It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Dr Gordon Ballantyne, father of Dr Elliott Ballantyne, owner of The Dental Implant Clinic.
Dr Gordon Ballantyne died suddenly on 8th August, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in dentistry, his local community and, most importantly, his family.
Gordon practised dentistry in Athlone for over four decades, first from Sean Costello Street and later from Garden Vale. Throughout his long career, he built a practice and a reputation based on skill, patience and genuine care for his patients. He had a manner that put even the most nervous patients at ease, and his commitment to dentistry extended far beyond the treatment he provided.
Dr Elliott Ballantyne was fortunate enough to follow his father into the profession, eventually taking over the practice that Gordon had built. His father’s influence would continue to play an important role throughout Elliott’s own career.
Gordon was a committed member of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and never lost his curiosity about the profession. Over the course of his career, he watched implant dentistry transform almost beyond recognition, from the early Straumann systems through to the techniques and technology used today.
He followed every step of that evolution, always reading, always asking questions and always keen to understand what was coming next.
That curiosity and enthusiasm for implant dentistry had a lasting influence on Elliott and played a significant part in inspiring him to specialise in the field himself. The values that Gordon brought to his work, including his commitment to learning, his interest in innovation and his focus on patient care, continue to be reflected in Elliott’s approach to dentistry today.
Outside the surgery, Gordon’s other great loves were Manchester United, golf and rugby. He was a member of Athlone Golf Club before later joining Moate Golf Club, and he was a lifelong supporter of Buccaneers RFC. His involvement with the club was particularly important to him, and he was proud to serve as Club President in 2018/19.
Gordon was a dentist, a mentor, a friend and, above all, a much-loved father.
His contribution to dentistry, and his influence on the career of his son, will continue to be felt for many years to come.
Rest well, Gordon. You shaped more careers, and more people, than you ever gave yourself credit for. You will be deeply missed.