MAY
24
0

BioHorizons summer education sale!

 

BioHorizons is delighted to announce a 20% discount off the registration fee for all courses taking place in June 2017.

All you need to do is book before 26 May and input the discount code ‘SUMMERSALE’ at checkout.

The courses running this June are:

 

• Implant Planning and Computer Guided Surgery – a one-day, hands-on course designed to bring together the clinician, laboratory and software, to give a detailed overview of the digital workflow of implant dentistry

• Immediate Loading Technique with TeethXpress® – this two-day course will provide delegates with the opportunity to understand the science behind the immediate loading technique

• The Latest Concepts in Mucogingival Grafting – a practical course to enhance delegates’ knowledge of mucogingival surgical techniques, while developing periodontal surgical skills

• The Latest Concepts in Implant Maintenance – providing lectures, group discussion and hands-on workshops for dental hygienists focused on the latest concepts in implant maintenance.

 

For further information, please visit www.theimplanthub.com/education.

  3384 Hits
3384 Hits
MAY
24
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BSDHT and BADT unite to drive change

BSDHT and BADT unite to drive change

 

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) have united to apply for prescribing exemptions that would broaden dental hygienists’ and dental therapists’ scope of practice for the benefit of their patients.

Driven by respective immediate past presidents – Michaela O’Neill and Fiona Sandom – we were recently given the green light by the Department of Health to move into the next stage of the campaign.

To do so, we need your help.

Have you had to send patients away with incomplete or no treatment because you couldn’t get a prescription when you needed it? How did this affect your ability to deliver patient care? What would it mean to be able to provide certain prescription only medicines, without requiring a prescription from the dentist?

The more examples of cases we can collect for the cause, the bigger a voice we will have. Please email your experiences and the impact these had on you, your patients and your practice to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By working together, we can drive change. 

 

For more information about this intuitive or about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 575050

  4013 Hits
4013 Hits
MAY
24
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Henry Schein ConnectDental Digital Symposium – another huge success

Henry Schein ConnectDental Digital Symposium – another huge success

 

 

A gathering of more than 400 delegates at this year’s Henry Schein ConnectDental Digital Symposium is testament to just how far the digital message is resonating with the profession. Organised at the splendid Grange St Paul’s Hotel in central London, the Digital Symposium is now rightly regarded as the premier digital event in UK dentistry.

 

The diverse two-day programme covered all aspects of the digital spectrum, through a series of lectures, presentations and break-out sessions and was opened with a keynote lecture by Ian Buckle. Mr. Buckle, an experienced clinician with a private practice in the North West, examined the important relationship between clinicians and their technical colleagues and how the use of digital tools can aid communication not only with the laboratory, but also other specialists, including orthodontists, implant dentists and surgeons. In a frank and entertaining personal commentary, Ian discussed what works, what does not and what the future might hold for those reluctant to adopt digital processes.

The Henry Schein ConnectDental platform offers digital technology solutions to help improve efficiency and productivity for both the practice and the laboratory with the aim of enhancing the patient experience by delivering predictable, high-quality dentistry. The role of digital dentistry in achieving this aim was perfectly illustrated by one of the highlights of the Symposium—a  two-part presentation by Colin Campbell and Jameel Gardee, which included a full case study on digitally planning the smile and guided implant surgery. The presentation included details of how intraoral scanning, CBCT, digital x-rays, digital photography and smartphone video were all used to provide a fully-planned, interdisciplinary case, which included the live capture of a patient’s information. In addition, the case demonstrated how to create a digital wax-up as well as the production of a milled implant surgical guide. The case was completed on the Saturday morning when Colin described the surgical procedures and compared the relative benefits of the different guided systems used on the case.

 

With content to excite and inspire dental professionals at every stage of their digital journey, the Digital Symposium is clearly at the forefront of digital education. Dental professionals rely on Henry Schein’s experience and advice. With this symposium, the company guided those taking their first steps in the digital world and assisted those practitioners who have already embraced the technology and are seeking to perfect their craft.

 

Jane MacRae, Marketing Manager at Henry Schein Dental, was delighted with the response from the profession and the industry: “The Digital Symposium is the perfect vehicle for us to demonstrate the way in which the clinical solutions we offer help our customers remain at the forefront of patient care. These solutions work across numerous dental disciplines, including implants, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, laboratory services, and many more. We believe that the experience and knowledge shared at this event will show customers our commitment to help them achieve their digital vision. This year’s event encapsulated a shift in the acceptance of the digital transformation and I think we can look forward to some very exciting times in the near future.”

 

Videos and images of the event are available to download at hsddigitalsymposium.co.uk

  5537 Hits
5537 Hits
MAY
18
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Cyber Attacks – No Longer the Threat of Tomorrow

 

 

For the last 18 months’ we have been writing articles about the threat of cyber-attacks to the healthcare industry. This is indeed one of the most targeted sectors in the UK and the risk to your dental practice is significant. This has further been highlighted by the events of the last few days where the NHS has suffered its biggest attack of this kind.

What is the risk to you?

No business is completely safe from the threat of cybercrime, no matter how many firewalls you have or virus scanners, it only reduces your risk by a small fraction. Over the last few years we have seen major companies and organisations such as Talk Talk and MI5 affected, organisations who invest heavily in the reliability of their IT systems are just as vulnerable and you and me.

So how does it work? Often, we see businesses that have their IT systems or software encrypted by the criminals. This means that the hackers take control of your systems and lock you out. They usually request payment in the form of Bitcoins in exchange for releasing your data back to you. In the past when this has happened clients have still had major problems with their software afterwards and have had to get professional companies in to reinstate the corrupted data. If you decide not to pay the ransom, then the cybercriminals will often look to sell the data on the black-market and then it is lost forever.

What is your most valuable data?  

For any medical practice the value is in the patient medical records and appointment logs. This is the lifeblood of your business and without access to this the practice would struggle to continue, at least in the short term.

In the event that your patient records were sold on the black-market and got into the hands of other cybercriminals your patients could be at significant risk. Your patients can sue you for compensation if their medical records became accessible to others. You could face a claim by every single person affected by the data breach and furthermore, you would become liable for their legal costs as well as your own if you required representation or defending from such claims. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) can also get involved too. They are the statutory regulator when it comes to data security and they will investigate a breach of data to see if there are grounds for imposing statutory fines against you! These fines can start from tens of thousands of pounds and there is no real upper limit.

So what is the solution?    

It is very difficult to guarantee your business will not be affected by cybercrime although I would recommend that you review your IT security arrangements anyway and make upgrades where possible. Something that is within our control however, is what measures we have in place to protect our businesses should something catastrophic happen.

To do this, it is advisable to have Cyber Liability Insurance cover in place. As a basic cover, this will protect you against the claims that could be made against you, including legal costs and statutory fines. However, there is further cover that can be included within a policy such as:

 

·         Damage to Hardware

·         Data Corruption & Reinstatement

·         Financial Crime i.e. money being fraudulently taken from your bank account

·         Data-Breach Expenses including reputation protection

·         Loss of Business Income

 

How much does a policy cost?

 

It all depends on a few variables:

 

·         How many patient records do you hold?

·         What is your gross annual revenue?

·         What limit of indemnity do you require?

 

The last question above will be an area that your insurance adviser can guide you on. The larger the practice and the more records held the greater the exposure to claims and statutory fines. Prices typically start from around £500 per year although we are usually able to save our clients’ money on their main Practice Insurance policy if a Cyber Liability policy is taken out.

 

Enquire with All Med Pro today by calling us on 0203 757 6950 or emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Further details can also be found on our website at https://www.allmedproinsurance.com/cyber-liability-insurance

  5905 Hits
5905 Hits
MAY
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NHS contract issues to be debated at in front seminars across the country

NHS contract issues to be debated at in front seminars across the country

 

Simplyhealth Professionals is about to start a series of in front seminars across England, Wales, and Scotland to highlight the current concerns amongst dentists working in the NHS and how they can plan for their future. Participants will debate NHS contract issues, dental provision, and the key issues affecting dentists working either in NHS or mixed practices.

The seminars have been created to help dentists learn more about NHS dental provision in Scotland, or NHS contract changes in the UK, hear the latest expert insights, and receive advice on what options they have for the future. They will take place throughout Scotland, England and Wales throughout May, June and July.

Dr Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals, the host of the seminars, said: “Due to the uncertainty facing dentists working in the NHS, these evenings will give everyone a chance to talk to others with similar concerns, and learn what they can to do prepare for their future.”

The first seminar will take place on Tuesday 6 June in Newcastle from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and will include evening drinks and a buffet. All of the events are free and dentists who attend will earn 2 hours of CPD.

 

If NHS speculation leaves you uncertain about your future...

In Front Seminars:

 

Tuesday 6th June – Marriott Gosforth Park – Newcastle

Tuesday 13th June – AMEX Stadium – Brighton

Wednesday 14th June – Holiday Inn Bristol Filton – Bristol

Monday 26th June – Sandy Park – Exeter

Tuesday 27th June – Cambridge Belfry – Cambridge

Wednesday 28th June – Park Royal Hotel – Warrington

Monday 3rd July – Village Cardiff – Cardiff

Wednesday 5th July – Holiday Inn – Winchester

Thursday 6th July – Crowne Plaza London the City – London

Thursday 13th July – Leicester Marriott – Leicester

Monday 17th July – Thorpe Park Hotel – Leeds

Tuesday 18th July – Tankersley Manor – Sheffield

 

To reserve a place: www. denplan.co.uk/nhs-seminars or call 01962 828 026.

  4480 Hits
4480 Hits
MAY
10
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YDEPPA launched: new online assessment for young patients

YDEPPA launched: new online assessment for young patients

 

Simplyhealth Professionals has today announced a new personalised assessment for young patients which they are providing through their highly regarded Denplan PreViser Patient Assessment (DEPPA) application. Young DEPPA (YDEPPA) brings the benefits of comprehensive online patient assessment to young patients and their parents or carers for the first time.

The primary benefit of YDEPPA, like its adult counterpart, is to support communication with young patients about their oral health. YDEPPA reports offer personalised biofeedback in a patient friendly manner. Dentists can access YDEPPA from the main menu of DEPPA by selecting ‘Young Patients’.

The reports use a traffic light colour-code system of red, amber and green to indicate what is going well and what the patient needs to improve on with the help of their dental care provider. Smiley symbols enhance the colour-code effect for young patients. The reports clearly indicate if any aspects of oral health should be of particular concern to patients and their parents or carers. Prevention advice tailored to the age of the patient forms the second page of the report.

A young patient DEPPA report (patients under 17 years of age) comprises two key scoring elements:

  • A composite score (YDEPPA score) out of 100 measures patient perception and current oral health status, including two risk factors for dental caries and one risk factor for dental erosion. There is no separate measurement or reporting of future disease risk in YDEPPA as at the present time the evidence base for future disease risk factors in young patients is not as developed as that for adults.
  • A summary of patient overall care needs (Low, Moderate or High) which may be helpful in fee category guidance in Denplan Plans for Children.

Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “There is evidence to support that personalised biofeedback, delivered using reports such as DEPPA for patients, is more likely to trigger the emotional response required in order that behaviour change can occur than traditional methods. The earlier that we can educate young patients on what they can do at home to support dental care plans, the better their oral health will be in the long term.”

On an individual patient basis YDEPPA supplies valuable guidance to inform the development of a care (treatment) plan. YDEPPA reports allow clinicians and patients to monitor the success of care plans over time.

YDEPPA is very quick to complete, comprising just 14 questions. Reports can be either printed in hard copy and given to patients, or e-mailed to them with consent.

YDEPPA protocols were developed using Adult DEPPA, the Oral Health Assessment (OHA) and The Oral Wellbeing Assessments (OWA) as the starting point. Both the OHA and the OWA were developed as part of Denplan Excel for Children. Stephen Fayle, Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Leeds, who guided the development of Denplan Excel for Children was a key adviser in the development of YDEPPA, as was Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology, University of Birmingham, and Liz Chapple, Managing Director of DEPPA service provider, Oral Health Innovations*.

Liz Chapple said: “This is a really exciting development as it is the first of its kind. YDEPPA is very simple to use, instantly producing a comprehensive assessment of a child’s oral health in an easy to understand format. If it achieves anything near the positive impact on behaviour that the adult version has achieved, its impact on prevention could be lifelong.”

 

Notes:

* Simply Health are also grateful to the many additional colleagues who provided advice during the development of the YDEPPA protocol for the Pilot Study. The Pilot Study was conducted in November 2016. A dozen practitioners who were prolific users of Adult DEPPA were recruited to take part. We used an on-line survey to elicit their feedback.

About Simplyhealth Professionals:

In February 2017, Denplan rebranded as Simplyhealth Professionals.

Dental

Simplyhealth Professionals is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million patients registered to a Denplan product.

Simplyhealth Professionals provides the following range of leading Denplan dental payment plans under the Denplan name:

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Membership: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

 

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962.

For Patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   

For details of all of our products, visit www.denplan.co.uk

 

 

  3646 Hits
3646 Hits
MAY
05
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Simplyhealth signs another 50/50 Dental Partnership

Simplyhealth signs another 50/50 Dental Partnership

 

 

Simplyhealth has successfully signed another 50/50 Dental Practice Partnership with, Fox Dental Care based in St Austell, Cornwall.

With around 1,500 dental patients, many of whom are already covered by Simplyhealth’s Denplan dental plans, the partnership will support Fox Dental Care to further develop, grow and continue to serve its local community.

As part of an ongoing commitment to investment and innovation in the dental market, Simplyhealth’s partnership scheme offers dental practices the opportunity to enter into an equal partnership, ensuring that both partners have equal rights in the practices.

The partnership model has been designed to enable dentists to retain day to day clinical management with Simplyhealth providing support and expertise in business services, development and patient insights gained from their existing successful Denplan services as well as through helping over 3 million people with their everyday health needs across the group.

The model works well for Practice owners looking for a smooth transition into retirement while wanting to retain responsibility for the day to day decisions and clinical delivery.  They can retain the legacy they have built in the community but are able to realise the value of the practice and make the move into ownership less of a barrier for the new partner.

Romana Abdin, Chief Executive of Simplyhealth added: “This is a true partnership that is for the benefit of Fox’s Dental Care, patients and Simplyhealth. We’re looking forward to working together as Simon approaches his retirement, growing the business and serving more patients. We want to work in partnership with more Healthcare Professionals so we can seize opportunities and overcome challenges together, while supporting more patients to make the most of life through better everyday health.”

Simon Fox, owner of Fox Dental Care, explains: “Selling a dental practice is an incredibly stressful and complex process, one that I was not looking forward to. However, the help and experience of the Simplyhealth team made the whole thing straightforward.  From first meetings right through to contract signing, I have felt relaxed and supported, which is the same as I have done during the last 25 plus years of working with them. In particular having our dedicated Simplyhealth Business Development Executive, Harriet, always at the end of the phone, has really proved invaluable. Selling the business you've lovingly built up over 35 years to someone you trust and already have a great relationship with has certainly made things easier. I look forward to the coming years in partnership and to my eventual retirement.”

 

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk.

http://newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk/

@SimplyhealthUK

Facebook.com/SimplyhealthUK

 

  4045 Hits
4045 Hits
MAY
05
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Get Ready for Smile in Pink Day on 2nd June.

Get Ready for Smile in Pink Day on 2nd June.

 

 

Bridge2Aid is gearing up for its national fundraising day – Smile in Pink. This is a day during National Smile Month when people in the UK dental community come together to wear pink and fairy wings proudly for a very good cause – to ensure millions in East Africa have access to safe emergency dental treatment.

This year, the event will take place on 2nd of June and Bridge2Aid is rounding up businesses, organisations, dental practices and supporters to join forces with thousands of others who believe that everyone has the right to be pain-free.

Imagine suffering with a painful toothache for months or years; the pain being so great you miss work or struggle caring for your family. Or imagine your child in pain and not able to attend school. Then imagine having no access to safe dental care.

In fact, more than 70% of the world’s population has no access to the most simple dental pain relief, leaving billions to face a daily battle in the toughest of life circumstances. There is a desperate need to tackle oral disease, infection and chronic pain in communities throughout the developing world.

The money raised during Smile in Pink Day 2017 will fund emergency dental training programmes for rural health workers in the developing world, so that they can provide life-changing dental care in their communities.

“Every year on Smile in Pink Day, friends and supporters from around the world help to change and save lives – freeing millions in East Africa from the prospect of unnecessary pain and suffering caused by untreated oral disease and infections”, said Mark Topley, Bridge2Aid's CEO.

He continued, “This event really brings the dental community together and provides fantastic support for the work the whole Bridge2Aid family delivers in East Africa.”

 

About Smile in Pink Day

Since 2014, Smile in Pink Day has seen thousands of people in the dental community come together during National Smile Month to wear pink and fundraise for Bridge2Aid’s work. The theme this year is fairy wings and fairy cakes, and the money raised will provide intensive, practical training in emergency dental skills to existing health workers in East Africa – ensuring those in the poorest communities are able to function free from unnecessary pain, and avoid the risk of preventable infections and diseases.

About Bridge2Aid

Bridge2Aid is a UK-registered charity that aims to provide emergency dental training to rural health workers in East Africa. Since 2002, Bridge2Aid has had a big impact, having delivered 83 training programmes in Tanzania and Rwanda, as well as having successfully trained 461 government health workers, providing access to emergency dental treatment for over 4.6 million people.

 

Our vision is a world free of dental pain and our work provides long-term, lasting solutions by passing skills into local hands. For more information, visit www.bridge2aid.org and follow @Bridge2Aid on Twitter.

To register for Smile in Pink Day 2017 and get your participant kit, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information, visit www.bridge2aid.org

 

  3416 Hits
3416 Hits
MAY
05
0

8 reasons to visit Patient Plan Direct at the Dentistry Show!

8 reasons to visit Patient Plan Direct at the Dentistry Show!

 

 

Dentistry show is here!

If you’re heading to the show make sure you head to B70 to visit the Patient Plan Direct team. Why you ask? Here are eight great reasons…

 

1. Cost saving clinic

We know you like to keep your business outgoings under control (who doesn’t?), which is why we want to help with that. Take a note of the number of patients you currently have on plan, plus the admin fee you’re paying your existing plan provider and then head over to stand B70 to discover how we could save you thousands of pounds per year by switching to our low-cost and fully supported service.

2. More transfers than ever before

We’ve noticed a huge trend of new practices switching from their existing patient plan provider to Patient Plan Direct, and with our low admin fees of just £1.20 per patient per month, it’s easy to see why. With our support, the transfer process is really simple, so you’ll notice the savings almost straight away. Visit us at the Dentistry Show so that we can explain more!

3. Meet the whole team

If you’re already working with us, meeting up at the show gives us a chance to put faces to names and helps us make our service even more personalised to you. If you’re not already a customer then head over to stand B70 to see how lovely we all are!

4. Learn more about our A&E cover, including implant cover

Our patient payment plans offer worldwide Dental A&E cover, which includes implant cover as standard (all included for £1.20). Discover more about this great extra benefit by popping over to see us.

5. Practice-branded solutions

You’ve worked hard to build a brand for your dental practice, so why not strengthen that further through your own practice-branded patient payment plan? Talk to us at the Dentistry Show to find out how. Particularly, if you’re confused about your current providers branding changes…

6. Let us demonstrate

Our online admin management portal allows you to control your plan in real time 247 and is so easy to use that you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch over sooner. Don’t just take our word for it though, come and see for yourself on stand B70!

7. Tailored to you

There’s no one size fits all in dentistry, you know your patients and what will suit them best, which is why we can tailor the plans to suit your practice’s specific needs. We also aim to provide a personal approach to our customer service, through our training, practice visits and telephone support. Come over for a chat to find out how we can offer a bespoke service to suit you.

8. Grab a free coffee and chat

We love coffee, but we love sharing it even more, so pop over for a free cuppa and catch up with our team. Whether you already know us, or would like to get to know us, we’re looking forward to meeting you at the show.

See you soon!

In the mean time check out some of our success stories here http://patientplandirect.com/case-studies/

If you’re not heading to the show, you can always arrange a meeting with our friendly and experienced business development team at your practice at your convenience. Simply call or email us:

 

Tel: 08448486888

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  4097 Hits
4097 Hits
MAY
04
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Ivoclar Vivadent to showcase their new brand at The Dentistry Show

Ivoclar Vivadent to showcase their new brand at The Dentistry Show

 

 

The Dentistry Show 2017 will see Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland showcase their new brand, Ivoclar Digital, to the British market for the first time after it’s official launch at IDS, Cologne, in March.

Ivoclar Digital is the biggest development for the leading dental manufacturer of materials and equipment since the market-leading IPS e.max all-ceramic system was introduced to the dental industry over 10 years ago. The new digital products will provide dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process journey; assisting them with material selection and digital processes in the design and production of quality restorations, complemented with a wide range of additional services and customer support.

PrograMill One will make its debut as Ivoclar’s first chairside mill for dentists; it is the world’s smallest 5-axis milling machine, combining industrial manufacturing quality with high precision and modern design. In the innovative 5-axis turn-milling technique, the workpiece rotates around the tool at a constant feed and the tool never leaves the block, ensuring short milling times and minimal tool wear.

Various validated processing strategies are available for different materials and indications; the unit has been particularly developed for milling IPS e.max. The machine’s wireless capabilities allow it to be operated from any location with the help of a special app for tablets and smartphones and the optical status display shows the current status of the machine. PrograMill One is coordinated with the scanners and design solutions from 3Shape.

Ivoclar Vivadent’s technical stand for DTS is adjacent to the Dentistry Show stand; both will have numerous new and existing product demonstrations. Clinical and Technical stand visitors can also expect the most relevant product and material updates for dental and laboratory professionals, whilst also benefitting from the expert advice of our attending specialists.

 

The DentistryShow takes place on the 12th & 13th May, NEC,

You can find Ivoclar Vivadent Clinical at Stand No. F35,

Ivoclar Vivadent DTS Technical at Stand No. F28.

  3478 Hits
3478 Hits
MAY
04
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STRAUMANN JUGGERNAUT LAUNCHES NATIONAL UK DIGITAL TOUR

STRAUMANN JUGGERNAUT LAUNCHES NATIONAL UK DIGITAL TOUR

 

Straumann UK invites you to rock out this summer at one of the most instrumental roadshows UK dentistry has ever seen. They will have you jamming to the tune of digital success as they unveil a number of exciting developments to their digital solutions portfolio.

For 10 days in July the ‘Straumann Juggernaut’ will play host to the Digital Performance ‘rock n roll’ themed tour, taking to the road and visiting seven locations across the UK. The highly-anticipated rock fest will showcase to clinicians, tech-nicians and CDTs the potential to amplify their career with the NEW synchronised digital workflow from Straumann® CARES® Digital Solutions.

This epic roadshow, is a result of Straumann’s commitment to ensure clinicians, technicians and CDT have everything they need for every step of the treatment pathway. Audiences can expect to see exclusive performances from headlines acts such as Case Planning & Guided Surgery, Digital Impressions, Lab Scanners, In-Lab & Centralised Milling, 3D Printing and Scan & Shape.

ROCK OUT TO DIGITAL…

The new and exciting Straumann® CARES® Digital Solutions offers the complete digital workflow to help achieve pre-cision and efficiency, together with the peace of mind of Straumann’s quality, reliability and service. Combining inter-connected software platforms, open and fully validated workflows alongside a wide variety of materials to offer - Strau-mann® CARES® Digital Solutions is a true benchmark in digital dentistry.

