory; I speak from years of lived experience across the clinical floor, practice management, business consultancy, and coaching. My job isn’t just to teach—it’s to make you feel more confident, more equipped, and more connected to your patients by the time we’re done.

Why you should complete this course?

• Discover how ethical conversations can directly impact revenue—boosting your hourly rate, increasing your take-home income and making every appointment more productive.
• Learn strategies that support work-life balance by reducing burnout, improving patient flow, and creating more meaningful interactions in less time.
• Improve your ability to effectively communicate and ethically promote periodontal treatments.
• Increase patient acceptance rates through enhanced trust and understanding.
• Enhance patient satisfaction, leading to better long-term relationships and practice growth.
• Reduce stress and frustration associated with patient consultations and periodontal visits 
• Gain valuable insights into patient psychology, improving overall patient care and professional development