Family values key for Swords dentist

Practice manager Christine Downey of our Swords dentist is delighted that the practice has been officially opened

The recently-refurbished Dental Care Ireland in Swords has been operating since July 2016, but in reality the practice itself has been a vital part of the community for 30 years, when it was run by Dr David Patton. Having been known around the bustling village as Patton’s, patients are now very keen to come in and take a look at the refurbished building.

“This is a very long-standing practice in the Swords area, so patients are really happy to see a lot of our team are unchanged from when Dr Patton ran it. The refurbishment makes a big difference too,” says Christine Downey, practice manager at Dental Care Ireland Swords.

Friendly and accommodating

“I’ve only been working here for just over a month, but the team is so friendly and accommodating that it feels like a lot longer than that!” she says.

This Swords dentist has a great mix of experience and professional know-how. “We have three dentists, an orthodontist and a hygienist. Most of our staff are female, but we have one male dentist, Dr Graham Maguire,” says Christine.

“Graham and our principal dentist, Dr Orla McGeary, offer general and cosmetic dentistry. Orla was actually a co-owner of the practice with Dr Patton before Dental Care Ireland came on board in 2016, so she has that valuable link with our older patients.

Making a difference

Specialist treatments are also available at this Swords dentist. “Dr Susie O’Connell is our orthodontist, which is getting really popular lately in our practice,” says Christine. “Some of our nurses have also been with us for 20 years at least; it really makes a difference.”

Christine is proud of the range of treatments that the practice offers. “We offer everything, really,” she says. “General dental treatments are of course the most popular things we do for people, and whitening would be the most popular cosmetic treatment.”

What difference has Dental Care Ireland made to the practice in Swords? “Obviously the refurbishment has created a buzz among our staff and patients, but it’s also been fantastic to have the support of the other practices around Ireland,” says Christine.

Quality is consistent

“People have heard of the Dental Care Ireland name, and it’s important that the practices look the same. That quality is consistent. We are in the process of getting signage finished for the exterior of the practice, which will also make a real difference.”

How important is patient service in the practice? “Our patients mean everything to us. We have promoted one of our nurses, Ann, to patient coordinator – her job is to look after the patient journey, every step of the way – from the treatment plan to costs and an explanation of the treatment itself,” she says.

Approach paying dividends

“This approach is really paying dividends: we have retained all our old patients after the rebranding and we’ve seen a huge amount of new patients come through the doors. We’re aiming to get a 10% rise in new patients per month; we’re already seeing an average of two new patients per day,” Christine says.

“We pride ourselves on looking after our patients: just recently we had a young girl in with us who needed to have extractions done. She was nervous about it and we recommended sedation in a hospital. But then she changed her mind and wanted Dr McGeary to perform the treatment in our practice with just a local anaesthetic because the trust was there,” Christine says.

Family-based practice

“We’re a family-based practice. We have had people coming here for generations and we’re now seeing their children come in to us. It’s all about stability and consistency: we have a lot of familiar faces here,” she says.

So, what’s it like to work in Swords? “Even though I’ve only been with this Swords dentist for a short spell, I’ve been working in the village for the last 13 years. It’s such a lovely place; the people here are really nice and friendly. Also, it’s a growing town with over 100,000 living here. It’s nice to have a sense of community as well as a bustling feel about the place,” she says.

“It’s such an aesthetically pleasing practice that we’re really excited about the future here in Swords,” says Christine. “We know that we’re going to grow even faster than we are at the moment. It’s very exciting for the whole team!”

The DCI Swords dentist is located in St. Brendan’s in Seatown West, Swords, Co Dublin. The practice is open on Mondays from 8am to 8pm, on Tuesdays from 8am to 7pm, and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8am to 5pm. Get in touch with the team today to book an appointment. Call 01-8402971 or click the link above to book online