•       CASE PLANNING & GUIDED SURGERY - The workflow between coDiagnostiX™ and Straumann® CARES® Visual is completely seamless with DWOS Synergy™. Transfer coDiagnostiX™ implant planning to CARES® Visual and receive the restorative plan from the lab technician. Provides complete data visualisation to achieve real-time surgical and restorative case planning.

•       INTRA-ORAL SCANNING - Designed for high performance, ease of use and optimal patient comfort, the extremely compact Straumann® CARES® IO Scanner and Straumann® CARES® IO Portable Scanner allows clinicians to quickly and easily create digital impression data that can be used to design and produce effective prosthodontic solutions. 3Shape TRIOS® Wireless Intraoral Scanners enhances patient experience, reduces chair-time and unlocks the widest range of treatment opportunities. Backed by continuous software updates, upgradable hardware and add-on treat-ment modules, the 3Shape TRIOS® 3 range of intraoral scanners offers accurate, ultra-fast, powder-free scanning.

•       LAB SCANNERS - Straumann® CARES® 3Series and 7Series Desktop Scanners effectively combine proven and estab-lished scanning process with the latest computer technology in an elegant, functional design, to accurately scan models and impressions. The scanners combine proven laser triangulation technology with three or five axes of free-dom and are embedded with a powerful PC and several DWOS applications.

•       IN-HOUSE MILLING & 3D PRINTING - Straumann offers the capability of milling custom dental prosthetics in-house via the flexible Straumann® CARES® Series Milling Units (C, D & M Series). Additionally, the Straumann® CARES® P Series 3D Printer sets a new standard in 3D printing for labs, offering speed and reliability specially tailored to satisfy the highest demands in both the practice and laboratory.

•       OUTSOURCED PRODUCTION – The Straumann® CARES® Centralised Milling facility operates as an extension of the modern laboratory, with state-of-the art equipment and validated workflows. There is a comprehensive range of products to choose from, including one-step restorations, customised abutments, screw-retained bridges and bars, copings, bridge frameworks as well as full contour crowns and bridges. Alongside this, Straumann offer a variety of materials including multiple glass ceramics, zirconia available in numerous shades and translucencies, cobalt chrome, titanium and polymers.

By adding an all-encompassing digital dimension to their portfolio Straumann have added a completely new vibe to their offering – they’re more than a dental implant company, they’re your digital solutions partner.

TOUR DATES

Audiences will be driven wild by the great product deals, insightful presentations and hands-on demonstrations on offer at the Straumann Digital Performance Tour. Plus, with exclusive backstage access to the live music and entertainment on offer, and after parties scheduled at selected locations, the Straumann Digital Performance Tour promises to be a must-attend event for any technician, CDT or clinician looking to enhance their digital offering in 2017 and beyond.

•   10TH – 11TH JULY

LONDON

12TH JULY

EXETER

•   13TH – 14TH JULY

COVENTRY

•   17TH – 18TH JULY

MANCHESTER

19TH JULY

LEEDS

20TH JULY

NEWCASTLE

21ST JULY

EDINBURGH

 

 

Don’t miss the opportunity to see these fantastic innovations at the Straumann Digital Performance Tour. FREE to attend places are limited - to book your place visit straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk, or visit Straumann at TDS / DTS on Stand B10 or call 01293 651230.

 

straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

straumann.co.uk

therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK Twitter: @StraumannUK #digitalperformancetour

  4931 Hits
4931 Hits
MAY
04
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Register now: Nutrition, Oral Health & Performance Symposium

Register now: Nutrition, Oral Health & Performance Symposium

 

Friday 28 July 2017 • Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE

UCL Eastman Dental Institute and partners invite you to join us for a ground breaking, one-day symposium in sport and exercise medicine and oral health. Expert speakers will explore:

·         State-of-the-art developments and future of sport nutrition (Dr Kevin Currell & Prof. Ron Maughan);

·         Sport nutrition and health (Dr Dan Kings);

·         Eating disorders & RED-S in athletes (Dr Anna Katarina Melin)

·         Oral health & sport performance (Prof. Ian Needleman, Dr Paul Ashley & Dr Julie Gallagher).

 

We will discuss how to maximise performance and minimise negative performance impacts. The symposium will be highly relevant to sport and exercise medicine clinicians and scientists, nutritionists, performance directors, dental care professionals and researchers. See the full schedule

Book your place: www.ucl.ac.uk/eastman

The Symposium will be held in collaboration with the NCSEM and ISEH who, together with the Centre for Oral Health and Performance, are collaborating members with the IOC.

  4352 Hits
4352 Hits
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A rose by any other name...

 

Have you ever heard of AuctionWeb, BackRub or Blue Ribbon Sports? These are all fledgling start-ups that, at some point, rebranded so that today you know them as multinational giants eBay, Google and Nike respectively! It may sound extreme, but renaming your business can breathe new life into it.

Defining your brand is a critical first step in any marketing plan and it takes time and thought. Once you’ve done it, you might like to think that you’ll never have to repeat the exercise, but nothing lasts forever. There comes a time in every business’s life when the branding gets stale or outdated. Change might also be desirable due to a change in ownership or focus.

Several high-profile brands have gone through identity adjustments over the years. A less drastic solution than renaming is to merely modify your business name to freshen it up. A recent example is the Huffington Post that, following the departure of its founder, chose to rebrand as the snappier ‘Huffpost’. In other cases, the business name is fine as it is and all that’s needed is a new or reworked logo, as we’ve seen over the years from the likes of Apple and Coca Cola.

As with all change, there is risk, but also the potential for great rewards. The risk is that you’ll alienate some of your loyal client base. In dental practice this would likely mean your older patients who might be more averse to change. The rewards, however, can be plentiful, especially if you’re looking to attract new patients. The decision, therefore, has to take into account what your prime demographic is, based on your location and services, and what kind of change will either reel them in or send them packing.

In short, when you start to feel like your practice image could use a refresh, it’s time to take stock of where you are as a company, how you are seen in the community and where you want to go. The exercise is an excellent opportunity to check the pulse of your practice and make the changes necessary to give it a jumpstart. The first step is to engage a specialist marketing agency to help guide you through the process. If you choose the right one, they’ll give you an honest assessment of what you should keep, and what you should let go of, and then help you do just that.

 

Milkshake Dental Marketing is a leading provider of specialist dental marketing in the UK, so give us a call on 01844 292086, visit our website or connect with us on social media (@MilkshakeDental).

  3548 Hits
3548 Hits
MAY
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Have you considered the IAS Academy?

Have you considered the IAS Academy?

 

“I first heard about the IAS Academy at my local British Dental Association meeting, where Tif Qureshi did a presentation about the ClearSmile Inman Aligner,” says Dr Margaret de Verteuil, an Associate Dentist at Stedham House Dental Surgery in Surbiton.

“I was not only impressed with his enthusiasm and extensive experience offering ethical and safe anterior alignment orthodontic treatment, but with the fact that the guided learning pathway is geared towards GDPs.

“As such, I completed the ClearSmile Inman Aligner certification course in February 2016, the online ClearSmile Aligner course in March 2016, the IAS Ortho Restorative course in September 2016 and I have recently completed the ClearSmile Inman Aligner Advanced course.

“I have found the appliances easy to use, but being able to access guidance through the online support has been invaluable to my progress and I feel much more confident about recommending the treatment to my patients knowing I have help if I need it.

“Since completing the training I am also much more aware of lapsed orthodontic cases and the problems this can cause if left untreated.”

If you are interested in becoming a provider of an IAS Academy appliance, get in touch today.

 

For more information about upcoming training courses, please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0208 916 2024

  4227 Hits
4227 Hits
MAY
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Practices Sales According to Jamal Johnston

Practices Sales According to Jamal Johnston

 

When Jamal Johnston sold his practice, he utilised the services of Dental Elite.

“I am very happy with the outcome of the transaction,” he commented when asked about the process, “and though it took slightly longer than expected, it still only took nine months.

“During the sale my representative was Leah Turner, who was very proactive and worked closely with me throughout the process.”

When asked about the challenges that he faced, he said:

“Without a doubt the most challenging part of the sale was due diligence. Had everything gone smoothly the deal could have been completed far sooner than it did, but because there were a few hiccups, the process was dragged out longer than it needed to be.

“My advice would therefore be to make all the necessary preparations and to start collecting and organising the documentation required for the due diligence aspect of the sale, even before you consider putting it on the market.”

There are a great many facets to selling a dental practice, so to ensure that you’ve got everything covered, make sure you utilise the services of a reputable practice sales and valuations agency like Dental Elite.

 

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

  3410 Hits
3410 Hits
MAY
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Results to build a reputation on

Results to build a reputation on

 

If you want to acquire a reputation for providing the best tooth whitening, then you should be using products from Enlighten.

With a 98 per cent success rate to VITA B1, Enlighten products are the profession’s only option for a guaranteed whiter smile.

Demonstrably safe, Enlighten products utilise materials that have been in use in dentistry for over 100 years – however, if patients do experience any sensitivity, Enlighten also provides desensitising swabs and special Tooth Serum toothpaste to ensure patients are as comfortable as possible throughout the treatment

This attention to detail can make all the difference in your practice. By using Enlighten products, your patients will know that you are providing them with the very best. They know that at the end of their treatment, they will have the smile they have always wanted – and if you have the reputation for being able to provide this kind of service, there will be no end to the benefits!

To offer your patients the very best options possible, offer them Enlighten whitening.

 

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the team on 0207 424 3270

  3586 Hits
3586 Hits
MAY
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Experience the flexibility of ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL

Experience the flexibility of ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL

 

 

Dr Shubham Mittal, a senior partner of Clifton Moor Dental Centre uses the ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL one-component bonding agent from COLTENE and says, “It is a very good all in one bonding system.”

“Whether I need to use the Self-Etch technique, Total-Etch or Selective-Etch, I can rely on ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL to provide effective bonding to a number of materials, including gold, titanium, ceramic, zirconium oxide and composite. For me, having that level of freedom and flexibility has been invaluable to my restorative work.

“If, for instance, I needed to treat a hypersensitive tooth, I know that I could apply the bond with the Self-Etch technique and it would work like a dream with no sensitivity whatsoever.

“With the same product, I could also get a good bond on a non-vital tooth using Total-Etch – there really is no limit as to how the ONE COAT 7 UNIVERSAL can be used.

“As such, I would definitely recommend to other practitioners, especially those that are already using other COLTENE products.”

For more information contact COLTENE – one of the UK’s leading providers of quality restorative products.   

 

To find out more visit www.coltene.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01444 235486

  3373 Hits
3373 Hits
MAY
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The A(-dec) TEAM

The A(-dec) TEAM

 

A-dec UK understands that in order to provide its clients with the best possible service, they need to have a strong, dedicated team that fully understands the dental sector and the products professionals need to practise exemplary dentistry.

With many years’ combined experience, the A-dec UK sales team meets all of these needs. Including Nick Olive (Territory Manager for South West England & South Wales), John Timson (Territory Manager for Central & Northern England), Justin Hind (Territory Manager for London and the South East) and Christopher Cox (Sales & Marketing Manager), the team strives to provide a service to the country’s dentists and dealers that is second-to-none.

Each member of the team has spent time at the A-dec head office in Newberg, Oregon USA, undertaking in-depth training for all A-dec products, ensuring they are fully up-to-date with the complete range of A-dec equipment that dental professionals in the UK favour. This technical training allows the sales team to discuss the ergonomic benefits of the A-dec range and how this can be best utilised in-practice to benefit both the dentist and the patient on a daily basis, as well as how to best maintain all equipment for optimum use and longevity.

Indeed, A-dec’s renowned product range of dental chairs, stools and other equipment solutions has been precisely designed to offer high standards of functionality and reliability, and there is no one more qualified to talk to dental professionals about the benefits of the wide range of A-dec products than the sales team.

Alongside this, their extensive experience in the dental sector allows the A-dec UK sales team to offer detailed ergonomic assessments to dentists, including advice about organising their workspaces and simplifying work-motion economy in order to boost productivity in surgery and improve workplace efficacy.

What’s more, the team has worked hard to develop a strong relationship with the UK’s most trusted dealers, and they work closely with some of the country’s best dental companies to provide a complete service that allows dentists to equip themselves with the products they need to practise the way they want.

But what really makes the A-dec UK team stand out from the competition, is their dedication to the dental profession and the pride they take in their work. A-dec has a long history of working closely with dentists to develop better solutions and encourage better dentistry, and the UK sales team epitomises this in their approach.

If you want to talk to the A-dec UK sales team directly, you can contact them here:

 

Nick Olive: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

John Timson: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Justin Hind: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Christopher Cox: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

They look forward to helping you.

 

For more information about A-dec Dental UK Ltd, visit

www.a-dec.co.uk or call on 0800 2332 85

  3905 Hits
3905 Hits
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Technology you can trust

Technology you can trust

 

 

“The developments of the NobelClinician™ system for diagnostics and treatment planning have been absolutely superb throughout the last decade, particularly with regards to the smart fusion techniques,” says Dr Sharif Khan from Rockingham House Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry in West Yorkshire. “I have also been impressed by the rapid treatment protocols that can be used to minimise treatment times, as this is something modern patients are concerned about.”

 

With its Smart Fusion technology, NobelClinician™ combines 3D imagery of anatomical structures with soft tissue information from optical scans for superior visualisation, diagnostics and treatment planning.

 

Like all solutions from Nobel Biocare, the NobelClinician™ software is supported by a wealth of clinical studies.

 

For example, it is possible to accurately assess the available bone volume and this has been found to enhance predictability of treatment.

 

The bone volume can also be properly optimised by matching the implant design and drilling sequence to the bone quality for increased primary stability.

 

What’s more, virtual planning and communication with NobelClinician™ has been linked with higher treatment acceptance and better patient satisfaction with care and treatment outcomes.

 

So to make the most of technologies you can trust to improve your diagnostics, treatment planning and treatment outcomes, contact Nobel Biocare today.

 

 

For more information, contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300, or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

 

 

[1] Pozzi A, Sannino G, Barlattani A. Minimally invasive treatment of the atrophic posterior maxilla: a proof-of-concept prospective study with a follow-up of between 36 and 54 months. J Prosthet Dent 2012;108(5):286-97. 


[1] Scotti R, Pellegrino G, Marchetti C, Corinaldesi G, Ciocca L. Diagnostic value of NobelGuide to minimize the need for reconstructive surgery of jaws before implant placement: a review. Quintessence Int 2010;41(10):809-14.

[1] Katsoulis J, Enkling N, Takeichi T, Urban IA, Mericske-Stern R, Avrampou M. Relative bone width of the edentulous maxillary ridge. Clinical implications of digital assessment in presurgical implant planning. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2012;14(Suppl 1):e213-23.

[1] Katsoulis J, Pazera P, Mericske-Stern R. Prosthetically Driven, Computer-Guided Implant Planning for the Edentulous Maxilla: A Model Study. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res 2009;11(3):238-245.

[1] Schnitman PA, Hayashi C, Han RK. Why guided when freehand is easier, quicker, and less costly? J Oral Implantol. 2014;40(6):670-8. 


[1] Imburgia M. Patient and team communication in the iPad era - a practical appraisal. Int J Esthet Dent 2014;9(1):26-39.

[1] Imburgia M, Coachman C. Using digital devices to improve communications between clinicians and patients during implantprosthetic treatment: a clinical study [#519]. 23rd Annual Scienti c Meeting of the European Association for Osseointegration. Rome, Italy: Wiley; 2014. p. 538. 

  4550 Hits
4550 Hits
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Go Accountancy Elite For A Premium Service

Go Accountancy Elite For A Premium Service

 

Renowned for its unique approach to recruitment, Accountancy Elite (a branch of specialist agency Dental Elite) is one of the leading recruiters for accountancy and finance in the Midlands area.

 

“I’ve used a few agencies throughout my career, but the service that I received from Accountancy Elite was by far the best I’ve ever had,” says Zuzana Juhasova, a client that was recently placed into a senior payroll administrator position.

 

“From start to finish, my representative (Matt Sweeney) was very helpful, approachable, contactable and accommodating – it really was a five star service.

 

“Plus, he kept me up to date every step of the way during the interview process, and even helped to negotiate my contract once I had been offered the job.

 

“I would definitely recommend Accountancy Elite to others.”

 

Are you looking for a role in accountancy or finance? Then get in touch with the team today.

 

For more information please call 01788 422186, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.accountancyelite.co.uk

  3131 Hits
3131 Hits
APR
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Become excellent

Become excellent

 

 

Enlighten, the only whitening service that can truly guarantee a whiter smile, is going one step further to improve the standard of UK tooth whitening.

 

With it’s exciting new Regional Centres of Excellence scheme, Enlighten is giving aspiring UK practices the chance to become the go-to tooth whitening expert in your area. By offering access to Enlighten’s own extensive network of contacts and marketers, member practices will be put on the map – and enjoy increased numbers of patients as a result.

 

What’s more, the Enlighten team will be on hand to provide exclusive in-practice training to ensure that your staff knows exactly what is involved in the tooth whitening process. As such, your team will become one of the most useful sources of promotion, able to answer any of your patients’ queries with ease.

 

The Enlighten team will also offer expert marketing assistance, to ensure that your practice becomes known for excellent service and guaranteed results.

 

Membership to this business-changing initiative is limited, depending on regional interest and uptake, so ensure you contact the Enlighten team as soon as possible to register your interest and take the first steps towards becoming a Regional Centre of Excellence.

 

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the team on 0207 424 3270

  3153 Hits
3153 Hits
APR
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CEREC® - Digital, flexible and now, OPEN!

 

For over 30 years CEREC® from Dentsply Sirona has provided a comprehensive and proven digital system for delivering restorations in a single visit. Now its applications are expanding and guided placement, restoration of implants and a variety of orthodontic solutions are also covered by this versatile system.

Offering clinicians even greater flexibility, the CEREC system has been opened up for the export of scan data in STL format. This creates new possibilities for clinicians by enabling data from CEREC digital impressions to be used in software products from other manufacturers, and allows them to send CEREC scans to a laboratory of their choice regardless of the software being used. Scan data can also be loaded into implant planning software from other manufacturers, providing clinicians with support in the preparation of implant procedures.

 

To find out more please contact Dentsply Sirona on 0800 072 3313 or visit www.dentsply.com/en-uk

 

 

 

 

  6425 Hits
6425 Hits
APR
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A Thoroughly Enjoyable and Worth While Course

A Thoroughly Enjoyable and Worth While Course

 

 

 

Jaswinder Gill, Principal of Moonlight Dental Surgery, has been offering anterior alignment orthodontics since 2012. He enrolled on the 12-month IAS Advanced training course in 2015 and says:

 

“I was looking to take my skills to the next level so I could provide comprehensive orthodontics to adults and children who have been refused by the NHS. There are very few courses out there that offer this for GDPs, but the IAS Advanced came highly recommended.

 

“I had no idea what to expect, but training covered everything I wanted it to and more. I particularly liked that I could start comprehensive cases from day one, being mentored by Ross Hobson, a Specialist Orthodontist.

 

“The course was excellent – there is no other word for it. Ross is a brilliant teacher and mentor.

 

“I have absolutely gained confidence in my skills and I am now doing cases that I would have definitely referred this time last year.

 

“If you want to progress your orthodontic career as a GDP, then this is the course to do. It entails a lot of hard work and is not a walk in the park, but if orthodontics is your thing then it is thoroughly enjoyable and worth while.”

 

 

For more information on upcoming IAS Academy training courses, including the IAS Advanced,

please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0208 916 2024.

  3559 Hits
3559 Hits
MAR
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Johnson & Johnson at the BDA conference

 

 

In support of soft tissue management

Johnson & Johnson, the makers of LISTERINE®, are delighted to present Professor Nicola West speaking on the topic of soft tissue management at this year’s BDA conference.

Professor West, Head of Periodontology, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Bristol, will cover topics including managing the soft tissue health of your patients now, securing their future health, and delivering this within the constraints and demands of running a successful dental practice.

Delegates may attend Professor West’s presentation on Thursday 25th May at 14.15-15.15 or Friday 26th May at 11.45-12.45.

Johnson & Johnson are the makers of LISTERINE®, which has variants that are suitable for daily use as an adjunct to mechanical cleaning to help deliver an optimised daily prevention regimen. In addition the LISTERINE® Advanced Defence range is available to help dental professionals deliver advanced treatment outcomes for patients.

For further information, please visit stand C13 to speak to a member of the LISTERINE® Professional team.

  2734 Hits
2734 Hits
MAR
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Teeth Team Wins Inaugural BSPD Outstanding Innovation Award

Teeth Team Wins Inaugural BSPD Outstanding Innovation Award

 

 

 

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is delighted to announce that Teeth Team has been awarded the first ever Outstanding Innovation Award from the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD). “On behalf of the Association, I would like to congratulate Teeth Team on winning such a prestigious accolade – it is richly deserved,” comments David Worskett, Chair of the ADG.

Teeth Team provides a supervised daily tooth brushing programme, annual dental assessments and bi-annual applications of fluoride varnish to a number of nursery and primary schools. Originally delivering its programme within the City of Hull and East Riding areas, Teeth Team has expanded into North Yorkshire, Nottingham North, South Humberside and parts of Lincolnshire, with plans to expand further with the help of its excellent support network and various partners.

“As ever, our aim is to continue to set up and provide oral health care to as many children in disadvantaged regions as we can,” says Chris Groombridge (pictured below), Teeth Team’s Chair of Trustees. “I’m hoping that in obtaining this award, of which we are thrilled to have won, we will be able to extend our reach further still and make a difference to even more young lives.”

 

Described as an ‘excellent project’ and ‘clear winner’ by the BSPD Executive judging team, Teeth Team is a fine example of what can be achieved when a proactive and practical approach is taken on ground level. “In the case of children’s oral health, it is absolutely essential to go straight to the source,” Chris continues, “For it is action that will have an impact on children, not words.”

In recognition of its achievement, Teeth Team has been invited to make a presentation about its exceptional work at the upcoming Annual Conference and Scientific Meeting in September. “It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be given the opportunity to speak at such a prestigious event,” says Chris. “We love nothing more than to spread the word about what the charity delivers – we would shout it from the rooftops if we could – so it will be a great experience for everyone involved in Teeth Team.”

On the presentation David Worskett adds: “We look forward to Teeth Team’s presentation at BSPD’s 2017 conference, and wish the charity all the best with their work moving forward.”

 

For more information about the ADG visit www.dentalgroups.co.uk

  3673 Hits
3673 Hits
MAR
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How a 1989 Film Put Your Marketing at Risk

How a 1989 Film Put Your Marketing at Risk

 

 

The film was ‘Field of Dreams’ and, in it, an American corn farmer hears a voice telling him, “If you build it, he will come.” You may not have seen, or remember, the film, but the quote has morphed into popular culture, albeit in a changed form. “If you build it, they will come’ became a global catch phrase that is still repeated, even when it patently does not apply.

It may have worked a treat to entice the ghosts of deceased baseball stars to a cornfield in the film, but when it comes to growing your business it’s utter rubbish. And dangerous rubbish at that. You know you need a great website as the cornerstone of your marketing, but if you expect to ‘build it and they will come’, you’ll be left sitting staring at the phones, wondering why they’re not ringing.

