Dentist recalled as ‘perfectionist practitioner’
Rotorua stalwart remembered for his ‘gentle’ way with patients
Long-time Rotorua dentist Grant Wells meticulously cared for his patients at his practice, giving everything he had to ensure he did a good job.
His sudden death in September from a heart attack came as a shock to his family, colleagues and patients who have paid tribute to the 66-year-old.
Coroner Donna Llewell has released her finding into Wells’ death, stating he died from a heart attack at his home between September 6 and September 7.
Wells ran his own dental practice in Rotorua for 38 years. He was a member of the New Zealand Dental Association and an active member of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty branch where he served as a consumer affairs officer — which meant he was in charge of complaints resolution.
Colleague and friend Angus Campbell from Kuirau Dental said it was Wells’ job to try to amicably resolve any issues between dentists and patients.
“He had a nice, gentle style to deal with that.”
As a dentist, Campbell said Wells was very patient-focused and strived for the best outcomes.
“He was very generous with it. Money wasn’t the driving force, it was more for the betterment of his patients’ health.”
Wells’ wife of nearly 45 years, Eleanor, said her husband gave his practice everything.
“No one knows the hours he would sit up reading and researching how he would do certain complicated procedures. He was a perfectionist practitioner.”
She said dentistry husband’s life.
“He loved all the complicated root canal and surgical extraction procedures and he was the first in Rotorua to do implants.”
Eleanor Wells said her husband had a “gentle” way, and patients who were afraid of going to the dentist appreciated his manner.
“He was really good at explaining to them what was going to happen and really embraced digital technology.”
Given he died during a time when Rotorua was in level 2, he was only able to have a small funeral, which she said suited his unassuming personality.
Wells was brought up and educated in Rotorua before studying dentistry and working in Auckland.
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In the early 1980s, he attended a dental conference in Rotorua and was talked into buying a practice here by the previous owner.
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The practice has been operating under a locum for the past six months and has just sold to a couple from Matamata. “I’d talked to Grant about slowing down and retiring because he was getting tired.”
Eleanor Wells said her husband would be pleased it would be taken over by an owner-operator, as opposed to a corporate company.
“Most of his patients have been so loyal because they loved him. A lot of them had been with him for decades and he’s treated their children and their children. He’ll be pleased it’s sold to someone who cares as much as he did.”
Coroner Llewell’s decision noted Wells had a history of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Although the decision said there was no reference to issues with Wells’ diabetes, Eleanor Wells said her husband struggled sometimes with the disease.
The coroner’s decision noted the post-mortem results showed Wells had had previous heart attacks.
She said they weren’t aware he had had previous heart attacks and if there was anything to learn from his death, it was to listen to your body.
“The message is to take your health seriously because the impacts are huge.”
Wells is survived by his wife and by his 92-year-old retired pharmacist father, Ross Wells, who owned Sheaf’s Pharmacy, two children and four grandchildren.
"He was very generous with it. Money wasn’t the driving force, it was more for the betterment of his patients’ health." Angus Campbell