From a single dental chair in a family centre to the largest network of dental clinics in the country – this is the transformation experienced by Simonas Bankauskas, the founder of CLINIC | DPC, and his team. The success is due to the right strategy and results that exceed the expectations of the clients.
In almost twelve years of operation, CLINIC | DPC specialists have carried out more than 35,000 examinations. With over 35 thousand dental implants performed, they can confidently share their experience and recommendations.
S. Bankauskas, an implantologist and the founder of the clinic, has a wealth of knowledge in dental implantology and passes on his experience to his colleagues. He is a frequent visitor to CLINIC | DPC clinics located not only in Lithuania but also in London (UK).
CLINIC | DPC doctors also organize various free seminars for patients to explain the opportunities on offer and answer questions.
Doubts were quickly dispelled
How did the CLINIC | DPC success story begin?
“I started my career as a rented dental chair in a family centre. At that time, I was at a crossroads and faced a conundrum – whether to go abroad or stay in Lithuania,” recalled S. Bankauskas.
It was an easy decision for him – he decided to invest his time and money in his own business.
“I decided to establish my roots here and open a clinic that would meet the highest standards of patients and doctors,” said the Kaunas resident.
From the very beginning, the clinic’s managers have tried to surprise clients not only with quality, but also with convenience – the team’s goal was to provide patients with all possible general and modern dentistry services in one place. Today, this vision has been surpassed.
There are currently more than 2,000 active companies in Lithuania. There are over 2,000 dental institutions in Lithuania. The vast majority are small, single-doctor practices.
“Every institution attracts patients by presenting itself as the best, but after a visit to the dentist, many people are disappointed: one doesn’t like the doctor’s work, another doesn’t like his/her communication, and a third isn’t satisfied with the order of the office. Therefore, the biggest challenge was to stand out from the rest”, said S.Bankauskas.
Method recognized with an award
One of the most important features appreciated by CLINIC | DPC patients is modern treatment methods. This dental clinic was the first in Lithuania, back in 2010, to introduce a unique implant method designed to help patients with no teeth at all – “All-on-4”.
Thanks to this implant system, patients can get their smile back in just one day. The shortened procedure time also reduces treatment costs and avoids complicated bone augmentation procedures.
You can once again enjoy beautiful, strong teeth and chew food without fear or pain. The benefits of this innovative procedure are not only appreciated by patients, who can smile and communicate without any discomfort.
The “All-on-4” methodology did not go unnoticed at the Lithuanian Business Confederation awards – the 2017 “Wellness Service of the Year” award for the innovative implantation method won in the annual “Service of the Year” competition was a token of appreciation for the continuous hard work of the CLINIC | DPC team to achieve the patient’s well-being.
At home in the clinic
“Another important aspect of the work is a comfortable and aesthetic environment. Our clinics can boast spacious offices, tidy and clean environment, which makes the patients comfortable,” said S. Bankauskas.
All clinic units have comfortable waiting rooms where patients can wait for their treatment while listening to light music, sipping tea and reading the press.
The clinic environment is designed to make both doctors and patients feel as comfortable as possible. As the network of clinics has expanded and patients’ expectations have grown, every new clinic has been designed to take into account as much as possible the additional needs expressed by patients.
According to S. Bankauskas, the days when only a doctor’s competence was assessed are long gone.
“Without a united purpose, there would be no good results. I am delighted that we have been able to bring together a team that is united by much more than a common profession – a passion for innovation in the world of medicine, a desire to be leaders in our field, and a desire to see the healthy and broad smiles of confident patients. I thank them by sharing my experience,” reveals the founder of the clinic network.
The renowned specialist does not like to brag, but he has already received worldwide recognition that certainly did not come overnight and was not achieved without effort.
“Only stubbornness, continuous improvement and investment in knowledge have helped us build what we have today,” said S. Bankauskas.
Choosing a well-known partner
His dreams came true thanks to a consistent and trusting cooperation with Nobel Biocare, a pioneer in dental implants for more than 50 years and the world market leader in implant and cosmetic dentistry.
“Nobel Biocare is an international market leader, investing heavily in the latest and most advanced research in dental restoration. Therefore, CLINIC | DPC clinic professionals working with Nobel Biocare have the opportunity to provide patients with the most comfortable, reliable and proven methods of dental implant restoration.