Sure, in the early days of the internet, this approach would have worked, because there simply weren’t that many websites online. As things progressed, search engine optimisation (SEO) developed to help users find your website, and designers performed a cursory SEO sweep on sites prior to launch. However today, with over 1 billion websites on the web, even this isn’t good enough to get you found.

Today, good web designers incorporate SEO best practices into their designs from the start, giving you the best of function without sacrificing form. This should, at a minimum, include ensuring your site is fully-responsive and your content is optimised. But to help you truly stand out from the crowd, your marketing team should also be performing regular search engine elevation (SEE). This is an ongoing process of strategically refreshing your content to focus on keywords that highlight your chosen campaigns. Search engines love it, which means they’ll lift your site to the top of the search results.

Milkshake Dental Marketing is the only agency in the world to offer SEE, so put us to work for you by giving us a call on 01844 292086, visiting our website or connecting with us on social media (@MilkshakeDental).

We’ll ‘build it to make sure they come’!

  3846 Hits
3846 Hits
MAR
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It’s not the scan, it’s the plan

It’s not the scan, it’s the plan


Balraj Sekhon discusses the benefits of guided surgery to deliver predictable treatment outcomes

Although implant dentistry has evolved into one of the most predictable treatment alternatives for patients who are missing teeth, we are still striving to improve our surgical and restorative techniques. The foundation for all procedures should be a proper diagnosis to determine the appropriate treatment options.

To help take the guesswork out of the diagnostic phase the use of 3D imaging (CBCT) with interactive treatment planning software, such as coDiagnostiX™, aids the planning of implant placement, the design of surgical drill guides and the ultimate restoration. I have found that by incorporating a digital implant planning system and working closely with a lab who offer CAD/CAM production, I benefit from well-designed surgical drill guides and high-quality implant-borne restorations. This in turn, reduces complications and enhances the communication within the interdisciplinary team.

The use of CBCT and coDiagnostiX™ has greatly impacted my ability to diagnose in all dimensions, allowing a full appreciation of individual, patient-specific anatomy and a clear understanding of the existing quantity and quality of bone, trajectory of the alveolus, and location of vital structures. It also serves as a powerful communication tool for patients, colleagues, and with my lab of choice.

Digital workflow for implants
The ideal for me is to achieve prosthetically driven implant reconstruction. To achieve this, I need a complete understanding of the relationship between the tooth and the underlying bone. In addition, proper diagnosis may require working closely with a lab to create ‘virtual’ diagnostic wax-ups of the surgical guide and the proposed final restoration, allowing adjustments to be made to achieve the best possible outcome. Therefore, “it’s not the scan, it’s the plan” that becomes my driving force.

The coDiagnostiX™ system offers many options for diagnosis, consultation and seamless workflow integration. Virtual implants of known length and diameter can be simulated within the receptor site, establishing the proper trajectory of the implant within the cross-sectional image and in relation to the desired restorative option (i.e. screw- or cement-retained). Using advanced software features and the process of segmentation, the existing tooth root can be virtually extracted and the proposed implant with an abutment projection can then be positioned to emerge through the desired restorative result.

 

Balraj Sekhon - BDS (Manc), MJDF RCS (Lond), PGCert (UCLan), MSc Dental Implantology (Distinction)
Balraj graduated from the University of Manchester in 2003 and has since worked throughout Manchester providing the highest quality dental care. He is one of the principal dentists at Circle Dental. Balraj’s ethos is to treat every patient with the utmost care and provide the best evidence-based dentistry.

Since qualification he has been spent many hours learning from the best dentists in the country in the fields of restorative and implant dentistry. He has acquired the Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties from the Royal College of Surgeons and a Masters Degree in Dental Implantology with Distinction from the University of Central Lancashire. Balraj is also a published author in the Journal of Operative Dentistry.

Balraj has studied dental implantology to the highest possible standard and currently works with a Yorkshire-based surgical team with Specialist surgeon, Dr Robert Dyas. He has a growing referral network of practices and has also managed problems encountered by other dentists. He has a keen interest in teaching and this has been recognised by his appointment as Educational Supervisor by the Northwest NHS Deanery.

For more information on case planning and guided surgery, contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit one of our sites:


straumann.co.uk
straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk
therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK
Twitter: @StraumannUK

  4608 Hits
4608 Hits
MAR
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Exciting times for Patient Plan Direct

Exciting times for Patient Plan Direct
 
 
Patient payment plan provider, Patient Plan Direct (PPD), is very pleased to introduce Dave Grant and Marie Agnew who have joined the company's client administration support team. This reflects the strong start PPD has had to 2017, particularly dealing with an influx of dental practices transferring from other plan providers. Dave and Marie will join the rest of the team who are always on hand to provide a high level of consistent support to the practice clients. 
 
Simon Reynolds, commercial director of PPD commented, “As well as welcoming new members of staff to boost the team and ensure customers are well supported, PPD's expansion will also include moving offices to bigger premises in April. This will allow us to further develop our team, business and service.”
 
PPD already enjoyed success at FMC's Dental Industry Awards at the end of last year, scooping the coveted award of Outstanding Business of The Year (under 25 employees), and are clearly carrying on this momentum well into 2017 and beyond.
 
Patient Plan Direct offers a low cost, simple, flexible and practice-branded solution to running patient payment plans, with a focus on delivering first-class support and expert advice to ensure a practice reaches its plan objectives. For more information please visit www.patientplandirect.com, email info@ patientplandirect.com, or call 0844 848 6888.
 
  3434 Hits
3434 Hits
MAR
22
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Medic Footprints - Alternative Careers and Wellbeing for Doctors.

Medic Footprints - Alternative Careers and Wellbeing for Doctors.

 

I’m Abeyna Jones -  the Co-Founder of Medic Footprints. (pictured above)

With a background of drastic career changes moving to South Africa (& back), switching from surgery to Occupational Medicine, and also working out how to manage my own various health problems along the way - I realised that my journey was not so unique, yet the topics were still relatively taboo amongst our profession.

Hence, having created Medic Footprints in 2014, I’m proud to say we’ve grown to a community of >10k.

We are now looking to expand further with the aim to support all medical professionals needing independent support networks focusing on career change and wellbeing.

Who Are We?

Medic Footprints seeks to provide medical professionals with the tools and resources to explore alternative careers in a supportive wellness environment.

We are a social enterprise for doctors, by doctors.

Are we encouraging doctors to leave medicine or dentistry? We’re not. But, we are encouraging doctors to explore their career options beyond the conventional confines of a hospital or clinic.

We help with providing ideas of what options there are out there for doctors and what sort of plan should be made, remembering that a doctor’s career doesn’t have to be in medicine.

What We Do.

Our mission statement is as follows:

  • Raise the visibility of the wealth of careers available to doctors, beyond traditional medicine,

  • Promote bespoke wellbeing initiatives for doctors

  • Support doctors in achieving their true career potentials by developing invaluable skills beyond their clinical practice, essential for great medical leaders in any domain.

 

We organise and promote events in medicine, entrepreneurship and business and encourage doctors to reach out. A growing number of medical professionals are burnt out and exhausted from their stressful and tiring jobs - we are here to support exactly those people and build strong, meaningful networks of like-minded doctors.

Doctors tend to possess strong transferable skillsets, a passion for helping people and business minds, and we encourage these to be developed, explored and nurtured.

How you can get involved in our community?

Visit our website - medicfootprints.org - a huge free resource of information regarding career change for medical professionals

Join our free membership for updates on events, and activities. Our next event is a workshop about  Succeeding as a Medic in Business on 22nd April 2017 at the London Business School.

Write for us - we welcome contributions of all kinds in the world of alternative careers and wellbeing

Save the date for 27/8 Oct 2017 - our third annual extravaganza of alternative careers. Not your average conference!

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6837 Hits
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Making the switch with Patient Plan Direct

Making the switch with Patient Plan Direct

 

 

Leianna Minty from Dental Inspirations discusses her experience of changing plan provider from Denplan to Patient Plan Direct

 

I joined the reception team at Dental Inspirations in 2011 when the decision had just been made to switch plan provider in order to cut administration fees and make operational cost savings. As such, one of my first tasks was to handle this transition. Whilst I had some knowledge of our dental plan, I had no experience of carrying out a move from one provider to another, but I have to say that Patient Plan Direct made the process very simple indeed.

Handling the move

We were given clear, concise and to the point training on what to say to patients and how to explain the move, which made us all feel confident in what we were doing and made the switch seamless. This left us with no uncertainty or any windows of mystery, meaning that the task was pretty simple really.

Of course, switching plan providers involved some effort from our side, but we have a good team in our practice so it was more than manageable. If you are concerned that there will be a lot of work involved in switching plan provider, my advice is not to worry. We simply sent out letters to patients explaining the move and the long term benefit to them as well as the practice and they signed new direct debit mandates under our new practice-branded plan at their next appointments. This is a process Patient Plan Direct now fully manages on behalf of practices, making the process even easier than when we made the move six years ago. There are a range of options of how Patient Plan Direct can manage the transition to best suit your practice and patient relationships.

The team at Patient Plan Direct offer so much support and it really helps that I deal with the same people every time I have an enquiry. The client support team explain things very well and as a practice we've built up a relationship with them, as well as our dedicated business development manager – Carole. The Patient Plan Direct team feel like an extended part of the Dental Inspirations team.

When new team members join our practice there are no problems at all getting them up to speed with our dental plans and the Patient Plan Direct system because its so simple, but if they have any questions it's just a case of phoning Patient Plan Direct who take the time to explain everything or come in practice to deliver training.

Whilst any issues or queries are few and far between, as soon as anything is flagged, Patient Plan Direct resolve things very quickly. In fact, in my role I have to deal with a lot of different companies and suppliers and I have to say that Patient Plan Direct cause me the least stress out of all of them, they are a pleasure to work with.

Benefits for everyone

For us, alongside huge cost savings versus the administration fees we were charged by our previous plan provider, another big benefit of the move is the fact that we now handle patient enquiries in our own practice, rather than them having to contact a third party. This means we can offer a much more personal service that our patients really appreciate, while we also have more control over the way things are handled and subsequently monitored. Plus, Patient Plan Direct’s service seems to continually improve. For example they have enhanced their supplementary Worldwide Dental A&E cover for patients twice in the past couple of years, benefiting our existing plan patients and making our plans even more attractive for any patients not already on plan.

As a practice, the benefits of switching plan provider were very clear; in the long-term we would be able to offer our patients a lower cost, more affordable, practice-branded plan without running at a loss ourselves thanks to a lower admin fee that we incur as a practice. We're simply offering an almost identical product without having to pay for the big name brand.

What we've found six years on since the move is that the plans we now offer for any new patients sell themselves because the price point is so good, patients ask us about our plans and all we need to do is sign them up. I didn't want my reception team to feel like they were in a sales role, that's not what we're about at Dental Inspirations, and I really like that our staff don't feel pressurised to sell.

Leianna's advice

If you're unhappy with your existing plan provider, or you’re looking for ways to save money for the practice and your patients, I would 100% recommend Patient Plan Direct due to the high level of support they provide and the tailored plans they create to suit your practice. Switching over really isn't as scary as it might initially seem, my advice is to overcome that fear! At Dental Inspirations we have no regrets. Patient retention during the transition from our previous plan provider was very high and we are constantly adding new patients to our plans all the time.

 

Leianna Minty is the practice manager at Dental Inspirations in Aberdeen, providing the highest quality dentistry in a caring, relaxed and professional environment.

 

Patient Plan Direct offers a low cost, simple, flexible and practice-branded solution to running patient payment plans, with a focus on delivering first-class support and expert advice to ensure you reach your plan objectives. For more information please visit www.patientplandirect.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 0844 848 6888.

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Simplyhealth invests £137k in Teeth Team

Simplyhealth invests £137k in Teeth Team

 

 

Simplyhealth is delighted to announce today that it is investing £137k into Teeth Team, a nationally-recognised, award-winning child oral health improvement programme.

Teeth Team, which was set up in 2010 in Hull, works to improve the oral health of children in socially deprived communities. The investment from Simplyhealth will enable Teeth Team to continue its work and roll out its programme to an additional 50 schools in 2017. In addition, Simplyhealth Professionals and its member dentists will be proactively involved in delivering the programme as it expands.

With charitable giving at the heart of the healthcare organisation, Simplyhealth is passionate about supporting charities and organisations that are focused on making a difference to the everyday health of people.

In the last two years, Teeth Team has recorded a reduction of 19.8% in local children experiencing dental extractions under general anaesthetic. The oral health survey for five-year-old children 2014-15 in Hull, carried out by Public Health England Survey (DPH), recorded an improvement from 43.4% to 37.8%.

Chris Groombridge, Chair of Trustees for Teeth Team, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this momentous support and investment from Simplyhealth to our charity. To be working in partnership on this level means that moving forward we can expand the programme into scores of new schools in other areas of need and continue to make a real different in child oral health.

“What is important about this partnership is that it’s not just financial – it is a commitment to the charity on other levels and grows our network of support as we push to take this essential programme national.”

 

 

Last month Teeth Team won the Outstanding Innovation Award 2017 from the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD). The programme was described as “excellent” and a “clear winner” by the BSPD Executive judges and as the prize the charity will present to the Annual Conference and Scientific meeting to be held in Manchester in September.

Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “We are incredibly excited about being involved with Teeth Team. Simplyhealth Professionals is ideally placed to provide practical, proactive support through our member dentists, some of whom will have the opportunity to visit these schools and help children understand the importance of preventive oral health care through the Teeth Team programme.”

Simplyhealth has pledged to donate 10% of pre-tax profits to health-related charitable causes in 2017. Roger Cotton, Head of Charitable Giving at Simplyhealth, said: “This programme presents a great opportunity to provide hard evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of the ‘prevention’ approach to better oral health amongst the five- to nine-year-old age group. In the longer-term, we also hope that the accumulating evidence as the project expands can be used to lobby government and encourage it to divert a percentage of the savings realised by Teeth Team for the NHS to help fund further expansion of the project to other areas and schools.”

 

For more information about Teeth Team, please contact:

Emma Ideson, Teeth Team Press Officer

T: 07976 512340 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. W: www.teethteam.org.uk

 

Teeth Team, 543-549 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 6HP

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Looking To The Future

Looking To The Future

    

 

Dental Showcase Is Back……And Is Bigger Than Ever!

 

Technology is constantly evolving and chances are it will have been a few years since you invested in new equipment for the practice.  Your existing tools might be working just fine, and may not ever become obsolete, but aren’t you just a teeny weeny bit intrigued to find out just what’s out there and how it might assist you in your day-to-day work?  At this year’s Dental Showcase you really will gain an insight into the latest innovation in the industry.

 

Could New ‘Gear’ Move Your Practice ‘Up A Gear’?

 

To use a common analogy, if you’ve looked after your iPhone 4 it will still be perfectly functional and you may be perfectly happy with it, but what if you had an iPhone 7 in your hand and could see the advanced camera, hear the improved audio, feel the streamlined shape and learn about the better battery life not to mention the fact that it was water resistant!  Well, at Dental Showcase you have the opportunity to see, hear, feel and learn about all that’s new in dentistry.  Moreover, as everything is under one roof you can comfortably do it all in a day, and earn yourself some valuable CPD in the process.

 

Tomorrow’s World

New to this year’s Dental Showcase will be the Dental Surgery of The Future.  Purpose built for the show it will include a reception area, built to the highest specification, a patient information zone and a fully functioning surgery, equipped with only the very latest technology.  The futuristic surgery will have seating, so that delegates can relax during keynote speeches and demonstrations.  As well as learning about what’s new in the industry, you will also be able to listen to talks on topics such as handling medical emergencies, 3D printing, business management matters and IRMER guidelines.  Delegates will, of course, have the opportunity to play with all the new gadgets and gizmos in the surgery!

Education….The Passport To The Future

Once you’ve done a little ‘window shopping’ or maybe even bagged yourself an exclusive Showcase bargain, you might like to spend some time freshening up your CPD.  The latest clinical content, delivered by the biggest names in the academic community, will be presented at the Dental Update Theatre.  The programme, which will be chaired by the charismatic but also very pragmatic Professor Trevor Burke, will give you an unrivalled insight into the latest research.  The scope of the programme will be wide, but common to all presentations will be the need to provide you with education, which you will be able to apply within your practice.  Dental Update firmly believes that their lectures should focus on matters that impact the day-to-day lives of practices up and down the country.  Priority entry will be given to Dental Update subscribers.

Further Information can be found on - www.dentalshowcase.com

 

 

Dental Showcase

-          Dates – 19-21 October 2017

-          Venue – Birmingham NEC

-          Exclusively Featuring:

o   The Surgery of the Future

o   Dental Update Theatre

 

 

 

 

For more information on this release please contact:

Michelle Hurd, AB Communications, Tel: (020) 8399 6730, E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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The X-ray Experience for Patients with Dementia - Pete Higson

The X-ray Experience for Patients with Dementia  - Pete Higson

As the prevalence of dementia in the UK increases, and researchers struggle to find concrete evidence for the possible causes of the disease, controversial studies have emerged hypothesising that dental X-rays could be the source of the infamous disorder. With no evidence to support this claim, however, and no indication that research can actually be conducted to prove such a theory, it would, perhaps, be more pertinent for professionals to reverse their concerns and focus instead on the effects diagnostic imaging can have on people currently living with dementia.

Presently, there is next to no research on how the experience of undergoing an X-ray can affect dementia patients both emotionally and psychologically, apart from one study funded by the Clinical Research Fellowship titled “Exploring the experiences of diagnostic imaging for people with dementia”, which has not yet published its findings.[i] The project hopes to improve understanding through interviews with patients and their carers as well as develop recommendations for practice change.

As it stands, there are advice pathways in place to steer professionals in the right direction – including Nice guidelines (CG42)[ii] and recommendations from the Society of Radiographers –[iii] with some consideration placed on support and intervention methods. However, it is also important to examine ways in which distress, confusion and discomfort can be minimised within the dental practice.  

To do so, it is necessary to consider how the patient might feel before, during and after the process. Before the X-ray is taken, for instance, the patient is required to remove all jewellery, dentures, eyewear and any other metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the images, which can be an ordeal in itself for someone living with dementia. Indeed, depending on the level of their understanding, they might not be able to comprehend why you are removing their wedding ring, or why they aren’t allowed to have their glasses, without which, they cannot see.

That’s not to mention the confusion the patient might feel when the machine is positioned close to the body. Plus, if the equipment is big, bulky or intimidating in appearance, there is a possibility that the experience could induce anxiety or fear.

Emotional and psychological distress could occur during the process too, especially if the patient is unable to keep still and the images need to be retaken. Not only could this induce further feelings of anxiety in a situation that is already stressful for the patient, but it also puts the patient at risk of increased radiation exposure.

It is important to take into consideration the waiting time that is required after the examination is complete to check if all the necessary images have been obtained. If the equipment does not enable the user to view the images immediately, there is a chance that the patient could become impatient or agitated, which could lead to challenging behaviour. 

To minimise such risks and create an experience that is as positive and comfortable as possible, there are several measures that could be implemented within the dental practice. One potential strategy could be to alter protocol and develop a specialist system specifically for patients with dementia – a service that is already being developed within innovative hospitals and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Mid Essex CCG, for instance, funds a service affiliated with the national charity Carers Trust, which has developed a pathway that enables patients with dementia who require an X-ray to have direct access to radiology services.[iv] If practices were to implement a similar protocol and allow patients to bypass the waiting room, it could help the patient to feel more relaxed and minimise the likelihood of agitation and distress from occurring.

A clinician’s understanding and attitude towards the disease could also affect patients’ overall X-ray experience. Indeed, one study found that the approach of participating radiographers towards people with dementia was largely of a negative nature, especially from staff with fewer than 10 years’ work experience.[v] With better training, and an increased awareness of the affects of dementia, clinicians could help minimise agitation and behavioural symptoms during the X-ray process.[vi]

Lastly, the machine itself can have a huge impact on the outcome of the appointment and the patient’s experience. By using an X-ray unit such as the RXDC Hypersphere+ from RPA Dental, that provides a larger source-to-skin distance, generates consistently sharp images and reduces the irradiated surface area – and therefore exposure – practices could improve negative elements of the experience.

While it is clear that evidence is needed to discover more on how an X-ray could affect patients with dementia both emotionally and psychologically, there are practical solutions that practices can implement that could help make a difference. Nobody can know for sure what the cause of dementia is, nor can they reverse its effects, but it’s not too late to change the way patients live with it.

 

For more information, contact RPA Dental on 08000 933 975 or visit the website www.dental-equipment.co.uk

 

 



[i] Alzheimer’s Society: Research. Exploring the experiences of diagnostic imaging for people with dementia. Accessed online May 2016 at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=2510

[ii] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Nice Guidelines. Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. Accessed online May 2016 at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg42/chapter/1-guidance

[iii] Society of Radiographers. Caring for People with Dementia: a clinical practice guideline for the radiography workforce (imaging and radiography). Published 2015. Accessed online May 2016 at file:///Users/officeone/Downloads/society_of_radiographers_-_-_.pdf

[iv] Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust. Dementia Action Alliance 2013 Update. Accessed online May 2016 at http://www.meht.nhs.uk/EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?alId=4146

[v] Kada S. Radiographers’ attitudes towards persons with dementia. European Journal of Radiography. 2009; 1 (4): 163-168. Accessed online May 2016 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756117510000236

[vi] Magai C, Cohen CI, Gomberg D. Impact of Training Dementia Caregivers in Sensitivity to Nonverbal Emotional Signals. International Psychogeriatrics. 2002; 14 (1): 25-38. Accessed online May 2016 at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=273702&fileId=S1041610202008256

 

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What the Spring Budget could mean to you

What the Spring Budget could mean to you

 

**** This article has been amended on the 15th of March ****

 

How will the Spring Budget affect you?

On 8th March 2017, Chancellor Philip Hammond presented his first – and allegedly last – Spring Budget, outlining the UK’s plans for spending and borrowing as well as proposed changes to taxation. As always, the Budget was met with mixed reactions, though it would be fair to say that it was moderately upbeat considering recent events and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Among other things, the Chancellor allocated extra money to health and social care services, free schools and addressed housing, transport and domestic violence issues, so the Budget did have many redeeming features. The fact that the UK was the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2016 and the growth forecast for 2017 has been raised from 1.4 per cent to 2 per cent is also extremely good news. What many dentists will want to know, however, is how will the recent announcements affect them?

Firstly, the Government has imposed a new reform that will decrease the tax-free allowance on share dividends from £5,000 to £2,000; in other words, shareholders and company owners will benefit less from receiving a dividend. If you operate as an incorporated business you may well be affected by this, though it is likely the change will be relatively insignificant to your overall take-home.

Another key measure that was introduced to tackle tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning, is the plan to apply a 25 per cent transfer charge to qualifying recognised overseas pension schemes. Combined, these measures will make mitigating tax much harder moving forward. 

The good news is that personal tax-free allowance will increase this year to £11,500 from £11,000 as planned, and again to £12,500 by 2020. Disappointingly, business rates relief will remain the same, but after the amount of changes announced in 2016 we can’t be too shocked at the Chancellor’s decision. What he did say on the matter is that no business losing small business rate relief will see their bill increase by more than £50, though that will likely prove to be a small comfort for those hoping for bigger change.

