01/03/2023
Firstly, I would like to thank any of you reading this on Facebook who have, at some time, been seen here as a patient at Spring Shaw Dental. You have all helped us grow the Practice from its early beginnings of less than 200 regular patients to well over 3000 thanks to many of you spreading word-of-mouth recommendations to family and friends.
However, there comes a time in every Dentist’s life when a decision has to be made to ‘hang up the drills’ and retire gracefully and as from approximately early March 2023 I have made the decision to do just that.
Since qualifying from Guy’s Hospital in 1981, I have enjoyed the pleasures and challenges of dentistry from simple pain relief to full smile make-overs. I have seen many of my young patients grow up and have families of their own who, in turn, have brought their own children in to see me. I am so appreciative of the confidence that those families and individuals have had in my abilities and clinical skills over the years and thank you all for your trust in me and my Staff.
Many of my patients have followed me from my first associateship at London House in Sevenoaks back in the 1980s via Greenacres Dental Practice in Aylesford (which Jan and I set up in 1989 and which ran for 25 years) all the way over to Westerham. I would like to say that I admire the dedication shown by those individuals many of whom travel many miles for their dental care. I know that many of you have asked me ‘never to retire’ but with the onset of some arthritic changes in my fingers, I feel that now is the time to pass on my lovely patients (many of whom I have come to know as friends) to a younger and more vibrant team of dentists. It is with this in mind that I would like to introduce the two dentists who will be taking over the reins of Spring Shaw Dental in the early months of 2023.
One of these Dentists you may already know - Will Andrews - who has been with us since 2019 as an associate dentist. The other Dental Practitioner, James Lau, has become a close friend and colleague of Will over the past few years, having attended many of the same advanced training courses following graduation at their respective Dental Universities.
They soon realised that they both shared a vision of owning and running their own Dental Practice and, I am pleased to report, Spring Shaw Dental fitted the bill as an attractive busy, friendly and ethical Practice in which they could both see themselves providing a service for many years into the future.
WILL ANDREWS: BDS (Hons.), PG Cert – GDC No. 271870
Will joined us in 2019 as a part-time Associate. One of the reasons why he was our first choice for the post was that he has all of the qualities of a caring Dentist which I value myself. He graduated with Honours from King’s College London, undertaking training at Guy’s Hospital (where I trained all those years ago) during which time he was awarded an Honours degree and the Tom Pitt-Ford prize in Endodontics. His postgraduate training was gained subsequently in Primary Dental Care and has also completed a year-long course in Advanced Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry.
We admire the way he likes to get to know his patients personally to fully understand their dental needs and focuses on preventative and minimally-invasive dentistry. He is also keen on non-invasive cosmetic techniques along with an interest in the Invisalign teeth-straightening method. Certainly, a Dentist in whom you can build trust and have assurance of full range of clinical skills.
JAMES LAU: BDS, PG Cert – GDC: 271792
James has been a long-standing friend and colleague of Wills for the past 6 years. Since qualifying from Cardiff University he fulfilled his dream in managing his own practice in Surrey. Here, he directed his passion in dentistry by creating a dental practice that is ethical, professional, fun to work in and always provides the highest possible service to his patients.
The prospect of James working in partnership with Will, sharing his vision and dedication to patient care, is something that we know you will come to appreciate.
So, there you have it – Spring Shaw Dental has a new Team at the helm. The Staff you have come to know and love will remain very much the same - with the possible addition of some new faces as Will and James seek to fill various roles to take the Practice onto another level of excellence.
Expect some new techniques as Dentistry advances with new technology to improve the patient experience. Will and James will be keeping up with these new and exciting developments as Jan and I think about taking a well-earned rest!
Any pre-booked routine appointments with me will be automatically transferred to Will or James, so there is no need to call to rearrange them unless you have any specific questions.
Thank you so much for your support over the years. Whether you have known me for a brief time or for many of my 43 years as a Dentist (most of which have been hand- in-hand with my ever-supporting wife and Practice Manager, Jan) I wish you a healthy and happy future. I leave you in good hands.
Kind wishes
Chris Pottle LDS RCS (Eng) 1981
