Perfect Smile Clinic in Sudbury hails staff following success at Dentistry Awards

A partner in a Sudbury business has praised the dedication of his team after their hard work was recognised with a prestigious award.

Perfect Smile Clinic was crowned the winner of the Best Team in East of England at The Dentistry Awards 2019, having been shortlisted from more than 500 applicants.

Reflecting on the accolade, which recognises high standards in dentistry, practice partner Rouzbeh Elahi said he felt humbled to be part of the surgery in Prince Street.

“I couldn’t ask for a better team,” he said. “When you work so many hours a week, you want to enjoy work and have fun, so it’s lovely to have a friendly and supportive team.”

Practice manager Lesley Holmes said she was inspired to nominate the business for the award to reflect her gratitude for the team’s commitment to the practice.

“It’s my way of giving back,” she said. “To show them their work doesn’t go unnoticed, and I think it’s really important for Sudbury to see that we care and are here for them.”

Having established a loyal client base, Mr Elahi highlighted the importance of building a strong rapport with all his patients.

“Every person has interesting stories to tell,” said the 43-year-old. “They open up about their lives, and it’s an amazing opportunity to tell them stories every six months – it’s fascinating.”

Since the business was established in 2000, the workforce has steadily grown from a team of three to 22.

In 2010, Mr Elahi took over the practice with his wife, Sanaz Namazy, and her brother, Sami, which means next year will mark their 10th year in the town.

After gaining a degree and masters in law, Mr Elahi worked part-time as a paralegal at Sudbury & District Citizens Advice Bureau for one year, before returning to focus on dentistry.

“I missed talking to people,” he said. “That’s the part of the job I absolutely love.”

Alongside his role as a dentist, Mr Elahi provides specialist knowledge as an expert witness for Ipswich County Court.

“I still enjoy studying law,” he said. “I’m deciding whether to study a PHD.”