We wanted to set up a new surgery as we had started to become busier as a dental practice and, therefore, we needed a second room. This would mean that a dental hygienist could have their own surgery, and we would have access to the extra space whenever it was needed.
I wanted the project to go very smoothly, so I looked to work with a company that we could count on and who would be there for us if we had a problem. I have worked with Clark Dental previously and I trusted the team.
Fortunately, when I set up the practice in 2012, the additional room for our new surgery had been future-proofed. It had previously been fitted with the necessary wiring for future equipment, so that when the time came for the practice to expand, the process would be more straightforward. As the number of patients we were seeing grew over time, I knew for a while that we would need to convert the additional room. I began planning early a year in advance of the project starting, this allowed me the time I needed to prepare mentally, and secure a loan from the bank to cover the cost.
Choosing equipment
Clark Dental helped with the design of the room, and presented my options for new equipment such as dental chairs, as well as cabinet materials. We discussed the details and decided what would be best for the practice.
I had previously used an A-dec 300 dental chair, which I had for approximately 12 years. Because of this, I wanted to choose another A-dec dental chair, and went for the 400. I really like the chair; it is very reliable. The response I have had from patients has been very positive – they find it very comfortable thanks to the extra cushioning we selected.
We also chose to use the same Dentsply Sirona Heliodent Plus X-ray unit and digital X-ray sensor that we already had in our other surgery. This was because we had found it to be very reliable, and were confident operating it. When choosing Apex bespoke cabinetry materials, we decided on corian. This was a more expensive option, but we were willing to make this investment as it is beautiful and resistant to scratches. It is easy to keep it nice and clean, it’s durable, high[1]quality, and longer lasting than other materials.
Reflecting on the experience
We were quite lucky that the project didn’t disrupt our work very much – perhaps only one day of disruption. The project went very smoothly and, looking back, I don’t think I would have done anything differently, we achieved what we wanted to.
It has been great to have the additional space. Having a second surgery means that two patients can have their appointments at the same time: this has been great for helping us meet demand, and good financially too. I also really like that the design is similar to our first surgery, for a consistent style throughout the practice.
My advice for anybody looking to undertake a similar project would be to find a company that you trust and stick with them. I trust Clark Dental, and felt confident that they would support me during this project.