New dental centre helps Malawi smile
Old equipment donated to African charity
One of the world’s poorest countries will enjoy spin-off benefits from a £1millionplus investment in Perth city centre.
Dental Care Perth has relocated to the former Clydesdale Bank building in South Methven Street, which has lain vacant for the past two years.
Unveiling a huge investment in cutting edge technology, clinical director Constantinos Loizides revealed that dental chairs and equipment from the Princes Street surgery are being donated to the charity Smileawi – which works to improve the lives of communities in Malawi.
Mr Loizides said: “The move to a 4000 square foot, state-of-theart, disabled-friendly ground floor surgery will benefit our current and future private and NHS patients.
“It has been designed to our own specifications and the developer has done fantastic job with the high spec finish.
“It heralds a new era for one of the city’s longest established dental practices, after more than a century operating from a traditional tenement, and underlines our commitment to Perth and providing dental care of the highest quality. We could have cast around for premises outwith the city centre, but regenerating the one-time bank building has proved ideal, not just for the present but for accommodating plans for Constantinos Loizides presented Lesley Sykes with a bouquet to mark the opening of the new Dental Care Perth premises. She has been a patient there for 35 years expansion in both the short and longer term.
“The pace of change in dental care is extraordinary, but exciting.
“Digital technology is vital and more than a mile of cabling has been installed in the building.” Edinburgh University graduate Mr Loizides heads-up a 17-strong Dental Care Perth team.
He said: “It was only a decade ago that we were witnessing queues outside local dental surgeries.
“Fortunately that crisis was addressed and we are in a position to take on new patients.”
After committing to brand new equipment for six individual surgeries, Mr Loizides feared perfectly serviceable kit could be consigned to a landfill site.
He explained: “Having decided to fit-out the new practice with the very latest equipment, including Scotland’s first revolving dental chair accommodating both right and left-handed dentists, I was delighted when Smileawi expressed an interest in giving our old chairs, X-ray machines and other kit a new lease of life.”
Dentist Nigel Milne, who set-up Smileawi with his wife Vicky five years ago, said: “We were delighted when Dino offered us all the dental equipment as we have just returned from Malawi and discovered just how poorly equipped they are.
“His kind donation will allow many of the dentists in the north of the country to offer a more sustainable service.”