Dental Excel Beerwah celebrates 25 years of business and, to mark this milestone, GC&M News caught up with founders Dr David and Elaine Marley to find out a little more about the history and highlights of his long-running family owned and operated practice.
Having previously holidayed in Australia and loving the idea of enjoying a Sunshine Coast lifestyle, David and Elaine decided to emigrate from the U.K., where David owned a successful family and cosmetic dental practice in Birmingham for many years.
Relocating to Queensland with their three young children in January 1998, the couple were soon made aware of a dental practice up for sale in Beerwah, which was still considered a small country town.
Elaine said from day one the local community was extremely welcoming and supportive.
“The practice back then was one of only two in Beerwah. We negotiated a deal with Dr Jeff Cox, a great dentist who left to become a specialist, and Marley Dental Care, as we were known then, was up and running!” Elaine explained.
With a mission to provide quality, modern dental care in a relaxed, easy going and friendly environment, David and Elaine were committed to caring for patients in the same way they would wish to be cared for themselves. Through word of mouth and quality of service, the practice soon became very busy.
As the patient base grew, the practice was expanded to meet demand, and new, carefully selected dentists were invited to join the team.
The family run clinic Marley Dental Care became Dental Excel, which expanded to include five locations across the Sunshine Coast and North Brisbane.
David said over the years he had witnessed many changes to the industry, including dentistry becoming more technical with the advent of digital x-rays, results being delivered more rapidly, and the arrival of implant dentistry.
“Some of the developments over the last twenty-five years have also included Intra oral cameras that allow patients to see the inside of their mouths on the big screen, and white filings replacing the old metal amalgam fillings,” said David.
David and Elaine both agreed that the practice has greatly benefited from having great dentists and staff over the years, including one of their very first staff members, local dental nurse Colleen, who has been with the team for 22 years.
Attracting dentists from UK, Ireland, Canada, Poland and New Zealand, as well as Australia, Dental Excel have sponsored numerous dentists from overseas to start a new life in Australia.
David said he is fortunate to have had many years of extensive experience, but said it was imperative to keep up to date with new innovations in his field.
He deeply enjoys sharing professional knowledge with his patients and staff, and said he still enjoys mentoring young dentists so that they may benefit from his decades of experience in the profession. “25 years on we are still providing the same caring service to our patients. Some who were seen by us as very young children in Beerwah are now visiting us as adults, and that truly drives it home to us that we remain an integral part of our local community,” said David.
Dental Excel Beerwah 72 Simpson Street Beerwah, www.dentalexcel.com.au
