A DENTIST has expanded his business portfolio after buying out a neighbouring practice a month after securing his first.

Dr Stephen Abdulla bought the Hurworth Dental Practice, Hurworth, near Darlington, in February after working there for several years.

And with additional support from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking he has now taken over Milnes Dental Practice, Darlington.

As a result he has boosted the range of services the practices can offer by adding new cosmetic treatments, such as cosmetic bonding and teeth whitening procedures.

He said: “It was always an ambition of mine to own my own practice and I’d been searching for the right place for more than five years. With the support of the previous owners, my wife Dahlia, and Lloyds Bank at my side, I’ve now managed to acquire not just one, but two surgeries of my own. I hope to be able to offer a service to our patients that we can be proud of and that reflects the high standard of dental care and service we strive for.

“It’s very rare to find two sites that can service each other within a three mile radius, and this proximity means the practices can work hand-in-hand, enabling us to offer a greater level of service to our patients.”

The practices are now accepting new patients, and aim to grow their patient base by 20 per cent by 2020.

The Milnes Dental Practice currently employs a team of six, including two dentists. The Hurworth Dental Practice employs a team of eight, including two dentists along with a practice co-ordinator and practice manager who each work across both sites.

The dentist studied at Newcastle University, and was awarded Clinical Merit upon graduation in 2009. He went on to develop his surgical skills as a senior house officer in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Danielle Fraser, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Stephen’s acquisition of these two practices has not only enabled him to own his own business for the first time, but has also helped bolster the range of services available to patients in the local community.

“We’ve pledged to lend up to £700 million to North East businesses this year to help them make key investments for growth.”