Practice Profile: Brand-new Ashbourne practice off to a strong start

Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne practice manager Audrey O’Brien talks about life in the practice, and working in Ashbourne itself

Dental Care Ireland’s practice in Ashbourne, Co Meath, located on the town’s High Street, was officially opened in May 2017, and features best-in-class fittings and features. Audrey O’Brien, practice manager in Ashbourne, says that it’s an exciting time for the practice now that it has been open to the public for a sustained spell of time.

Great experience “Even though we officially opened in May, we’ve been operating for a year now, and it’s been a great experience. The people are so brilliant here, and it’s a pleasure to come into work every day. I’ve worked in Ashbourne before, and I run the day-to-day management of the practice for Dental Care Ireland, making sure that patients and staff are where they need to be at all times.”

The practice employs seven people, and the make-up of the staff reflects a theme in dentistry today. “We’re a young group, and we’re all women!” says Audrey. “We have a hygienist, receptionist, two dentists, two nurses, and myself. What we have here in terms of our staff make-up really does mirror what’s happening in dentistry in general – a significant majority of dentistry graduates are female, which I think is fantastic.”

Always bright But what about the treatments on offer in the Ashbourne practice?

“We offer the standard dental treatments here, along with whitening treatments. It’s a really nice place to work – we’re on the ground floor here; we have a great aspect and it’s always bright, even if it’s raining outside. It’s the kind of place that would cheer you up once you step inside. Our patients say it doesn’t really feel like a traditional dentist’s office, and we like to hear that!” says Audrey.

“We even have a virtual tour of the practice that patients can have a look at before they come in so they know where they’re going!”

Positive impression It’s clear that the staff have made a really positive impression on the community in Ashbourne. “We always try to be nice and friendly so that our patients can have the very best experience possible. Just the other day we heard back from a woman who had brought her mother to us to get dentures. They were both over the moon at how she was treated. We love to hear that kind of feedback – it means a lot to know that you’re making people feel comfortable and secure.”

Ashbourne is a fast-growing, vibrant town, so what does the future hold for Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne? “We’ve got a number of plans in the works,” says Audrey. “We are planning to introduce orthodontic treatments soon, as there is a large market for them in the area.

Lovely vibe “Ashbourne is a young town, but there’s a lovely vibe about the place. There are some really good restaurants and new businesses alongside us on the High Street, and it really seems like the place is feeling the positive effects of the recovery.”

So what sets the Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne practice apart from the competition? “As I said before, it’s all about the way you treat customers, as well as the professional expertise you have,” says Audrey. “Patient care is absolutely paramount, and that’s something that starts from the moment someone walks through the door to when they leave. Our staff are nice and gentle, and that’s what our patients want. That will never change.”

Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne is currently offering 20% of all whitening treatments until the end of August. Get in touch with the team today to book an appointment. See https://www.dentalcareireland.ie/practices/dentist-ashbourne/ or call 01-8350344