BChD (Leeds), General Dentist
Dr Richard F Williams is a male General Dentist.
Dr Williams was born in Chester in the North West of England in 1967. He was schooled locally before applying for University entry. He notes that unlike Australia, most British students choose to undergo tertiary education at a University some distance from home. This is probably due to the smaller size of the U.K., which permits trips home during term breaks. Richard chose Leeds Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry as the place to study his degree.
In 1990, after five years had passed he graduated as Bachelor of Dental Surgery with a Certificate of Merit in the subject of Paedodontics, Child Dental Health.
Whilst at University he served on the staff/student committee and was also the student representative on the Yorkshire branch of the Paedodontic Society. He worked voluntarily in the accident and emergency department of the Leeds General Infirmary; it was from this that he gained early experience in trauma management. He was a keen participator in sports such as squash and particularly rugby union and was also joint editor of the final yearbook.
After a year or so practicing dentistry Dr Williams decided to broaden his horizons by means of travel. He had always aspired to work overseas and soon found himself at Perth international airport. His parents had been on the verge of immigrating to Australia early in their married life and they had always wondered what life might have been like. Dr Williams fortunately found Australia to be everything he had hoped. This was amplified by his discovery that the Australian dental system was flexible and conducive to quality dentistry.
Dr Williams began to practice at the Aardent Dental Centre in 1992, he recalls never having seen a dental surgery quite like it. "Everything pointed to attention to detail and quality" and indeed this was especially true of the dentistry provided. He is a member of the Australian Dental Association and the Australasian Osseointegration Society (Implant Society). He has worked full time in private practice and has supplemented his dental degree with a multitude of postgraduate courses and seminars. These have included Endodontics, Prosthodontics and particularly Implant Dentistry.
He enjoys providing general dental services as a family dentist but has found an increase in public awareness and enthusiasm about dental implants. He has studied several different implant systems but is currently using the Branemark system exclusively. He says that he arrived at this decision based on the conservative, extensively researched approach of the Branemark company. Dr Williams revels in the precise, predictable nature of the system and is motivated by the results he has been able to achieve. He describes it as "fantastically rewarding" to see his increasing number of implant patients return time and time again for check ups, typically problem free, enjoy eating again and visibly happy about their decision to undergo the treatment.
Dr Williams was determined on arriving in Australia to give his new life every chance, however, he comments that rather than finding obstacles he found the Australian way of life instantly appealing. In 1994 at his first opportunity he became an Australian citizen. Three years later he married a local girl and recently celebrated the birth of his first child, a little girl called Olivia. He enjoys the social and sporting side of Australian life and has participated in many relay marathon and running events. He has also twice completed the Avon Descent, a 135km white water race in the double surf-ski category and is also a keen golfer.
