Eye on Healthcare
CRANMORE DENTAL
PIONEERING NEW STANDARDS The world of dentistry in Northern Ireland is changing with the arrival of big GB-based corporate dental groups aiming to take a slice of the marketplace here through the acquisition of established local dental practices. David Nelson BDS, MSc.(Imp.Dent), Cranmore Dental.
B
ut one family-owned Belfast practice reckons that our home-grown dental practices bring a unique offering to patients. Cranmore Dental, set up by dental surgeon David Nelson and former solicitor Brenda Nelson over seven years ago, has grown to become one of the biggest of its kind in Northern Ireland. With six dental surgeries operating and with a team of over 20 people, the Windsor Avenue operation is working at full capacity. “It’s why our future plans include considering extending our premises here in Belfast,” says David Nelson. Cranmore Dental is a company which hasn’t been afraid to invest over the years. Having completed a major refurbishment at its Windsor Avenue premises almost five years ago, it is one of very few dental surgeries to boast its own CT scanner onsite, providing 3 dimensional images to accurately plan dental implant treatment. The practice is at the forefront with the use of digital impressions (eliminating the need for those uncomfortable moulds), as well as 3D digitally-guided
Reception at Cranmore Dental.
24
surgery techniques. Guided surgery is effectively an alternative for conventional implant treatment and David Nelson is confident that “it is the future of where implant dentistry is moving”. “We offer a tailored solution for every patient,” adds David Nelson. “And those patients come to us on the back of our reputation for dental implant solutions, as we can provide a complete care approach to their dental implant treatment.” “We have a very experienced team of dentists and specialist here at Cranmore, taking a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of our patients.” David Nelson, Clinical Director at Cranmore, graduated in dentistry from the University of Birmingham in 1999 and also completed a Masters Degree in Dental Implantology from the University of Warwick in 2007. With over ten years experience in the field of dental implants, he is committed to delivering the highest standard of care for his patients. His focus on dental implants extends to teaching other local dentists through a series of implant courses held at the
South Belfast practice, whilst also being a recognised Straumann mentor. “The dedicated training facility enables us to stream live patient surgery from the treatment room to the training suite” adds David Nelson. He has also previously lectured Queen’s University dental students on the subject of implants, and continues to lecture in London on the Foundation in Implant Dentistry course. As part of the Leadership Team of the International Team for Implantology, a world wide non-profit organisation, championing the correct utilization of implant dentistry for the benefit of patients, David Nelson encourages patients to consider the experience and qualifications of the dentist including the implant system being used. “I think what’s important for patients who want or need dental implants is that they want to work with someone they can trust, and someone who they know has the experience to provide the treatment they need. At Cranmore we support that treatment with a four-year guarantee on the work that we carry out.”
The Patient Lounge at Cranmore Dental.
Whilst dental implants tend to be thought of as a solution for teeth missing through wear and decay, as David explains, through our love of sport, there can be trauma which causes tooth loss. A keen cyclist himself having completed the recent Giro D’Italia, David appreciates that accidents can all too easily happen. “Often patients who need to replace teeth lost by trauma (such as biking or other sporting accidents), have not needed to consider dental implants previously but are delighted that they can offer a fixed, long term solution.” David received the UK Single Implant Award at the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards in 2013 for his treatment of a biking trauma case where his patient, Richard, knocked out his front tooth. Cranmore has won a number of UK and Ireland awards and is the only Northern Ireland practice affiliated to the Leading Dental Centres of the World organisation. The continued investment in the team and facilities provides a positive platform for David Nelson and his wife Brenda to move the South Belfast practice forward in the next five years.