In March, the practice was forced to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was only able to treat patients over the phone and refer them to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary if urgent treatment or antibiotics were required.

The practice’s current lease was coming to an end as lockdown began so the business sought support from Bank of Scotland, securing a £600,000 loan to purchase the premises it has occupied for the last 25 years.

As a result, the business saved more than £100,000 in fees that would have been required to move the specialist clinical equipment and avoided the complications of moving during the pandemic. It also allowed meant the firm could continue to operate from a ground floor premises ensuring access for all patients. 

The practice is currently open to a limited number of private patients, with stringent safety measures in place in line with government guidance.

Chris Pilc, director of Carden Place Dental Practice Ltd since 1985, said: “Like many healthcare providers, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we couldn’t provide the normal face-to-face care for our patients. On top of this, our lease was coming to an end and we were facing the challenge of moving lots of specialist equipment which even without lockdown restrictions, can be very tricky and expensive.

“We decided to approach our landlord to see if they would consider selling, and they agreed. Thanks to the support from Bank of Scotland we were able to complete the purchase of the practice and minimise disruption during this challenging time.

“We’re now operating at about half our usual capacity but we’re hopeful as we edge towards the further easing of restrictions, we will be able to return to some form of relative normality in the coming months.”

Stew Denholm, relationship manager at Bank of Scotland, added: “Businesses are facing a period of transition at the moment so it’s heartening to see firms like Carden Place Dental Practice Ltd secure its long-term future by thinking ahead.

“Thousands of office workers have been working from home since March with several large companies completely rethinking their approach to remote working. This has created an opportunity for businesses like Carden Place Dental Practice to buy instead of lease, saving them both money and ensuring buildings remain occupied.

“We’ll continue to be by the side of businesses across all sectors, as we all work towards a more positive end to the year.”