Of course, there are other positives to have come out of the Spring Budget, including the fact that vehicle exercise duty rates and the HGV Road User Levy has been frozen for another year. With fears rising about potential increases in dental materials due to Brexit, no change in this area is the best that can be hoped for, because once their prices rise, so will yours!

Regulation concerning alcohol, tobacco and sugar should also be celebrated, as this could help to improve patients’ oral health. Tobacco, for instance, will rise by 2 per cent above Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, which will cost patients an extra 35p for a packet of 20 cigarettes. As for beer, cider, wine and spirits, costs will increase in line with RPI inflation, which will result in a rise of 2p on a pint of beer, 1p on a pint of cider, 36p on a bottle of whiskey and 32p on a bottle of gin.

Perhaps one of the most victorious announcements of all is that the much anticipated sugar tax will go ahead as planned at a rate of 18p per litre where there is more than five grams of sugar per 100ml, and 24p per litre where there is more than eight grams or more of sugar per 100ml. Should this move prove successful, the profession will hopefully begin to see improvements in children’s oral health.

One of the bigger talking points to have come from the Spring Budget is the Government’s U-turn on plans to increase Class 4 National Insurance Contributions for self-employed people. Originally meant to increase from 9 per cent to 10 per cent in April 2018 and again to 11 per cent in 2019, it has since been dropped after the Chancellor faced backlash by Conservative backbenchers. The proposal to scrap Class 2 National Insurance in April 2018 is still set to go ahead.

For all of the drama that occurred afterwards, though, it wasn't a particularly groundbreaking Budget, nor will it have a huge impact on dentists. There will be fewer opportunities to mitigate tax moving forward, but with National Insurance Class 4 rates now set to remain the same, it is not as bad as it could have been. If you are thinking of maximising the legitimate tax reliefs available or simply want to find out more about how the Budget could affect you, get in touch with your Independent Financial Adviser.

For more information please call 0845 345 5060, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

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What’s your special day?

What’s your special day?

 

So, did you do anything special for World Play Your Ukelele Day? Lame Duck Day? Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbours Day? No, we’re not kidding - these are all ‘special days’ that were celebrated last month. You may think it’s all getting a bit much, with several special calls to action competing for every single day of the year. But we’d ask you to think again, because the flip side is that these are all opportunities for your marketing to take a free ride on social media.

Step out of your dental scrubs for a minute and see things from your patients’ perspective. Most of them are logging on and off social media pretty much all day long. And the posts they’re sharing are the ones that catch their imagination, which probably doesn’t include your strict reminder to floss twice daily. So how do you grab their interest? Have fun and be engaging. Choose a few special occasion days and tie them into your practice, making them highly shareable, whilst still working for you.

An example? 2nd March was National Old Stuff Day, so why not ask your followers what they’re planning to recycle or throw out and, at the same time, remind them to replace their old toothbrush? 2nd March was also National Book Day, a perfect time to ask your patients who their favourite fictional dentist is (and remind them to ‘like’ and ‘share’ if YOU are their favourite real dentist)! Anything that gets them to engage with you and, ideally, share your post, is marketing gold. Your posts will be seen by not only your followers, but everyone searching for the associated hashtag. And, best of all, it’s free.

Oh and don’t forget the special weeks and months too! Most, if not all, are conveniently indexed on https://www.awarenessdays.co.uk (for more serious causes) and https://www.daysoftheyear.com (for the more whimsical) so why not put a few on your social media calendar and ride those hashtags to success?

And if you don’t have time for such shenanigans, don’t worry - we have two dedicated social media gurus on staff whose job it is to post fun and engaging content for you (yes, they do love their work). So give us a call on 01844 292086, visit our website (link to https://milkshakedental.co.uk) or connect with us on social media (@MilkshakeDental) and we’ll soon have you participating in Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day on 27th March (just joking)!

  5193 Hits
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Check out Connect Dental Campus

Check out Connect Dental Campus

 

 

Connect Dental Campus (connectdentalcampus.co.uk) is the latest online resource from Henry Schein Dental. Featuring an array of on-demand webinars, live webinars, product video guides and informative articles, this site tackles every topic that clinicians and technicians need to explore if they want to get ahead in the exciting world of digital dentistry.

With a focus on implants, CAD/CAM, digital planning, intraoral scanning, restorative materials and more, there is something for everyone involved in the digital workflow, regardless of whether you work in practice or a laboratory. On-demand webinars feature highly experienced and engaging speakers, all experts in their fields, discussing all aspects of the digital workflow, implant planning, digital processes and CAD/CAM techniques.

In collaboration with industry partners 3Shape and Dentsply Sirona, visitors to the site can also learn from a wide selection of step-by-step video tutorial guides on digital implant planning, surgical guide solutions, shade matching and follow a variety of subjects covering CEREC®’s increasing clinical applications. This on-demand feature means these resources are available to view at a time that suits everyone.

 

Find out what Connect Dental Campus has to offer. Register for FREE today at connectdentalcampus.co.uk or call 01634 878750 for more information.

henryschein.co.uk

Twitter: @HenryScheinUK

Facebook: HenryScheinUK

  3857 Hits
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Daily care for implants

Daily care for implants

 

 

Many of your patients will have chosen implants to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

The stability of their implant will depend, in no small part, to the quality of self-care in between appointments.

Tandex has a range of brushes and other adjunctive products to answer all your implant patients’ needs. For example, the FLEXI™ is an interdental brush available in nine different sizes for complex implant spaces. The SOLO™ interspace brush will clean efficiently around critical points and give easy access around implants too. Used with a non-abrasive toothpaste, such as Tandex GEL, your patients will comfortably be able to remove the maximum amount of plaque and bacteria from all surfaces.

Proper cleaning will keep the implant stable and help avoid future complications, such as peri-implant mucositis, which can lead to peri-implantitis if left unchecked.

A simple routine performed twice a day will protect your patients’ investment. Recommend Tandex to your implant patients, so they can enjoy optimal oral health and implant stability for as long as possible.

For more information on Tandex’s range of products, 
visit www.tandex.dk or visit the facebook page:

Tandex Facebook

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Nothing But Praise

Nothing But Praise

 

 

When Henry and Jane McFarlane sold their practice in Burnham-on-Crouch, they decided to utilise the services of Dental Elite. When asked about it, Henry commented:

“Having gone to one of their lectures, I knew what documents were needed to complete due diligence. As such, we made sure that 95 per cent of the paperwork was ready before the practice even went on the market – and I would strongly advise others to do the same. We were in contact with Leah Turner, our representative for some years before we went to market; she helped us enormously in maximising the value of our practice.

“Leah was more than helpful with all the paperwork and was very positive, which is exactly what we needed in such a stressful situation.

“Helen, one of Dental Elite’s administrative staff, was also amazing. If we ever needed anything she would sort it immediately, and was great at problem solving quickly and efficiently – we really have got nothing but praise for the team.”

To view Henry and Jane’s interview in full, go online today.

 

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

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The benefits of guided surgery

The benefits of guided surgery

 

 

Balraj Sekhon highlights two cases to illustrate the benefits of guided surgery

As a general dentist, I have found using advanced implant planning software such as coDiagnostiX™ to be very beneficial and I have been using it fully for about a year now. I don't have a CT scanner in-house (it would be difficult for me to justify the costs as a mixed practice), so we refer our patients to a local scan centre and they send us an open file scan that we can place into the software. Once in the coDiagnostiXTM system we can take the various measurements and assess the best placement for the implant.

coDiagnostiXTM is an investment in terms of direct cost and time to gain the depth of knowledge to fully utilise all the elements and tools in the system. However, I firmly believe it improves the patient journey, delivers a more efficient surgery process, reduces stress, and ultimately delivers better dentistry.

Case example 1 using Straumann coDiagnostiXTM

Replacement of two posterior teeth with screw-retained crowns.

Straumann coDiagnostiX Case 1

Case example 2 using Straumann coDiagnostiXTM

Replacement of upper left central incisor with screw retained crown.

Balraj Sekhon - BDS (Manc), MJDF RCS (Lond), PGCert (UCLan), MSc Dental Implantology (Distinction)

Balraj graduated from the University of Manchester in 2003 and has since worked throughout Manchester providing the highest quality dental care. He is one of the principal dentists at Circle Dental. Balraj’s ethos is to treat every patient with the utmost care and provide the best evidence-based dentistry.

Balraj has studied dental implantology to the highest possible standard and currently works with a Yorkshire-based surgical team with Specialist surgeon, Dr Robert Dyas. He has a growing referral network of practices and has also managed problems encountered by other dentists. He has a keen interest in teaching and this has been recognised by his appointment as Educational Supervisor by the Northwest NHS Deanery.

 

For more information on case planning and guided surgery, contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit one of our sites:

straumann.co.uk

straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

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Visit Wrights at the Scottish Dental Show 2017

Visit Wrights at the Scottish Dental Show 2017

 

With over 100 years’ clinical and business experience, Wrights is one of the oldest established full service dental suppliers of top quality products at competitive prices.

Exhibiting on stand F10 and F11 at the Scottish Dental Show 2017, delegates will have the opportunity to see a sample of Wrights’ extensive catalogue first hand. With a number of special show deals on offer, you may even grab yourself a bargain!

If you get a chance, the Scottish Dental Show is also an ideal occasion to chat with the friendly and knowledgeable representatives about setting up an on-going account. With the ‘My Wright Place’ online account management system, you can easily place an order, monitor department spending and create a customised product list.

Regular customers also benefit from tailored loyalty discount structures, meaning you get even more for your money when you choose Wrights.

Can’t make it? Pick up the phone to find out more!

 

For more information contact Wrights on 0800 66 88 99 or visit the easy to navigate website www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

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Make the most of your business with Henry Schein Rewards

Make the most of your business with Henry Schein Rewards

 

 

 

Make the most of your relationship with Henry Schein by becoming a member of our innovative loyalty programme, Henry Schein Rewards (hsdrewards.co.uk).

Henry Schein Rewards is free to join, and once enrolled, members can gain valuable points for every pound spent on almost all Henry Schein Dental and Software of Excellence products and services. In addition, as a member you can also benefit from exclusive special offers which attract double or triple points to boost your total. Members will be the first to hear about new products at special member previews and receive Early Bird discounts for member-only events.

Managing your Rewards account is simple. Just visit the Rewards website hsdrewards.co.uk, log in to check your balance and set points goals, then sit back and watch as your points total grows.

Since its launch 8 months ago Rewards has been incredibly well-received by Henry Schein customers who have quickly seen the value and signed up to start earning points.

Emma Emerson, who manages the Rewards programme, says, “The programme is a great success and our customers love the fact that they are being rewarded for buying across the product range from both Henry Schein Dental and Software of Excellence. The breadth of our products and services is just one way in which we are practically demonstrating our commitment to providing everything needed to run a successful and profitable dental practice.”

 

“Working with Henry Schein Dental, I always knew I would be well looked after, however the Henry Schein Rewards programme seems to be the icing on the cake and a great way to reward committed and loyal customers!” Paul Worskett, Ambelcote Dental

 

 

Get your Rewards total rolling by applying today for free at hsdrewards.co.ukAll new successful applicants will automatically receive 1,000 bonus points.

Tel: 0800 083 8559

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Twitter: @HenryScheinUK

Facebook: HenryScheinUK

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4273 Hits
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The power of three for outstanding Class II restorations

The power of three for outstanding Class II restorations

 

 

When placing a composite Class II restoration, one of the key challenges is to achieve excellent adaptation. Dentsply Sirona is addressing this issue with three innovative products designed to work together to provide superior adaptation at every stage of the restorative process:

  • Palodent® V3 is a Sectional Matrix System that adapts to the natural contour of the tooth, providing predictable and accurate contacts and a tight marginal seal with minimal flash and fast finishing.
  • SDR® Smart Dentine Replacement is a bulk fill composite that fully adapts to the cavity floor and matrix band. Its flowability and self-levelling properties reduce the occurrence of voids and bubbles, lessening the possibility of post-operative sensitivity.
  • ceram.x® universal is a nano-ceramic composite used to finish the restoration. It fully adapts to the cavity and the SDR layer beneath it, while simplifying shade matching and finishing, creating long-lasting restorations with excellent aesthetics.

 

Each of these products alone offers the best in convenience, handling and performance. Used together, they complement each another and provide a complete Class II solution with superior adaptability.

 

To find out more about Restorative solutions contact Dentsply Sirona on 0800 072 3313 or visit dentsply.com/en-uk

Earn DENTSPLY Rewards £s on all your Restorative solution purchases at dentsplyrewards.co.uk and access free CPD webinars and product demonstrations at dentsplyacademy.co.uk

Facebook: DentsplySirona

Twitter: @DentsplySirona

  3660 Hits
3660 Hits
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A guide to implant mentoring

How mentoring in implant dentistry can improve clinical outcomes and create a more rewarding professional life

Taking the first steps into implant dentistry can seem a daunting prospect for those lacking practical experience, and to successfully introduce and benefit from implant treatment in practice is something that’s not easily achieved alone. Academic training and having the most up-to-date knowledge of the processes involved is of course essential, but having limited experience and lacking confidence in hands-on practical skills can make things far harder in moving forward with treatment planning and placement.

Where to begin

For those who want to take their career to the next level and develop their skills in implant dentistry, yet are unsure how this can be achieved, should consider the benefits from ongoing guidance and support in the form of clinical mentoring. Mentoring can be successfully used to accelerate the development of skills, improve clinical outcomes and help in making complex clinical judgements to assist in building confidence and gaining essential hands-on experience in planning and placing implants.

Mentoring is a long-term relationship and a good Mentor is someone who genuinely cares for the mentee’s development and knows how to combine the desire for learning with practice clinical skills. They have the experience, teaching and support skills to offer high-level guidance for long-term development, to find a clinician’s strengths as well as weaknesses, and know precisely when to step in to help achieve successful treatment outcomes.

The role of a Mentor is not to tell or lecture mentees about what to do, but instead to come into their working environment to offer advice to help them think through challenges and find their own way through the myriad of clinical choices and treatment solutions available. Mentors are not there to undermine a clinician’s skills and competencies, but to guide and reassure them through their first cases and beyond based on individual skill levels and training requirements.

Support where it’s needed

Just as starting out in implant dentistry without expert guidance can be a challenge, finding a suitable Mentor without help can also prove to be problematic. Straumann, a market leader in implant dentistry are ideally positioned to partner clinicians with highly-experienced Mentors throughout the UK and Ireland through their Clinical Mentoring Programme, to deliver high quality and consistent clinical and educational skills in implant dentistry.

The benefits of a reputable training pathway and working closely with a Mentor to achieve consistent clinical outcomes and gain valuable hands-on experience in implant procedures should not be underestimated. This level of guidance is the safest and most effective way to start successfully and confidently placing and restoring implants within your practice.

In my first year all my cases were first and second premolar implant placements, but through the guidance of a mentor I have been able to develop my skills and undertake the placement and restoration of implants in all sites, as well as sinus and bone grafts. When I compare my level of clinical care now to when I first started out in implants I can see a huge difference in not only my clinical capabilities, but my restorative skills too.”

Milisha Chotai, DDS, MSc, PGDip, PGCert

For more information on how to get started with dental implants visit straumann.co.uk or call Straumann on 01293 651270. To join the Straumann Clinical Mentoring Programme visit straumannmentoring.co.uk

  5835 Hits
5835 Hits
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Are you award-worthy?

Are you award-worthy?
 
 
It’s awards season in Hollywood and who among us hasn’t at some point imagined ourselves standing in front of an adoring audience, accepting a gleaming statuette and making the most eloquent and gracious of acceptance speeches? If you thought that, by choosing a career in dentistry instead of film, you’d have to kiss that dream goodbye, think again.
 
There are several dentistry awards in the UK, including the FMC Dentistry Awards and The Dental Awards. More niche awards include the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards and the Private Dentistry Awards. In short, there are plenty to go round and, as the entry cost is either minimal or free, you’ve really nothing to lose and a great deal to possibly gain by entering.
 
Why bother? We’re so glad you asked. In marketing circles, we often talk about word of mouth being golden - the best kind of advertising money can’t buy. Well winning an award is even better, because it’s word of mouth from your peers. Being able to call yourself ‘award-winning’ (or even shortlisted) tells current, lapsed and prospective patients that your fellow dental professionals consider you to be among the best. In marketing terms, that’s priceless.
 
The Dental Awards 2017 have recently extended their entry deadline to 17th February, giving you just enough time to be in with a chance. Entry is free, so why not try your luck? All that’s required is for you to put your best foot forward and showcase your achievements in the best possible light.
 
Once you’ve secured your place amongst the finalists, get to work tooting your own horn on your website and of course on social media. This is certainly no time to be modest, and you should have a marketing campaign ready to take that award and run with it. After all, doesn’t your community deserve to know they have an award-winning practice just around the corner?
 
If you would like help preparing your entry (and marketing your big win!) get in touch with the team at Milkshake Dental Marketing. We’ll do the work while you do the fun stuff - practicing your big acceptance speech!
 
Contact Milkshake today for further information. 
  3109 Hits
3109 Hits
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Ivoclar Digital – Consolidated digital expertise

Ivoclar Digital – Consolidated digital expertise

 

 

Ivoclar Digital is the name of a strong and focused new brand developed by Ivoclar Vivadent. It provides dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process chain. The concept behind the brand will be presented at IDS 2017.

Since the successful introduction of IPS e.max more than ten years ago, Ivoclar Vivadent has significantly developed the company’s expertise in producing materials for the digital manufacture of esthetic dental restorations. Over 100 million restorations have been produced with this material to date, making it the most widely used CAD/CAM materials system in the world. The clinical reliability of the system has been proven many times over. The know-how gained by the company over many years will be integrated into digital dentistry workflows and marketed under the brand name of Ivoclar Digital. Particular emphasis will be placed on ensuring easy and comprehensible processes: selecting materials and designing and producing restorations. The product range will be rounded off by a wide selection of services that will be accessible to dentists and dental technicians. 

Ivoclar Digital will be presented to the public for the first time at IDS 2017. The international dental show will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 21 to 25 March 2017. More information about this cutting-edge brand for dental laboratories and practices can be obtained in Hall 11.3. at stand A20 – D39. Preliminary information is available at www.ivoclardigital.com.

IPS e.max® is a registered trademark of Ivoclar Vivadent AG.

Caption:

(IvoclarDigital.jpg)

Fig.: Ivoclar Digital: Consolidated digital expertise

 

________________________________________________

 

 

For additional information, please contact:

 

Ivoclar Vivadent Ltd

Compass Building

Feldspar Close, Enderby

Leicester, LE19 4SD

Phone: +44 (0) 116 284 7880

Fax: +44 (0) 116 284 7881

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.ivoclarvivadent.co.uk

  6621 Hits
6621 Hits
JAN
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Castellini for Contentment and Composure

Castellini for Contentment and Composure

 

 

Along with your chair side manner and expertise, Castellini can help to put anxious patients at ease.

The stylish Italian design of the Castellini Skema 8 dental unit is conducive to patient composure because it reduces the frightening sights and sounds of the treatment room.

The Skema 8 is a fully integrated treatment centre with instrument and tube modules to keep tools and leads out of the patient’s field of vision. This innovative system also offers fluid movement with silent hydraulic functions and Silent Power turbines to reduce operating noise.

Ideal for both patient and practitioner comfort, the Skema 8 has a pneumatic headrest with a tri-axis pivot to angle the head with minimal fuss. It is also equipped with full multi-media technology to enhance patient communication.

The Skema 8 is available in a choice of fourteen shades to compliment the calming environment of your treatment room. Providing the ultimate in style, efficiency and ergonomics, the Skema 8 makes it possible to keep patients calm and relaxed, while you work in comfort.

To find out how you can turn anxious patients into contented ones, contact Castellini today.

 

 

If you require any further information please call 08000 933975
and speak to Castellini UK directly for assistance.

  3350 Hits
3350 Hits
JAN
30
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Why Cyber Insurance Is Vital for 2017

Why Cyber Insurance Is Vital for 2017

 

 

It may come as a shock to you to understand that the healthcare sector is the primary target sector for Cyber attacks. With sensitive information on patient's medical history and general health, Cyber criminals know that if they obtain this type of data then it will be highly profitable for them. 

Attacks of this nature in the healthcare industry are becoming more regular, and more severe, than any other market sector.

We all hear about Cyber attacks of the largest scale when the make the headline news, however, even small, family run businesses are at risk. These proficient hackers are not selective about who they target as such; if there is an opportunity on any scale, they are likely going to take it.

If you have protection technology and software then it's a starting point, although don't think that this will be enough to protect your practice data and systems. 

It is now essential that you also protect your practice and business, financially, if something on this nature does occur. 

What are the true consequences of a Cyber attack?

If criminals obtain your patient data, there are a couple of things they may do with the data. 

Firstly, they can sell the data on the black market, which means your patients suffer a breach of confidentially, 

Or, secondly, they may request a ransom for keeping the data confidential, which means your business needs to honour their demands at great expense. 

Cyber attacks often result in the following for practice owners:

1. Redundant hardware and software, which needs to be replaced

2. Hefty litigation and legal costs in dealing with the matter in hand

3. Compensation requests from your patients, for the breach

4. Loss of revenue, whilst you get back up and running

5. Often it is combination of all the above

This is the cost element, but also there could be a direct impact on the reputation of your practice. 

After all, bad news spreads fast and it could certainly deter existing patients and new patients from choosing you over one of your competitors. 

Does your Practice Insurance sufficiently cover you? 

So you may be thinking that your Practice Liability Insurance covers you against such crimes. Here, it is essential to read the Terms & Conditions in detail, as most policies only offer an introductory level of cover. 

Specific Cyber Liability Insurance covers your practice, comprehensively, in the event that this nightmare materialises. 

 

Cyber Insurance policies vary, however many include:

·         Compensation payments to your patients

·         Your patient’s legal fees

·         Statutory fines

·         Hardware replacement costs

·         Data Corruption & Reinstatement Costs

·         Liability Cover for Affected Third Parties – e.g. patients

·         Cyber Financial crime

·         Data – Breach Expenses

·         Loss of Gross Revenue

 

As we are now part of a very digital working environment, it is your responsibility as a business owner to protect the data you hold in the form of patient records. 

In 2017, it is essential to not turn a blind eye, or be ignorant to what could happen, hoping that it won't happen to you.

For further information please get in touch with All Med Pro - 0203 757 6950 - www.allmedpro.co.uk

  4069 Hits
4069 Hits
JAN
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A new movement in orthodontics is launched

A new movement in orthodontics is launched

 

 

 

New for 2017, Henry Schein Dental is delighted to announce the launch in the UK of Henry Schein Orthodontics, providing everything you need to run a successful orthodontic practice.

The new service offers an extensive range of orthodontic products from renowned  manufacturers, including bracket systems, buccal tubes, molar bands, archwires and intraoral appliances. In addition, exclusive lines such as the innovative Carrière SLX self-ligating bracket and Carrière Motion Appliance, which limits extractions and turns complex Class II and Class III cases into simpler Class 1 cases, will also be available.

Henry Schein Orthodontics will stage a series of educational courses featuring luminaries of the orthodontic world including Dr Luis Carrière, who will deliver a Carrière Philosophy course on Innovative Concepts in the Correction of Class II and Class III Malocclusions. Courses are running throughout 2017 at Henry Schein Dental’s training facilities and details are available at hsdeducation.co.uk.

