Interview with Dr. Kev Patel - Bond Dental, London UK

Dr. Kev Patel
Bond Dental - Marylebone, London

I have known Dr. Kev for over 10 years! We used to do 100’s of prosthetic cases a month together and now he’s gone from associate to principle in Central London. Click read more to find out what he has been up to during lock down and what advice he gives to associates that want to open up their own dental practice!

Hi Dr. Kev, hope you’re well and safe! I have known you for over 10 years from the days of when you was working in a mini corporate and now you own Bond Dental Practice in Marylebone. What have you been up to during lock down?
These 10 years have flown by Kash, however this lockdown feels like forever mate! I have been trying to keep myself busy and in a good routine. I have been trying to keep fit mentally and physically. However as a practice owner there is a lot of behind the scenes management to do. This includes compliance, trying to ensure the business remains cost efficient and also keep the team motivated for when we return.

I have also been learning new skills such as learning to cook from scratch but I think I will stick to running a dental surgery.

I think the reality with the lock down is that we are all in this whether we like it or not so we just have to make the best of the situation. I don’t think we will ever get an opportunity like this in our career again to press pause and restart!

We had the prosthetic contract and I remember you doing on average about 10 – 15 denture cases daily with a very small remake rate. What ever it was, it worked! What would you say was the key to making that work?
A good nurse mixing the alginate with no air bubbles, good impression taking with lots of lip massaging for border moulding - the rest was you and your lab Kash! I think I communication with your lab is very important and with all the labs I used to make sure I know them personally to build a rapport. Kash you were working on my dental impressions before you took over bremadent lab and I remember the work just coming back spot on. If I did something that was not up to scratch you would pull me up on it! You were destined to run the lab! We are now looking to move to a digital workflow!

Since lock down, are there any dental procedures you miss doing?
To be honest I just really miss the patient interaction and the team fun!
In terms of actual treatments I miss…probably an orthodontic de-bond after Invisalign or anterior crown fits.

Is there any advice or tips you can give to someone who wants to open up their own dental practice?
1) Go for it - don’t let anyone stop you
2) Learn from your principal what to do and sometimes what not to do
3) Patience, the right practice will come as your first will likely be your baby where you put all your energy into it, but remember there is never a perfect practice. You have to be the one that makes it perfect!
4) Build a great team who want to follow things the way you do it..otherwise the practice will not grow how you want it
5) Sign up to all agents they are all really friendly and describe your criteria
6) Compromise - sometimes you cannot tick all the boxes (it is like buying a house)
7) Room for growth - this is important!

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