INFEATURE: ABOUT SMILES

SMILE

A DENTAL STUDIO LABEL DESIGNED BY AN AWARD-WINNING PORTUGUESE ARCHITECT THAT’S ACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHER LEADING SYDNEY STUDIOS, ABOUT SMILES HAS PROPELLED ITS NAME TO THE FOREFRONT OF COSMETIC AND AESTHETICALLY SPECIALISED DENTAL ARTISTRY THANKS TO DR AODHAN DOCHERTY AND HIS EVER-INCREASING PROFILE.

Adental brand that puts the smile back into dentistry and the charm back into the chair, Dr Aodhan Docherty has a unified approach that profiles his plethora of dental skills as aspirational and exciting. An effervescent and lively personality has changed the ‘behind closed doors’ dental sentiment and brought it to the forefront while even attracting brands like White Glo, where Dr Aodhan is an ambassador and product development consultant.

After a few years of working in the public hospital from 2012, Dr Aodhan started working at the About Smiles Chatswood clinic. Alongside the owner and his now business partner, one receptionist and a couple of nurses at a time when the clinic was brand new with no brand awareness.

“Fast forward six months and we had rapid growth despite being in the most heavily saturated dental market in Australia and I think that, despite being a young fresh face and relatively new, patients enjoyed the personal touch, the chat and banter, and the time we take to get to know people,” Dr Aodhan said.

Throughout the following few years, About Smiles opened another three clinics in Sydney, and the small team grew to 50 to 60 people. It was at this same time that Dr Aodhan began to realise his specialisation in a cosmetic focus and noticed that Sydney really didn't have a big name in cosmetic dentistry.

“The plan was then formed to create a cosmetic hub not just for Sydney but for patients to travel to from abroad. I couldn't just open another clinic though, I needed to grow the foundations first and that meant personally with going to all corners of the globe to learn from the best for a few years and building the machine behind the scenes that would be able to facilitate first class care. This necessitated a laboratory with technicians sourced from around the world, and a media company,” Aodhan said.

The About Smiles difference is that Dr Aodhan and his business partner Chris Ho have a six person fully functioning laboratory including an in-house media team to aid in recordings for patient education.

“I waited for a few years for the best spot I could find and it popped up in June 2021 during the pandemic, in the perfect location with all forms of public transport metres away and the Opera House and Harbour Bridge at its doorstep. We understood that such an incredible location and such a unique clinic needed a world class fit out and so we engaged Pedra Silva from Portugal to do so,” Dr Aodhan said. The practice is located in Quay Quarter, recently named the ‘world’s best building’ as designed by Danish Architects.

Although Dr Aodhan and his team were challenged by the space itself, as it has multiple low ceiling heights, they opted for an open black ceiling, track light work with strategically positioned lights, including the underlighting of benches and reception areas, meshwork grills in treatment room ceilings and a unique flowing gold panel wall. Every single aspect was handmade and bespoke in the clinic, the exact same way they treat their patients’ treatments.

“My focus at About Smiles Dental Cosmetics is to deliver world class cosmetic dental treatment for patients all over Australia and abroad. I focus on porcelain veneers, resin bonding and Invisalign primarily, and I have a team of dentists and hygienists to provide every aspect of general dental work as well. It’s a comprehensive hub,” he said.

The design of the clinic encompasses elements of a very high-end spa or luxurious hotel to create a 'non dental' vibe and atmosphere.

“We have hand trowelled concrete floors in our reception area, carefully chosen furniture pieces and strategically designed underlighting to illuminate the clinic when the light goes down. One of the three surgery rooms is glass on two of the four walls, allowing natural daylight and sunlight to come into the room while also allowing for privacy due to the sheer blinds. Each room has ceiling mounted televisions with streaming services so patients can choose what they'd like to watch during their visits. It has an in-house 3D bone scanner, a 3D mouth scanner and also a painless anaesthesia machine - all the very latest technology for a comfortable visit!”

Testament to the supreme fit out and media profile, from day one the new clinic has been booked out at least five weeks in advance. Within a few short months the team has doubled in size, reinforcing the reality that if you build the profile, the people will come.

For more information visit www.aboutsmiles.com.au