It was sometime in early 2000, the new Millennium was just born and all the fears of Y2K and planes falling out of the sky proved to be baseless. Life was getting back to normal after the chronic ‘end of the world’ scenario didn’t pan out as doom prophecies were claiming. Perhaps it was with that optimism that my Financial Advisor suggested that I should open another Dental Clinic. I was appalled! What another Dental Clinic and here I am highly stressed due to the clinic in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
At that time I was running my Dental Clinic in the heart of KL, what we now know as KLCC. And I was running two other businesses which were just recovering from the drastic recession of the ‘98! My family was growing and I was just settling down to my hard earned dream of living in the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort! The obvious answer was “No! Not another Dental Clinic.”
Those days, I was more a corporate figure then a dentist. I used to be chauffeured in my Mercedes and had lots of time to look out the window as I passed the developing and pristine surroundings of the Tropicana area. Unlike now, the vicinity around Tropicana Golf and Country Resort (where I lived then) was under developed, green and remote location. I still remember the days when I get up to mist hanging in the early morning hours only to be dispelled by the sunrise and beautiful sunsets with multiple hued colors in the sky, in an almost clear skyline. A cup of coffee in the morning and a glass of wine in the evenings, it was the dream. A good place as any for the family to enjoy the fresh air and sereneness yet within a few minutes to the city center. What more could a man ask for. And all of this when I was just over 40 years young!
I remember distinctly taking a route back home passing the Riana Green Condominiums Complex. At the front-end and base of the complex were some service shop units in view of servicing the residents and neighborhood.
Persistence reminders to consider the recommendation of a branch dental clinic and perhaps an intuitive moment, on one of the days passing by, I called the advertised number and made inquiries about leasing a shop lot in view of the Dental Clinic in mind. The person on the other side took my details down and someone was to get back to me. They did. The response was negative. “Sorry, all our lots are leased out already”. Great! I thought and that was it. I did do my part after all; end of story.
But sometime in April that year of 2000, the Universe thought differently and conspired for something bigger than me. Someone called me again, and inquired if I would be interested and a shop lot had become vacant and was I still interested? I don’t know what came over me; not thinking of the earlier reservations and objections, I answered positively.terms were agreed and tenancy was signed and we were good to go. As busy as I was, the Universe took over and conspired to make this new venture a reality as various parties came forward to play their part. To cut a long story short, here I was investing my money designing and setting up Tropicana Dental Surgery.
After the stress and hectic nature of operating the city Clinic, I definitely didn't want the same scenario played out here. I decided if I was to have another clinic it would have to be different. A place where everyone could come to get their Dental Care done in an anxiety free, calming and relaxed ambiance. Like visiting a Spa!
That was the Vision I fell in love with and now with the resources around me we proceeded to do that very thing. Our core Dental services were delivered with the highest standards of professional dental care, no question about that, yet we wanted to move away from the typical clinical setting and create a unique Dental Experience catering to a crowd who wanted the ambiance and aura of a Spa offering dental services. That was then, the beginning.
Today, 20 years later, I am proud to say that our Vision of a Spa like Dental Clinic is very much a reality and the apprehensiveness of operating yet another dental clinic is a distant memory. In fact after a few years of operation, the allure of relaxed and therapeutic environment was so much part of me, I could not see myself operating the main surgery in downtown Kuala Lumpur, and it was promptly shut down to focus practicing my craft here.
True to the Vision, over the last 20 years, we continue to offer Dental Services but with a focus on aspects not typical of dental clinics. Here in Tropicana Dental Surgery our Core Values were clearly defined and we pledged to live those values. Based on the acronym of C.A.R.E.
Core Values
C - Caring. A strong focus on deeply caring for our patients, staff and partners in delivery of Dental Services. In fact it was from this that our Mission Statement was created. ‘ We care for You first, then your Teeth’. (More on that later)
A - Accountability. Each and every member of the small team we have and our partners are accountable for all our actions and outcomes. This would also mean we take responsibility for our Brand Promise as well as creating the perfect Spa like Dental Experience.
R - Relationship. All our interactions with our patients and partners are based on building trust which is the hallmark of our Relationship with patients. Our focus on building relationships had endured over the years and we are proud to say most if not all our patients have ‘personal’ relationship and not a typical dentist-patient relationship with us.
E - Experience. Our Brand Promise is the Spa like Dental Experience which we ensure each and everyone of our patients cherishes. Unlike what most people think, your experience starts with your first interaction; making that appointment, your parking convenience, walking through our doors...... It does not end either when you walk out the door after making a payment. Our patients are used to getting the ‘motherly’ concerned Whatsapp messages prior to turning in for the night inquiring on the post-surgical discomfort or the status of pain they had earlier. All part of the dental experience!
Mission Statement
‘ We care for you first, then your teeth’
Our Mission statement is what distinguishes us from other Dental Clinics. We focus on taking care of you as person first and not jump straight into your Dental issues. Our philosophy is based on a wholesome approach. We look at you as a person first and not as Wisdom tooth or Dental Braces case. Subtle as it may seem, this little twist is what has endeared us to our patients and helped build mutual trust, confidence and ‘a connection’ in our practice over the years. The outcome of it being deep meaningful Relationships that are cherished and last a life time. A big percentage of our patients have been with us over 30 years when we first started practice in 1983 in downtown KL.
This approach is further extended by our practice of being accessible to our patients for a quick and impromptu consultation over the phone or messaging services - even at odd hours of the night! That is the level of Care and Concern we typically offer to our Patients.
To end this little story about us, let me invite you to experience our Spa like Dental Experience and you decide if we can be your chosen Dentist to build a long lasting relationship. Our physical location may not be the Dentist closest to you, but we promise to make it an event when you walk in through our doors so you too can experience our Brand Promise.
So now you know our Story, tell us about yours! Come visit with us and do share. We love to hear you.
