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The Power of Learning, Insight and Leadership: A compelling dental health story

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A case study featuring Dr Atul Manani, Smile Sensations

Dr Atul Manani and Dr Sanjiv Pathak are owners and principal dentists at Smile Sensations, a Canberra-based multi-location dental practice.

Through a commitment to further learning and innovation, both principals are making a genuine change by delivering holistic dental practices for their patients across Canberra. The innovative approach benefits the region’s dental health and has driven the growth of this thriving business.

It’s a compelling dental health story.

A journey of learning and discovery

Dr Manani graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 1995, then attained a Masters in Restorative Dentistry in 2001. Continuing education has been undertaken with the Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies in progressive orthodontics and dental implantology at Charles Sturt University, Orange.

Dr Manani’s study has been motivated by his personal journey in dentistry in the UK and Australia. Early locum placements as a young dentist in regional Queensland and New South Wales influenced his decision to explore restorative dentistry.

Back in the UK, Dr Manani applied for permanent Australian residency, which was granted in 2000. His first role in Australia was in Bathurst, in country NSW. Here, he retrained in CAD/CAM dentistry.

He then settled in Canberra and took over an existing general dental practice.

“My main motivation has always been general dental practice”, explains Dr Manani. “More specifically, I’m very interested in how we, as a general practice, can provide better dental and overall health outcomes - educating our patients and providing an expanded set of accessible services across orthodontics and restorative care”.

“By incorporating services only specialists have traditionally provided, we are making better dental health more accessible and less of a big deal for our patients.

“A study of the needs of our patients across our surgeries has informed us and motivated further education and the changes we’ve made to the way we practice”.

Smile Sensations

Smile Sensations began as a single surgery in the affluent Canberra suburb of Manuka. “Over the years, the average age of our patients there has aged, leading to restorative practices and mature-age orthodontics”. With the addition of Dr Sanjiv Pathak as a co-owner, Smile Sensations was able to expand and branch out into suburban Canberra.

“Conversely, our move into various suburban areas of Canberra has exposed us to family practice and the dental healthcare needs of children.

“One of the most satisfying aspects of therapeutic practice with children and adults under 25 is the enduring effect treatments have on the patient's total health. Dental health impacts eating, breathing and sleeping – all vital influencers of our well-being.

“Of course, everyday Dental health and the role of general dentists are vital. It’s also very satisfying to provide services beyond that to deliver holistic dental health and better overall health outcomes”.

An intelligently designed business model

Dr Manani has developed the Smile Sensations practice with an evident focus and deliberate intent. The health needs of patients form the foundation. Furthermore, there has been an uncommon level of planning and attention to detail that allows the business to operate differently, effectively and efficiently.

It starts with the Smile Sensations team. Dr Manani and Dr Pathak and their team of dentists are highly skilled practitioners trained across multiple forms of dental practice.

Primary care is provided by oral health therapists skilled in oral hygiene, examination, treatment and prevention. The therapists can educate patients on the broader definitions of dental health and identify additional care needs. Needs that the principal dentists then perform.

The second pillar of the business model is operational excellence, which maximises patient experience, delivery quality and efficiency. The business has adopted modern systems and embraced the economics of scale. This model is spearheaded by focussed management from Dr Sanjiv Pathak.

The advanced approach to business operations has made the model scalable, so new practices can be established to a set of standard procedures before being adapted to the distinct needs of the local community.

Standardisation also applies to equipment, tools and consumables. The result is higher quality, predictability and practice efficiency.

Dentaurum is a partner

Smile Sensations procures orthodontics supplies and equipment from Dentaurum, including equilibrium® 2 orthodontic brackets and Archwires. This, too, has resulted from a deliberate decision based on quality and business efficiency.

Dentaurum equilibrium® 2 brackets are manufactured to the highest quality standards, easy to bond, and readily available from Dentaurum Australia.

“Choosing to standardise the use of Dentaurum equilibrium brackets, Archwires, and several other Dentaurum products has reduced inventory costs while ensuring ready stock availability of the required brackets. This minimises delays for the patient and lowers costs,” says Dr Manani.

Smile Sensations also uses:

  • The Dentaurum discovery® pearl ceramic bracket system for its quality and stain resistance
  • dentaform® Snap molar bands with pre-welded buccal tubes
  • The tomas® temporary anchorage device system.

Listening to Dr Atul Manani is inspiring and very instructive. He is a highly progressive general dental practitioner who leads and manages his business with great skill. It proves that the power of learning, insight, and leadership can fuel innovation that improves health care, patient outcomes and business. Impressive. 

Dentraurum products for dental clinics and orthodontic clinics featured in this article include:

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