FIFE DENTIST FILLS A GAP WITH STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES

A Dunfermline dentist has invested £650k to create a state-of-the art dental practice that opened on Wednesday, June 8th.

Stephanie Kerk and her husband, Peter Robertson, who have accessed support from Business Gateway Fife, worked with a dental architect in Germany to design The Linden Tree Dental Lounge at 3 George Square, Castle Brae.

The business, which is named after a tree that symbolises community, health and longevity, has created four jobs and offers cutting-edge dental solutions, including alternative techniques pioneered in Stephanie’s home country, Germany.

She said: “It’s a very exciting time for us. The vast majority of dental practices are housed in former residential properties which constrains their design. We had a blank canvas to work with, and using my father’s 30 years’ of experience in dentistry and a specialist architect we were able to create a modern, welcoming and easily accessible practice.

“We’ve invested heavily, not just in our infrastructure but in the techniques we provide. Alongside standard dental work and implants, we offer telescopic dentures that are not widely available in Scotland. These remove the need for mobile, plastic dentures, prevent bone loss, improve speech and are aesthetically pleasing. We’ve also installed a full mouth x-ray to allow for quick diagnosis.

“After buying the building we were advised to speak to Business Gateway Fife, and our adviser Charles Doeg-Smith has been brilliant – I wish we’d gone to them right from the start. Not only has he helped us secure a £2k Fife Investment Fund grant that went towards marketing and our website design, his input also allowed us to obtain support through the Expert Help Programme, to the value of £800, for SEO and to maximise our online marketing presence.”

Charles Doeg-Smith, Business Gateway Fife, said: “We’re delighted that our support has allowed Stephanie and Peter to put in place a marketing strategy that will help them grow their client base. By offering state-of-the-art facilities with 20 car parking spaces, on a site that is easily accessible, they’re making a trip to the dentist a lot less stressful. We’ll continue to provide support to help them realise the full potential of their venture, which includes creating up to 12 jobs over the next 10 years.”

Having grown up in Germany, Stephanie originally wanted to become a carpenter but, after deciding to stay on at school where she gained good grades, she took the decision to follow in both her father’s and aunt’s footsteps and become a dentist.

After qualifying in 2003, she moved to Scotland with her now husband and worked for a Fife dental practice for 11 years before deciding to branch out on her own.

She said: “I want my clients to be healthier than ever. In Germany, the dental philosophy is very much treating a person as a whole rather than just their teeth. Our aim is to follow that mantra by offering individually tailored preventative care plans for optimum health that take into account client’s medications, genetic issues and lifestyle. We will also run monthly seminars to help educate people and increase their knowledge and understanding of their teeth, bones and health. People can fear the dentist but the majority of the time that simply arises from not knowing exactly what treatments entail so we want to empower our clients so they can make informed decisions.”

The Linden Tree Dental Lounge, which is open Monday to Friday, offers lunchtime appointments throughout the week and late night opening on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information visit www.thelindentree.co.uk

To find out how Business Gateway Fife can help your business call us now on 01592 858333.