Fiona is all smiles at keeping it in the family
Dentist follows in the footsteps of her dad by taking over practice
A dentist is continuing more than 70 years of tradition by taking over the family practice.
Fiona Lee, 37, grew up watching her father James Lee in Linwood’s Bridge Street Dental Surgery, which he bought in 1980.
From a young age, she knew she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her dad, who himself was inspired into dentistry by his own father Stuart Lee.
Stuart lived in Bridge of Weir and was also well known in the community, having set up his practice in Johnstone in the 1940s.
Together, their careers serving the local community of Renfrewshire have spanned almost 80 years.
And Fiona, who has been a dentist for 15 years, says to this day she has patients who remember being treated by her grandfather in his dental practice, which was located on Church Street.
Fiona said: “I have a lot of patients who used to go to my dad and I have even had someone come in and say they remembered that my grandfather was their dentist.
“My grandfather did give up practising when he was young due to poor health. He died when I was very young.
“But I remember that his surgery was below their house on Church Street and they lived above it when my dad was younger.
“It’s so strange to think that some patients were treated by all of us.
“Dentistry has changed so much over the years.”
Fiona has now taken over the family practice, which has been rebranded as Smile Dental Care Linwood, following the sudden death of her dad in 2009.
She added: “My dad died very suddenly, when he was only 57, so it wasn’t an option to take over the practice then as it was very unexpected.
“I have been working as a dentist here since 2006 so it is a nice feeling to finally have it as my own.
“It’s quite sentimental for me as I have so many memories here and now there are so may things I want to do.
“I’m really enjoying running things now.”
Fiona says she spent most of her younger years in the surgery in Bridge Street, and always enjoyed watching her dad at work.
Watching him inspired her future career, and the mum-of-two is hopeful that one day one of her own daughters will follow in her footsteps.
She added: “I always knew that this is what I wanted to do from a young age.
“My children are only six and eight and when I mention that they could be a dentist they are just not interested. They always say ‘eww’.
“But they are still young so there is still plenty of time to get them on board.”
It’s quite sentimental for me as I have so many memories here and now there are so many things I want to do
Fiona Lee Smile
Dental Care