Introduction
Keep those missed calls from quietly draining your revenue. Busy reception teams, peak-hour rushes, and old landlines often leave patients waiting too long or simply hanging up. With the PSTN switch-off coming in 2027, traditional setups just aren’t reliable any more.
VoIP fixes this nicely with clever call queuing, friendly automated answers, and mobile apps that keep patients connected without the frustration. You can cut phone bills by over 50%, get 99.9% uptime, and enjoy unlimited UK calls on most plans perfect for growing to multiple sites.
This straightforward 2026 guide explains how VoIP works in a dental clinic, compares the top UK providers, and picks out the features practices really need. It’s all about making things easier ahead of the big change.
Why Missed Calls Are Costing UK Dental Practices
Busy reception desks hit hard during peak times
Dental clinics rarely receive calls evenly throughout the day. A reliable phone system for dental practice handles morning rushes, lunch-hour surges, and late-afternoon spikes without overwhelming traditional phone lines. Patients wait too long, lose patience, and hang up resulting in missed appointments and lost revenue.
The 2027 PSTN deadline risk
Traditional PSTN phone lines will be switched off entirely by 2027. Practices that delay upgrading risk call failures, downtime, and frustrated patients unable to get through. As older systems struggle, missed calls become more frequent and harder to manage.
Smarter VoIP for Dental Teams
VoIP systems are designed to handle high call volumes without overwhelming reception teams. Instead of engaged tones, calls are queued, routed, or answered automatically, keeping patients connected even during busy periods.
Key benefits for UK dental practices include:
Lower call costs, often 50% less than legacy lines
Reliable 99.9% uptime with UK-based hosting
Unlimited UK calls on most plans
Fewer missed calls and shorter patient wait times
What is VoIP for dental practices?
VoIP ( Voice over Internet Protocol ) allows dental teams to make and receive calls over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. Calls can be answered on desk phones, laptops, or mobile devices, making it easier to manage peak demand, multiple locations, and remote staff.
Learn How VoIP Can Improve Your Clinic
How VoIP Handles Busy Dental Clinics
Calls don’t trickle in steadily at clinics. They pile up first thing, at lunch, and late afternoon, putting pressure on regular landlines. VoIP copes brilliantly with these peaks, keeping reception from getting swamped.
Grows with your clinic
Single site or several branches? VoIP expands effortlessly. Add users or handsets in moments, not days. Locums or temps get set up fast and taken off just as simply when needed.
Links to your dental software
Top VoIP setups connect smoothly with tools like Dentally. Receptionists gain click-to-call from records, auto-logged calls tied to bookings, and quick patient ID. Less admin in busy spells, smoother patient journeys overall.
Perfect for teams across sites
Share calls between practices easily. Overflow goes where needed, and bosses track things remotely no need to be there in person.
Essential features every dental phone system should include
Not every VoIP setup fits healthcare needs. For dental clinics, these stand out as game changers.
Auto attendant and IVR
A friendly automated welcome puts nervous patients at ease and guides calls smoothly. Simple menu choices cut down wrong directions, letting reception tackle trickier chats instead.
Call queuing and smart routing
No more engaged tones callers hold with hold music or helpful updates. Smart time-based rules push emergencies first in hours, handle them right after close. Clinics often see 30% fewer misses once queues kick in.
Mobile and desktop apps
Pick up calls on PCs, phones, or desk units. Sick days or home working? Coverage stays solid, no need for personal number reroutes.
Reporting and NHS compliance
Get straight insights on picked-up calls, hold times, and lost ones. Meets NHS access standards, helps sharpen service without the guesswork.
Comparison of best phone system providers for dental practices
Provider | Typical pricing | Strengths | Limitations | Best suited for |
VoIP Shop | From £12/user | UK-based VoIP specialist, healthcare-ready features, strong support | Fewer consumer-focused extras | Dental practices wanting a focused VoIP partner |
Yo Telecom | From £12/user | UK-based support, strong core features | Limited dental-specific integrations | Small practices |
IceConnect | £12–£15/user | Reliable infrastructure, detailed analytics | Setup may feel technical | Mid-size clinics |
Microminder | From £14/user | Future-proof systems, UK focus | Less pricing transparency | Growing practices |
T2K VoIP | From £9.95/user | Dental experience, strong call queuing | Fewer hardware options | High-call-volume clinics |
All providers support core VoIP functionality. The right choice depends on call volume, number of sites, and integration requirements especially for single-site clinics see small business phone system options.
See How Providers Stack Up
Real world results from UK dental clinics
Dental practices across the UK switching to VoIP notice real improvements in call management and happier patients. VoIP Shop, specialists backing over 500 clinics, help handle those busy periods without reception getting buried.
One Midlands group cut average wait times by 25% thanks to queues and auto-attendants patients actually get through instead of that infuriating engaged tone. Another surgery boosted first-time fixes by sorting hygiene, private, and urgent calls separately.
These outcomes show what happens when phone setups match how patients actually ring in, rather than one-size-fits-all business plans.
FAQ
1. How do dental practices migrate from landlines to VoIP?
Practices switch over smoothly with provider support from start to finish. Numbers get ported across, handsets and extensions set up, and staff trained properly. Most handle it outside hours to dodge downtime and keep services running.
2. What does VoIP cost for a dental practice?
You’re looking at £9.95 to £15 per user each month, depending on features and support. Most packages bundle unlimited UK calls, maintenance, and tech help—predictable costs that clinics can plan around easily.
3. Is VoIP reliable enough for NHS dental practices?
Definitely UK hosted platforms build in redundancy, failover options, and secure servers for top availability. With decent internet, it delivers steady service that ticks NHS reliability boxes.
4. Can VoIP handle emergency dental calls?
Yes. Systems route urgent calls first with priority queues and time-based rules, landing them straight with the right team member. Handles those critical cases without a hitch.
5. Will staff need training to use VoIP?
Barely any interfaces feel straightforward out of the box. Providers supply onboarding, guides, and help so everyone picks it up quick, no hit to daily ops.
6. Can VoIP integrate with Microsoft Teams?
Absolutely. Loads of providers connect fully, so managers handle calls right in Teams while keeping logs and reports complete.
Choosing the right dental phone system
The right dental phone system goes beyond cost; it ensures patients are always connected, reduces missed calls, and keeps your clinic running smoothly. Look for a provider with healthcare experience, scalable features for multi-site setups, seamless integration with dental software, and reliable UK support. For a broader view on VoIP options, check out our comparison of the best VoIP providers UK. A well-chosen VoIP system streamlines reception workflows, improves patient satisfaction, and future-proofs your practice ahead of the PSTN switch-off.
Get a free UK dental VoIP quote today If you want fewer missed calls, happier patients, and a future-proof phone system, now is the right time to act.
Compare & Choose the Right Dental Phone System
