When I was looking to set up the practice, I was considering who to work with for equipment, cabinetry, and service. I had a vision for what I wanted to achieve, and sent a brief to a number of providers, including the team at Clark Dental. What first attracted me to Clark Dental was the speed of their response and the fact that they seemed excited about the project – particularly the fact that we have a different, more holistic, approach to patient care.
Throughout the project, they’ve been really proactive. I’ve known Stuart Clark and the team for many years, and have worked with them on various projects in the past. I like the fact that Clark Dental is family run – the same as my practice. I also like that they’re very responsive to questions and they’re keen to help. We have developed a long-term relationship, making it really easy to follow up whenever we need assistance.
Design and equipment that reflects our brand
During the design process, the question at the very heart of it was: “Does it work for us?” As such, we developed a practice that prioritised ergonomics for our team and our patients, and ensured a seamless patient journey. Of course, at various points during the design process, alterations were needed, and the design team and architects at DDCP were always able to find the solution. The aesthetics of the practice were important to us. We wanted to create an environment which feels spa-like, safe, clean, and friendly. Alongside this, we wanted to use a colour scheme outside of the ordinary – purple features throughout the practice, with gold details – to create a nice environment for our team and our patients.
In terms of equipment, I know the pieces that I like and that I’m used to, but I was guided by the team at Clark Dental who ensured that I got up-to-date solutions for the practice. Equipment selection was, therefore, a joint effort using my own knowledge combined with their suggestions. We selected treatment centres from A-dec (400 and 300) as they are robust and easy to maintain, along with Durr suction pumps, Dentsply Sirona Orthophos S CBCT system, W&H handpieces, and intraoral x-ray systems from Dentsply Sirona. Matt Rowlingson from Clark Dental was excellent, he found the best solutions for our practice.
Service you can rely on
By working with a reputable supplier, we are secure in the fact that Clark Dental has and will continue to provide us with excellent service going forward. Since we opened Optimal Dental Health, the team have acted quickly to solve any teething problems, and have visited the practice multiple times to train the team on equipment maintenance. Everything is working smoothly as we get busier and busier.
Raine Leary from Clark Dental enabled us to integrate our digital CBCT, x-ray, and intraoral camera systems into our workflows, and provided ample training for the team, telling us how it works day to day, and discussing the digital technology without the jargon. In the modern practice, IT is changing all the time, so it was important for us to make sure that our system flows well and was cost-effective.
For others who are setting up their practice from squat, I would advise that it generally takes longer than you might initially anticipate. However, it is important to set up the appropriate service agreements to ensure that everything works and stays maintained. Additionally, I would highly recommend having conversations with equipment engineers, as they will offer unique insights when it comes to preventing and addressing common issues. I thoroughly recommend using Clark Dental.
In three words, Clark Dental is responsive, cost-effective, and positive. They are solution-driven and have delivered a great experience – we are looking forward to working together in the years to come.
Our priorities: our team and our patients
Our new space is over two floors, making it crucial that we adapt the flow of the space to our people. The team loves the colour scheme, and the patient journey is working really well whilst still maintaining a cosy feel. Our team is a top priority, which is why we directed energy to our staff area in this project – we want our team to feel valued.
At Optimal Dental Health, we adopt a holistic approach to patient care, in which we aim to optimise patients’ general health through the mouth. We want to make sure the patient journey is smooth, and that they feel listened to during their appointment, as this will help them get the maximum value from their time with us. The technology and equipment we use enable us to effectively communicate with our patients, and to help them understand the value of treatment.
Most importantly, we are looking at our patients’ overall health – we want to help them feel better, not just leave with shiny teeth. We have a nutritionist as part of our team to help facilitate conversations around dentistry, nutrition, sleep, and stress. This makes us well placed to monitor their health closely, and help them improve how they feel as they leave their appointments. Ultimately, our aim is to help patients feel more energised, sleep better, and improve their overall wellbeing – and our practice design, equipment, and team offer this every day.
