'We are excited about what the future holds': Major milestone as long-established Northern Ireland dental practice opens new state-of-the-art facility
William Street Dental & Implant Centre has unveiled a seven-surgery centre in its biggest investment to date, officially opened by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt
Long-established Northern Ireland dental practice has opened the doors of its new state-of-the-art facility in Portadown, marking a major milestone in the practice’s nearly 60-year history.
The opening of William Street Dental & Implant Centre was attended by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, chief dental officer Professor Caroline Lappin, patients, healthcare professionals and community representatives.
Founded in 1967, the practice has provided dental care to generations of local families across Portadown and the surrounding area. The move to a new seven-surgery facility represents the largest investment in its history and significantly expands its clinical capacity.
The practice is co-owned by Dr James McKee and Dr Pádraic Conroy, who have overseen a period of expansion, modernisation and service development in recent years.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Nesbitt said the development represented a significant investment in the future of dental services in the area: “The expansion of this practice represents a significant investment, not only in the future of dental services in Portadown, but also in local employment and a longer-term ambition to become a multidisciplinary healthcare hub in the community.
“My aim is to deliver the best possible care for patients and practices such as this, which operate a mixed model of Health Service and private dental care, are an important part of the solution.
“I wish the team every success as they continue to provide high-quality care to both Health Service and private patients. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this expansion will have in the months and years ahead.”
Dr McKee said the new facility marked the start of a new chapter for the practice.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our practice,” he explained. “While we are incredibly proud of this new facility, what matters most are the people behind it — our patients, our team and the community we are privileged to serve.
“This building represents years of planning, hard work and belief in what this practice can become. We wanted to create a modern environment that allows us to continue investing in patient care, advanced treatments and the future of healthcare within our community.”
The new development more than doubles clinical capacity, increasing from three surgeries to seven, and allows for future service expansion, workforce growth and the introduction of new technologies.
In recent years, the practice has expanded its range of restorative, implant and referral services, attracting patients from across Northern Ireland while maintaining strong local roots in Portadown.
Dr Conroy said the investment would allow the practice to broaden its services while maintaining its core ethos: “We are delighted to provide ethical, compassionate and state-of-the-art care to our patients. This investment allows us to expand our offering in terms of much-needed services for the area, all under the same roof and with the same ethos that has guided the practice throughout its history.
"We are excited about what the future holds for the practice and look forward to continuing to serve our patients and the wider community for many years to come.”
The opening marks the completion of a significant development project and the continuation of a practice that has served the community since 1967, with a renewed focus on expanding services and investing in the future of local healthcare.