About Us
Established in 1969, we are proud to be the longest-established dental laboratory in Northern Ireland. Based on the outskirts of Belfast, we are a full-service dental laboratory supporting practices across the whole of Ireland.
Who we are
All of our technicians are GDC registered, with experience ranging from 18 to 42 years. Their knowledge, skill, and attention to detail help us deliver high-quality products, consistent results, and cost-effective pricing.
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From Gordon’s first lab on the Albertbridge Road to our current full-service facility in Sydenham Business Park, our commitment has remained the same: delivering high-quality dental work with care, consistency, craftsmanship, and dependable service.
Our Story
Our story began with Gordon Watters, who founded the lab at just 24 years old. Gordon’s career in dental technology started much earlier, when he began his apprenticeship at the age of 15 under Mr Holdsworth. During five years of training, followed by a further two years working alongside him, Mr Holdsworth instilled in Gordon a strong work ethic, high standards, and a particular respect for good timekeeping. If Gordon was ever two minutes late, Mr Holdsworth would famously ask if he was “going part time” , a phrase Gordon later used with his own staff right up until his retirement.
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After his time with Mr Holdsworth, Gordon spent two and a half years working for dentist Kevin Johnston in his surgery before taking the bold step of opening his own laboratory on the Albertbridge Road. In a fitting twist, Mr Holdsworth later came to work for Gordon at the lab and remained there until his own retirement.
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Over the years, the laboratory continued to grow, outgrowing three premises along the way. From Albertbridge Road, we moved to the Ormeau Road, then to a bungalow in Carryduff, before relocating in 2008 to our current premises in Sydenham Business Park.
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Gordon was also a respected figure within the wider dental laboratory profession, serving as Chairman of the Dental Laboratories Association from 2001 to 2008. His commitment to high standards and the development of the industry helped shape the values that remain at the heart of the lab today.
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Gordon retired in 2011, passing the baton to Michael Allison. Michael began his own apprenticeship at the age of 17 with Billy Flanagan before joining Gordon Watters Dental Lab in 2000. When the lab moved to Sydenham Business Park in 2008, Billy Flanagan and his two sons, Gary and Geoff, also joined the team, bringing with them more than 60 years of combined experience and a special interest in prosthetics and orthodontics.
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Today, we continue to combine experience, craftsmanship, and modern technology. We work with both digital and traditional impressions, making it easy for practices to work with us in the way that suits them best. With in-house milling and around 40% of our lab work now coming through digital platforms, we are proud to offer the precision and efficiency of CAD/CAM technology alongside the dependable service our clients have trusted for decades.
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For most of Northern Ireland, we provide our own collection and delivery service using dedicated drivers, while practices in the South of Ireland benefit from a trusted courier service. This allows us to support dental practices across the whole island with a service that is reliable, efficient, and convenient.
