Dr Andrew Fennell shares his journey in setting up his new dental practice – Love Implants in Colchester.
Based in Essex, I have been delivering restorative dental treatments for over 20 years, with a special focus on dental implants and full mouth reconstruction. I became a practice owner in 2010 when I purchased Winning Smiles, located near Romford and Brentwood – this was sold 5 years ago. In the time since, I delivered treatments at five different practices but had been looking to set up my own.
The principal motivation for launching Love Implants was that I wanted to deliver more implant treatments and felt that, with a strong marketing approach and the right location, I could accrue more patients and build a successful business. For the location aspect, I was always going to stay in Essex, and Colchester in particular, because of the connections I have here and its proximity to London.
When looking at appropriate commercial premises, there were a few options to consider. The place that caught my eye was a Grade II-listed building. This was once a pub next to one of the train stations but was available at an affordable price. One aspect I carefully considered was its location: the site was relatively far from any other dental practice, which meant it might either have zero competition and could flourish, or it would face an uphill battle in raising awareness compared to the clinics more grouped in the city centre. However, the low rent for what was a reliable-looking building was a strong draw and no bank loan was needed to secure it.
I was aware of Clark Dental from working at a previous practice and they had always provided a great service. I got in touch with Matt Rowlingson, Chief Operations & Sales Officer at Clark Dental, who came to the first site visit. We kept in frequent contact to plan the process.
The goal was to have one main treatment room for myself, with the flexibility to turn it into two in the future. As the building was a former pub, the first step was to build walls inside and divide the space up. To do this I turned to a builder I had known for 20 years and who I knew would do an excellent job. Matt also worked closely with the builder to ensure aspects like the plant machinery were correctly mounted.
Whilst this occurred, the Clark Dental team organised all of the equipment and fitting. This included:
- Intego Pro treatment centre
- Orthophos S CBCT X-ray machine
- Cattani plant equipment
- W&H Autoclave
- W&H Implant Motor
I also had the support of our practice RPA, who sent a team to check the X-ray machine for radiation protection.
The process took six months in all. During this time I worked 3-day weeks elsewhere to keep funding the operation – it was busy but a manageable solution that avoided bank loans.
Everything was ready for the open day, which was a great success due to a long marketing strategy. This started with a practice website that was live from last September. From there, Love Implants also had an active Instagram page, and business cards and leaflets were designed and shared. The building is shared with my colleague Tanya Mitchell, an Advanced Facial Aesthetics Practitioner. Tanya leads Love Aesthetics: the second arm of the business that provides teeth whitening and other facial aesthetic treatments. Our marketing therefore favours bright colours and a simple, accessible design that places each of our skill sets at the forefront, as well as the excellent value of our treatments.
Once added to the GDC register, the hope is for the marketing and word of mouth to grow the patient base, planting a flag in the sand that Love Implants can deliver the first-class, and potentially life-changing, restorative treatments that patients seek.
The journey so far has been smooth, with very few delays or challenges. Setting up alone can be a worrying prospect, which is why I am so thankful to Clark Dental for the ongoing support the team have provided.
As well as a reliable dental outfit, I would strongly recommend using a trusted builder and having constant communication between yourself, the builder and the equipment suppliers. For those starting from scratch, it is vital to prepare an effective marketing strategy that begins long before the project is completed – the digital landscape is intensely competitive and it can take time to make an impact, so deciding on your branding and getting as many patients’ email addresses ahead of opening ensures you hit the ground running. I am excited to have my own dental practice and to continue delivering the long-lasting treatments I am passionate about.
For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.uk or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk
Author: Dr Andrew Fennell, Practice Owner of Love Implants
Author Bio: Dr Andrew Fennell is a leading UK implant dentist. Since graduating in 2000, he has focused on delivering life-changing restorative treatments, transforming patients’ smiles and restoring their self-confidence. Based in Essex, Dr Fennell is now the Practice Owner of Love Implants, Colchester.
