Meet implant dentist James MacDonald

SpaDental is delighted to offer patients the opportunity to have implant treatment with a respected dentist in either Glastonbury or Tewkesbury.

Implant dentist James MacDonald joins the SpaDental team.  James has been successfully placing and restoring implants for over ten years.

Meet James

James took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about why he became a dentist, and then chose to focus on dental implantology. It’s clear he enjoys his work, and the reward of seeing his patients with teeth they love.

Q: Dentistry is a lengthy and demanding course to study at university. Why did you want to become a dentist?

James: Throughout school I always enjoyed science and was set on eventually doing something medically related. I was initially drawn to medicine, physiotherapy and dentistry, but after attending a few career courses and work experience, I realised that dentistry interested me most – it was mainly the patient interaction and being hands-on every day. I didn’t really consider the length of the course or depth of study required – that hit me later on!

Q: Was there a deciding moment that made you choose to focus on implant dentistry?

James: Not long after qualifying I spent a year working in hospital where I learnt further surgical techniques, and this piqued my interest in surgical dentistry. From there, implant dentistry seemed an obvious progression and, at the time, was becoming more widespread in the dental profession. Having the ability to offer patients such an effective and surprisingly simple treatment for replacing a missing tooth or teeth is very satisfying.

Q: You undertook a rigorous academic and practical programme to achieve an MSc in dental implantology. What did you gain professionally from this extra level of learning?

James: The MSc required considerably more work than I initially realised!  I think having the knowledge provided by undertaking a 4-year course has allowed me to understand fully the importance of rigorous and thorough treatment planning, whilst being aware of any potential problems and difficulties before they arise. This means that the actual surgery of placing the implants and the final process of fitting the implant restoration are usually remarkably straightforward. I can be confident that the patient will leave having had a treatment journey they fully understood and with a product they are delighted with.

Q: How do you think patients benefit from your implant treatment?

James: I’ve seen how replacing missing teeth in any form can be an emotional process for patients, whether it is a single tooth or a full mouth reconstruction. I think generally seeing a patient progress from a poorly fitting denture to an implant-retained prosthesis is the most satisfying – it certainly gives them more confidence and they often wonder why they didn’t do it earlier!

Q: Your work demands a high level of focus and dedication. What do you do to unwind?

James: With two children of junior school age I’m not sure I get to unwind! I love being able to spent time with my family – whether that be playing sport, going for walks or bike rides. I have just completed an FA course in football coaching to help with my son’s team. Every Friday night I’ll be planning tactics and coaching sessions. Then, come Saturday morning, I’ll be left scratching my head as I realise my plans were all in the vain hope that 7 and 8 year old boys might listen! I’m not sure Jurgen Klopp has these issues…

How to book an appointment with implant dentist James MacDonald

Treatment with James starts with an initial consultation to assess whether the patient is a suitable candidate for implants or not. If so, James outlines a plan proposing the treatment and costs.

Prospective implant patients may be:

• Registered with a SpaDental dentist at either the Glastonbury or Tewkesbury practice,
• Registered at another SpaDental, such as SpaDental Chard, and willing to travel to Glastonbury,
• Referred by their regular dentist for implant treatment, or
• Wish to register with SpaDental.

To learn more, please contact the reception team at either SpaDental Glastonbury (01458 831883) or SpaDental Tewkesbury (01684 293091).

You may wish to ask the reception team about ways to pay for your treatment, including our interest free and low interest finance plans.

Please note that to ensure commitment to the initial consultation date, patients are asked to pay a fee for their appointment. The consultation fee will be redeemable against the total cost of the implant treatment plan.

Additional information

To help you make an informed decision about whether dental implants are the right choice for you:

• Answers to patient FAQs about implants