An Interview with Lianbang Dental Clinic Founder Dr. Deng Banglian

Article by XIANEASE

Dental health is important to your overall health, but for many expats, a visit to the dentist can be nerve wracking. Miscommunication can lead to detrimental consequences, so you want to make sure that your teeth are in the best care possible. That is why it is important to choose a place for care that is both well-equipped and well-qualified to meet your dental care needs. One such place is Lianbang Dental Clinic, a group of dental clinics dedicated to high-quality dental care. We interviewed the founder, Dr. Deng Banglian, to find out more about her company.

Can you briefly describe the background of your company?

In 2009, the Xi’an Federal Stomatological Hospital was established. At that time, with the encouragement and help of several professors, it was started with two or three chairs and three or four employees. Over the past 13 years, the Lianbang Dental Clinic has grown quite large, and has developed even stronger abilities. Currently, it consists of the Xi’an Federal Stomatological Hospital and the Xi’an Xincheng Federation Dental Clinic, the Xi’an Federal Stomatological Technology Research Institute, the Lianbang Yoga Studio. With more than 50 treatment chairs, 7,000 square meters of space, nearly 30 professors, and a medical and nursing team of 100 employees, Lianbang Dental Clinic handles an annual reception volume of nearly 30,000 people, forming a comprehensive medical institution that integrates oral medical services, scientific research innovation, preventive health care, and technical training.

What made you want to pursue your specialty?

First, studying medicine has always been my personal dream. I chose to specialize in oral medicine because I believe that “oral health is whole body health”. Taking care of people’s mouths makes people healthier and more beautiful. Second, the persistent pursuit of stomatology by the old experts and professors from the former Fourth Military Medical University had a profound impact on me, which made me love stomatology even more. Third, I strongly believe that doing one line of work that you love is very important. With the continuous learning of oral knowledge and entrepreneurial practice, I have a deeper affection for the dental profession and a stronger passion for my professional pursuits.

Why did you decide to set up an independent clinic instead of working in a specialist hospital?

I am a stomatologist in the medical system myself. Thirteen years ago, I started on the road of self-employment. With the encouragement and help of my professors, and the support of my friends and family, I founded the Xi’an Lianbang Dental Clinic. At that time, the original intention of starting a business was first to create a medical institution that would make patients feel at home; second, in order to have a greater space for development, and to apply what we had learned more rapidly to our practice, and dedicate our knowledge and ideals to society. The final reason was to achieve my life goals and valued pursuits through self-employment.

What challenges did you face when opening your clinic?

There were two small deficits and two minor roadbloacks that we faced in setting up the clinic. One was the initial lack of capital and also that the development platform was small in the beginning. Therefore, in the early stage of entrepreneurship, we chose to start with two or three chairs and three or four employees. We slowly accumulated funds, and gradually grew larger and larger. The second challenge was the lack of management experience and the small team. As a hospital director and a stomatologist, there were a series of issues to learn about, such as clinical practice, management skills, and how to operate in a highly competitive market. We often felt overwhelmed. With the guidance and help of a group of old professors from the former Fourth Military Medical University and national first-level professor Guo Tianwen, I established the development idea of “establishing a hospital of quality, promoting the hospital through service, and strengthening the hospital through talent”, which has promoted the healthy and sustainable development of the hospital. In the fierce market competition, we have won patients with integrity and word of mouth.

Your clinic assisted with mass PCR testing during the last COVID-19 lockdown. What prompted you to get involved?

Caring for life is the duty of medical staff and the social responsibility of hospitals. The epidemic is an challenge, and we will go into battle when the government needs it. On December 22 last year, at 4:30 p.m., after receiving instructions from the Party Committee of XinCheng District that the medical staff of the Federal Stomatological Hospital should cooperate with the nucleic acid test, we immediately put down all the work at hand and quickly deployed, dispatching personnel, forming teams, preparing materials, conducting pre-war mobilization, and carrying out pre-job training. More than 60 medical staff at 7:00 p.m. packed up and set off for the isolation hotel, waiting for the government to arrange us as needed. As of January 20, 2022, the hospital had dispatched more than 1,330 medical staff, and a total of 235,000 samples had been collected, of which nearly 800 have been sampled at home for people with disabilities, which has successfully assisted the various anti-epidemic work.

What are your goals for the patient experience during visits to your clinic?

Our goals are to patiently communicate with patients and understand their needs; sincerely think about patients and respect their wishes; encourage patients to fight, relieve their pain, and give patients hope. With excellent technology, warm-hearted service and benevolent care, patients can minimize their pain and pressure, enhance confidence, trust more fully in medical treatment, and be full of hope.

What are the plans for the Year of the Tiger? What can one expect to see in the near future?

2022 is the Year of the Tiger of Renyin and Tiger, and a crucial year for the Federation to reach a new level and achieve new development. In the new year, the hospital will use the construction of “National Service Industry Standardization Pilot Unit” as the starting point, continuously improve the quality of medical technology and nursing services, promote the external business progress of our Taiyi Road Branch in Beilin District, and create a better medical care environment. We will continue to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of the federal oral cavity medical services, and welcome the victory of the Party’s 12th National Congress with excellent results.