A Rugeley dental practice with a history stretching back more than 130 years has undergone a £500,000 transformation, creating 10 jobs and expanding the range of treatments available to patients.
Abbey House Dental has unveiled the upgrade of Avondale House Dental Surgery, which it took over last year. and has since refurbished and expanded while continuing to provide care for patients throughout the works. The new-look facility was officially opened at a launch event at the weekend.
Rugeley is the fourth practice in the Abbey House Dental group, which already operates two practices in Stone and one in Stoke-on-Trent.
The investment has also funded upgrades to existing surgeries, the construction of additional treatment rooms, state-of-the-art technology and equipment, improved patient and staff facilities and further training for the growing team.
Since the takeover, the team has carried out almost 22,000 appointments, increased NHS capacity and introduced a wider range of private treatment options, including advanced dental procedures, sedation and specialist services.
The expanded offering means many patients can now access treatments locally that may previously have required referral to hospitals or clinics in larger cities.
An unexpected discovery during the renovation also revealed more about the building’s history.
Historic appointment books dating back to the 1800s were uncovered during the refurbishment, showing the site has operated as a dental practice for more than 130 years. Abbey House Dental believes this could make it one of the oldest continuously running dental practices in the UK.
The records were displayed during the launch event.
Clinic Lead Gemma Anderson said: “Having seen the changes develop here week by week, I find it amazing to look at the practice now and see how much it has evolved.
“The refurbishment has given us a completely different environment to work in and one that reflects the care and service we want to provide to Rugeley. I’m incredibly proud of the transformation and excited about what it means for our patients and team.”
