Alfonso Rao is set to become the first UK owner of the all new Puma Eli Modular ambidextrous unit. Here he talks about his love for Castellini dental chairs.
Why can’t you live without your Castellini chair? Name the top reasons you love it.
Everything I need is integrated into my Castellini chair. From an implant motor to an external camera. It is really technologically advanced and really comfortable – from what my patients tell me – in comparison to other chairs in other dental practices.
It feels great to offer that level of comfort to my patients. I appreciate the positive feedback too. The aesthetic of the chair is also very appealing.
Why did you opt to buy a Castellini chair?
When I was practising in Italy, I had a Castellini chair. A previous model to the one I have installed in my Bristol practice.
I am Italian and therefore a Castellini makes sense after coming to the UK. It is the main Italian brand for dental chairs in my country, so it was an easy choice. The previous model had already given me full satisfaction as a surgeon and a positive experience for my patients. Besides, the distribution in the UK is carried out by RPA. Both the support and attention to detail they offer are second to none. So I feel I can confidently use it and if anything happens, I am reassured that I will be sorted immediately.
The Castellini chair has an app, which is somehow linked to an engineer. If anything does happen, the engineer can log in and assess or sort the fault remotely. Alternatively, the engineer can diagnose the issue before his visit to the practice. That means the problem is half solved when he comes to the door. It is also a quick fix too because he doesn’t have to identify the fault from scratch. That is, in my view, totally unique to Castellini and RPA. I am thrilled by their level of service!
As a dentist, having a Castellini chair is very important. The main one I use is the top of the spectrum. I use it mainly for teaching in my dental academy. It has a built in camera so I can carry out live surgery and have this projected so delegates I am training can follow.
As a specialist practice offering complex treatments, we absolutely need to ensure we arm ourselves with the best tools that are possibly available in order to deliver a high level of dentistry.
What do patients comment about the chair?
The feedback from patients is very positive. They all say it is very comfortable. They cannot appreciate the technical components of the chair. But they do see the high technology built into it and they seem very impressed by it.
How does the chair represent your style?
Having an Italian chair represents my style as an Italian dentist. It is top quality, like other Italian products for high end consumers.
If your chair was a car, what car would it be?
A Ferrari, because it is so high end!
If your chair was a fashion design, what would it be?
It would be Gucci. High end, but available for everyone.
If your chair was a watch, which would it be?
Audemars Piguet.
What projects are you working on at present?
We never stop and we are working on several extremely exciting new projects at the moment. I am setting up a dental suite in a medical and plastic surgery centre in Bristol. I have set up a teaching academy called Delta Dental Academy, which includes live surgery; and I am in the process of expanding into a number of other practices in the south west.
As part of the Queens Square Dental Clinic and Delta Training Academy, I have set up a unique showroom/training centre. The centre piece is the Castellini Skema 8 and Tao Line Dental Art Cabinets.
I have since expanded into another site with Castellini Skema 6 Cart and am currently due to become the first UK owner of the all new Puma Eli Modular ambidextrous unit. This arrives in November 2020.
