Gifted Smiles: The Rules of Using Influencers for Dental Marketing
It usually starts with a Direct Message (DM) on Instagram.
A local lifestyle blogger with 20,000 followers slides into your practice’s inbox. They love your work. They have a “big event” coming up. They ask if you would be interested in a collaboration: a free course of boutique whitening in exchange for some stories and a grid post.
Your initial reaction might be excitement. This is modern word-of-mouth, right? For the cost of a few whitening syringes, you get access to thousands of potential patients in your area.
But before you say yes, you need to understand the minefield of regulations you are stepping into.
Influencer Marketing for dentists is not the wild west. It is a highly regulated space governed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), and, of course, the GDC.
Getting it wrong doesn’t just mean a slap on the wrist. It can lead to negative PR, fines, and even a fitness to practise investigation.
The #Ad Rule: Transparency is Non-Negotiable
The most common mistake practice owners make is thinking that because no money changed hands, it isn’t an advert.
Under UK law, a “gift” is payment.
If you give an influencer free Invisalign, composite bonding, or whitening, you have paid them with a service. Therefore, any content they post about you is an advertisement.
The ASA guidance is strict. The viewer must know it is an ad before they engage with the content.
Good: Starting a caption with #Ad or #Advert.
Bad: Hiding #gifted in a sea of hashtags at the bottom of the post.
Worse: Tagging it as #sp (Sponsored) or #collab, which the ASA deems ambiguous.
If your influencer posts a glowing review without declaring it as an ad, you are liable, not just them. The ASA holds the brand (you) responsible for ensuring the influencer follows the rules.
The Botox Trap: A Strict Ban on POMs
This is where many aesthetics clinics get into serious trouble.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox) is a Prescription Only Medicine (POM). In the UK, it is illegal to advertise POMs to the general public.
This ban extends to Influencer Marketing for dentists.
You cannot ask an influencer to post about their “anti-wrinkle injections.” Even if they don’t use the word “Botox,” if the content clearly refers to a POM (e.g., “tox,” “jabs,” “wrinkle relaxing”), it is a breach of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
What about Dermal Fillers?
Fillers are not POMs (currently), so they can be advertised. However, the ASA is cracking down on ads that trivialise the procedure or target under-18s. If an influencer promotes lip fillers, they must be socially responsible and cannot encourage “fast” or “easy” cosmetic changes.
The Golden Rule: Never, ever use an influencer to promote Botox. It is a criminal offence.
Teeth Whitening: Efficacy Claims Matter
Teeth whitening is the most common treatment requested by influencers. It seems low risk.
However, the CAP code requires that any objective claim must be supported by evidence.
If an influencer says, “My teeth are 10 shades whiter!” or “This worked in 20 minutes!”, you need to hold clinical evidence to back that up.
Furthermore, you must be careful with filters.
If an influencer uses a “beauty filter” that smooths skin and brightens eyes while showing off their new white teeth, the ad is misleading. The results are being exaggerated by technology.
ASA ruling on misleading filters states that filters should not be applied to images where they exaggerate the effect of the product being sold. You need to stipulate this in your agreement with the influencer.
Protecting Your GDC Registration
As a registrant, you are held to a higher standard than a fashion brand.
The General Dental Council (GDC) views your website and social media as extensions of your professional practice.
GDC Standard 1.3.3 states:
“You must make sure that any advertising, promotional material or other information that you produce is accurate and not misleading.”
If an influencer posts something clinically inaccurate—for example, claiming that “Composite Bonding protects your teeth from cavities”—you are responsible for that misinformation.
You cannot hide behind the excuse, “I didn’t write the caption.” If you “commissioned” the post (via payment or gift), you are the publisher.
How to Do It Safely: A Checklist
If you still want to explore Influencer Marketing for dentists, do it professionally. Treat it like a business transaction, not a favour.
- Sign a Contract: Do not rely on DMs. Have a simple written agreement that explicitly states they must use #Ad at the start of every post and story.
- Approve the Content: Insist on seeing the photos and captions before they go live. Check for clinical accuracy and misleading claims.
- No Filters: Mandate that “after” photos must be #NoFilter to ensure honesty.
- Check Their Audience: Are their followers actually in your catchment area? If you are in Leeds but their followers are in London, the exposure is worthless.
- Audit Past Posts: Check if they have promoted dodgy products (like illegal at-home whitening kits) in the past. You don’t want your brand associated with unsafe practices.
Summary
Influencers can be a powerful tool to build social proof and reach a younger demographic. But in dentistry, the stakes are high.
You are not selling trainers; you are performing medical interventions.
- Always ensure #Ad is used.
- Never promote Botox/POMs.
- Verify all claims and images.
- Protect your GDC number above all else.
Done right, it’s a great way to show off your “gifted smiles.” Done wrong, it’s a fast track to a regulatory headache.
If you want to build a social media strategy that grows your practice without breaking the rules, we can help guide you.
Click here to book a strategy call with Dentify Digital.