To find out more about Henry Schein Orthodontics, request a product catalogue or arrange a visit from one of Henry Schein Dental’s orthodontic product specialists visit hsdorthodontics.co.uk or speak to one of our orthodontic team on 01634 266060.

All purchases of orthodontic equipment and materials will qualify for Rewards loyalty points. New members can sign up for Rewards today for free at hsdrewards.co.uk and automatically receive an additional 1,000 FREE bonus points.

 

henryschein.co.uk

Twitter: @HenryScheinUK

Facebook: HenryScheinUK

  4337 Hits
4337 Hits
JAN
24
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Student to master....

Student to master....

 

 

How MClinDent  helped Dr Wahab Shakir

Many delegates value Tipton Training’s close ties with the City of London Dental School’s Masters degree programme known as ‘MClinDent’.

This ‘fast-tack- degree partnership means that successful completion of Tipton Training’s dentistry courses can lead to a PG Diploma from the British Academy of Restorative Dentistry(BARD) or British Academy of Dental Implantology(BADI). Delegates with the PG Diploma can register with The City of London Dental School, to facilitate their APL entry into the third year of either the MClinDent Restorative and Cosmetic degree, or the MClinDent Dental Implantology degree.

Student to master

One dentist that has followed this route is Dr Wahab Shakir - who is now one of Tipton Training’s faculty members. After studying at Newcastle University and experiencing life at a private practice in London, Wahab furthered his career by taking on The Restorative Course and The Phantom Head Course at Tipton Training in 2013 and 2014 respectively. What’s more, Wahab was presented with the Best Dentist Award for The Phantom Head Course.

“I completed The Restorative and Phantom Head Courses with Tipton Training. Both courses have changed the way I do dentistry, I would definitely recommend the courses to clinicians at wanting to upgrade their skills. It will take your abilities, understanding and treatment planning to advanced levels,” explains Wahab.

“The courses are strongly rooted in evidence and they provide both the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to treat patients to the best standards. I especially liked the way Paul and the team teach occlusion, TMJ diagnosis, articulators and occlusal splint therapy.

“The courses also had a big positive impact on my monthly salary before I even finished. They gave me the confidence to diagnose and carry out work I would have referred off and not attempted before. Which is great as the I started to work solely in a private practice.”

'Not only do I think it's the best training pathway out there, and there appears to be more and more courses setting up daily as we speak run by dentists who have a spare room and turn it into a 'lecture theatre' or 'conference centre' (and Tipton Training has trained most of them) but it's the only one I know of that has this unique pathway between the course, BARD/BADI and MClinDent to make it such an easy transition in your own time to a Masters. So there's the second reason if you needed one to do these courses."

“Further training is obligatory nowadays, especially when moving into private practice. If you are need a boost in the world of dentistry, if you want to expand your knowledge and take your operative skills to top class levels then the Tipton Training Courses are a must,” adds Wahab.

Wahab was one of the first dentists to take advantage of the partnership between Tipton Training and the MClinDent in Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry at the City of London University. He found the conversion process was easy and that the teaching from Paul and the team have helped him prepare for the complex curriculum of the MClinDent.

An excellent industry reputation

Wahab is now passing his expertise to Tipton Training’s latest pool of ambitious delegates and enjoys a reputation that is typical of our lecturers. In particular, Wahab is respected for his knowledge of up to date cosmetic and general dental techniques, in addition to occlusion.

He believes the in-depth knowledge of the available evidence, thorough treatment planning habits and exacting clinical protocols that the Tipton Training courses instil in the delegates are invaluable. This in turn helps delegates produce dentistry with a good prognosis and pleasing aesthetic results.

Delegates particularly benefit from Wahab’s ability to advise them of the best ways to produce outstanding restorations and high-quality preparations for (amongst other things) anterior and posterior composites, crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, post and cores and bridges.

Studying dentists can also gain insights into how Wahab uses the principles of occlusion to restore his patient’s worn dentition with the utmost respect for their TMJ, parafunctional habits and any associated pain or tension.

 

 

ABOUT TIPTON TRAINING

Tipton Training aim to provide the best courses for dental professionals in the UK by drawing on the experience of their talented dental team. They aim to increase levels of confidence and self-belief in their delegates and to teach them excellence in dental techniques so that they can achieve their career ambitions. Tipton Training provides access to specialist guest speakers to ensure that delegates receive the most advanced knowledge available.

  5066 Hits
5066 Hits
JAN
20
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Help is always given to those that need it

Help is always given to those that need it

 

 

In the field of dentistry, dentists may sometimes experience stress at work – after all, it can be a very fast moving, performance-driven environment.

As such, dentists (just like everyone else) are at risk of developing a substance abuse problem such as an alcohol or smoking addiction. According to a recent well-being report published by the British Dental Association, almost half of general dental practitioners (GDPs) surveyed reported low levels of life satisfaction and 44 per cent reported low levels of happiness.[i] On top of that, 55 per cent admitted to experiencing high levels of anxiety the day prior to being surveyed, which suggests that the number could be even higher if you take into account those dentists who suffer from sporadic episodes of anxiety and nervousness.

As it stands, the exact number of dentists suffering from an addiction problem and/or mental illness is unknown. What we do know, however, is that high levels of stress at work can have a negative effect on emotional well-being and mental health,[ii] which is why the profession must continue to place importance on staff welfare. After all, with the right help and support, such a risk could be completely avoided.

Luckily, there is help available for those dentists that need a hand with getting over an addiction. The Dentists’ Health Support Programme, which is managed by the Dentists’ Health Support Trust (DHST) offers dentists in difficulty an opportunity to remedy their problems, get their life back on track and, where possible, back into practice. Part of the struggle can be to admit to having a problem, but with the help of an organisation like DHST, which has an 80 per cent success rate (the highest of any comparable charity in the country), dentists can receive the necessary diagnosis and intervention that they need to get better.

All support, treatment, rehabilitation and assistance with recovery and reintegration is delivered by an expert team comprising of a psychiatric nurse and a recovering alcoholic with many years of sobriety under his belt. Without such a service, dentists would have no-one to turn to – and it is for that reason that the profession must continue to offer its support to charities like DHST. Similar to other organisations within the dental sphere, the work of the Dentists’ Health Support Programme relies entirely on the generosity of the profession for its funding.

 

One of the establishments that has taken an active role in providing monetary support is the Association of Dental Groups (ADG). “At the ADG, we are very much aware of the importance of providing support to dentists in need,” says David Worskett, the Chairman of the ADG. “That is why we will continue to assist the Trust and the delivery of the Programme as much as we can, and we encourage others, where possible, to do the same.

“While addiction isn’t a prevalent problem in the profession, it is important that a service is available, even if it serves just one person.”

The Dentists’ Health Support Trust is grateful for all of the support that it receives from the profession. If you would like to help, get in touch with the Trust today – any donation, no matter how big or small, would be hugely appreciated.

 

For more information about the ADG visit www.dentalgroups.co.uk

 

For more information about the Dentists’ Health Support Trust call 020 7224 4671 or visit www.dentistshealthsupporttrust.org

 



[i] British Dental Association. Is there a well-being gap among UK dentists? 2015. Accessed online January 2016 at https://www.bda.org/dentists/policy-campaigns/research/workforce-finance/gp/Documents/Dentists'%20well-being%20%20report.pdf

[ii] Myers, HL, Myers LB. ‘It’s difficult being a dentist’: stress and health in the general dental practitioner”. British Dental Journal; 2004; 197 (2): 89-93. Accessed online January 2017 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15272347

N:B

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is a trade association whose members are dental providers and employers using a corporate or group model to serve both private and NHS patients across the UK.

Dentistry in the UK is changing rapidly. One of the key characteristics of these changes is recognition that good business models and consistent best practice are vital to providing the highest standards of patient care.  As dental employers, ADG members are at the forefront of these changes and recognise the importance of innovation, investment and the contribution made by all dental professionals and skill sets in a business.

The ADG’s objectives are to help members:

 

·         To ensure delivery of consistent quality outcomes for patients in a sustainable, high quality manner

·         To support the Government's aim to improve access to high quality dental care

·         To adopt and maintain best practice across all their practices

·         To work with the NHS to promote prevention of dental health problems

·         To modernise working practices and maximise the roles of all dental professionals in dentistry

  • To work with regulators and commissioners to ensure that regulation supports and responds to the changing needs 

 

 

  4749 Hits
4749 Hits
JAN
20
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Rodericks Dental Brings Eye Care Back Into Healthcare

Rodericks Dental Brings Eye Care Back Into Healthcare

 

 

 

Dedicated to providing excellent patient care and dental treatment, Rodericks Dental is extending its services to bring eye care back into the healthcare setting.

 

It seems that too often these days, a visit to the opticians puts more emphasis on retail than healthcare. A trip to the opticians can feel more like shopping than tending to important eye conditions.

 

Rodericks is looking to change this by providing a combined healthcare solution for their valued dental patients that focuses more on their healthcare needs and giving advice on how to take care of their eyes.

 

The first Rodericks Dental Eye Care successful service was opened more than year ago from Buckingham House Dental Practice, with second following last year in Luton House Dental and Eye Care. Providing the same patient-centred care the group has become known for in dentistry, Rodericks is excited to watch the service develop and open more eye care services in the coming months.

 

Rodericks Dental – proud to be the corporate with a difference.

 

For more information please visit www.rodericksdental.co.uk

  4403 Hits
4403 Hits
JAN
20
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In-house patient plan: Yes or No?

In-house patient plan: Yes or No?

Patient Plan Direct’s commercial director, Simon Reynolds, discusses key considerations in managing a patient membership plan ‘in-house’

Often the rationale for a DIY project is the perception that doing ‘it’ ourselves is likely to be lower cost and will enable us to achieve our desired outcomes in line with specific objectives. We adopt the mind set of “how hard can it be” and get to work.

In some instances, with the right planning and commitment a successful DIY project can be highly rewarding. However, in other cases we can be left to reflect on blood, sweat, tears and challenges that were far greater than we had anticipated. In hindsight, perhaps it may have been a better option to have turned to professional support in the first instance.

When it comes to patient membership and capitation plans many practices may have considered, or have already adopted, administering their own patient plans ‘in-house’. Let’s face it, when stripping back to its bare bones the work involved in administering a patient plan, it isn’t rocket science. The basics being; determining the care and benefits included in your plans, setting plan prices, collecting regular payments from patients and promoting your plans effectively to encourage uptake from patients.

However, as with many things in life the devil can often be in the detail and there are important considerations that may be overlooked when opting to administer a patient plan in-house rather than the outsourced option of working with a plan provider.

Direct debit vs. Standing order

Often mistaken as the same thing, there are significant differences between standing order and direct debit payments – the most likely means of managing regular plan payments. A standing order is an instruction set up by the payer i.e. your patient via their bank, which can limit the ease of patients joining your plan in practice. If a patient cancels their standing order you will not be notified, instead you’ll have to perform manual checks every month. Moreover, managing periodic plan price increases can prove somewhat challenging as a change to the value of a standing order requires each patient to amend their individual standing orders – a tedious task for patients that is not under your practice’s control.

Managing plan payments by direct debit on the other hand offers the beneficiary (your practice) greater control. This is an instruction by the payer giving permission for your practice to collect a regular amount, which can be amended with advance notification to the payer. However, obtaining sponsorship in to the direct debit scheme via your bank can be a lengthy process and thereafter you’ll have to utilise some form of Bacs approved platform to manage collections. This can prove complicated and costly in addition to the processing charges your bank is likely to apply.

Admin: Time versus Real cost

Time is money. Often the reality of managing a patient plan in-house can be more administratively demanding and time consuming than you may think. Preparing and submitting collection files, identifying payment cancelations, managing plan related communications to patients, creating promotional material, training your team in promoting your plans and so much more can be a real bind on your time. No matter who takes on the role of managing an ‘in-house’ plan, there’s every chance this time could be better spent elsewhere in delivering first-class care and building a successful practice.

When you come to sell your practice

In consideration of the complexities that can be involved in managing a plan in-house, when you come to sell your practice potential buyers may be put off. Moreover, in some instances if you have your own sponsorship in to the direct debit scheme, it is not a given that the new vendor will be able to obtain their own sponsorship via their bank to take on the goodwill of plan patients. Finally, historical records of plan collections via a third party can prove more favourable throughout any due diligence processes.

In summary

For some practices, managing their patient plans in-house may be the most effective means of offering patients a plan. However, for many, utilising the services of a trusted plan provider is much more likely to be the more time and cost efficient method. Working with a plan provider does not have to mean huge administration costs and overhead. There are more plan providers than ever before to choose from, each offering their unique service proposition, support and fee structure. It is simply a case of taking the time to discover each provider and working out which is the best fit for your practice.

 

 

Patient Plan Direct is a membership plan provider recognised for its low-cost admin fees and is also the winner of the 2016 Dental industry awards – Outstanding Business of the year (under 25 employees). Plan launch, Provider transfer and NHS conversion experts.

www.patientplandirect.co.uk

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

08448486888

 

  4585 Hits
4585 Hits
JAN
16
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Contemporary solutions helping you treat more patients better

Contemporary solutions helping you treat more patients better

 

 

Nobel Biocare will be among the leading implant product suppliers and manufacturers delivering programmes in the Corporate Forum at the ADI Team Congress 2017.

 

Don’t miss Bertil Friberg‘s session on ‘Treating the compromised patient, what we have learned from 40,000 patients at Brånemark Centre in Gothenburg’ or Alessandro Pozzi’s titled ‘Using technology to solve complex treatment problem – from design to prosthetics’.

 

From the UK, Guy McLellan will explore ‘Treating complex maxillary situations with digital planning, models and quad zygomas’, helping all delegates take their digital workflows to the next level.

 

Entitled ‘Contemporary solutions for complex treatment challenges’, the morning’s lectures will provide delegates with two hours of verifiable CPD and be delivered by world-class professionals in the field.

 

Treat more patients better – don’t miss Nobel Biocare’s Corporate Forum at the ADI Team Congress 2017, Thursday 2nd March from 08:00 - 10:00 in ICC Capital Suite, Level 3 Room 2.

 

 

For more information about Nobel Biocare, please call 0208 756 3300,

 or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

 

The ADI Team Congress 2017 – 2-4 March – ExCeL London

For more details, please visit www.adi.org.uk/congress17

  3721 Hits
3721 Hits
JAN
16
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Selfie sticks at the ready! Jeremy Hedrick

Selfie sticks at the ready! Jeremy Hedrick

 

 

Selfies have taken over the world. It’s hard not to go anywhere without having to sidestep someone who is posing in front of their phone, or having to avoid an enthusiastically brandished selfie-stick. Likewise, we can’t log onto Facebook or Twitter without seeing someone’s face – usually displayed in front of a famous landmark, or posing alongside their dinner.

The popularity of this craze is undoubtedly due to the way technology has progressed: smartphones that include a forward-facing camera are now ubiquitous, allowing almost everyone around the world to take a good selfie.

There has also been some interesting research undertaken into the trends of selfie-taking, which show that the vast majority of selfies focus on the left-hand side of the taker. This behaviour is suggestive of an asymmetry in brain lateralisation – something which is well documented in cognitive neuroscience and is present in photos and paintings going back hundreds of years. While the reasons for this are yet to be fully understood, it is believed that the left side of the face is controlled by the right-hand side of the brain, which is responsible for emotions. This makes the left side of the face more expressive and, thus, many people consider this side their ‘better side’[1]

This is where selfies have garnered the most criticism, since many believe that there is a link between a propensity for selfie-taking and body dysmorphic disorder. Indeed, it has been reported that some people take hundreds, even thousands of selfies every day, in order to produce what they perceive as the perfect image of themselves.

In relation to this, it is also believed that selfie-culture has increased the demand for facial aesthetic procedures – including cosmetic dental treatments.[2] By putting their faces on display so readily, people are more aware of criticism – both from their audience and from themselves. As such, they want to look their best at all times and many see cosmetic work as the way to do this.

In terms of dental treatments, this is usually tooth whitening. Unfortunately, however, many people still do not realise that this kind of treatment must only be carried out by a registered professional – and continue to put themselves at risk by accepting whitening treatments from unlicensed and illegal providers.

As such, it is important that dental professionals do everything they can to ensure that patients are aware of the legal situation when it comes to tooth whitening – and of the dangerous ramifications of getting substandard treatment.

Of course, one of the main factors that deters patients from seeking tooth whitening from their dentists is the perceived price. But this does not need to be the barrier that many people think it is, because dental professionals can offer hard to beat offers on this type of treatment. This includes Munroe Sutton’s Healthy Discounts scheme, which gives patients a 20 per cent discount on tooth whitening, as well as a range of other treatments.

 

For more information please call 0808 234 3558

or visit www.munroesutton.co.uk



[1] The Daily Mail: Is your left side your best side? Published online February 2014; link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2556689/Is-left-best-People-pose-photo-position-brain-makes-half-expressive.html [accessed 19/09/16]

[2] The Telegraph: Rise of the selfie leads to huge increase in people seeking dental work. Published online: February 2016; link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12135936/Rise-of-the-selfie-leads-to-people-seeking-dental-work-to-correct-horsey-teeth.html [accessed 19/09/16]

 

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4305 Hits
JAN
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Preparing the Practice for Sale -Alpesh Khetia Rodericks

Preparing the Practice for Sale -Alpesh Khetia Rodericks

Benjamin Franklin, writer and scientist once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. This philosophy can be applied to many situations, including that of selling a dental practice. Whether you are looking to reduce the burdens you shoulder, or are ready to move on to something new, preparation time put in before the sale can make the transaction much quicker and smoother.

There are many benefits to owning and managing a dental practice, but sometimes the administrative tasks and regulatory compliance can mean dentists lose focus of the reason they entered the profession in the first place –to care for patients. As with any sale, be it a car, house or dental practice, preparation is crucial. Time spent on refining and enhancing the practice will ensure it is sold at its highest possible value, to the right buyer.

The area which can slow down the process is the gathering together of all the necessary paperwork. Time spent ahead of the sale can help quicken this up and make it a lot less stressful towards the end. The main items that need to be made available include:

 

  • Contracts, including staff, equipment suppliers, software suppliers etc.
  • Financial accounts
  • Policies and procedures, including health and safety, infection control etc.
  • Building certificates
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC) documents
  • Price lists

 

Finally, in the preparation stage, do not forget your dental team! It can be a stressful time for all, timing needs to be considered carefully; they should not be told too soon in case the situation changes and staff become demotivated or consider moving on, but equally, you want to leave enough time so as to reassure them that their jobs and their patients will be looked after.

Selling to a dental corporate can often help an independent practice achieve its full potential. Their marketing budgets are larger and therefore they have the ability to reach a wider target audience, but they remain mindful of the existing practice’s ethos and patients. There is also a huge clinical and administrative support system for staff to utilise, with various learning and CPD opportunities readily available that are often subsidised. For example, Rodericks Dental is renowned for its commitment to patient care and treatment, plus, it prioritises staff development and career progression and has a dedicated, experienced team to help you through the transition.

If you wish to take the next step and are looking to sell your practice, make sure you know all your options and have all the information you need to leave your patients and staff in the safest hands.

 

For more information, please visit www.sellyourdentalpractice.net, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01604 602491.

  3902 Hits
3902 Hits
JAN
11
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Training Days for Carestream Dental Customers

Training Days for Carestream Dental Customers

 

Carestream Dental is delighted to host the first of its training days for customers at its showroom in Stevenage.

Offering fantastic added value for existing users, the next courses are:

 

Understanding dental X-ray technology and the need to minimise patient dose

Instructor: Ernesto Jaconelli

Dates: 16th February 17:00 – 19:00

           15th March 17:00 – 19:00

           27th April 17:00 – 19:00

           23rd May 17:00 – 19:00

 

Boost your business with CS R4+ (the launch of Springboard V2) – hands-on training

Instructor: Liam Rushton

Dates: 23rd February 17:00 – 20:00

           28th March 17:00 – 20:00

 

CS 3600 and CS 8100 3D user meeting

Instructors: David Claridge and Rob Charteris

Dates: 2nd March 17:00 – 21:00

           3rd March 09:00 – 16:00

 

To find out more about any of these training opportunities, please contact the friendly team at Carestream Dental.

 

For more information, contact Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or

visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl

and Facebook

  3927 Hits
3927 Hits
JAN
11
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“Good to Get Help From a Team of Experts”

“Good to Get Help From a Team of Experts”

 

 

 

“Purchasing a practice and sourcing finance is both demanding and time consuming, so it is always good to get help from a team of experts,” says Zamir Raza, who recently purchased Serenity Dental Care. “Indeed, I would never have been able to do it alone.

“DE Finance helped me with the purchase of my practice from helping me to understand how the finance would be arranged, to sourcing the best interest rate, introducing me to the lenders and securing funding.

“Plus, because the practice was one that Dental Elite had listed, the sales and acquisition department provided additional guidance on how to complete the CQC registration forms.

“There were complications, but it wasn't DE Finance’s fault, it was delays caused by issues with due diligence and CQC registration, both of which were dealt with by the solicitors.

“I’m extremely happy with the rate that I secured as well as the service that I received – I would definitely recommend DE Finance.”

 

For the full interview, visit www.dentalelite.co.uk or contact DE Finance today to see how the team could help you.

 

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

  6213 Hits
6213 Hits
JAN
10
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The Role of Culture in Oral Health

The Role of Culture in Oral Health

 

 

The below blog has been written by Howard Thomas - Chairman at Curaprox 

When it comes to day-to-day life, culture plays a pivotal role in the behaviour and practices of communities – and oral health is no exception. Defined as learned behaviours that have been socially acquired and passed down from one generation to another, cultural practices can be affected by a number of factors including religion, race, ethnicity and geographical location.

In some countries, folk remedies and traditional methods are still used to treat and maintain oral health. It is well known, for instance, that some Somali people either use a stick collected from the branches of a tree called Roomay or a stick called Muswaki to clean their teeth instead of a toothbrush. The Chinese are also widely acknowledged for their deep-rooted culture and traditional practices, such as their use of powdered alum, musk and frankincense to treat what they call ‘hot’ gum disease.

Here in the UK, it is personal experience, education and the media that tend to sculpt cultural beliefs, values and practices. Television and print media in particular have played a pivotal role in the state of UK citizens’ oral health, not least because of the way that certain advertisements can reach a wide audience. Crisps, chocolate, sweets and sugary drinks – all of these products are widely publicised on a day-to-day basis. Plus, since culture is learned, shared and transmitted, the media has also contributed to the gradual desensitisation of poor dietary intake and the detrimental affects it can have on general and oral health.

Smoking and drinking are normal lifestyle choices too, and are some of the leading causes of oral health issues in the UK. Like other western, developed countries, some of these problems are as a result of the greater independence and freedom of choice that teenagers and young adults now have, not to mention the ease at which these substances can be accessed. It is also important to note the impact differences in social class can have upon oral health, from level of education to income and socio-economic status.

While it is likely that some cultures such as Somalia and China will hold on to their traditions, there is no denying that there is scope for future change, especially in the UK where society can be quite flexible and open to new things. Simply by changing cultural perspectives on dietary intake, lifestyle choices and encouraging patients to use effective adjuncts in a daily oral care regimen – such as CPS prime interdental brushes and the CS 5460 ultra soft toothbrush from Curaprox – communities could significantly improve behaviour and practices for future generations to come.

