Dr Selvaraj Balaji worked in Maxillo-facial units in the UK for many years and gained substantial experience in surgical dentistry. He is the principal dentist of The Gallery Dental & Implant Centre. Dr Balaji is also the founder of the Academy of Soft and Hard Tissue Augmentation (ASHA) and runs courses, lectures and study clubs in the UK and around Europe for aspiring implantologists.
Dr Selvaraj Balaji details the consolidation of his two practices into one newly designed, multi-surgery practice – The Gallery Dental & Implant Centre in Buckingham.
For 15 years, I have delivered treatments from my private dental practice based in Buckingham. Before this year, I owned two practices: Meadow Walk Dental Practice and The Gallery Dental and Implant Centre.
Despite being only a few minutes’ walk away, the inconvenience of separate buildings and having to send patients to and from each practice demanded a smoother, more long-term solution. This was the motivation for combining the two practices into one space – superior patient service, built on comfort, advanced technology and the ability to deliver excellent dental treatments. It would also improve the daily workflow for my clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
The new practice was built on space that I had purchased in 2020. As the lease on the previous two practices was due to run out in April 2026, I was ready to begin the project so that it would be completed before this deadline, allowing a seamless changeover with minimal financial cost.
I had a blank canvas to work with; the new building comprised two empty floors so I searched for a team to help. Finding an experienced architect in the dental field and getting planning permission was the initial hurdle – I ended up needing two architects to get the plan we wanted without any uncertainty, and received the necessary planning permission. Once achieved, it became a matter of identifying what I wanted and what I needed in the practice, and what would be achievable. The process was very collaborative, with many team discussions to ensure every box was being ticked as we went.
A bank loan helped get the project moving, and they provided great support – no financial adviser was needed. Looking back, I would have liked a project manager from the beginning to marshal the process, but I had ruled it out due to the additional cost. Some members of the dental team decided that they wouldn’t continue working with us as we transitioned into a new space, leading to some staff turnover. Whilst this was unfortunate, it was important that we made this move for the sake of an improved patient journey.
The décor and furnishings we selected reflect a state-of-the-art dental practice, where patients enter the space and feel that they are in trustworthy hands. This meant creating a comforting aesthetic which incorporated advanced technologies, demonstrating that the practice was cutting-edge.
I used Clark Dental to help with installing and servicing our new equipment. This included an Axano treatment centre, which I use in my treatment room. It is a beautiful chair that optimises patient comfort. The implant functions and further attachments are top of the range.
For the other treatment rooms, Clark Dental were a massive help and provided three Intego treatment centres too. These integrate seamlessly with the dental treatment rooms and are remarkably effective and of a high quality. From a patient’s perspective, they are slim and stylish, therefore further reflecting the practice’s modern image.
For the X-rays, I favoured the Dentsply Sirona Heliodent as it offers the most accurate and clear images possible to enhance diagnostics. Clark Dental also supplied a Cocoon X-ray which is a fantastic addition because it is portable and user-friendly. Patients love it too; there is no need to leave them alone for a scan and it impresses them that it acts like a camera – it is very simple but very sophisticated and undoubtedly streamlines the workflow.
The practice also features a CBCT X-ray machine. This has been used for some time because we focus on dental implants and it simplifies our workflow – the Clark Dental team were a great help in moving this across. Finally, the CEREC Primescan was also brought over as this was a practice staple and facilitates a fully digital treatment service. There were a few issues with moving dates – it had to be done here and there over the course of 5 days – but the Clark Dental team was very approachable and the servicing of the products in the new practice was reliably excellent. Matt Rowlingson and the Clark Dental engineering team were invaluable for the completion of the project.
To announce the new practice, we started with a couple of Open Days. Originally, we had 200 people apply to visit, but we limited it to 50 to keep things steady and not take on more than we were ready for. There was a word-of-mouth element to begin with as we did not embark on a major marketing push outside of social media and are instead concentrating on getting up and running and tackling small issues for a seamless daily operation.
Since opening, the impact of the new practice has transformed the workflow. The discontinuity in patient care from having split practices is gone and communication is far more effective and streamlined. The addition of the car park, including a disabled car park with disabled access, has also addressed patient challenges and they, and the staff, have been happy with the improved accessibility.
So far, I have been delighted with the reactions to the new practice. The higher levels of patient satisfaction have reinforced the original motivation for changing practices and it already feels like a massive positive difference has been made.
The consistent support Clark Dental provided to my colleagues and patients throughout this journey has been unrivalled. With first-class dental equipment in place, I look forward to delivering even better patient experiences at The Gallery Dental & Implant Centre.
For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.uk or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk
