Irish Dentistry Awards 2023 – crowning glory

Claire O’Sullivan reveals how it felt for College Gate Dental to win Practice of the Year – Republic of Ireland at the 2023 Irish Dentistry Awards.

Can you tell us about the practice?

We are a multidisciplinary practice that started in 2009 from scratch. I am an orthodontist first and have now become the principal dentist of the dental team,

The team started as three people in 2009. I was working in the HSE part-time and in private practice part-time. 

In 2015, I had the opportunity to purchase the College Gate Clinic in Glasnevin. So, we moved into our current location in 2015. 

The practice has grown and we are now a team of 15, which includes two orthodontists, three dentists, an oral surgeon, a periodontist and two hygienists. 

As the practice manager, my husband helps me run the practice. He is also a qualified physiotherapist (which comes in very handy!). 

The practice is able to offer patients dental services from start to finish. I really enjoy seeing a case from start to finish and I love the fact that we can offer the patient most specialist dental services and general dentistry in the same space. 

I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with the team and it has aided my learning in new techniques in dentistry while being able to share my knowledge and experience of orthodontics. 

We try to reach out to include our local community and, in the future, I would like to run more collaborative events with my local network of dentists. 

How does it feel to have won an Irish Dentistry Award?

Amazing! I am so thrilled to be given this award. We are all over the moon as a team. 

How did it feel when your name was announced?

I didn’t believe it at first, my receptionist had to give me an elbow to stand up as I was in shock!

Have you entered the Irish Dentistry Awards before?

No, this was our first entry.

Did you find the process of compiling your entry to be a positive experience?

Yes, it was good to reflect. I find myself so busy with the day-to-day tasks of doing dentistry that I never sit down and reflect as to where I started. 

What do you think have been the main benefits of entering the awards?
The main benefit was that it gave a boost to the team morale and then, of course, we were able to let our patients know.

The patients are delighted to be part of the experience. 

What do you think the Irish Dentistry Awards are doing for standards within the profession?

I think that the awards encourage standards to be high. It is a really competitive award and time and effort is required to submit the entry. 

When you are submitting the award you are aware of all the really impressive winners in years gone by. However, I believe that by raising the standards and pushing forwards with new trends in dentistry that the Irish Dentistry Awards and others like it will continue to raise the profession as a whole.  

What prompted you to enter the Irish Dentistry Awards?

It started out as a team building activity, but then, as I did my research, I could see the real value in winning this type of award, which adds value to the practice and gives it credentials that it lacked before.

What advice with you give people who are thinking of entering the awards?

Just do it! Roll the dice get involved. The worst that can happen is a lovely team building event! 

Will you be entering the awards again?

Of course! 

Registrations is now open for the Irish Dentistry Awards 2024! Visit dentistry.co.uk/awards/irish-dentistry-awards for more information and to register.