S08 EP2: Building Smile Stories | Dental Blog

After graduating in 2012, Gareth Edwards spent the first 5 years of his dental career by treating patients in Middleton, North Manchester. He then embarked on an 18-month journey through Asia and South America, dedicating time not only to traveling but also to reading a diverse range of books.

In 2019, Gareth returned to Bournemouth, his hometown, and formed a partnership with Zak Kara. Sharing similar philosophies about dentistry and business, they initially took over a three-surgery practice. However, they quickly outgrew it and moved into a larger, purpose-built clinic, giving birth to Smile Stories. Their philosophy was centered around creating an experience “nothing like your old dentist.”

Gareth generously shares here the secrets that make Smile Stories a success.

In this podcast, you’ll discover:

How Smile Stories has become a unique dental practice by fostering lifelong patient relationships, incorporating innovative design, and utilising comprehensive digital dentistry. You’ll also learn about their ideal client;
Their inspiration from outside the dental field and various examples of where they gain this insight;
The creation of a work environment where team members are eager to come to work, engaging every team member in each stage of the patient journey with their “Triangle formula”;
Gareth and Zak’s calculated approach to risk, enabling rapid growth and expansion;
Their strategies for marketing, enhancing patient experiences, and cultivating a strong team culture that resulted in 571 five-star Google reviews. You’ll learn their “Peak End Rule”, identifying the optimal time and method for requesting reviews.
Examples of how they surprise and delight patients, including team celebrations at the end of treatments;
Personalised marketing approaches for each new patient, sending tailored marketing messages that cater to the individual needs and desires of the patient.

And much more!