 

For more information please call 01480 862084, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.curaprox.co.uk

 

 
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9643 Hits
JAN
10
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Carestream Dental – Here To Make Your Life Easier

Carestream Dental – Here To Make Your Life Easier

 

 

Carestream Dental strives to make your everyday life easier with each solution that it brings to the market.

Its latest offering is specifically for Denplan practices, who now benefit from a new integration between the CS R4+ practice management software and the Denplan / PreViser Patient Assessment (DEPPA) tool.

Without requiring a separate log in, you can view previous assessments or start new DEPPA examinations all from the clinical screens in R4+. For the latter, either the appropriate records will be automatically updated or new patient files will be created.

Patients can complete DEPPA questions on an easy-to-use Wacom tablet and receive a print out or an email copy of their examination (which is automatically recorded in the patient’s communication tab).

This new integration is in addition to the previous benefits available to Denplan practices, such as automatic updates on Denplan patients, real-time review of fees paid and information on patients who have moved away but not updated their address at the practice or with Denplan.

To find out more about to fully utilise your CSR4+ software for Denplan patients, contact the friendly team at Carestream Dental today!

 

For more information please contact Carestream Dental on

0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

For all the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl and Facebook

  5973 Hits
5973 Hits
JAN
09
0

Selling an NHS contract

Selling an NHS contract

 

 

Here, John Grant of Goodman Grant Solicitors discusses the ins and outs of selling an NHS dental contract…

Unfortunately, selling an NHS dental practice is not particularly straightforward – and there are number of pertinent considerations that must be taken into account before making the sale.

PDS or GDS?

Knowing what type of contract you have – either a Personal Dental Services (PDS) agreement or a General Dental Services (GDS) contract – is crucial to a successful sale. Unfortunately, PDS contracts, most commonly used by orthodontists, are notoriously difficult to transfer, since they depend entirely on the LATs somewhat unpredictable cooperation. However, dentists who have a PDS contract that is designated for general dental services can easily convert their contract to a more easily transferred GDS contract. The right to convert from one to the other is absolute and the LAT is not permitted to refuse the request.

 

However, while dentists have been selling their GDS contracts since 2006 without any difficulty, the actual transfer process is not as simple as many might imagine. In truth, the sale or disposition of a GDS Contract is specifically  prohibited in the GDS regulations and in the provisions of the actual contracts themselves – which technically makes it impossible to sell an NHS contract in a conventional sense. 

Fortunately, however, there are a number of provisions that make selling, or rather transferring, this type of contract possible. These provisions enable a principal dentist (or dentists) to introduce a new partner or partners into the practice. Again, the LAT must be notified – and they require a minimum of 28 days’ notice – but as long as the proposed partner is registered with the GDC, the LAT cannot refuse the request – although it would be fair to say that LATs are becoming more and more fond of introducing their own requirements before agreeing to issue a contract variation notice.

Once the new partner has then been added to the contract, the original partner – the seller – can retire, relinquishing their ownership over the contract and its goodwill. This will typically happen a couple of months after the sale of the practice has been completed.  This method has been come to be  known as “the Partnership Route” and has been successfully utilised to transfer ownership of NHS dental contracts for the last ten years.

Incorporated practices

The Partnership Route is only applicable for unincorporated practices and, if a practice has incorporated, then a principal  wishes to sell they are obliged to take a slightly different approach. The way that most incorporated practices are sold, therefore, is through the sale of the shares of the limited company. The principal, in their capacity as shareholder, must sell their shares to the prospective buyer, thus giving them  ownership over the company / practice assets. This will not change the legal status of the practice as contractor to the LAT, but will allow different principals to effectively transfer ownership of a practice.

With the majority of incorporated practices, a change of control clause will have been inserted into the NHS Contract by the LAT when the application to incorporate was given by the LAT. This allows the LAT to retain control over who is the contractor  – and means that if a certain percentage of shares are transferred, the LAT will need to be informed and their permission obtained. It is advisable to pay close attention to the wording of these clauses, however, since they are known to vary wildly – and even include stipulations that make it harder to transfer shares.

Help from the experts

Whatever the nature of your contract, the best approach is to always to employ the skills of an experienced dental solicitor, such as those at Goodman Grant, who understand the many different intricacies of buying and selling an NHS contract.

 

John Grant of Goodman Grant Solicitors – contact on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

For more information visit www.goodmangrant.co.uk or contact your nearest office:

London: 0203 114 3133

Leeds: 0113 834 3705

Liverpool: 0151 707 0090

  5193 Hits
5193 Hits
JAN
09
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Negative feedback isn’t always a bad thing!

Negative feedback isn’t always a bad thing!

 

 

Patients nowadays are very aware that they have every right to change their dentist if they don’t believe they are getting the standard of service they deserve – which means inter-profession competition has increased significantly. As a result, it is incredibly important for practitioners to be sensitive to the needs and opinions of their patients, to avoid losing business and reduce the risk of complaints.

But not all patients are willing to leave feedback. Admittedly, some are more than happy to make a complaint – or direct an exasperated diatribe at your receptionist – but in most cases, British people don’t like to make a fuss.

Unfortunately, while this may be the easier way out, it isn’t very helpful. Indeed, a patient who is prepared to make their opinions known is far better than one who holds their dissatisfaction back. These are the patients who you will ultimately lose, since their issues will never be addressed.

As such, it’s generally better if feedback, even negative feedback, is out in the open. That way, you can learn from your mistakes and concentrate on improving your service. Indeed, while negative feedback can be demoralising, it can also be a positive learning opportunity – and should always be seen as such.

That isn’t to say that you must feel obliged to tolerate obnoxious comments. A complaint does not have to be insulting or inappropriate and it is usually best to ignore the people who deal with issues in this manner. In fact, it may simply be more worthwhile to ask them to leave. But if a complaint is provided in a polite and reasonable manner, then it is important that you take note and respond appropriately.

The only problem, as we have already suggested, is that many people do not necessarily feel comfortable with leaving negative feedback. Therefore, it’s very important to make sure that your patients understand that you welcome their comments, both negative and positive. You must then provide them with the correct platforms through which they can easily leave feedback. Many people do not like doing this face-to-face, so a different approach should be considered.

One of the most common mediums for review and feedback these days is the internet. More people than ever before place reviews on the web, making it the ideal place for them to do so for your practice. By providing them with an easy to use platform, such as the PatientConnections system from Welltime, your patients will be able to leave vital feedback for you on your own website, allowing you to review and utilise the information as necessary.

Negative feedback can always be a bit daunting, since no one – especially dentists – likes to think that they are not doing a good job. But there is much to be learned by constructive criticism and by giving your patients the opportunity to provide feedback in a number of different ways you can begin to provide a service that is truly exceptional.

 

For more information, contact the Welltime team on 07999 991 337, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website at www.welltime.co.uk

  5218 Hits
5218 Hits
JAN
09
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Personalisation in Radiography

Personalisation in Radiography

 

 

 

Author: David Claridge (pictured above) is currently the UK CAD/CAM Specialist at Carestream Dental. He began his career as a dental technician at The Briars Dental Centre, Newbury, before starting Claridge Dental Laboratory, and then Claridge Mouthguards. David has been closely involved in the digital impressioning/CAD/CAM world, through his role in the digital dentistry team at 3M ESPE, before joining Carestream Dental.

Digital technology has meant greater personalisation in our lives, including our professional life. We are no longer satisfied with being treated ‘en masse’ as the capability for modified configurations and bespoke settings are available in nearly all of the devices that we use. This capability to individualise is of great benefit in dentistry; whether it is the configuration of a dental chair for improved ergonomics, or the pre-set modes on a hygienist’s ultrasonic scaler, technology is helping workflows become simpler and quicker than ever before.

 

The evolution of digital radiography has put control back in the hands of the dentist by not only minimising, but also sometimes eliminating the drawbacks of conventional film radiographs. The dentist can now manipulate images that they take so they can be viewed in the way that they need to see it. With conventional radiographs, once the film had left the processing solution the image quality was determined and there was no chance of changing it.  However, the quality of digital images can be altered afterwards to allow for improvements.

There are a number of factors that make up image quality. Contrast, blur and noise can be controlled with use of software to help improve the image and therefore increase the chance of better diagnosis and treatment planning. Subtraction radiography is a useful enhancement method where the purpose is to produce two radiographs of the same view but at different times. Very small changes can be seen that would otherwise have been missed on conventional radiographs or on visual clinical inspection. Another digital capability is to zoom in on specific areas of concern; something impossible with conventional film. Other common enhancement tools include changing of the brightness, enhancing contrast, reversal of the image, embossing to create the image 3-dimensionally, the use of a multi-colour spectrum and filters.

The possibilities are vast when it comes to radiograph image manipulation. The CS Adapt module from Carestream Dental offers a whole new level of choice in extraoral image processing. Whether a panoramic or cephalometric image is required, CS Adapt allows easy adaptation depending on how the clinician wants it to “look and feel” and the intuitive Filter Library allows the clinician to select up to three favourites for a seamless workflow. 

Clinicians no longer have to be satisfied with using equipment that is not producing the results that they require, for the work that they do. Digitisation and the development of technology now allows for personalisation to ensure that the best results are achieved

 

For more information, contact Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl and Facebook 

  3781 Hits
3781 Hits
JAN
09
0

A piercing issue

A piercing issue

 

 

 

As dentists, we are aware that our patients are afraid of receiving anaesthetic injections. It’s the needle and the anticipation of the pain that does it – and it’s a big problem. For us, it can be a real issue. While we may be very skilled at administering anaesthetic, when faced with a nervous patient things become a little more complicated and, if the procedure goes poorly, we can be left doubting our own skills. In the case of extremely nervous patients, who we have had a great deal of difficulty injecting, we sometimes think it would just have been easy to sedate the patient from the outset. But sedation, of course, is just a short-term fix. It benefits us, as the clinician, more than the patient – it doesn’t remedy their fear.

As such, there has been a succession of different delivery systems for anaesthesia that have attempted to alleviate our patient’s fears. One of the most popular options is the anaesthetic wand. This device gives patients a much calmer and gentler injection due to its computerised delivery mechanism. It’s a great piece of kit and many dental practices have adopted it into every day procedures – mine included. I’ve actually found that my patients, who have historically been afraid of injections, have responded very positively to the wand – and have really appreciated the alternative option.

However, at the end of the day, the wand still uses a needle.

What dentists have been looking for, then, is the needleless anaesthetic – the Holy Grail of dentistry. This is why an article in the news piqued my interest recently. Apparently, a company in America has developed a completely needle-free option that consists of a simple nasal spray.

From the information we have available, this new nasal spray system looks quite promising. It induces minimal side effects (runny noses mostly) and is demonstrably effective. Unfortunately, it is only effective at numbing from one upper pre-molar to the other – and this, as we all know, is the area in which we are probably the most skilled at administering anaesthetic already.

What we need, therefore, is a system that will let us anaesthetise the lower mandibular molars – especially those with hot pulps. This is the hardest area to anaesthetise and unfortunately the nasal spray may be the wrong pharmaceutical to inhale for adequate relief.

As such, I can’t see this new system being revolutionary. I do believe that anything that helps our patients feel more at ease in the treatment room is of great value and I do not doubt that in very specific circumstances, this nasal spray will be an effective option. Patients in need of very simple restorative procedures, who are scared of the needle, will undoubtedly benefit – and this is not something to scoff at.

But for other procedures, we will simply have to rely on the tools we have available now and, for the time being, the quest for that Holy Grail must continue.

 

 

For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999

Or visit www.endocare.co.uk

 

EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.

  3796 Hits
3796 Hits
JAN
06
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Get your free e-book for the All-On-4 treatment concept today!

Get your free e-book for the All-On-4 treatment concept today!

 

 

If you’re looking to develop your implant offerings and provide a wider range of services to your patients, get started with the All-On-4® treatment concept with your free e-book today!

From the pioneer of the globally popular concept, Nobel Biocare, the e-book offers a wealth of information, advice and top tips to help you maximise efficiency, safety and success of treatment.

The valuable tool will help you learn:

 

  • The four key steps to identifying eligible patients

 

  • Treatment planning tips

 

  • The four common challenges associated with the All-On-4® treatment concept and how to avoid them

 

  • Tips and techniques from experts, with real-life clinical cases

 

For this and much more, download your free e-book today! Just go to info.nobelbiocare.com/int/en/all-on-4-ebook to discover more about how the innovative All-On-4® treatment concept could benefit you and your patients.

For more information, contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300, or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

  4343 Hits
4343 Hits
JAN
06
0

Why Shares Can Be A Good Thing - Richard Lishman

Why Shares Can Be A Good Thing - Richard Lishman

Historically, stocks have achieved an average return of around 10 – 12 per cent over the long-term, and are notoriously well known for outperforming safer investments such as bonds or savings accounts. As such, having a share in the ownership of a company can be a worthwhile investment, particularly if you are willing to put your money into a riskier venture.

There are two main classes of stock: these are known as common or preferred. As the name suggests, common stock make up the vast majority of shares available and are generally considered to entail the most risk. Indeed, if the company goes bankrupt, shareholders do not receive any money until the creditors, bondholders and preferred shareholders are paid. On the plus side, being a shareowner entitles you to a portion of the company’s profits, so if the going is good, you could potentially see a significant return on your investment.

By owning stock(s) you are also entitled to one vote per share when it comes to electing the board of directors at annual meetings. So while having shares doesn't give you any power in the way the business is managed, your voting rights means you do have an opinion in who is in charge, and by association, the direction of the company.

Preferred stocks, however, don’t usually afford the shareholder the same rights, so if this is important to you as an investor, it is crucial to choose ventures that do allow you to vote. The other aspect to take into consideration is the way in which the money is paid out – unlike common shares, investors are usually guaranteed a fixed lifetime dividend, which could be ideal if you are looking for a safe, consistent income for retirement. When deciding upon which type of stock to invest in, it is always worth considering the option of a collective investment scheme. This is where shares are pooled into one investment to maximise returns and minimise tax.

There are innumerable different companies that you could potentially invest in, so before you make your move, take the time to shop around. And, if you are looking to make a much larger investment, you could consider taking over a dental practice. Indeed, if an incorporated practice is looking to sell, it will usually do so through selling their stock – as more often than not the principal owns the majority, if not all of the shares. By buying these shares you take over as the main owner of the practice, which holds numerous opportunities.

All in all, there are a number of roads to go down with shares, which if you play your cards right, can pay dividends – literally! To get the most out of your shares or for advice on buying or selling, it is best to seek guidance from an Independent Financial Adviser, such as those at money4dentists.

There is a lot to consider when trading shares, so make sure you are prepared – getting caught out will cost you.

 

For more information please call 0845 345 5060, 0754 DENTIST, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

 

 

  4406 Hits
4406 Hits
JAN
05
0

BioHorizons and CAMLOG – an inspiring implant duo

BioHorizons and CAMLOG – an inspiring implant duo

BioHorizons is delighted to announce its new relationship with CAMLOG, a leading supplier of systems and products for implant and restorative dentistry.

Speaking about this development, Ken O’Brien, General Manager UK & Ireland at BioHorizons, said: ‘To me, this is the positioning of two premium systems under one umbrella, offering clinicians unrivalled choice. We are excited to share the possibilities with our customers in the coming weeks.’

Indeed, with CAMLOG and BioHorizons sharing a portfolio of products, our reps can offer a wider range of treatment solutions than ever before, combined with unprecedented added value features such as access to The Implant Hub (www.theimplanthub.com) and business support.

With a team of Territory Managers located across the UK and Ireland, you can be sure that whatever you need is just a phone call away.

 

For more information, please call 01344 752560, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.biohorizons.com.

 

  5313 Hits
5313 Hits
JAN
05
0

Tax-free opportunities knock - Michael Lansdell

New allowances mean that there is now the opportunity for some people to have up to £17,000 of savings income, tax-free. Along with the new £5,000 dividend allowance, that’s potentially up to £22,000 of tax-free income. So, how can you get on board?

The defined order for taxing income can make a difference. Earnings/non-savings income (such as rent) is taxed first. This is followed by savings income, then dividends.

The 0 per cent starting rate band for 2016/17 is £5,000. This is given on savings income as long as it does not exceed the personal allowance of £11,000. So if you have earnings/non-savings income of up to £11,000, you could receive £5,000 of savings income, tax-free. Dividends income does not affect your entitlement to the starting rate tax band. This gives you the option of having thousands in dividends, but also continuing to enjoy £5,000 of savings income taxed at zero.

April 2016 saw the introduction of the new personal savings allowance (PSA).
A basic-rate taxpayer will be able to earn up to £1,000 in savings income, tax-free; for a higher rate taxpayer this figure is £500. Using the PSA, a basic-rate taxpayer could take advantage of the £11,000 personal allowance, plus £5,000 taxed at 0 per cent, plus the £1,000 savings income allowance. This means a potential total of £17,000 in tax-free savings income.

Not only is basic-rate tax no longer deducted at source on bank/building society accounts since April, but the first £5,000 of a person’s dividends income is also tax-free. Why not look at how family members can be used to maximise the benefits available? For a couple, one partner may be lower earner or have less in pensions. If they hold the assets that generate the savings income and dividends, this can help the family qualify for the new opportunities.

Everyone wants to know how to maximise their tax efficiency and enjoy tax-free income. With the pressures of being a dental practice owner, it pays to get expert advice so you can get on with the business of providing high-quality care and a great place to work. Lansdell & Rose are specialists in providing tax-planning advice to dental and medical professionals, as well as business advice. Get professional support to maximise your tax efficiency – there are opportunities for tax-free income out there if you know where to look.

 

To find out more, call Lansdell & Rose on 020 7376 9333,

Or visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk

 

 

  3348 Hits
3348 Hits
JAN
04
0

Get The Right Refurbishment

Get The Right Refurbishment

 

 

 

Are you thinking about refurbishing your practice? Then look no further than RPA Dental Equipment Ltd. With its extensive knowledge and experience within the dental industry, the team can help tailor your practice design to meet your specific and unique needs.

They will work closely with you to establish a suitable layout, fully utilising the space you have to ensure that you have an efficient, ergonomic and stylish work environment.

RPA Dental also provides quality Tavom cabinets to fit into your tailor-designed practice, all of which are compliant with CQC and HTM 01-05 standards and regulations.

To ensure you are happy with the refurbishment every step of the way, RPA Dental uses the latest CAD/CAM technology to provide computer-generated images of your future practice. This will give you an idea of how it will look, giving you the freedom to modify or change your plans if you wish.

If you would like to find out more about the cabinet ranges available and how RPA Dental could help you with your dental practice design, contact the team today.

 

 

To see how RPA Dental can transform your dental practice, please call

08000 933 975 or visit the website www.dental-equipment.co.uk

  3588 Hits
3588 Hits
JAN
04
0

What Goes Into Candidate Screening? Luke Arnold

What Goes Into Candidate Screening? Luke Arnold

 

 

If you are looking to maximise your chances of success when applying for a role, it can pay to prepare for candidate screening. The only way to do that is to know what goes into it.

 

To help with screening, employers often use an initial checklist that can be used to quickly and efficiently establish whether an applicant is a suitable candidate or not. On that list will be a number of desired skills that the prospective employee must have in order to advance to the next round – these typically include the necessary qualifications, accreditations and registrations. They will also be looking out for candidates that have previous experience.

 

Once the employer has established which candidates satisfy all the requirements, they will examine personal qualities. If it goes down to the wire and two applicants are on an even playing field in terms of qualifications and experience, these attributes could be the deciding factor between who is selected to fulfil the position.

 

However, it is important to remember that no two prospective employers are the same, so there will always be variety in what practices are looking for during their screening process. Some companies, for instance, are very relaxed and will consider interviewing anyone that applies, while others are very selective. Some employers might even choose to conduct phone interviews either in place of interviewing or in addition to, though this typically depends on whether the vacancy is for a permanent or locum position.

 

Bearing all this in mind, there are a number of preparations that you can make to boost your chances of success during the screening process.

 

  • Having a good curriculum vitae is the biggest foot in the door, so it is crucial that you spend adequate time ensuring that all the necessary information is included in a clear and concise fashion.

 

  • You must also be sure that you have researched the company and the role thoroughly – and when you’ve done that, research some more. The more prepared you are, the higher up on their list you’ll be.

 

  • About 80 per cent of employers will search for an applicant on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, so whatever you put online, make sure it’s appropriate.

 

  • Draw on your peers’ experiences for insight and top tips.

 

  • Follow up on your application to confirm that it was received – it will show that you’re proactive and enthusiastic about the role.

 

  • Contact the employer post interview thanking them for their time to help keep your name at the forefront of their mind.

 

  • Employ the services of a specialist recruitment agency like Dental Elite for expert advice, support and to act as an intermediary between yourself and the employer.

 

Altogether, there are a great many factors that are taken into consideration by an employer during the recruitment process, all of which not only help to ensure that the right candidate gets the job, but also to streamline the process for everyone involved. To ensure that you meet the criteria and pass the screening process, take the appropriate steps to prepare today.

 

For more information on Dental Elite visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

 

  3431 Hits
3431 Hits
JAN
04
0

Highly recommend whitening

Highly recommend whitening

 

“From the moment I started working with Enlighten, I knew I was dealing with something I hadn’t really experienced before,” says Dr Kunal Patel, owner and principal dentist of Love Teeth Dental Practice. “The team was incredibly proactive and generous – and, unlike other tooth whitening companies I have dealt with, had a vested interest in its clients and their patients.

 

“I think I was initially drawn in by Enlighten’s branding and marketing – which is all of a very high quality. I knew immediately that it was a product that was very much in line with the kind of practice I wanted to create.

 

“I also discovered that Enlighten can guarantee a great result – the only whitening product I can think of that can do so. Of course, this is incredibly important to patients and helps us dentists strengthen the bond of trust we have with them. Indeed, I trust Enlighten products to achieve that ideal B1 shade – and my patients trust me.

 

“Now, Enlighten whitening has become an integral part of our treatment process. I undertake many smile makeovers and orthodontic cases – both of which have a natural synergy with whitening products. I’ve found that patients are happy to pay the extra cost for whitening when having their smile altered – it’s the perfect way to finish off treatment to an incredibly high standard.

 

“As such, I would wholeheartedly recommend Enlighten products to any dentist!”

 

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the team on 0207 424 3270

  4358 Hits
4358 Hits
JAN
04
0

A tough subject: dental enamel

A tough subject: dental enamel

 

 

The outer protective layer of the teeth, dental enamel, is the hardest substance in the human body.[1] Ninety-six per cent of its composition is mineral – almost entirely a crystalline calcium phosphate, called hydroxyapatite1 – with water and organic materials comprising the rest. As such, it is an effective barrier that protects the more sensitive layers of the tooth. Indeed, enamel can withstand bite forces as high as 1,000N on a daily basis[2] and has a relatively low wear rate,[3] making it the ideal protective material for the teeth.

Enamel is formed through the process of amelogenesis, beginning in developing babies during the third of fourth month of a pregnancy.[4] After this time, the new enamel forms at a rate of about 4?m per day4 until the tooth eventually erupts from the gum. Interestingly, before this happens, at some time during the mineralisation stage of enamel development, the ameloblasts – one of the integral proteins of enamel development – begin to undergo programmed cell death. As a result, enamel has only limited ways of regenerating itself once it has been damaged, through wear, acid attack or dental decay. The repair in the mouth is governed by the intricate balance of demineralisation through day to day challenges and the remineralisation by calcium and phosphates deposited by specialised salivary proteins.

