GORE BAY—Gore Bay Dental will continue its growth and expansion of space, staff and services it provides as it goes under the management of Kingsway DPO.
“We want to be a good partner for the town of Gore Bay and local residents,” stated Brian Holland, chief executive officer of Kingsway DPO at the opening of the new office, located on 60 Meredith Street in the Town of Gore Bay. Their neighbours in the new building include LAMBAC.
Dr. Mary Cross, “had approached us as she felt it would be a good fit and be able to provide and even expand services,” stated Mr. Holland. “She felt our group would be the best fit for all of this.”
“I feel this is a really great match for the town and our clients,” said Dr. Cross. “Our previous office (in the Gore Bay Medical Centre) was at capacity, and we needed to expand our space to grow and meet growing demands.” The new office location is about three times the space size of the previous office location, with three doctor chairs and hygiene space along with additional rooms being added.
“We bought the business from Mary, but she will still continue working here in Gore Bay when the (MS Chi-Cheemaun) ferry runs (between Tobermory and South Baymouth),” said Mr. Holland, noting Dr. Cross husband had purchased a dental practice in Wiarton, (where she will practice in late fall to the spring).
“We manage 15 small clinics in small areas like Schreiber, Sagamok and Blind River,” said Mr. Holland. “All of these offices have been around for decades and will continue on as they have been.”
“All 15 locations are remote and rural. We understand the needs of the clients and the communities they are located in,” said Kimberly Jee, vice-president of operations for Kingsway DPO who has worked in dentistry for the past 20 years.
“Staff at Gore Bay Dental will remain the same,” said Mr. Holland. New staff includes Monica Zilio as a dental assistant and also a couple of more dentists will be on hand at the clinic.
Dr. Cross explained that two new locum doctors (dentists) will provide services until Christmas until a full-time dentist is hired to start in January, and she will return next spring as well, through the fall. “We expect to be able to accept new patients again and with the new Canadian Dental Care Plan more people will have access to care. “We have seen greater demand, and we will be able to accept more patients and meet this growing demand.”
Dr. Cross and the new management Kingsway DPO praised the town of Gore Bay and Manitoulin Transport for the support and help they provided with the move to the new location.
“We offer full dental/emergency services,” said Dr. Cross. These services include complete examination and x-rays, hygiene and periodontal care, fillings, crowns and bridges, root canals-both simple and complex, dentures, simple and surgical extractions, kids’ examinations, hygiene treatment and dental emergencies.
Dr. Cross said, “We are proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to enhancing services for our clients. When I first started here it was just Colleen Punkari (office manager) and I at the clinic, then we were able to hire a dental hygienist, dental assistant. We have really grown a lot over the years. We have a great staff team here.”
For more information on Gore Bay Dental you can go online at GoreBayDentistry.com or call the office at 705-282-2223.
