The Real Reason Your Best Staff Leave After Appraisals (And How to Stop It in 2026)
Every December, the same thing happens in dental practices across the UK.
📅 Appraisal season starts.
💬 You sit down with each team member.
📝 They ask for the same thing – “Can I do more training?”
🙇♂️ You nod… but nothing happens.
🚪 By February, one of them hands in their notice
Sound familiar?
This Is the Silent Crisis in Dentistry
Talented team members aren’t leaving because of money.
They’re leaving because they feel stuck.
Stuck in the same role.
Stuck earning the same wage.
Stuck under a ceiling that no one’s bothered to help them break.
But here’s the thing:
The No. 1 thing staff request during appraisals isn’t more holiday or a bonus — it’s upskilling.
And in 2025/26, the smartest practices aren’t waiting for resignations.
They’re offering growth, on purpose.
Here’s Exactly What That Looks Like in Successful Practices:
For Dental Nurses
✨ They’re choosing their lane — not being boxed in.
- Clinical leadership? → Certificate in Lead Dental Nursing
- Specialist support? → Certificate in Orthodontic Nursing
- Patient-facing growth & better pay? → Certificate in Treatment Coordination
- Practice leadership track? → Certificate in Dental Practice Management
For Dental Receptionists
💼 They’re no longer “just reception”.
- Stepping up to Treatment Coordinator → Certificate in Treatment Coordination
- Preparing for management → Certificate in Dental Practice Management
For Practice Managers
🚀 They’re not staying still either.
- Need formal PM skills? → Certificate in Dental Practice Management
- Already qualified? → Add the Certificate in Treatment Coordination
- Want to future-proof the whole practice? → Digital Marketing Mastery for Dental Practices
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever
We’re entering a new era in dentistry. Patients want more. Competitors are multiplying. Staff are more career-focused than ever.
And the practices that WIN are the ones that make staff development a culture — not a tick-box exercise.
Because here’s the hard truth:
🛑 If you don’t invest in your people, another practice will.
✅ If you do, you’ll keep them — and watch them drive your growth.
So as 2025 ends, ask yourself:
- Is my practice treating staff like employees…
or like future leaders?
- Are appraisals where development is promised…
or where it begins?
- Will 2026 be the year they leave…
or the year they level up?
👉 Make training the reward, not the resignation letter.
Browse our courses today and turn this year’s appraisal into a turning point for your team — and your practice.