To My Dear Patients and Support Team,
After thirty-three years at Lyons Dental, Five Dock, and forty-eight years as a practicing dentist I have decided to retire from clinical practice at the end of December 2018.
I have enjoyed my years at Five Dock, and watched with delight the children of many families develop into fine young women and men. During these years I have become close to many of my very loyal patients. I know that it is time to retire and leave your oral health care to the next generation of Dentists, the practice owners Rob and Louise Lilia.
Rob joined the practice of Chris Kennedy and I in 2010 and Louise in 2012. During this time I have seen them develop into extremely competent and caring dentists providing a wide range of services in cooperation with excellent local specialists. Rob and Louise, who became the practice owners in 2013 have modernised the practice in several ways.
I will be replaced by Roger Lee, a dentist with almost ten years experience. He commenced at Lyons Dental recently and I am impressed with his approach and very nice manner with patients. You will be in very good hands with Rob, Louise and Roger. I have written to my patients urging them to continue coming to Lyons Dental, where we have always tried hard to provide high-quality appropriate treatment.
I really want to acknowledge the enormous contribution that my former partner Chris Kennedy made to Lyons (Road) Dental. Chris founded the practice at Birkenhead Point in 1980. He was an excellent dentist, a delight to work with and with his great sense of humour, a visit to Chris was an enjoyable experience. His great writing and filmmaking skills showed him to be a person of great talent and breadth. He died suddenly in August 2013 had has been very sadly missed.
Paul Pinkerton who retired in December 2016 was another great contributor to the practice over more than twenty years. His competence, calm manner and great sense of humour made him a delight to work with and he again was much loved by his patients.
Dentistry is about team work, and I have been supported by a wonderful team over many years. Franca, now in her twenty-first year at Lyons Dental has been a standout. She is a special human being. So warm and welcoming to you all as you walk through our front door. She is multi-skilled in all aspects of dental assisting, reception and practice management. It’s hard to imagine how well the practice could have run without her. My current dental nurse Ella Gao is an extremely competent and well-organised worker. She is a lovely person and has made my last four years at Lyons Dental so much easier. Sadly Ella will leave at the end of the year to assist her partner in his business.
We are also blessed to have the ever cheerful Rhiannon and Rabea as part of our very happy professional team. Franca, Rhiannon and Rabea will remain at Lyons Dental.
I also want to acknowledge former staff members Patricia Bolding, Mary Radnedge, Donna Hatzis, Dianne Khoury, Krystle Thomson, Carmelina, Tracey Kranhold, Anna Dixon, Lu Pan and Pauline McNulty. They have made a huge contribution to our practice, have been dedicated loyal assistants/receptionists and a pleasure to work with.
The support of our great group of Specialists has enabled us to provide high quality and comprehensive care to our patients. Orthodontists, Keith Powell, Tony Pistolese, Sam Malek and Yvonne Poon in particular have provided a very comprehensive service to our patients.
Steve Harlamb opened his Endodontic practice in Burwood and has been an invaluable support and provider of high quality of care for our patients. His reigniting of the Inner West Dental Group ( now Western Suburbs Dental Group) has enabled us to reconnect as professionals whilst gaining access to excellent continuing education.
Endodontists Geoff Young, Tim Castrisos and Kim Dang have assisted me on occasions when Steve has not been available, so that quality endodontic care is now always available in the Inner West of Sydney.
For the last ten years Chris Ho, originally in Balmain and now in Chatswood, has been the implant surgeon for my patients, and with his extensive experience in prosthodontics has been an enormous source of knowledge and support for me and my patients.
Periodontists Peter Serb and Fiona Little have provided great specialist periodontal care for my patients and Oral and Maxillo Facial Surgeons, Dr Punnia Moorthy and Dr Richard Conway have always taken care of all the difficult surgical cases that came my way.
It is with the utmost appreciation that I thank all the above specialists for their encouragement and support.
Dental Technicans Abbey Moussa, Eddie and the team at Chrome Lab, have provide me with extremely accurate castings well crafted acrylic work and very well fitting appliances. This relationship existing for well over twenty years has provided a wonderful service for my patients.
I have also had a very long term professional relationship with Carl Salter, my crown and bridge technican. In recent years he teamed up with Franz Flintoff and Ian Ridley at ADL Northbridge, and Richard Salter now manages the business. Carl, Franz, Ian and more recently Ricky have provided a high quality, very reliable and very efficient service.
I am most grateful for the huge effort that they have put into their work over many years. The demand for “aesthetic perfection” from patients these days makes their work very exacting. Their effort is very much appreciated.
I will miss my loyal patients my special staff members, technicans and Specialists very much. A final Very Big Thank You to you all.
Best wishes to you all for Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2019.
Warmest Regards.
David Sheen AM
