Clare Valley Family Dental: the regional practice putting community first

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Ben and Christy built a practice that is trusted by its community and positioned for the future. As the practice continues to grow, BOQ Specialist remains proud to support Clare Valley Family Dental with banking solutions designed by specialists, for specialists.

In South Australia’s Clare Valley, farming comes first. For the region that moves to the rhythm of the seasons, healthcare providers like Clare Valley Family Dental work best when they consider the realities of the communities they serve.

That means recognising that patients’ priorities can shift with the seasons.

‘Don't even think about suggesting a 6-month hygiene appointment during seeding or harvest. Then graziers want us to consider shearing too!’ says Clare Valley Family Dental Practice Manager and owner, Christy Clothier.

It's an observation that captures both the humour and reality of regional practice ownership. Serving a rural community means understanding the pressures patients face outside the clinic and being flexible enough to meet their needs where they are.

Putting people first

Since opening their doors in September 2013, practice owners Ben and Christy Clothier have built Clare Valley Family Dental around people first. More than a decade later, that philosophy continues to shape everything from patient care and team culture to business growth and long-term planning.

Today, the practice has grown into a busy 4-chair clinic, home to 15 staff members, from dentists to oral health therapists and dental assistants, admin staff, and an orthodontist who makes monthly visits. For Christy and Ben, success has never been defined solely by growth or financial performance. Despite the business growth, that local community connection remains at the heart of what they do.

When asked what success looks like, their answer centres on people: 'A team that supports one another to work towards our shared vision,’ further adding the importance of fostering a workforce who feel 'genuinely cared for and gain enjoyment from their roles.’

The couple have worked hard to build a business that is greater than the sum of its parts, which – like anything worth doing – has not been without its challenges.

Growing through challenges

Clare Valley Family Dental faced significant disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic — which Christy says, while challenging, was sadly a familiar story across healthcare practices.

‘We’re just a little family-run practice, with me suddenly being the home-school teacher of three kids, and keeping up with all the updates, which were ever changing,’ explains Christy.

‘Plus managing the lived experience of each team member. Not a unique situation, but certainly challenging.’

At the same time, the business was grappling with long-term workforce shortages and the challenge of recruiting more permanent oral health therapists in a regional community.

Those experiences reinforced the importance of planning, resilience and surrounding the business with trusted partners.

A specialist partner for the journey

When Christy and Ben began looking for financial support to start their business in 2013, they wanted a banking partner that understood the unique needs of dental professionals.

As Christy explains, 'In terms of practice finance, we wanted to work with a bank that understood dental and offered products that would suit our needs, both business and personal.’

Today, BOQ Specialist supports the family across business lending, property lending, transactional banking and business credit facilities. Their BOQ Specialist Banker, Maria Caruso is on hand to support them and their practice as it continues growing.

‘It’s been great getting to know Maria,’ says Christy. ‘She is really easy to talk to, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future.’

Care close to home

Along the way, Clare Valley Family Dental has continued investing in services that make a meaningful difference for local patients. Its onsite CBCT imaging technology allows implant workflows to be completed entirely within the practice and reduces the need for patients to travel elsewhere for specialised imaging. In a regional community, that convenience can have a significant impact on a patient's ability to access treatment.

For the team, however, technology is only part of the story.

What keeps patients returning is, in Christy's words, ‘Our warm and friendly team. Our engagement in our community. Our exceptional patient care. The long-term relationships we take time to build.’

Those relationships are evident in the feedback they receive from patients, who regularly drop in thank-you cards, chocolates and home-baked treats.

Many appreciate receiving care close to home from a team they know and trust, while others value the expanded services that reduce the need to travel the 100 kilometres to Adelaide for treatment.

The future looks bright

Asked what sets the practice apart, Christy's answer is simple: ‘Genuine care for our patients and the community – we are accountable to them.’

It's a philosophy that has guided Clare Valley Family Dental from day one and continues to shape its future.

Looking ahead, Ben and Christy hope to create a business that can operate independently of them while preserving the culture and continuity of care they have worked so hard to build.

Their goal is to continue developing a positive team culture, while ensuring exceptional patient care remains at the centre of everything they do.

Clare Valley Family Dental continues to demonstrate that successful regional businesses are built the same way they always have been: by putting people first.

By specialists, for specialists

Whether you're establishing your first practice, investing in new technology or planning for long-term growth, speak to a BOQ Specialist banker who understands the unique needs of dental professionals.

Speak to a BOQ Specialist banker