Recently, just outside Blackpool, in the historic town of Poulton-le-Fylde, a massive transformation happened, a full conversion of an old, closed bank into a fully-equipped and chic dental surgery. This practice was Bank Dental, and the story of how its surgery came to be is something special. Today, in this quick article, we’ll be going over the Bank Dental transformation story, and how McKillop Dental helped to create a premier dental space.
If you don’t know about us, we’re Dental Directory. We’re a dental service provider and supplier who’ve been happily supporting practices for the last fifty years. We do training, equipment, products, and even full surgery kit fit outs. Once you’re done with this blog, why not see what we can do for you?
The Project.
Once a former Santander branch, this building had been shuttered since the 19th of August 2021 before later being acquired by Matthew and Caroline Kilcoyne with the intention of opening what would become Bank Dental practice. They got their wish and officially opened on Saturday the 19th of October 2024. In the time between this building being acquired, and its opening, a lot happened.
Firstly, Bank Dental worked out their practice needs with Mckillop Dental, who in turn lent their construction expertise. With over 35 collective years in building practice, McKillop Dental knew how to effectively navigate the requests of dentists to create a space that is custom, bespoke, modern, and extremely functional.
McKillop Dental took the requests and created plans, which were then approved by the client. Then McKillop Dental worked with a local, and well-trusted group called cre8contractors to create some amazing architectural features, check the before and after below:
Before
Image credit - Cre8 Contractors on Facebook.
After
Standout Design
Some of the most interesting pieces in the room include A-dec 500b and A-dec 300 Core. As well as the bespoke cabinetry with Feature Lighting.
A chic and modern surgery, one of many in Bank Dental Practice.
For those of you who are familiar with A-dec's catalogue, you would know that the 500B and 300C are two excellent dental chairs, and aesthetically they accentuate the sleek and contemporary look provided by the clean laminate flooring and white-black glossy surfaces.
The custom-made cabinetry is lit with what is called feature lighting, which is designed to accentuate and highlight the cabinets, without distracting attention or impacting the functional visibility of the practitioner. If you look carefully, you can see that under the countertop in this picture, there’s a soft light glow. This can better be seen in later photos.
It’s also worth mentioning the little comforting touches added for patients. A TV in the ceiling for them to watch during long procedures, the air conditioner, for temperature regulation in the warmer months. All of this adds up to enhance patient experience, and present a professional experience, encouraging higher retention.
Another angle - check out that feature lighting, can you believe this used to be a bank?
If you’re wondering how the surgery fit-out was received, look no further than Matt Kilcoyne himself, who had plenty of glowing things to say about working with McKillop Dental:
‘We are absolutely delighted with the surgery fit out completed by Mckillop Dental. From start to finish, their service was fantastic and thoroughly professional. The quality of workmanship was exceptional, with great attention to detail throughout the project. The team was reliable, efficient, and a pleasure to work with, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Overall, it was a superb experience, and we would highly recommend McKillop Dental to anyone considering a high-quality surgery.’
- Matt Kilcoyne, Principle Dentist.
Matt Kilcoyne later returned to McKillop Dental to ask them to fit their third surgery. This round required fitting a second Adec 500b, which looked fabulous when considered alongside the waterfall-end cashmere cabinets and feature-LED lighting.
Who are McKillop Dental?
McKillop Dental are a well-known dental construction company, with thirty-five years of collective experience, and dozens of high-profile builds under their belts.
Regardless of the work you’re looking to have done, cabinet refreshes, equipment upgrades, or even full turnkey installations, McKillop Dental have founded their reputation on helping dentists perfect their practices. You’ll have full creative control of the project, and they will be with you at every step, from design to construction, to your first day in your new surgery.
“My goal is to take care of every step involved in building a new practice, or refurbishing and expanding an existing one, so you can stay focused on what you do best — running your dental business. From the initial design right through to handover, and now in partnership with Dental Directory, even stocking your shelves, we offer a genuinely complete, full turnkey service”
- Simon Pearce, Head of McKillop Dental Equipment Ltd
Why Should I Renovate my Practice?
The truth is that we sincerely believe that well-considered and designed dental practices have an edge. Earlier this year we sponsored Kelly Hoppen’s keynote speech at the BDIA Dental Showcase on this topic, and we think she summed it up best with the following quote:
“Inspiration can come from anywhere, but great design is about how every element works together in the space you have. Function is essential, but it should never mean losing personality, style or authenticity. The same design principles apply in dental practices as in any other environment: focus on the key areas that matter most and build from there. Creating a space that puts patients at ease is as much about emotion and atmosphere as it is about practicality.”
- Kelly Hoppen
Practice renovations help dentists to optimise the space they have, this often means removing redundant walls or features to maximise room for equipment, storage, or surgeries. In cases like this, dentists can end up making a lot more room for the things they need, without spending money on unnecessary property extensions.
Conclusion
With the help of McKillop Dental, Matthew and Caroline Kilcoyne have made an absolutely beautiful practice. If you’re interested in seeing how McKillop Dental can help with your dental practice construction needs, give them a visit.