This is a prevalent issue since, due to the nature of its composition, enamel is susceptible to almost constant demineralisation.1 As we know, there are many different reasons for demineralisation, but by far the most important is the ingestion of fermentable carbohydrates. Sugars are, of course, the common culprits – particularly sucrose – and when these are introduced to the native bacteria of the mouth, lactic acid is formed, significantly lowering the intraoral pH and causing demineralisation,1 and this may lead, if unchecked, to dental decay.

Fortunately, there are a number of things that can help prevent or, at least, slow the effects of demineralisation. Perhaps the most effective – and subsequently overlooked – is saliva. By regulating the pH levels in the mouth, saliva helps prevent enamel from decaying; indeed, its importance to caries prevention can be assessed by the fact that people suffering from xerostomia generally have a higher incidence of dental decay.[5] Saliva also contains antimicrobial compounds and is hypersaturated in calcium through a group of proteins called statherins.

There are also a number of artificial prevention and remineralisation therapies that can help maintain the desired intraoral equilibrium. The fluoridation of drinking water and toothpaste is, perhaps, the most recognised – and has demonstrable results, as it leads to the formation of fluorapatite, which is much more resistant to acid challenges. Indeed, fluorapatite is an important component in tooth enamel and can be strengthened by the presence of additional fluoride ions.

Maintaining the equilibrium between demineralisation and remineralisation is one of the most important factors in preserving good oral health – and preventing dental caries. As we know, dental caries is one of the most prevalent dental health issues in the UK – and is a direct result of an imbalance in the demineralisation / remineralisation pattern. If a person’s diet or even genetic predisposition allows demineralisation to overtake the body’s natural reparative functions, caries results. Indeed, as the crystalline structure of enamel begins to break down, so called cariogenic bacteria – most commonly Streptococcus mutans – is able to gain a foothold on the tooth’s compromised surface, expediting decay and causing cavities. As we are well aware, once a patient has a cavity, there are few clinical options available other than placing dental fillings, which further compromise the tooth.

While it may be one of the most prevalent health issues in the world,[6] dental caries is still quite hard to detect, and particularly in its earliest stage, when remineralisation therapy can still repair the damage.

Fortunately, however, our understanding of dental caries has increased significantly over recent years and new technology is presenting itself that can aid dentists in early caries detection and subsequent treatment and prevention.

Cariologists have discovered that an effective way of detecting active demineralisation at its initial stage is to monitor a tooth’s calcium components at a molecular level. For example, as demineralisation occurs, calcium ions are released from the crystalline structure of the enamel. These ‘free’ calcium ions then start to collect in solution in what are known as hydration shells – small pores and pockets that increase as the enamel’s crystalline structure begins to break down. The presence of free calcium ions is indicative of the progress or active status of demineralisation, providing a means to track the process at its earliest – and most reversible – stage.

This process is the basis of the innovative CALCIVIS imaging system. By introducing a unique and highly specific recombinant, luminescent photoprotein to the free calcium ions that are a result of active enamel demineralisation, a tiny flash of light – termed as a chemiluminescent signal – can be produced. This has enabled CALCIVIS to produce a highly sensitive imaging device capable of producing a chair side map of active demineralisation, giving practitioners the necessary information to begin first-response preventive treatment before a cavity can form and more invasive treatments are required.

Preventive dentistry is regarded as the future of dentistry. Protecting a patient’s natural teeth is a paramount consideration and professionals must be prepared to focus on the early diagnosis and prompt treatment of dental caries. New technologies are making this possible by giving dental professionals the means to offer high-quality and accurate early intervention and preventive care in the first instance.

 

For more information visit www.calcivis.com, call on 0131 658 5152 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 


[1] Ross, M., Kaye, G., Pawlina, W. (2006) Histology: a text and atlas, 5th ed., Philadelphia; London; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

[2] Braun, S., Bantleon, H., Hnat, W,. Freudenthaler, J., Macotte, M., Johnson, B., (1995) A study of bite force, part one: Relationship to various physical characteristics. ‘The Angle orthodontist.’ 65 (5): 367-72

[3] Lamrechts, P., Braem, M., Vuylsteke-Wauters, M., Vanherle, G. Quantitative in vivo wear of human enamel. (1989) ‘J Dent Res.’ 68 (12): 1752-4

[4] Nanci. A., (2012) Ten Cate’s Oral Histology, 8th ed., Elsevier

[5] Su, N., Marek, C., Ching, V., Grushka, M., (2011) Caries prevention for patients with dry mouth. J Can Dent Assoc 77: b85

[6] Vos, T. (2012) Years lived with disability for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. ‘Lancet’ 380 (9859): 2163-96

 

  4610 Hits
4610 Hits
DEC
22
0

Become a Centre of Excellence with Enlighten

Become a Centre of Excellence with Enlighten

 

 

Enlighten is excited to announce the start of an exciting new initiative – through which it means to improve the standard and quality of tooth whitening around the country.

 

With the Regional Centre of Excellence scheme, Enlighten will reach out to its trusted clients, offering them exceptional training, support and marketing assistance. Partner practices will also receive regional exclusivity, ensuring that they are the number one choice for tooth whitening in their area.

 

The Enlighten team will be on hand to provide in-practice training, ensuring your entire staff know exactly what is involved in the tooth whitening process. This way, they can provide your patients with precise and friendly advice and information whenever it’s needed.

 

Enlighten will also help promote your practice as the go-to expert in tooth whitening – through its own nationwide network of contacts, as well as dedicated and personalised advertising and promotion campaigns.

 

Membership to this exciting initiative is limited, depending on regional interest and uptake, so ensure you contact the Enlighten team as soon as possible to register your interest and take the first step to becoming a Regional Centre of Excellence.

 

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the team on 0207 424 3270

  4280 Hits
4280 Hits
DEC
22
0

Rentokil Initial raises more than £100K for charity

Rentokil Initial raises more than £100K for charity

 

 

Rentokil Initial – of which Initial Medical is a subsidiary – is thrilled to have raised more than £100,000 for the company’s chosen charity, Malaria No More UK, in the past three years!

The company and its employees achieved this fantastic milestone through a wide variety of events and fundraising activities. From marathons to car washes, Pestaurant challenges to car boot sales, and even a gruelling three-day cycle ride from the Rentokil Initial HQ in Camberley to Paris. 

Phill Wood, Managing Director – UK, Ireland, Baltics & Rest of World, Rentokil Initial  – commented: “As a global leader in pest control and washroom hygiene, Malaria No More UK is an important organisation for Rentokil Initial to support. We are delighted to contribute to such a great cause and our colleagues look forward to taking part in further challenges in the future.”

Malaria No More UK is part of the global effort to wipe out malaria and there has been phenomenal progress in recent years with deaths from malaria slashed by 60% since 2000. The charity works to save lives by building business partnerships; encouraging governments to place malaria at the top of their international development agendas, and through investing in lifesaving malaria control programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa, currently in Kenya and Namibia.

Proud to have broken through the £100,000 milestone, Rentokil Initial remains committed to raising donations for such a worthy cause in 2017!

 

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical

Initial Medical is a division of Rentokil Initial plc.

 

 

 

About Initial Medical

Initial Medical is an expert in healthcare waste management, providing a complete collection, disposal and recycling service for hazardous and non-hazardous waste and offensive waste produced by businesses and organisations within the UK.

The safe management of healthcare waste is vital to ensure your activities are not a risk to human health.  Initial Medical’s healthcare waste services ensure that all of your waste is stringently handled in compliance with legislation and in accordance with Safe Management of Healthcare Waste best practice guidelines, providing you with the peace of mind that you are adhering to current legislation.

 

 

  7113 Hits
7113 Hits
DEC
06
0

Are you looking for verifiable CPD that will fit into your busy lifestyle?

Are you looking for verifiable CPD that will fit into your busy lifestyle?

 

 

A recent, pan-European study has revealed that as many as 41.9% of young adults suffer from dentine hypersensitivity.1 Due to the often sporadic nature of the condition, patients may fail to mention it at the dental appointment. It therefore lies with the dental professional to identify this painful condition which can cause patients to avoid food and drink triggers they may otherwise enjoy and even neglect their oral hygiene.2,3

Discover the new interactive Sensodyne® with NovaMin® distance learner module! Through a series of short video clips and interactive activities, refresh your knowledge of this prevalent condition before learning more about Sensodyne®’s clinically proven innovation for dentine hypersensitivity treatment, Sensodyne® Repair & Protect.

The module is free of charge, easy to use and available 24 hours a day. There’s no time limit so you can complete the module whenever you like, in your own time and at your own pace. What’s more, completion of the module can contribute up to 1.5 hours towards your verifiable CPD.

Sensodyne® Repair & Protect toothpaste with NovaMin® builds a dynamic, hydroxyapatite-like layer over and within exposed dentine tubules.4,8 It repairs your patients’ dentine, to provide clinically proven sensitivity relief with twice daily brushing. 4,6 The robust NovaMin® layer binds firmly to collagen in dentine,6,9 and resists daily physical and chemical oral challenges,4,6,8,10,11 helping to protect against future dentine hypersensitivity pain.

 

Visit www.gsk-dentalprofessionals.co.uk/pr to complete the module now!

 

 

 

References:

  1. West NX et al. J Dent 2013; 41: 841-851.
  2. Schiff T et al. Am J Dent 2009; 22 (Spec Iss): 8A-15A.
  3. Schiff T et al. J Clin Dent 2009; 20 (Spec Iss): 131-136.
  4. Burwell A et al. J Clin Dent 2010; 21 (Spec Iss): 66-71.
  5. LaTorre G, Greenspan DC. J Clin Dent 2010; 21 (Spec Iss): 72-76.
  6. West NX et al. J Clin Dent 2011; 22 (Spec Iss): 82-89.
  7. Earl JS et al. J Clin Dent 2011; 22 (Spec Iss): 62-67.
  8. Earl JS et al. J Clin Dent 2011; 22 (Spec Iss): 68-73.
  9. Efflandt SE et al. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 2002; 13 (6): 557-565.
  10. Parkinson CR & Willson RJ. J Clin Dent 2011; 22 (Spec Iss): 74-81.
  11. Wang Z et al. J Dent 2010; 38: 400-410.

 

Trade Marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies

  4098 Hits
4098 Hits
DEC
01
0

Join the revolution with Dentally

Join the revolution with Dentally

 

Ever wished for an intuitive practice management experience? Want software that is updated regularly and supported by real humans that care?

Now is your chance.

Dentally is revolutionising practice management software in the UK.

 

We offer full practice management in a user friendly package:

-       Streamlined clinical design - customisable tools for charting, treatment planning, perio and BPE. Record medical histories and clinical images.

-       Easy communication and efficient time management - stay in touch with your patients from appointment to post-surgery care.

-       Full integration so you can expand beyond your practice - Financial, iPad, automation, imaging and more!

 

What’s more is that we offer a human service. Whether it’s training, support or feedback we’re always available at the end of a phone or even directly in-app.

 

 

Right now we’re offering a free iPad with every order*.

Dentally for iPad can assist your practice in going paperless.

Patients can fill out medical history forms, review and sign treatment plans whilst reception can check patients in and set medical alerts. Saving valuable time in the practice.

 

 

Find out more at Dentally.co and share your details with us for a personalised tour of our software.

 

*when purchasing a Dentally iPad subscription

  4975 Hits
4975 Hits
DEC
01
0

Denplan announces successful completion of its first two 50/50 dental partnerships

Denplan announces successful completion of its first two 50/50 dental partnerships

 

Denplan has announced today that it has completed its first two 50/50 dental partnerships with dental practices in South Yorkshire. Plans to set up a pilot scheme to enter into equal partnership with individual member practices were revealed last year by Denplan and Simplyhealth. 

The new partnership model ensures that both partners have equal rights in practices and enables dentists to retain day-to-day clinical management of the practice. The business model has been created to reduce the barriers to an associate taking over a practice and supports the eventual transition to a new owner, who will then acquire the retiring dentist’s 50% share of the practice.

The first two new partnership practices are: The Dental Practice, based in Dronfield Woodhouse, in Sheffield; and Mapplewell Dental Centre in Barnsley. The Dental Practice is a family run private practice, owned by Dr Colin Doody, and has been in business for over 36 years. Mapplewell Dental Centre is owned by Dr Mark and Dr Elizabeth Bishop who have been in business for over 21 years.

The Partnership Programme offers peace of mind to dentists as it sets out the basis on which the remaining 50% of the practice will be valued, providing certainty to the dentists who participate at a time when they might have concerns over retirement and what might happen to their practice. It also helps dentists to enjoy their hard earned success by immediately freeing up some of the finances that would otherwise be reserved to fulfill the obligations of running a successful practice – and continuing to allow them to take responsibility for the day to day management of the practice, clinical activity and patient care.

The Partnership Programme resulted from a strategic review from Simplyhealth, of which Denplan is a part, who are focusing on further investment and innovation in the dental market.

 

Steve Gates, Managing Director of Denplan, commented: “We are delighted that we have completed our first two dental partnership agreements with The Dental Practice and Mapplewell Dental Centre.  Succession planning for retirement is an increasing priority for many dentists and one which we believe Denplan and the Simplyhealth team can play a positive and active role in. We are well positioned to partner with member dentists due to our existing strong relationships with them and our expertise in the dental marketplace.  

Romana Abdin, Chief Executive of Simplyhealth added: “This is a really exciting development that has attracted a great deal of interest from dentists looking to secure the right future for themselves, the practice and their patients. Our sole focus is everyday health and this demonstrates an ongoing commitment to dentists and the market as a whole.”

Dr Colin Doody, owner of The Dental Practice, said: “I was thinking of my exit strategy as I am getting to ‘that age’, and I wanted to ensure that I was leaving my practice in good hands for my son, who is our associate dentist, and also my wonderful long standing staff and patients – many of whom have been coming to see me for the last three and half decades! This Partnership Programme offered me the ideal solution.”

Dr Mark Bishop, owner of Mapplewell Dental Practice, commented: “We decided to partner with Denplan to ensure that there would be a legacy of high quality dentistry after we retire. Denplan are a respected and trusted brand who have always had the same ethos of customer care as we have.  As we really care about our practice team, this model allows a smooth transition and ensures they will be well looked after in the future.”

The new businesses have been set up as ring-fenced partnerships. These will operate separately from Denplan, bringing in additional expertise from across Simplyhealth, with their own governance to ensure that there is no potential for any conflicts of interest to arise.

 

 

 

 

About Denplan 

Denplan Limited is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist owned by Simplyhealth; with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million Denplan registered patients. Established in 1986 by two dentists who pioneered the concept of dental payment plans, Denplan has been at the heart of dental care for nearly 30 years. Today, Denplan has a wide range of dental plans for adults and children, enabling patients to spread the cost of their private dental care through a fixed monthly fee. Denplan supports regular attendance and preventive care, reducing the need for clinical intervention and helping patients to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life. Patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 328 3223www.denplan.co.uk

 

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Plans for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Membership Plan: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Emergency: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only 

·         Corporate Dental Plans: company funded, voluntary and flexible benefit schemes 

 

Denplan also provides a range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme, Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme and Denplan Training.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

 

For more information about Denplan: 

Kate Maybank

Denplan Press Office 

Tel: 01962 829 179

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  5372 Hits
5372 Hits
NOV
25
0

A different story

A different story

 

Michael Lansdell is a founding partner at specialist dental and medical accountants Lansdell & Rose. As a chartered accountant, here he discusses the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and how it could impact on dental practitioners and practice owners…

 

It could be the understatement of the century to say that we have had ‘quite’ a year here in the financial sector! We barely had time to draw breath after the result of the EU referendum when, on 8th November, the global political and economic landscape had another shock with the election in the US of Donald Trump. 

 

As far as the UK is concerned, not only do the people in charge now look different, the numbers do too. Back in March, ex-Chancellor George Osborne was still talking about his goal of turning the deficit into a surplus by 2020; by November his successor Philip Hammond had the (unenviable?) task of embracing the current reality by setting out careful fiscal targets that leave “significant flexibility to respond to any headwinds the economy may encounter”. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) now forecasts the 2016/17 deficit will be £68.2bn, with 2019/20 producing a deficit of £21.9bn. Most worrying is that by end of this parliament, total government debt is forecast to be just short of £2 trillion!

 

Still, in the real world we have to press ahead with resolve and get on with the job in hand. For dental practice owners, this means trying to maintain a sustainable, successful business that looks after its employees and provides top-notch standards of patient care. So, in Mr Hammond’s first – and last – Autumn Statement, what were the stories that could impact on the dental sector?

 

First, there was some continuity. The previously announced staged reduction in corporation tax, from the current rate of 20% to 17% by 2020, will stay.

 

Employers would naturally be interested in any changes to National Insurance Contributions (NICs). From April 2017, the primary (employee) threshold and the secondary (employer) threshold will be aligned at £157 per week. Also, the tax and NI advantages of most salary sacrifice schemes will be removed from April 2017 (as previously proposed). Exclusions include packages relating to pensions, childcare and cycle to work schemes. Some arrangements will also be protected up until a specified date (the devil is in the detail, as ever). So, if you currently offer employees the opportunity to swap salaries for benefits you may decide to think again as they could end up paying the same amount of tax as individuals who pay for these things out of their post-tax salary. There will also be a call for evidence on tax relief for employees’ business expenses.

 

 

With regards to personal taxation and finance, Mr Hammond confirmed an increase to the personal allowance to £11,500 and the higher rate threshold to £45,000 for 2017/18. He also remains committed to a goal of a £12,500 and £50,000 (higher rate) personal allowance by 2020, he said. Of interest in the area of pensions, the Chancellor also announced proposed changes to the Money Purchase Annual Allowance (MPPA), a reduction from £10,000 to £4000. MPPA applies to anyone who has drawn income benefits under the current pension flexibility rules. The new guidelines are intended to limit the amount of pension income being ‘recycled’ as tax-relieved contributions (future consultation could result in some exemptions). There will also be other changes to the tax rules for pensions of people who move overseas, aligning them more closely with the UK’s tax regime; pensions/lump sums will be taxed to the same extent as they would have been domestically. Finally, the much anticipated further restriction on pension contributions by higher rate taxpayers did not materialise, so no changes there (mercifully)!

 

What about your other savings and investments? The band of savings income that is subject to the 0% starting rate will remain at £5000 during the next financial year. As previously announced, if you have an Individual Savings Account (ISA), the subscription limit will increase to £20,000.

 

This is just a brief summary of what dental practice owners may find interesting and/or applicable to their circumstances. Now more than ever, it is essential to enlist a specialist accountant when you are making any financial decisions, whether it relates to you or your business. In a year of shocks, now is time to be vigilant, be flexible, be organised and most of all to use the experts!

 

To find out more, call Lansdell & Rose on 020 7376 9333,

Or visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk

 

  3468 Hits
3468 Hits
NOV
24
0

Patient Plan Direct Awarded Outstanding Business of the Year

Patient Plan Direct Awarded Outstanding Business of the Year

 

 

 

Patient Plan Direct has been awarded Outstanding Business of the Year (under 25 employees) at the 2016 Dental Industry awards, hosted at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kennington earlier this month.

A judging panel of leading industry clinicians and figures, chaired by Dr David Houston, selected patient payment plan provider – Patient Plan Direct, as the winning company from a wide array of entrants.

The judging panel, which included; Julian English, James Goolnik, Peter Rees, Chris Orr and others, selected Patient Plan Direct as the company that demonstrated, throughout 2016, the strongest development, growth, competitive edge, staff loyalty, culture and first-class service.

 

Pictured Above:- Simon Reynolds and the team at PPD receiving the award for Outstanding Business of the Year

 

Simon Reynolds, commercial director of Patient Plan Direct, commented “We have worked hard throughout 2016, expanding our team and further enhancing our patient payment plan solution whilst maintaining our low-cost fee structure – enabling practices to retain more of their payment plan income.

“Cost management is an important focus for many dental practices in consideration of uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the rising costs associated with running a modern day dental practice. As a low-cost plan provider, PPD meets this market demand and ensures we have a strong competitive edge, whilst other providers are pressured to justify the value of their fees. 

“I’d like to extend my congratulations to the rest of the dental industry award finalists and winners, as well as a big thank you to all of the Patient Plan Direct team for their hard work and commitment as we look towards a highly successful 2017.”

 

 

Patient Plan Direct is a highly cost effective dental plan provider embracing 21st century web-based technology to offer a sophisticated solution to running practice-branded dental plans.

Thanks to an administration fee of £1.20 per patient per month (including A&E cover and VAT), Patient Plan Direct often proves to be 2-3 times more cost effective than working with other plan providers.

A highly-experienced team has helped over 400 practices nationwide either; launch a dental plan for the first time, utilise a plan to convert from NHS to Private, or transfer from another plan provider to make huge cost savings!

Web: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 0844 848 6888

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4036 Hits
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Dental Nurse Lizzie Boon wins ‘Spot the Fake’ Competition

Dental Nurse Lizzie Boon wins ‘Spot the Fake’ Competition

 

The BDIA is pleased to announce that Lizzie Boon, qualified dental nurse and Quality Assurance Auditor for the National Examining Board of Dental Nurses (NEBDN) has won the latest ‘Spot the Fake’ competition, which was held at BDIA Dental Showcase 2016.

The competition challenged members of the dental team to correctly identify genuine and counterfeit dental devices as part of the BDIA’s award winning Counterfeit and Substandard Instruments and Devices Initiative (CSIDI), which has recently partnered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help stamp out counterfeit and non-compliant equipment.

As the winner of the competition, Lizzie was awarded £500 to spend with a BDIA member of her choice, and put the money to good use by choosing to purchase subscriptions to Dental Nursing for herself and colleagues at NEBDN.

Commenting on the competition, Lizzie said, “Seeing the fake equipment next to the real thing definitely makes you think about where the products come from and how important it is to purchase quality equipment from a reputable supplier in order to safely protect users and patients”.

The CSIDI campaign continues to highlight the danger of counterfeit and non-compliant dental equipment and the risk involved in purchasing from unknown sources. BDIA Policy and Public Affairs Director, Edmund Proffitt, commented, “Counterfeit dental devices pose a real risk to patients as well as the professionals using them. We’re pleased that the competition and CSIDI campaign have had such a positive response from the dental team and look forward to continuing this important work in partnership with the MHRA”.

 

Notes for editors:

Picture attached: BDIA Spot the Fake competition winner, Lizzie Boon.

Established in 1923, the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) represents and supports manufacturers and suppliers of dental products, services and technologies. BDIA members gain access to a range of services designed to benefit them and promote the well-being of the industry as a whole and the profession gains the reassurance of dealing with like-minded individuals who are committed to providing a high quality standard of service.

For more information please contact Edmund Proffitt on 01494 781183 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

  8331 Hits
8331 Hits
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It’s all about the patient

It’s all about the patient

 

 

“The conference provided a very informative day, covering a varied range of topics and I found it interesting to see all the new developments and research. It was great that so many speakers who are top of the profession worldwide came to Dublin and I found it useful to get reaffirmation that we’re following good protocols and achieving the same success rates as those international leaders.” – Dr Eoin Fleetwood, Eyre Square Dental Clinic in Galway

 

Entitled Osseointegration Reimagined, Nobel Biocare’s Dublin Team Conference 2016 highlighted just how far dental implantology has come since those early days.

