David Smith qualified as a dental technician in Manchester and subsequently built and led Phoenix Dental in Exeter for 25 years until 2018, growing it into a 55 employee laboratory. His extensive contributions to the dental field include being past chairman of the Dental Laboratories Association, president of the Federation of European Prosthetic Dental Professionals, an advisor to the EU Medical Devices expert committee, and service as a GDC Council member from 2009 to 2017.

David has also been actively involved in dental education as a Lecturer at Peninsula Dental School and Yeovil College (where he helped establish the Level 3 and FD dental technician course), an External Examiner for UCLAN, and a Professional Advisor to the GDC Registration Appeals Committee.