Meet Dr Kaajal Patel of Lillywhite Dental Practice

Tell us about your business...
Lillywhite Dental Practice has been established for more than 10 years. It is a three-surgery dental practice situated on the 2nd floor of Faccini House Medical Centre in Morden.

I took over the practice in 2015, and have since introduced high-quality advanced cosmetic dental treatments including Invisalign, composite bonding and smile makeovers. Dr Mary Fowler, our Invisalign Go provider, has transformed almost 100 smiles since 2019, with all her patients extremely happy with the treatment they've received.

In 2020 we launched the Lillywhite Skin Clinic within the practice and began providing medical-grade skincare and treatments tackling problems such as sun damage, pigmentation, ageing and hair loss. Our dentist, Dr Nikita Desai, has chosen to specialise in the field of facial aesthetics and as well as our clinic, she treats patients at the prestigious Harvey Nichols Skin Clinic.

We pride ourselves in our patient-focused approach to treatments and building a strong and lasting rapport with all our clients. Our treatment coordinator, Amina, is always on hand to answer any queries and nothing is ever too much trouble. By the time we start treatments, she knows your work schedule, the name of your pet and how you take your coffee!

What's your background and why did you launch your business?
I graduated from Barts and the London Dental School in 2007 and have taken a number of post-graduate courses to advance my skills. I found myself enjoying the cosmetic side of dentistry and being able to give someone the confidence to smile again was the most rewarding part of the job. I worked in a range of practices and realised how important the ambience in a practice is to making someone feel comfortable and at ease. I also saw how a happy team can make or break the mood of a clinic and ultimately how the patient feels when visiting.

What's the most common question couples ask you?
We are commonly asked how long it will take for them to achieve their desired outcome and if we think they have time to start and finish treatment before the wedding day. I always tell couples that if they are looking at having a new, refreshed smile or skin for their big day they can never be too early, but they can certainly be too late! As a dentist I like to have time to make adjustments or tweaks so that we are 100% happy by the wedding day.

What treatments do you recommend to wedding couples?
For beautiful skin, we recommend a good skincare protocol and use the medical-grade ZO range as well as light chemcal peels or microneedling depending on the skin type we are treating. Some brides and grooms opt for a skin booster or anti-wrinkle treatment before the big day, but we do advise to have a trial well ahead of time.

For the smile, whitening can be a quick and effective way of refreshing the smile. If the teeth are poorly positioned, small or chipped we do also advise aligning them with a system such as Invisalign followed by composite bonding.

Do you have any news to share about your business?
Our skin clinic has been booming since the relaxation of lockdown rules. We have introduced some new treatments to our skin clinic including Profilho (a revolutionary beneath-the-skin hyaluronic acid moisturising treatment), fat dissolving as well as hair-loss treatments. In June 2021 we achieved 'Elite' status Invisalign Go Providers, which is an incredible achievement.

Dr Kaajal Patel | Lillywhite Dental Practice | www.lillywhitedental.net
Social media | @Lillywhite_Dental_Practice