Cambridge-based dental wellness studio well:o seeks to expand

The UK’s first dental wellness studio has celebrated a year in Cambridge – and revealed that it is seeking a second site.

well:o, in Station Place, opened in November 2023 to provide dental hygiene services and enable a greater focus on preventative dental care.

Since then, it has welcomed 850 patients through its doors, with many signing up for its monthly subscription plan, offering dental hygiene treatments every three or six months.

Shelley Belgrove, clinical director at well:o, said: “A lot of people don’t know that brushing alone only cleans 60 per cent of the tooth’s surface. Everybody needs to have a hygiene appointment at least once a year to remove plaque and tartar build-up. Clean teeth feel great — and a healthy mouth is also fundamental to your overall health.”

well:o points out that studies have even linked poor oral health to an increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disease, along with higher rates of cardiovascular problems.

And oral cancer cases have increased by 30 per cent in the last 10 years. In 2023, 3,637 people in the UK died from mouth cancer – more than twice the 1,624 killed on the roads.

Yet research from The Dentistry in 2018 found a third of UK adults have never visited a dental hygienist and of those who do go, only 24 per cent visit twice a year.

At well:o, more than 40 per cent of patients have returned at least twice.

Founder Felix von Nathusius told the Cambridge Independent: “The first year was spectacular and we are very happy about the response from patients. We have a solid 140 five-star Google reviews from our 850 patients, which is a lot for a dental practice, and people come back regularly or sign up to regular dental wellness subscriptions.”

The positive feedback helped well:o to win Start-Up of the Year at this year’s inaugural Cambridge Independent Business Awards.

Other countries typically record higher satisfaction rates than the UK with dentistry, thanks to a greater focus on preventative care.

In the Netherlands, the number of dentists per capita is lower than in the UK, but there are twice as many hygienists and one recent study ranked the country first for ‘smile satisfaction’.

Only 330 students are trained to become a hygienist in the UK each year, compared to 300 in the Netherlands, which has a population a quarter of the size.

Felix said well:o’s 2025 plans include educating more people about oral health impacts and reaching out to the wider community.

“well:o is part of the ‘12 weeks to wellbeing program’ that Cambridge City Council has kicked off to support the community,” said Felix.

The business also plans to add more service alongside oral hygiene, including dental check-ups, emergency care and treatments for children. And the business is scouting for its next location.

“We are in talks with landlords for the second well:o studio,” Felix revealed.