Referral feature Thriving in challenging
conditions D
espite opening an orthodontic prac- tice in a climate of NHS cutbacks and spiralling
costs to meet new regulations, Nimo Rostami and Nick Baker have managed to successfully grow their business over the last two years. Iranian-born Nimo said:
“The introduction of rationing based on IOTN scores, the removal, without any compen- sation, of the fee for repairing fixed appliances, and the intro- duction that no further NHS support is given to patients after they have been wearing retainers for a year, are all examples of new rules that have challenged the ability of St Andrews Orthodontics to continue to provide orthodon- tics on the NHS. “However, as part of the
service to the local area, St Andrews Orthodontics continues to offer all catego- ries of patients NHS treatment where possible. As in normal dentistry, sadly some treat- ments are not available and some patients will not qualify. To help with the costs, prices have been kept as economical as possible and zero interest payment plans are available for patients to pay as their treat- ment progresses. Hopefully, this will allow those patients to gain the smiles they deserve.” Graduating from the
National Medical and Dental University of Tehran with a DDS in ı994, Nimo entered a post-graduate programme in dental materials at Claude Bernard University in Lyon, before moving to Germany to
increasing each week, the prac- tice has significantly increased its clinical hours in the last year to cope with demand; there are also immediate plans to increase staffing levels to maintain the excellent service on offer. The St Andrews area, having
work as a dental officer at Ramstein US Military Airbase in Kaiser- slautern. He then moved
to the UK, initially in Dundee but, before settling in Scotland, he took on a number of hospital posts in maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics across the country, culminating in specialist orthodontic training at The Royal London Dental Institute, where he graduated in 2003. Nimo then moved back up to Scotland to work in orthodontic practice. His partner at St Andrews Orthodontics, Nick Baker, has also taken an interesting route to the Fife town, courtesy of a six-year stint in the Royal Navy as a dental officer. Nick joined up on graduating from Dundee in ı985 and, by the time he left the navy in ı99ı, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant commander. Upon entering general
practice he realised he enjoyed working with children and developed a special interest in orthodon- tics. He is currently working towards an MSc in ortho- dontics at the University of Warwick on a part time basis. Nimo and Nick met while
working for a chain of orthodontic practices on the east coast and decided to join forces and set out on their own. They identified St Andrews for a number of reasons but most importantly because the Fife town at that time didn’t have a specialist orthodontic practice and they saw an opportunity to fill the gap. With the number of referrals
a large population of North Americans (renowned for being aesthetically conscious and particular about the services they use), has also produced a remarkable demand for ‘invis- ible braces’. As the practice develops further, one of the future goals is to work closely with the referring colleagues to assist them with their multi- disciplinary cases. Whether it be by arranging joint clinics or by organising individually tailored courses, the aim is to make it easier for referring practitioners to meet the modern day demands of their patients. Nimo said: “The practice aim
is to provide the best service to the patients and the referring dentists and thus continue to grow so more people can benefit from the service we offer. The staff work hard to ensure that no waiting lists are in place and new patients are seen at the soonest opportunity that suits them. Referrals are received by the established routes of mail and telephone but are also possible via the practice website and via email.”
® For more information, visit
www.standrewsorthodontics.
co.uk or call 01334 837 900
Scottish Dental magazine 67
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