Carlow dental practice a pillar of the community

Dental Care Ireland Carlow practice manager Sinead Dowling discusses how important the Carlow dental practice is to the community, and how the future is bright for the team

Dental Care Ireland’s practice in Carlow town, located on Tullow Street, dates back nearly 30 years, when it was established by Dr Richard Gillman as the Gillman Dental Clinic. After Dental Care Ireland took over the management of the Carlow dental practice in 2016, all of the existing staff were retained.

Well acquainted with the community

“I’ve worked at the practice for 10 years, and I’m one of the newer faces!” says Sinead Dowling, practice manager at DCI Carlow. “We have a great team here who are well acquainted with the Carlow community – we have two dentists, three hygienists and four dental nurses working here, as well as a visiting orthodontist and endodontist.”

It is clear from talking to Sinead that community means a lot to the whole team in the Carlow dental practice. “We’ve all been working here for a good amount of time, and we know all our patients on a first-name basis. There aren’t too many people we don’t recognise, to be honest. And that’s a great thing!

Carrying on the same traditions

The DCI Carlow dental practice has been completely refurbished and was officially launched this week, and Sinead says the refurbishments have made a huge difference. “We’re carrying on the same traditions in a whole new, modern practice,” she says. “It looks like a new place but we’re still the same staff providing the same great service.”

What’s the atmosphere like in the Carlow dental practice? “As a team, we all get on really well,” says Sinead. “It was a bit challenging when renovations were happening, but now they’re finished it really makes a difference. We go for nights out together and really enjoy each other’s company,” she says.

A light-hearted atmosphere

“In terms of a patient experience, we try to keep things light-hearted while staying professional,” says Sinead. “Some people can be nervous coming in to see us, so it always helps to greet people with a smile and try not to be too clinical. That really helps people to relax, as does the fact that we know them all to start with!

Are there any trends that Sinead and the rest of the team have been seeing in recent times? “People are very aware of their overall oral health, and their teeth in particular,” says Sinead. “Our patients want aesthetically pleasing teeth for that ‘Hollywood smile’, and you can see that across the board. For example, white fillings are a lot more popular now, whereas silver fillings would have been the norm some years ago.”

People want the best

It is also clear that more and more people are looking for specialist treatments. “That’s why we have both an orthodontist and endodontist, who each come in to the Carlow dental practice on a part-time basis,” she says. “People want the best for their teeth, and of course we love to see that. It’s so important that people look after themselves in this way.”

The newly refurbished Carlow dental practice represents a boost for the town. “The recession wasn’t great for us, like so many towns around the country,” says Sinead. “But refurbishing our practice in this way is a great step for us, and it’s nice for the locals in the town to see, too. As I said, we know most of our patients on a first-name basis, so the atmosphere in the practice is just fantastic.”

‘We’ve got big plans!’

Sinead and her team are excited about what the future holds for Dental Care Ireland Carlow. “We’ve got big plans now,” she says. “We want to be the outstanding practice in the south-east, and we’re always looking for ways we can achieve that goal. Opening this newly refurbished practice is just one step on the journey!”

The DCI Carlow dental practice is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 7pm; on Tuesdays from 9am to 5.30pm; on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 5.40pm; on Saturdays from 9am to 12.40pm; and every lunchtime. Get in touch with the team today to book an appointment. See https://www.dentalcareireland.ie/practices/dentist-carlow/contact-us/ or call 059-9141245