 

The full-day programme brought a piece of June’s Global Symposium in New York to Ireland, demonstrating Nobel Biocare’s total commitment to education and innovation. An array of world-class speakers took delegates on a journey through the development of dental implants, with lectures in the morning and smaller masterclasses and workshops in the afternoon.

 

From where it all began, Professor David Harris kicked off proceedings by paying tribute to Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark, before Dr Bertil Friberg reminisced about what dental implantology was like in the 80s. It seems strange to realise that only 20 years ago, patients had to wear a denture for one year before implants could be placed in healed extraction sites!

 

Professor Hannes Watchel, Dr Ana Ferro and Dr Paul O’Reilly then offered their own experiences from Munich, Lisbon and Ireland, each emphasising the benefits of implants for patients and their quality of life. Modern treatment options for compromised patients were also discussed, with Dr Dawood considering situations where customised implants, cutting-edge 3D printing and innovative ideas were combined to deliver truly life-changing solutions.

 

Exploring the height of implant innovation, the final plenary session challenged the status quo with respect to the digital integrated workflow and CAD/CAM restorations and highlighted the importance of respecting the soft tissue. Dr Rompen also introduced the exciting new On1 concept, which brings the restorative platform from bone level to tissue level for maximum soft tissue attachment and optimised healing.

 

 

Throughout the morning’s lectures, a clear trend developed. All speakers – regardless of specialism or nationality – were passionate about simplifying the clinical workflow for a faster, more predictable and more cost-effective procedure for the patient.

 

Dr Robert Bowe from Bowe Dental Clinic in Limmerick commented:

 

“This was a very well-organised conference, where speakers provided different, innovative solutions to implant problems we face every day. Throughout the morning sessions there was a lot of new evidence presented, as a result of which I will look to modify my own practice. As with all Nobel Biocare events, I learnt something new and came away with a renewed enthusiasm for implant dentistry. It is also great to have the opportunity to talk with colleagues – it’s reassuring to know that we all face the same challenges and that there are solutions out there!”

 

In addition to all this, there were plenty of opportunities to network with industry-leading professionals, while also catching up with friends and colleagues. The Innovation Evening saw delegates and speakers come to together to enjoy a fantastic meal and entertainment, and a great time was had by all.

 

Paul O’Reilly, Scientific Co-Chair, added:

 

“Nobel Biocare is to be commended for assembling an impressive array of national and international speakers for this conference. As well as some outstanding lectures, a programme of hands on workshops and masterclasses allowed attendees to try innovative products, learn new techniques and gain an appreciation for the rapid advances that are occurring in treatment options for our patients.”

 

 

 

For more information, contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300, or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

  8821 Hits
8821 Hits
NOV
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Denplan wins ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ at Dental Industry Awards

Denplan wins ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ at Dental Industry Awards

 

 

 

Denplan is celebrating another successful award win after their NHS if campaign was named ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ at today’s FMC Dental Industry Awards 2016. (Denplan Marketing Team Pictured above.)

Denplan has been running the if (“In Front”) marketing campaign since March 2016. The aim of the campaign has been to inform and engage dentists about NHS dental contract reform and help them consider how any future changes to the present NHS contract could impact their practice going forward, both in terms of patient care and profitability

The NHS campaign was featured across the dental trade press in 2016, as well as featuring prominently on GDPUK.com. 

The award ceremony took place at lunchtime on Friday 18 November at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington and was a well-dressed event attended by many of the dental industry’s leading names.

The judging panel was led by renowned dentist Dr David Houston and over 20 of the dental industry’s most experienced professionals. 

The Dental Industry Awards were created in 2015 to acknowledge excellence in the UK dental industry and to reward progress, effort and enterprise across a number of different categories from marketing and PR, social media, events, teams and customer service.

The ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ award category was created for the company or brand who were judged to have used the most effective mix of marketing in its promotional work over the last year. Denplan were up against stiff competition in their award category from Implantium, Leca Dental Laboratory, Oasis and Stockdale Martin.

Jolian Howell, Head of Marketing at Denplan, said: “I am delighted that the Denplan marketing team has won this award and received the recognition that they deserve. Our ‘if’ campaign has demonstrated the thought leadership centred around NHS contract issues within the dental industry. We have used a wide mix of activity from trade press advertising, online banners, PR and social media, to seminars and research, and plan to continue developing the campaign throughout 2017.”

 

For more information on the if campaign, visit www.denplan.co.uk/if-nhs

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Editors: 

About Denplan 

Denplan Limited is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist owned by Simplyhealth; with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million Denplan registered patients. Established in 1986 by two dentists who pioneered the concept of dental payment plans, Denplan has been at the heart of dental care for nearly 30 years. Today, Denplan has a wide range of dental plans for adults and children, enabling patients to spread the cost of their private dental care through a fixed monthly fee. Denplan supports regular attendance and preventive care, reducing the need for clinical intervention and helping patients to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life. Patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 328 3223www.denplan.co.uk

 

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Plans for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Membership Plan: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Hygiene Plan: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only 

·         Corporate Dental Plans: company funded, voluntary and flexible benefit schemes 

 

Denplan also provides a range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme, Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme and Denplan Training.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

 

 

 

 

  11924 Hits
11924 Hits
NOV
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Career development opportunities and support

Career development opportunities and support

 

 

Sarah Weston (pictured above) has been working for {my}dentist – a member of the Association of the Dental Groups (ADG) – since 2013 and currently works in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Here, she explores what a normal day entails…

 

I qualified from Guy’s hospital in 1996 and have worked in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. I have worked across most sectors of the profession – as a house officer in New Zealand, in NHS and private practices and as a partner and an associate.

 

At my current practice in Woodbridge, we are predominately NHS in a small market town, but do offer a range of private services. With an interesting demographic of patients we get the chance to utilise all our skills. It is a busy practice as we routinely see 25-30 patients a day. I am lucky that I work with a really great team and most of us have worked together for a while now. It’s good to be with other people who understand the stress and strains of the job and can have a good laugh together at times.

 

I work full time so my days tend to be fairly similar. I start with a coffee then move on to checking day-lists, patient records and lab work etc. I hate surprises so I like to know what’s coming. I spend my day performing a mix of examinations and treatments with the odd interesting case thrown in.

 

I also offer facial aesthetic procedures and have recently been on the denture excellence course. It is great to be able to offer such a wide choice of treatment options to patients and the denture excellence has really taken off. It’s an area I really enjoy as a good denture can make so much difference to someone’s quality of life. I am hoping to undertake an implant restoration course soon as well, so I will be able to restore the implants placed by colleagues at local practices in the group.

 

Since working for the corporate I have also become a mentor, which has definitely been a highlight for me. It is a role I really enjoy, as after 20 years in the job it is nice to pass on some of my experience to the younger generation. I had a great VT instructor when I started and I hope I can be as good to new associates as he was to me. It’s a job that is mutually beneficial – it is extremely rewarding to see a mentee improve and gain in confidence and it does the same for the mentor.

 

Within the corporate we are so lucky to have a high level of support from practice and area managers through to clinical support managers (CSM) and clinical directors. They are there to help prevent small problems becoming larger ones. I know that the ‘red flags’ and KPIs can feel intrusive at times, but I do feel they are there to help clinicians above everything else. A visit from the CSM should be seen as a positive thing and I am lucky to have a great CSM in my area. One thing I have learned is that it can be lonely in the independent sector and there is no-one looking out for you in the same way. I think the support network available is the real strength of corporate dentistry.

 

We are also incredibly lucky to have the online academy and the reminder to complete CPD when it is required. This can be a burden for dentists and if there is any way to make it easier then we should be grateful! My practice manager keeps us in check with when our CPD is due and the opportunity to complete it online is a great help, especially when I am busy in practice five days a week. Overall, I feel that my move to {my}dentist was the best thing I could have done for my career. The opportunities are there to further my career in ways that I didn’t feel existed in the independent sector.

 

Having worked for most of my career in the independent sector I was aware of the negative press surrounding corporate dentistry before I joined the group, but I have to say that those rumours were all unfounded. In fact, I feel quite passionately that new graduates are still being given that negative message and as a company we should try to give the next generation the facts and talk to them directly.

 

I enjoy my job enormously but I would relish the chance to move out of the surgery environment a little in the coming years. I would like to expand on my mentoring role and continue with more training and support of new dentists and I hope I can achieve this within the company.

 

 

For more information about the ADG visit www.dentalgroups.co.uk

 

  3692 Hits
3692 Hits
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Tooth wear – facing the future

Tooth wear – facing the future

 

 

Pathological tooth wear (also known as tooth surface loss) is on the increase, as indicated by the most recent Adult and Children’s Dental Health Surveys.1,2

 

Recognising that tooth wear has the potential to be a serious issue in the UK in the future if preventive action is not fully embraced, its incidence and significance was recorded in the Adult Dental Health Survey (ADHS) for the first time in 1998, and this exercise was repeated in the latest offering. Comparison of the two surveys shows that in just 11 years the incidence of tooth wear in England has increased by 10%.1

 

As for the Children’s Dental Health Survey, it tells us, for example, that 33% of 5-year-olds

demonstrated tooth surface loss (TSL) on one or more of the buccal surfaces of the primary upper incisors, while a quarter of 12-year-olds were reported to have TSL on the molars and the buccal surface of the incisors. In addition, 15-year-olds were shown to be more adversely affected than the 12-year-olds when TSL on the occlusal surface of molars was measured (31% compared to 25%).2

 

So, what does this mean in reality for dental professionals and patients looking to the future? As Poyser and colleagues (20015) so succinctly stated: ‘The prevalence of tooth wear is likely to escalate as life expectancy continues to increase. As people expect to retain their teeth throughout life this has important implications on the type of preventative and restorative care that the profession will need to provide in the future. This also has an implication for training and funding for dental services. The management of TSL and the eventual failure of restorations placed to manage this problem are likely to be a significant issue in future years.’3

 

Commenting on this worrying trend, Prof. Andrew Eder, said: ‘Irrespective of age and circumstance, patients need to be aware that, amongst other issues, poor drink and food choices, eating disorders, stress-related bruxism and traumatic oral hygiene measures can all cause considerable tooth wear.

 

‘Once the first signs of tooth wear are recognised, a partnership approach offers the most effective way in which to prevent further damage. Left in the dark, patients – especially those in the younger age groups – are likely to continue in ignorance with their destructive habits, which will have nationwide dental health repercussions for many years to come if the figures published in the most recent surveys are anything to go by.

 

‘So, if we are to have any chance of subverting the oral health outcome that the statistics indicate, it is incumbent upon all dental professionals to meet this challenge head-on.’

 

The London Tooth Wear Centre® offers an evidence-based and comprehensive approach to managing tooth wear, using the latest clinical techniques and an holistic approach in a professional and friendly environment.

 

For further information on the work of the London Tooth Wear Centre®, please visit www.toothwear.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 020 7486 7180.

 

References

1. Adult Dental Health Survey 2009. Report 2: Disease and related disorders. Health and Social Care Information Centre 2011

2. Children’s Dental Health Survey 2013. Report 2: Dental disease and damage in children: England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Health and Social Care Information Centre 2015

3. Poyser NJ et al. The Dahl Concept: past, present and future. BDJ 2005; 198: 669-676

 

 

Professor Andrew Eder is a Specialist in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics and Clinical Director of the London Tooth Wear Centre®, a specialist referral practice in central London. He is also Professor/Honorary Consultant at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute and Pro-Vice-Provost and Director of Life Learning at UCL.

 

  9377 Hits
9377 Hits
NOV
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Insure Your Home For Peace of Mind - 4 dentist group

Insure Your Home For Peace of Mind - 4 dentist group

Today, the assurance that home insurance can provide is invaluable, particularly as it can offer peace of mind to homeowners that their house and contents are protected.

There are a number of different types of home insurance available from standard cover to more bespoke, specialist policies. Buildings insurance covers both the structure of the house as well as the replacement or repairs of permanent fixtures such as bathrooms and kitchens as well as the roof. Contents insurance protects your declared belongings, including electronics, jewellery, clothes, furniture and so on from incidences like theft, fire and flooding. Accidental damage cover, which can be used to repair or replace items that have been damaged – such as a smashed TV or wine stain on the carpet – is classed as an extra, so be sure to specify what you require when selecting your policy. More specialist policies can cover holiday homes, listed buildings, high-value homes and belongings and non-standard houses.

Regardless of which policy you choose it is crucial that you are aware of what it covers and the restrictions that are applied within the small print, otherwise you could find yourself unable to make a claim. 

Statistics show that the most common claims made by policyholders in 2015 were weather (25 per cent), escaping water (21 per cent), fire (13 per cent), theft (13 per cent), accidental damage (10 per cent), domestic subsidence (4 per cent) and other domestic claims (14 per cent). [i]

Claims for floods have increased in particular over recent years. At the end of 2015, start of 2016 alone, storms Desmond, Eva and Frank are thought to have resulted in payouts of £1.3 billion, with each claim thought to average at £50,000 – in 2013/14 the average was £31,000.[ii] With research showing that heavy rainstorms are on the rise due to manmade climate change – one in five extreme rain events experienced globally are as a result of the global rise in temperature[iii] – it is possible that we could be seeing a lot more claims for bad weather and flooding in the coming years; something to think about if you are not currently protected against these events.

If you don't have an existing policy or you are looking to change or upgrade, it can be prudent to enlist the services of a specialist agency such as insurance4dentists that can advise you on products that would be best suited to you. By going at it alone you run the risk of selecting cover that might not be sufficient or correct for your needs, which could result in a subsequent claim being rejected. Thus, for peace of mind, contact an expert adviser today.

 

For more information please call 0845 345 5060 or 0754 DENTIST. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.insurance4dentists.co.uk

 



[i] UK Insurance and Long Term Savings Key Facts 2015. Accessed online August 2016 at https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/2015/Statistics/Key%20Facts%202015.pdf

[ii] Association of British Insurers. New figures reveal scale of insurance response after recent floods. Published January 2016. Accessed online August 2016 at https://www.abi.org.uk/News/News-releases/2016/01/New-figures-reveal-scale-of-insurance-response-after-recent-floods

[iii] Fischer EM, Knutti R. Anthropogenic contribution to global occurrence of heavy-precipitation and high-temperature extremes. Published online 27 April 2015. Accessed online August 2016 at http://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate2617.epdf?referrer_access_token=15X7XExUOy_QyvQu3oFbBNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0MiqNJsr0khJzfLkhisC13QLeclYOunBpKyWwMws3LCxAbMW6ZeZtRWGeJqzjaIlG0THL84TJflFRuci-_5AC2TC5OFqIL6C2FchKpN7X0tcse9TXYTD9JL2PQtQ8SIueuA9AwYf2wX2ATSugIprTD5G-nRwQKdPabgc2BOsEeP20S5cQQyB8z5jdT7GDJfM5fWZ-W0GRCNq7rv-s7xjtOBnJNX4r8ng6irk0B2Xy509ckVGq1gCD7cdZTMrfC7WWXcj8BJVH17sivoLY85lFdY&tracking_referrer=www.theguardian.com

 

  4458 Hits
4458 Hits
NOV
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Equipping UK dentistry - Christopher Cox A-dec

Equipping UK dentistry  - Christopher Cox A-dec

With over one thousand students enrolling in the UK’s dental schools last year, it is vitally important that each and every one of them receives quality training from the very moment they begin their education. After all, it is they who will be responsible for the future of dentistry – a future which, it must be said, is looking ever more challenging.

With an ageing population, the needs of patients are changing, placing new pressures on dental professionals that must be addressed from the very beginning of their careers. This can then be juxtaposed against the shifting needs of dental professionals themselves, prompted, in part, by an increasing understanding of the ergonomic requirements of dentistry.

Having access to the latest technology and equipment is particularly important, after all this reflects the direction in which dentistry is going. For young dental students, it sets an early precedent which may be continued throughout the rest of their career – and this is why so many of the UK’s dental schools are choosing A-dec equipment.

Designed to meet the challenges of modern dentistry, A-dec dental units are renowned for both their reliability and functionality. With years of testing and retesting invested into their creation, each product is devised to provide practitioners with precisely what they need to practice excellent dentistry. Whether it’s ease of maintenance, cost efficiency, the capability of integrating necessary ancillaries or providing an ergonomic workplace solution, A-dec chairs are developed with a keen understanding of what practitioners need and want from their dental equipment. 

With high quality equipment available to train on, dental students are more likely to learn to practise in a way that greatly benefits both themselves and their patients. With A-dec stools and dental chairs, for example, students will be able to acquire the correct working posture early on, meaning that the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders later in their careers will be mitigated.

Fully committed to ensuring that the next generation of UK dentists have the very best start in their careers, A-dec works closely with the country’s best training facilities, providing quality equipment on which students can perfect their skills. A-dec UK has worked closely with the majority of UK dental schools and has installed literally thousands of dental units and training simulators across the country.

Aiming to provide support to the dental community at all stages, A-dec is also proud to work alongside some of the biggest and most celebrated dental hospitals in the country. The team has, in the last several years, installed over a thousand dental chairs (the majority being the premier A-dec 500 model) into many dental hospitals across the UK and Ireland, including Birmingham Dental Hospital, the Royal London Dental Hospital, Bristol Dental Hospital, the Peninsula Dental Hospital and the Charles Clifford Dental Hospital.

The quality of the services provided in these facilities necessitates the use of nothing but the most reliable and multi-functional equipment available – which makes A-dec the perfect choice. The A-dec 500 is one of the most cutting-edge dental chairs on the UK market, boasting a design that meets the challenges of modern dentistry – in all scenarios. With optimum ergonomics, excellent mobility and access, reliable internal mechanisms and the clinical adaptability, the A-dec 500 is changing the way in which the UK’s dental hospitals have been treating patients.

In addition to the provision of exceptional equipment, A-dec also offers each of its institutional partners unparalleled support. With a keen understanding of how important each and every piece of equipment in any of these facilities is, the A-dec support team is available to support and advise with any query.

Led by Christopher Cox, A-dec’s Sales and Marketing Manager, the team provides unwavering assistance from the very beginning of an installation project, including design and fitting, to continuing maintenance and engineer support. Christopher says: “I’m very proud of the work undertaken by A-dec in the UK’s dental hospitals and schools and look forward to continuing to support their success.”

With so many fantastic institutions now recognising the benefits of A-dec equipment, it must be remembered that A-dec offers the same exceptional products and support to independent dental practices. Simply contact the team to find out precisely how they could help you.

 

For more information about A-dec Dental UK Ltd, visit

www.a-dec.co.uk or call on 0800 2332 85

 

 

 

 

  3505 Hits
3505 Hits
NOV
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Award winning laboratory goes from strength to strength

Award winning laboratory goes from strength to strength

 

Relocating to offices 4 times larger than before, the success of S4S (UK) Limited and Smilelign Limited has meant that they needed to go bigger and better! 

 

Watch below for a video invite from Matt Everatt, S4S Technical Director!

 

 

S4S and Smilelign are hosting a laboratory launch to celebrate their move to Rutland Road and their continuing success. Featuring tours and a thank you by the Directors, the Signing Dentist will also be in attendance! With a mission to promote oral health in a fun and entertaining way, and as seen on Good Morning Britain, Dr Milad Shadrooh has his own YouTube channel and over 20 million Facebook views. 

 

Doors will be thrown open at 4pm on the 7th December at 151 Rutland Road, S3 9PT. The planned launch will consist of tours of the lab space, a talk from the Technical Director about the business - how it has remained strong despite factors such as the economic crisis, and the first-class staff that they employ - and a session with the aforementioned Singing Dentist, Dr Milad Shadrooh, explaining how he intends to continue delivering a positive message for the UK dental industry as well as sharing his experience of using S4S and Smilelign in his practice. Followed by drinks and nibbles, the afternoon should prove to be a popular event amongst the business and dental scene. 

 

S4S and Smilelign have grown significantly since their conception and have won a number of national awards including Best Dental Laboratory in both 2014 and 2015, and are up for the award again this year. “Eliminating the space constraints of our previous home will allow our team to continue to provide the excellent service that our clients expect” says Neil Bullement, Commercial Director, “with close to 9,000 sq ft, we now have space for further growth”.

 

About S4S (UK) Limited & Smilelign

An award-winning dental laboratory S4S and Smilelign provides clinically proven treatments to dentists and patients in the fields of snoring & sleep apnoea, bruxism and orthodontics as well as offering educational opportunities to GDPs and others in the surrounding fields. To learn more visit www.s4sdental.com or call us on 0114 250 176.

  4212 Hits
4212 Hits
NOV
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Compliance made easy - Martin Gilbert

Compliance made easy - Martin Gilbert

‘Compliance’ may be one of the most hated words amongst dental practitioners these days. Indeed, whether it’s HTM01-05 or CQC, it pervades almost every aspect of the profession – and there really is no escaping it.

 

However, while we may not want to like compliance, there can be no denying that it has helped us improve our service, protect our patients and ourselves. Certainly, without HTM01-05, our practices would not be nearly as safe as they are today, and without the CQC, many more cases of malpractice might go unnoticed, undermining the integrity of the dental profession.

 

These days, however, compliance extends far beyond the clinical aspects of our work – decontamination, patient consent and case documentation, for example; indeed, as mentioned above, it is integral to almost everything we do within the walls of our practice.

 

This also includes our finance options. Patient finance is by no means a new feature in modern dentistry, but it is certainly becoming increasingly more popular as patient demands begin to change. Certainly, as more and more patients seek out elective, cosmetic treatments – many of which necessitate higher value procedures – the need to provide cost-effective credit options is essential. Indeed, if there is one thing that we have all learnt since the recessionary years, it’s that ‘affordability’ is golden. As the demand for different treatments rises, so too does the competition between professionals – both inside and outside the UK. As such, it is vitally important to offer ways for patients to financially access the treatments they want.

 

Of course, by offering finance options in practice, dental professionals are introducing themselves to yet another form of compliance – and a particularly stringent one at that. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates all consumer credit, and its guidelines are strict.

 

Indeed, the FCA does not distinguish between a dentist, who has built up trust and who may have a long-term relationship with their patients, and a company that deals with patients on an entirely ad hoc basis. The result of this is that dental professionals who want to offer their patients finance options for treatment will be subject to the same stringent regulations as any payday loan company or bank.

 

As one might imagine, therefore, the amount of administration involved in maintaining compliance with the regulations can be something of a nightmare – especially for independent practices that do not have the resources of manpower to dedicate a specific member of staff to its maintenance.

 

In fact, just applying to the FCA for finance authorisation can be an excruciating process – not to mention the subsequent reporting and reviews that the FCA requires on a regular basis. All this can be particularly disruptive – and is unlikely to really be one of the highest priorities in a busy practice that already has to deal with many other compliance issues on a day-to-day basis.

 

Of course, this does put practices at risk of falling foul of the regulations – and represents a real threat to the reputation and financial wellbeing of any practice.

 

So, unfortunately, dental professionals may find themselves in something of a catch-22 situation. As more and more patients demand affordable dental treatments, practitioners may feel as though they need to offer credit options, but by doing so, they will have to devote time they probably do not have to the appropriate compliance protocols and regulations. And if they cannot, they will not be able to meet the demands of their patients at all – and run the risk of losing business.