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More than 30 people attended the launch of the new dental centre in Houghton Regis, Bedford, sponsored by Wrigley’s Orbit sugarfree gum.
The town’s mayor, Councillor Sharon Lagnado, and local MP, Andrew Selous (Conservative MP for South West Bedfordshire) also offered their support and enjoyed the full buffet. Commenting on the launch, Houghton Regis’ mayor said: ‘In a time when dentists are turned away from NHS treatment, we are very fortunate to have this in Houghton – and with the practice fully fitted with disabled facilities, I am sure this business will thrive.’
Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Dental Health Foundation declared the practice open. He said: ‘The usual question I always hear is ‘how and where do you find an NHS dentist?’ and I am delighted to be part of an initiative that will provide this service to 15,000 people.’
As a special guest, a recovered Oliver Smith, aged four turned up for the opening. Oliver was seriously injured when a steamroller ploughed into the dental surgery a few weeks before it opened. Oliver was standing on the pavement outside the building, when the steamroller became detached from its towing vehicle and headed for the surgery.
Meanwhile, the principal of the practice, Sab Bhandal was thrilled with the launch. He said: ‘I am very excited because we are using all our previous partners such as Kodak, and forging new partnerships with local colleges and staff. All this is underpinned by Nat West investment as we’ve proven we’ve got a successful strategy and I am sure it will work.’
The dental centre is to provide approximately 15,000 NHS patients with a full range of dental services and state-of-the-art integrated surgery facilities for diagnosis and treatment.
Orbit sugarfree gum branding will appear inside and outside the surgery, focusing on the oral healthcare benefits of chewing sugarfree gum in helping to prevent tooth decay.
The one-year agreement is the first of its kind for Wrigley. Jo Hartop, director of public affairs and communication for the Wrigley Company said: ‘We are delighted to be supporting the centre and the service it provides to thousands of people in the area. Wrigley’s has supported the dental profession for over 25 years and this project marks a further milestone in our commitment to helping the profession improve oral healthcare in the UK.’
Meanwhile, Wrigley’s is taking part in a brand new exciting competition with Dentistry magazine. For dentists looking to revamp their practices, be sure to visit the FMC stand at the BDTA Dental Showcase for more information on how to win a fantastic business makeover.
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