
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
32 | COCHRANE DENTAL CARE
Practice Manager Claire
Cochrane and Practice Principal
Paul Cochrane
Practice Principal
PaulCochrane
Cochrane Dental Care offers general dentistry services,
enhanced by postgraduate interests in endodontics and
periodontology. Established in 2016, the practice places
patient care at the centre of all their activities. This commitment
to care is characterised by three key values: integrity, altruism
and excellence. Practice Principal Paul Cochrane discusses
the surgery’s commitment to ethical dental care and how
undergraduate dental education should adopt a stronger focus
on reflection and understanding.
I founded the company in 2016, taking over a practice in Coleraine, on the north
coast of Northern Ireland. We provide comprehensive dental services supported by
tailored dental plans, and we also maintain an NHS provision for children. In terms
of our patients, we are rapidly developing from a traditional NHS base to having an
expanded private focus, which is helping patients to experience modern dental care
that is evidence-based, and which seeks to meet our patients’ expectations. Our
team is made up of seven employees and covers a wide range of clinical interests
and skillsets. The central tenet of our services is a complete focus on the individual
needs of our patients, and reflected in this process are our values of integrity,
altruism and excellence.
Our general dentistry is supported and supplemented by my clinical interest in
endodontics and Marie’s postgraduate studies in periodontology. We seek to use
our practical qualifications and clinical studies to enhance the care we provide while
simultaneously taking the patient on a healthcare journey where their quality outcomes
will always be the priority. While studying, I learnt a great deal about the specifics of
FACTS ABOUT
COCHRANE DENTAL CARE
»Practice Principal: Paul Cochrane
»Established in 2016
»Based in Coleraine, Northern
Ireland
»No. of employees: 7
»Services: General dentistry
with a developing special
interest in endodontics and
periodontics
Cochrane Dental Care
33COCHRANE DENTAL CARE |
dentistry, yet I often sensed that the
holistic nature of caring for our patients
was perhaps subservient. Dentists
must of course be clinically competent;
however, in addition to this, it is our
focus on the patient as an individual
that complements the care they
receive. Therefore, being a successful
business is important, but even more
crucial is performing our caring role as
members of the healthcare team.
Dentistry is an ethical exercise
Patients always come first and, in my
career thus far, I have witnessed some
practices who simply try to adhere to
standards and neglect the importance
of complete dental care for the patient.
First and foremost, dentistry is an ethical
exercise: as we are trusted by our
patients, it has to be. While preventing
and curing disease is the main focus of
our clinical activities, to be a successful
practitioner in terms of effective and
patient-centred care, we must also
demonstrate ethical competency.
Our ethical obligations are as serious
as the physical act of dentistry. We
take ownership of what we do
and are honest, delivering a total
commitment to our patients to build
these relationships. I always advocate
personal authenticity from the clinician
alongside a strong commitment to
professional responsibility.
Developing genuine
connections
For us, dentistry is not just a job and
commercial self-interest does not
dominate our actions. We always aim
to give more than we receive, and
we have promoted an environment
in which there is a revulsion at self-
interestedness and commercialism. Our
commitment to this supererogation
means that our patients never feel
belittled or sidelined and know they
have our full attention. Ourprofessional
responsibility is manifested in our
attitude towards sector regulation. It
is easy to complain, but there are a
number of reasons why we have the
governance we do, and we embrace
clinical governance and respect the
expectations it places on us as a
carefacility.
We are always fully present for the
patient without distraction. This type of
commitment is a genuine connection of
not merely the continuity of the patient
receiving the same care or seeing the
same dentist, but it is also the patient
receiving support from a professional
that is dedicated to them as individuals.
This brand of engagement aims to be
wholly centred on the patients and
respecting their informed choices.
Developing professionalism
among younger generations
A key interest of ours is grassroots
dentistry. The young graduates of today
have an excellent education in the
theory of dentistry and good supervision
in the practice, but I wonder if they
have had the complete education in
the ethics and professionalism that
connect todentistry.
The profession’s newest colleagues
need to develop and broaden a deep,
ethical reflection and understanding
to support their decision-making.
Collaborative clinicians
focused on patients’ needs
Dentistry is an
ethical
exercise; as
we are trusted
by our
patients, it has
to be
“
“