“An aesthetic environment where patients feel at home. Technology for quality work and modern treatment methods. Knowledge based on global experience and constant training. Our own laboratory of dental technicians, which shortens the patient’s treatment time because the teeth are made faster”, – S.Bankauskas listed the main reasons that helped CLINIC | DPC clinic to establish itself on the market.
The network concept – all dental services under one roof – has also been fully successful, he said. No matter what problem patients come to the clinic with, the doctors examine the whole mouth to assess and identify the real causes of their complaints.
If a patient is diagnosed with dental problems that require treatment by different specialists, he or she is not referred to other institutions, but receives all the services at the CLINIC | DPC clinic, which is staffed by specialists in all areas of dentistry.
Development plans in mind
“We are the largest network of dental clinics in Lithuania, which has grown to 12 clinics in our country’s cities and offered services to our compatriots based in London,” said Irma Kvedarienė, Head of the Clinic.
According to her, the clinics employ about 150 specialists, and patients not only receive high-quality dental services, but also remote consultations, a detailed treatment plan with prices and stages of treatment, and an installment payment service without additional fees.
The clinic uses a unified IT information system throughout Lithuania, so a patient who starts treatment in one clinic and changes his/her place of residence or during a holiday can extend treatment or receive urgent care in another city.
In the last year, CLINIC | DPC has opened branches in Panevėžys and Kėdainiai.
This year, Mažeikiai plans to invest in a new, larger clinic, which will be ready to welcome patients by the end of summer. The company is not slowing down its development, so planning and cash flow management is a daily routine that allows us to be closer to each patient.
A quality service has a price
The clinic offers patients a full range of services from professional preventive care to the most complex surgical operations.
“The team of professional dentists and dental technicians gives patients the opportunity to feel great joy, sometimes even to the point of tears, when they arrive with almost all their teeth missing and leave within one day with their chewing function and aesthetic appearance fully restored,” said I. Kvedarienė.
The focus is on the patient and the quality of the services provided to them.
“We are guided by the principle that it is not possible to provide a service quickly, qualitatively and cheaply – we have to be aware of this and choose one of the three,” the clinic’s manager is convinced.
There are many components to the cost of services – constantly updated technology, quality materials, staff salaries and all taxes, training and development.
“We are a transparent business, so unfair savings or price adjustments are unacceptable to us – a quality service has its own value, and not everything comes down to price”, – I. Kvedarienė is convinced.
The CEO has no doubt that a large part of the Lithuanian population chooses private clinics because of their staff’s attitude towards patients, respect, quality of work and promptness.
Dentists regret that it is still not possible for a patient to come to a private clinic with his or her own dental ‘basket’ of money, specifically to the dental facility of his or her choice.
Currently, the money is paid to the family clinic where the patient is registered, not to the clinic where the patient goes for the service.
“If in the future the money is not transferred to the clinics that did not actually provide the service, but it reaches the clinics that the patient chooses, the patient would get part of the cost of the services and the premiums would be lower,” said Kvedarienė.
Although the need to change the regime has been discussed for a long time, no changes have been seen so far.
Taking nice initiatives
“Over the years, the history, traditions and culture of the institution have taken shape. We cannot remain aloof and not hear or see those who need help of one kind or another, or sometimes just encouragement, a kind word or a sincere conversation,” said I. Kvedarienė.
The Clinic contributes to initiatives to make children’s dreams come true, supports the project “Let’s meet, dear seniors”, and for many years has sponsored the election of the “Kaunas Woman of the Year”.
“As part of our regular contribution to other events, we initiated the social project “Every Smile Has a Story” on the occasion of the company’s tenth anniversary,” said the Head of CLINIC | DPC.
The whole team is proud and excited about this social action, where 1% of the total income of the company is donated. This social initiative is a great help to people in need of dental care.
Before the project was launched, over 1000 emails were received from all over Lithuania. From them, nine sensitive and beautiful heroes were selected, who have faced great challenges in their lives, and the clinic’s dentists are happy to give them a smile and a better well-being.
The clinic’s staff also organizes free of charge education and distance lectures, teaches dental care to the youngest patients, and talks about implant options for seniors.
