Orthodontics practice cements position at root of dental community
Eleven years and 20,000 patient referrals after launching, Beam Specialist Orthodontic Practice
is proud to play a key role in Scotland’s dental sector.
Every day, the growing team at this Dundee clinic, headed up by three specialist orthodontists, focuses on one goal – perfecting smiles.
With more than 40 years of orthodontic experience between them, principal specialist orthodontist and Beam co-founder Ruaridh McKelvey and specialist orthodontists Ruth Fowler and Elinor Chalmers benefit from unrivalled experience in a range of different appliances and techniques, with the knowledge and training required to ensure the very best results.
Founded in 2007, Beam welcomes patients from throughout Dundee, Angus, Fife, Perthshire and beyond. Ensuring an optimum standard of care is the support team of six qualified orthodontic therapists (and one more in training), eight orthodontic nurses, two receptionists, front of house manager, practice business manager and two treatment co-ordinators.
The open-plan, cutting-edge practice has also recently increased its opening hours to provide two separate clinics, allowing a better separation of NHS and private clinics.
However, what really sets Beam apart from other practices is their success in training and maximising the potential of their therapists and nursing team. The open-plan environment enables the specialist orthodontists to closely oversee all treatment and patient interactions, allowing them to make clinical decisions while the team carry out routine procedures and adjustments as prescribed. Indeed, Rhu feels that training up the team and maximising the therapists’ role is one area that the general dental community could benefit from.
In addition, Rhu has taken a sidestep from what he describes as “the coalface of NHS dentistry”, allowing him to invest more time and attention on Beam’s growing private caseload. One area that Rhu is currently investing significant time and training in is the use of Invisalign – indeed, he currently treats more patients with Invisalign than any other specialist orthodontist in Scotland, more than 130 case starts within the last 12 months alone.
Beam was also the first practice in Scotland to join The Invisible Orthodontist (TIO), the UK’s largest network for specialist orthodontists, with Rhu and four of his ‘Beam Team’ heading to its annual conference in Portugal this autumn.
Rhu explained: “We pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge, embracing new technologies and meeting the ever-changing needs and expectations of our client base.
“However, as new custom-made, bespoke technologies like Invisalign grow increasingly popular, the learning curve facing clinicians grows steeper. Despite my 16-year career as a specialist orthodontist, there are many subtleties involved in aligner treatments, which require a whole new skillset. I am therefore making significant investments in time and training to ensure that we stay at the top of our game when it comes to offering Invisalign to our private patients.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to NHS orthodontic treatment, Beam enjoys an excellent relationship with dentists throughout the East of Scotland, looking after their patients’ treatment planning and management.
Rhu added: “We go to great lengths to ensure a seamless relationship with our referring dentists and fully understand the challenges they face. We are always available at the end of the phone to discuss cases and work as a team, ensuring the very best outcomes for patients. We are exceptionally proud to have earned the respect we enjoy amongst the dental community through the East of Scotland, and take real pleasure in serving them while transforming the smiles of each and every Beam patient.”
Ruaridh McKelvey founded Beam Specialist Orthodontic Practice in 2007. You can contact him and the Beam Team at 36 South Tay Street, Dundee. Tel: 01382 202604, email: smile@beamortho.com
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