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Birchwood Dental Clinic set to open doors
Long-time city dentist Dr. Nittan Gohil starts own practice after seeing long waitlists

John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, January 13, 2017

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
When long-time Yellowknife dentist Dr. Nittan Gohil realized patients were waiting as long as four months to see a dentist in the city, he knew it was time to open a new clinic.

NNSL photo/graphic

Dr. Nittan Gohil sits in one of his treatment rooms at the brand new Birchwood Dental Clinic on 53 Street on Wednesday. Gohil, who practiced at the Frame Lake Dental Clinic for the past 11 years, said he realized there was room for another dental clinic in Yellowknife when he saw how long people were having to wait to have their teeth fixed. The new office will start booking appointments this week and Gohil plans for it to be fully operational by Jan. 23. - John McFadden/NNSL photo

That was some five years ago and after a long wait to see it all come together, the Birchwood Dental Clinic is set to open on Jan. 23.

The fifth dental clinic in the city is located in a new, three-storey building on 53 Street.

Workers from Konge Construction and IT specialists were hard to work Tuesday putting finishing touches on the new building when Yellowknifer stopped by for a visit.

"I encountered patients who needed a filling and I know clinics are busy everywhere but they wouldn't be able to be seen for three or four months," Gohil said. "That's an unacceptable wait time. If you went to see your family doctor and they said, 'OK you have a cold come back in three or four months and I'll see you then,' people wouldn't do it."

Gohil said he bought the property about five years ago. He had the dilapidated house that was there torn down and had his own modern building constructed. He is calling it the Gohil building, at least for now.

"Other buildings in town are named after people - like the Bromley building. So I thought - why not?" he said.

The new space has all the amenities of any modern dental clinic with a spacious waiting area, exam rooms, and a lounge and lunch area for staff.

"We put in six exam rooms but I've only equipped four for now just because it depends how busy we are," the doctor said. "I've hired three people in total at this time. You start out as you need and build up from there. Hopefully I will add another receptionist and hygienist by the end of the summer."

Gohil said he will begin the practice with a hygienist, a dental assistant and a receptionist. He is optimistic that his patients from the Frame Lake Dental Clinic will follow him over to his new practice. He is also hopeful that new patients will give him a try as well.

"I think people pick dentists because you have a connection with them," he said. "I think it's that personal touch. It's like any profession - there are good dentists and not as good dentists."

Gohil said he is confident the new clinic will be successful, particularly with all the efforts he has put into making it work.

"Let's put it this way - I've invested everything I have, my heart and soul, and financially into here. We're going to make it work," Gohil said. "I've put a lot of thought into this. It required a lot of thought - all the small details but I think we are doing well. It's quite exciting."

Gohil said it has been rewarding to see it all come together and he's pleased that he can now give his patients a phone number to call for appointments.

"We managed to get the phone number 87-FLOSS - 873-5677," Gohil said. "My wife came up with that idea."

The medical profession is a family affair for Gohil. His wife - Dr. Suraiya Naidoo is a family physician at the Frame Lake Community Health Clinic.

Gohil grew up in Toronto and went to dental school in San Francisco. He said he fell in love with the North early in his career when he travelled out to NWT communities to treat people who might have had difficulty seeing a dentist on a regular basis. He still works with the territorial government on its dental treatment program in the communities.

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