I knew that I wanted to own my practice, and I looked across the country for the best location. There were two crucial elements that I was looking for – the chance to design the practice and the opportunity to grow it in my own way. The goal was not to buy the finished article and just work within what was there.
I found premises in a picturesque market town in Cheshire that lent itself well to what I wanted. It could be operational straight away, but there was huge potential for growth and development, with space in the attic, for example.
The building was full of character. Our intention was to complement the existing features and enhance them with renovations without deviating too far from the site's original feel. Located in a conservation area, we had to submit planning permission for any external changes, such as the outdoor signage and lighting, remaining mindful of the requirements to be in keeping with the surrounding area. The initial plans required some alterations, but permission was later granted to proceed.
The refurbishment of the practice was carried out in stages, with consideration given to the business’ changing financial situation. All work was also completed while the practice was open, so decisions were made to ensure downtime was minimised.
The first builder we approached wasn’t quite the right fit, so we ended up working with the husband of our practice manager. He and his team had a good knowledge and understanding of our needs, which proved vital. We also worked with an architect to design and create the best spaces for the building.
Despite this, a big challenge was maintaining the patient experience with building work in the background. We decided to delay any treatment that required sedation during this time. The last things anxious patients need are background noise and a change in routine. On major construction days, several jokes were made about whether the drilling was from the dentists or the builders, but this was all in good humour, thanks to understanding patients.
A lot of the building work went into moving the staff room into the attic so that the old space could be converted into a new surgery and consultation area. The upstairs area was completed with a staff changing area and kitchen facilities before attention moved down to the surgery. This was intended to ensure minimal disruption to, and maximum comfort for, the team. It also meant we had to be mindful of where we could put stock and were often moving stationary around in the evenings, ready for the next day’s tasks.
The other challenge I faced was going completely over budget! We had a lot of wiring and tubing that needed to be replaced before we could move it, but the old building made it more complicated than initially anticipated. The increased costs were, therefore, unavoidable and factored into the long-term plan accordingly.
When the time came to finally furnish the new surgery, both staff and patients were excited to see the final result. I had chosen Stern Weber dental chairs, because I was impressed by their functionality and liked how they would fit into the space we had created. It was important to me that we had uniform equipment across the surgeries, as this allows both dentists and dental nurses to be comfortable while working in any of the rooms. They could build familiarity with the equipment and know that everything works in the same way should they need to see patients in a different surgery.
I approached RPA Dental for the supply, installation and support of the Stern Weber dental chairs. I really believe in creating strong and long-lasting relationships with service providers who support your practice, and that’s exactly what we got with RPA Dental. They really had our best interests at heart from the start, going above and beyond to help us build the high-quality practice we envisioned.
Since the initial product selection and installation, they have remained an important part of our business development team. Indeed, I am currently looking to build a second practice in a neighbouring town, for which I am absolutely working with RPA Dental once again! The plan is for this to become a satellite practice to provide routine care and hygiene, with the original site focusing on more advanced treatment plans and referrals.
It has been quite the journey, but we still have more to come, which is exciting. I have learnt that it’s crucial to work with people who are comfortable with the nuances of dentistry. They need to understand your vision and how to make it happen within the industry's specific regulations before they can successfully guide you. With a good team around you and a passion for delivering excellent patient care, you are far less likely to go wrong!