Practice Principal and Specialist Oral Surgeon, Dr David Offord reflects on Vermilion’s 2022
As we hurtle towards the end of 2022, I have been reflecting on what has been an important year at Vermilion in preparing the ground work for our major expansion in 2023. For years we have been desperate for more space at 24 St John’s Road, and finally we have secured the tenancy on the 350sqm 2nd floor above our existing clinic. Work on the new clinic will begin in April, taking the number of chairs in Edinburgh from six up to ten. In addition we will create a beautiful office space, staff / conference room and a digital dental laboratory.
Undoubtedly the highlight of 2022 was Vermilion winning “Best Referral Practice – North” and “Best Patient Care – Scotland and Northern Ireland” at the Private Dentistry Awards in London. This was the first time that we had ever entered for an award, and when I read the remarkable submission put together by Vermilion marketing manager Francesca El Jorr I was blown away. It is a source of great pride and validation for the teams in both Edinburgh and Kelso that we came home with not one but two gongs!
Digitizing our implant patient work flow really gained traction in 2022, with the now routine use of intra-oral scanners and the recent acquisition of a 3D printer. We are fully committed to using digital technology to improve patient outcomes and streamline treatment plans.
The other stand-out moment of 2022 was the wind on top of Ben Lawers on the day of our charity hike! We chose June thinking the weather would be kind to us. I have never experienced such wind in my life! Ponchos that made sense in the drizzle at the start became sails that almost resulted in Alina, events coordinator, and Steph, dental nurse, blowing away! But the £3,492 that we raised for Edinburgh charity Fresh Start, plus the memories that will last a lifetime, made it all worthwhile!
Five clinicians joined our team this past year: Dr Jackie Davidson (periodontics), Dr David Treagus (endodontics), Dr Stavros Eleftheriou (oral surgery), Dr Mairi Jamieson (oral surgery) and Mrs Caroline Oswald (dental hygiene.) And we are especially proud of our two trainees who became qualified dental nurses this year, Katie Walker and Danielle Pittman.
Dr Jason Smithson’s composite masterclass delivered to 75 referring dentists in August was the highlight of our CPD programme, and as ever we delivered a full year of evening seminars on periodontology, oral surgery and orthodontics. In January we will announce the 2023 Vermilion CPD programme, culminating in the biennial symposium at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on Friday 27 October 2023.
We remain ever-grateful to our referring dentists for the cases they choose to send to us. The CPD programme and continued support by telephone and email throughout the year is our way of saying thank-you.
Have a lovely Christmas!
David
