GET A SECOND OPINION
I had been a long-standing client of Adams Dental (now Dental Beauty Southgate) for many years and the previous owners of Adams Dental – Alex and Richard were outstanding in their care whilst carrying out extensive reconstructive work on my teeth with their associated implantologist – I was beyond pleased with the results, service, professionalism and care received.
In 2021 the business was sold to Dental Beauty Group / Partners which is ultimately owned by Private Equity.
The previous owner (Alex) remained at the practice part time for a while and I was happy to continue. Alex then retired and almost every visit I had thereafter was with a different dentist with different views and opinions on work needed. This raised alarm bells as the work recommended was always very costly. On one routine check-up, I was so fed up that I raised this directly with the dentist and an accompanying nurse as I felt I had been brought into the practice that day and sat in the dentist chair for a full-on sales pitch.
In 2025, I again attended for a planned check-up and this time met with a dentist who is the Director and, this is when I became particularly concerned that the accountants and private equity had taken over and the focus was on sales and to maximise financial returns for the business, I would add, it is well documented that these heavy financial returns are generally found in cosmetic surgery.
Following my routine check-up with the Director where I casually mentioned there was a small gap above my bridge, I had a number of x-rays, scans, 3D etc, all very expensive and whilst these were being undertaken I had the dental nurse telling me that the Director is fantastic and she was very keen for me to meet him etc etc. I was initially very impressed and was then advised to have a paid consultation with their implantologist as there were serious anomalies on my implants, despite my having no pain or discomfort whatsoever. I agreed and paid for this consultation with the implantologist and Director, received the consultation with both and then waited for the quotation. Whilst waiting for the quotation, which was a number of weeks, on one occasion the Director passed me in reception whilst I was about to pay for my hygienist appointment (whom I must add was very good), and after a short conversation he said, this one is on us, there’s no need to pay for today – that’s incredibly generous and very nice gesture I thought. Next day, an email lands from said Director, I’m very sorry, I was mistaken yesterday and you do have to pay for yesterday’s appointment, I have asked reception to contact you, what I meant to say was ‘the next’ appointment is on us. I paid but lost all but a miniscule of trust in him.
Having chased the implantologists quote, it was then received and, I’m sure the shareholders would have been very pleased had I accepted. Thankfully, I used the opportunity to have an assessment by other implantologists who offered a very different perspective to that received at Dental Beauty Southgate. I was flabbergasted, but deep down not surprised. It was then that I decided to move away from Dental Beauty Southgate and email the Director (3 times over a few weeks) to ask for my patient notes. I was ghosted by him on each occasion (by now I was not surprised, and I can only assume that he was not happy that I was not proceeding with their quotation). This was resolved by emailing head office and reminding them of their 30-day period for providing the patient files.
This candid review should come as no surprise to the practice as the contents have been verbally discussed in detail with the practice manager.
My family and I have now permanently moved away from Dental Beauty Southgate and my advice would be - GET A SECOND OPINION.