1st Dental puts the smile back on its face

HARROGATE-based dental supplier 1st Dental said that despite a year of distractions it has almost “fully recovered” previous trading and profit levels.

Over its last financial year ended November 3 the firm, which supplies equipment to dentists for crown, bridge and othodontic work, was presented with a number of business challenges not least takeover talks which ended in August.

There were also disruptions to the group’s business operations in Blackpool and Stourport, a senior change of management, which saw the appointment of Nigel Spring as managing director, and the heavy legal costs.

However, despite a £1m drop in turnover and a pre tax loss of £265,000 (2007 profit was £146,000) Ist Dental is confident that the business is back on track.

It said that its Blackpool and Stourport businesses were in recovery with trading returning to previous levels.

Other core laboratories have continued to perform well with some “very pleasing” results from the group’s Sheffield, Ripley and Bedlington operations.

The group has also seen completion of a £0.2m project to create state-of-the-art laboratory premises at Paignton.

With regard to eteeth 1st Dental has seen significant growth yet again with sales increasing 647% on the previous year.

Since its launch in 2007 the firm has, and continues to achieve, a cumulative average growth rate of 13.2% month on month.

“It is our intention to expand the offering to UK dentists and we are currently considering further overseas opportunities,” said 1st Dental.

“The market competition to eteeth is regarded by us to be poor, which in turn is creating a level of spin-off business back to eteeth as the UK’s market leader.”

Other innovative products are also set to be rolled out over the year and the group has put a seven strong regional sales force in place – an industry first – to meet demand.

“In summary, 2008 was a troublesome year with the results being below market expectations as well as those of the directors,” 1st Dental continued.

“The disruptions encountered could not have been anticipated, but the changes made during the year, including the strengthening of management, and the plans for 2009 and beyond are, we believe, based on a strong market analysis and anticipate the requirements of the market place and the environment in which we operate.”