A vacant bank building in Henley has found new life as a dental practice, marking a significant development for local healthcare. The Henley Reach Dental Cosmetic and Implant Clinic has expanded into the former Halifax bank site on Bell Street, which has sat empty since 2019.
Having served the community for over 20 years, the clinic’s expansion allows it to double its capacity, now featuring an eight-surgery dental suite. Previously known as Smile Solutions, the clinic aims to enhance its offerings of specialist care with the addition of new staff members.
Dr. James Fitton, an endodontist specializing in root canals; Dr. Sheila Chauhan, an orthodontist; and Dr. Kim Tan, a cosmetic dentist, have joined the team. Additionally, Dr. Alaa Guni, a periodontist, is set to start in October.
The extra space enables the clinic to broaden its dental implant services, led by long-time staff member Dr. Paul Niland.
The clinic has also hired two new NHS dentists to help meet patient demand.
Practice owner Shila Godhania expressed that the increased capacity will help reduce NHS waiting times and allow patients to receive treatment locally instead of traveling elsewhere. “We have been really busy, which is great,” she said. “Before this expansion, we were limited and booked for months without additional surgery space.”
Godhania added that with a periodontist joining in October, patients will no longer need referrals to Windsor for gum treatments. Similarly, with an orthodontist on staff, referrals for children and adults to Maidenhead or Reading will also be unnecessary.
“It’s nice to give the former bank a second lease of life,” Godhania noted. The Grade II listed building had fallen into disrepair with a leaking roof and rotting structures before its transformation into a modern dental facility that honors its heritage.
The upstairs area of the building has been converted into offices, attracting two new businesses to the town.
In another development, a former Lloyds bank on Friday Street has been repurposed into a health and wellness clinic called DNA Henley.
This new center offers dental care alongside various health and aesthetic treatments. Deputy Mayor Tom Buckley officially opened the clinic on Saturday.
DNA Henley features two rooms equipped with dental chairs for various treatments and an additional room for aesthetic procedures.
The upper floors have been transformed into three luxury apartments.
Run by Romey Chopra, a former pharmacist with 30 years of experience from Farnham Common, DNA Henley is expected to be fully operational in the coming months. Chopra reported positive feedback during the soft launch event. “It was a really positive response,” he said. “We are still not fully operational but wanted to let people know what we plan to offer.”
Chopra emphasized that DNA Henley aims to provide personalized healthcare approaches rather than standard treatments.
“We want to invite people in when we open and discuss what approach is right for them,” he explained.
The clinic will focus on understanding individual health profiles through blood and hormone analysis to address various health factors proactively rather than reactively. “People often take better care of their pets than themselves,” Chopra remarked. “We are not just a clinic you visit when you have a problem; we are going back to basics.”
Meanwhile, Jimmy Cuba has reopened his record shop in Station Road after closing his previous location in Hart Street in 2021.
These transformations reflect a growing trend of repurposing vacant commercial spaces into essential community services, enhancing local access to healthcare and wellness resources in Henley.