GAP Australasian-Dentist-May June 2019

Category 4 AustrAlAsiAn Dentist M ay 2019 marks 35 years in Australia for highly awarded international dental equipment manufacturer, A-dec. A-dec Australia began operating as a separate entity on 1st May 1984 from a house in Balmain under the direction of Keith Mentiplay. Keith was a well-known figure in the dental industry, becoming A-dec’s first territory manager in 1981. in total Keith spent 25 years with the company. in 1990, Keith became General Manager for A-dec Australia, which expanded into larger premises in sydney’s inner west at Denison street, Camperdown. the new premises included a warehouse and showroom, a core customer service team plus two territory managers serving all of Australia through a network of A-dec dealers. Having pioneered chair-mounted delivery systems like A-dec Performer, Cascade and radius, it wasn’t long before A-dec grew again and moved to nearby Bowden street, Alexandria. An important milestone for A-dec was the outstanding success of its flagship ‘A-dec 500’ dental unit launched in 2004. the A-dec 500 has had multiple upgrades since then and spawned a whole new range of streamlined dental units with a focus on ergonomics, including two generations of the A-dec 300 as well as the A-dec 400. these landmark products were followed by the entry level A-dec 200 which offered A-dec quality at a new price point. in 2006, former A-dec territory Manager and Western Australian A-dec equipment dealer, Craig Young, took over the reins as A-dec Australia General Manager. two years later in 2008, the company moved to its current modern and spacious Australian headquarters and warehouse in ricketty street, Mascot that includes a modern showroom. in 2015 former A-dec national sales Manager Patrick Jones, was appointed as General Manager and a new showroom was opened in Melbourne, together with a temporary showroom in Brisbane. A-dec Australia remains a leader among A-dec’s international markets and has the largest network of equipment dealers, A-dec-trained service technicians and experienced territory managers serving dentists in Australia. the company is known for its contribution to the dental industry on many levels including the Australian Dental equipment industry Association (ADiA) and ADX trade shows, and its partnerships with teaching universities and of course its lasting relationships with public, corporate and private dental customers throughout Australia and new Zealand. u a-dec australia celebrates 35 years! n ws to kick-start his dream to slay more decay. the ‘Decay slayer’ concept aims to offer free dental care to the most vulnerable residents of Childers and neighbouring towns. “sunsuper’s Better Business Grant means that as a local business owner i can share my services and help make a huge difference to the lives of others in my community,” Dr Brett Phillips said. “i was thrilled to be one of three grant winners to help me launch a pilot program where i’ll provide dental care for 15 locals, once a week, over three months. “Among the patients i’ve seen since launching the pilot, i’ve seen such a difference in their confidence, and they say they feel better too.” Dr Phillips isn’t motivated by self- interest but says that dentists can use free appointments to boost their community standing and help to build their practices. “i’ve lived in Childers for 25 years, so a lot of people know me around here. they know i would do anything for my patients, as long as it was honest and honourable,” Dr Brett Phillips said. “it is shocking that tooth decay is the most common chronic disease inAustralia. And for kids with poor oral health, they are the most likely to experience dental disease throughout their adult lives. “if all dental practices could offer a few hours a month to tend to a non-paying patient, particularly for kids, imagine what a difference we could make. “together we could change the lives of Aussies doing it tough and improve overall dental health in our communities – particularly in regional and rural areas.” For small businesses looking to do somethingmeaningful in their community and make a social impact, sunsuper’s Dreams for a Better World program offers a share of $150,000 in grants. Applications for the next round of Better Business grants close 2 August 2019. “For anyone thinking if they should apply, i’d say just give it a go. the sunsuper grant has been a starting point for me and now that i’ve shown how i can make a difference, i can reach out to other businesses and corporates to help keep my dream alive.” u Mates helping local mates smile Continued from page 2 A-dec’s Mascot showroom. Opening of A-dec’s Melbourne showroom in 2015