Australasian Dentist Magazine Sept-Oct 2021

Category 118 Australasian Dentist works alone,” he says. “There hasn’t been any change in staff or staff conditions either. Whether in terms of working hours or the buying of supplies, the team basically enjoys the same flexibility that I allowed when I was running it. Even Melissa was commenting on how smooth the transition was.” Not to say that the Heathmont Dental team didn’t have reservations when Dr Langdon first brought up the idea of a changeover. In fact, there was enough negative feedback that the dental owner almost gave up the ghost. “It soon became clear that it was only a matter of time that I would be selling the practice anyway, and it was too good an opportunity to pass on,” he explains. “In terms of continuity, we were satisfied that Ekera Dental wasn’t the type of corporate that would bring in their own dentists to replace the current team. In fact, they will only expand the team if the patient numbers demand it.” Just like in the good old days In short, Dr Langdon is glad the changeover proceeded virtually unnoticed. Ushering the seamless transition, he still makes it a point to go in three mornings a week – as he has been doing for the past 10 years – although he isn’t paid to do so. For someone who has always shunned pomposity, preferring to be thought of as a peer than a boss to dental teammates, it is perhaps unsurprising that Dr Langdon would take a shine to Ekera Dental’s incognito approach. Yet the easy-going dentist believes there are more compelling reasons for choosing the practice buyer. “Frankly, unlike other corporates,” Dr Langdon stresses, “Ekera Dental is the only one that gets it”. Dr Langdon says Ekera’s successful business model shows they are willing to listen to what private practitioners have been saying all along, that you can’t run a dental practice the way you do a retail or medical outfit. “Tony understands that a positive dentist-patient relationship, as well as a working dental team dynamic, is sacrosanct – and that they need to be protected,” he reasons. “That alone makes Ekera Dental a game-changer in the Australian corporate dental scene.” u Aquisitions I n the last financial year, 167 dentists and other oral health professionals contributed their efforts to make a positive impact on the lives disadvantaged Australians. The Australian Dental Health Foundation (ADHF), through its volunteer dental programs, provides access to pro bono oral health treatment for patients who would otherwise be unable to easily access or afford public or private dental services. The ADHF measures its impact by the value of the dental care delivered by its volunteers and, despite the challenges of a global pandemic, 2020/2021 has been a record year for impact with $1,156,000 of pro bono dental treatment delivered. The Australian Dental Health Foundation – making a difference challenges; to those establishing their independence after domestic violence has stolen their freedom, and the homeless whose needless dental suffering no longer compounds their more basic struggles; the ADHF is there to provide life-changing oral health treatment wherever it can. After learning about the ADHF at an ADA seminar, Dr Katy Theodore, the Victoria Committee Co-Chair became connected with ADHF Victoria Chair in 2018 and was invited to join the committee. Katy has been a long-time member of the ADA (in various states) and as a passionate public health advocate was very pleased of learn of this nicely structured program that facilitates busy private practicing dentists to become involved in pro bono work. Before joining the ADAVB on the Policy, Advocacy, Research & Health Promotion team, Katy was doing similar work exclusively for the public sector at DHSV where she was involved in developing the Model of Care based on the principles of Value Based Health Care. This meant a great deal of research into health-related behaviour change and measuring outcomes of care. To keep a hand in the clinical side Katy worked one day a week in the Integrated Special Needs Department of the Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne, and now supervises and teaches the University of Melbourne Bachelor of Oral Health students as they start seeing their own patients. One of the things Katy enjoys about being involved in the ADHF Victoria Committee is contributing her understanding of the public system and being able to support the Coordinators in their role. The program is intended to provide care for Australians who are not able to be seen in the public sector in a timely manner or not eligible at all, but still struggle to afford to see an oral health professional. Credit for creating this impact goes to the volunteer dentists, other oral health practitioners and their dental staff who deliver the services. From men and women who have overcome addiction, who are enduring long-term economic hardship or suffering from mental and physical health Dr Katy Theodore There are many patients waiting for treatment. If you would like to assist a single patient through the Foundation’s Adopt a Patient or Rebuilding Smiles ® programs, or commit to a Dental Rescue Day, we would be happy to provide you with more information about how to get involved in a rewarding volunteer experience. u Phone: (02) 8815 3333 Email: info@adhf.org.au • www.adhf.org.au