According to the World Happiness Report 2015, released earlier this year, the UK is the 21^st happiest country in the world. While, as a country, we fall behind the United States, Australia, the Nordic countries and Switzerland (which is smiling in the number one spot) we contentedly remain in the happiest 20% of the 158 countries that have been included in the study.[1]

A number of different variables are taken into account in order to assess the happiness of a country. These include GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, freedom from corruption and generosity. Of these, generosity has one of the highest positives affects on people and produces the lowest negative affect overall.  

To evaluate a population’s generosity, participants were asked, “Have you donated to a charity in the past month?” The most recent survey of its kind, the UK Giving Report 2014, found that 57% of adults in this country gave to charitable causes in a typical month – meaning that around 34 million people were extending their financial generosity to people in need to the estimated sum of £10.6 billion.[2] But while this is an encouraging statistic, how does it have an impact on the overall happiness of the country?      

Research has shown that people who are giving money to charity exhibit heightened brain activity – particularly in the ventral striatum and tegmental areas. These areas are closely linked to the experience of positive affect and our physiological reward system and the processing of emotional output from the amygdala.[3] What this means is that giving to a worthwhile cause triggers a chemical reaction in our brains that produces a sense of reward and positive emotion. The same areas of the brain are stimulated when we ourselves are given good news or receive something we want, but studies have shown that giving is the better stimulant, corroborating the common adage that ‘it is better to give than receive.’

It has also been proven that doing good for others can benefit our own mental and physical health[4] as well as being an important, pro-social function that contributes to the overall wellbeing of the country. Of course, while it is nice that being charitable makes us feel better, the impact on the people we are giving to is far more important. Being able to depend on the generosity of our peers is a real indicator of a population’s happiness and will make a real difference for the people who are most in need. Circumstance and chance can too easily force any one of us to the brink of desperation and knowing there is a network of support built on the goodwill of others, who are ready and willing to provide help, is a comforting reality.

Established in 1882, the BDA Benevolent Fund has been providing this type of vital support for decades. By offering essential financial assistance for everyday expenses they can bring much-needed relief to dentists and their families, when all other avenues of income fail.

Depending entirely on your generous donations, the BDA Benevolent Fund needs your continued support to carry on helping dentists and their families when times are tough. Help support your colleagues and donate to the BDA Benevolent Fund today.

Thank you.

The BDA Benevolent Fund relies on your help to continue its work,
so please contact us on 020 7486 4994 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,
or to give a donation today go to www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk.
 

And if you are in need of help yourself, please contact us now.

All enquiries are considered in confidence.

Registered charity no. 208146

The demand for affordable dental care is on the rise, along with the increase in popularity for dental procedures. We safeguard our most cherished possessions such as our homes, cars, pets and even lives with insurance policies, so logically our teeth should be as carefully protected.

The repercussions of poor oral health have the potential to not only damage self-confidence and relationships, but are also linked to diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. To add insult to injury, the healthcare required to treat dental conditions is notoriously costly. As completely free NHS dental procedures are only available to pregnant women, new mothers, children up to the age of 18 and those receiving benefits, virtually everyone – whether private or NHS – pays towards dental care. Current NHS treatment bands range from £18.80 for a standard check up, through to £222.50 for more complicated procedures such as crowns. Bearing in mind that 63% of NHS dental patients choose their practices based on cost[i], it’s prudent for clinicians and patients to investigate dental insurance policies, particularly when several treatments are required.

A British Dental Association report in 2013 showed that over half of mainly NHS dental practices in the UK, didn’t employ dental hygienists at all[ii]. However, the 2009 Dental Health Survey revealed 45% of the population with natural teeth had gingival pockets of 4mm or more revealing that periodontal disease is widespread[iii]. For these patients, hygienist sessions are recommended at least twice a year, typically costing around £50. If a standard amalgam filling at £50.50 (a composite, white filling is usually a private treatment), and any related dental examinations are then added to the mix, fees can escalate.

For a series of private treatments, a £220-£280 annual cover plan, recompensing 75% of the final bill makes financial sense. NHS dental patients may also be able to opt for NHS clinic-only cheaper insurance plans covering 100% of the costs[iv]. With some policies covering families, dental accidents or emergencies overseas, and giving no upper age limit for new customers, there’s a wide range of options available to suit both need and budget.

Munroe Sutton has been organising, designing and managing stand-alone, affordable dental plans for over thirty years. Created by dentists, these policies are committed to fair compensation for professionals and improving accessibility to quality dentistry for the individual. Together with leading insurance providers, a network of high quality dental practices has been established. Completely free to join, it offers your business a highly effective and efficient promotional tool to help increase your patient-base and build profit, all at no extra cost.

For more information please call 0808 234 3558

or visit www.munroesutton.co.uk

A key defining factor of life today is that we’re all connected in ways our forefathers were not. The Truman show film released in 1998, depicted the world in an unfamiliar, fantastic way, which is what made the subject matter so intriguing. However, are we really that far away from that fantasy world today? We may not be being watched in our own homes 24/7 but we are just a click, a text, a tweet or a Skype call away from anyone we choose to connect with, anywhere in the world, at any time.

Technology, coupled with a social media explosion has meant that real time information is no longer a figment of our over active imaginations, it’s here and constantly developing. Everyday, live data is served up in many guises via digital applications covering diet and fitness through to bus timetables. Many businesses are recognising the endless benefits of capturing this kind of data. Online news sites can post two headlines for the same feature, monitor the interest generated and within minutes discard the less popular, optimising their online hits. They stay one step ahead in an increasingly competitive environment by not only communicating to readers in real time but by enhancing the product  (editors receive immediate data and respond accordingly).

Dental practices accessing live data can reap similar benefits in terms of workflow and profitability. In 2009, the British Dental Association ran a survey to calculate the amount of hours lost for practices by Failures to Attend (FTA). It recorded an average of 81 hours per dentist over the year, with an astounding rise to an average of 111 hours where those practices had no reminder system in place[i]. This is equivalent to three weeks of back-to-back treatments so can any practice afford to ignore appointment management?

There is now software available offering the continual stream of information and communication between your practice and patient base. This fully automated system takes care of appointment fixing, credit card processing, and crucially, reminding patients to attend. Covering the four focal points of chair occupancy, treatment planning, appointment confirmation and patient recare, this real-time information helps to monitor and manage appointments efficiently. Staff are then free to instantly respond to situations as they occur, keeping schedules at optimum efficiency.

Carestream Dental can provide this real time data via the new fully automated Springboard feature of the CS R4+ practice management software. Because the system immediately undertakes time-consuming administration, Springboard enables a continual, fluid workflow. In return, resources and skills are applied to the areas where they’re required where they’re most needed – attending to patients.

For more information, 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 

“The relationship between the practice and the supply company’s representative is the most important feature for us when considering who to work with,” says Vicky Marsh, Practice Manager at Parkway Dental Care.

“We’ve been working with Wrights for a number of years but since our current representative, Tina, joined the team a year ago, we have been especially happy with the excellent service we’ve received. Wrights offers the best value for money and we now order all our materials and consumables, as well as some oral health products, through the company.

“Tina and I hit it off straight away. She is absolutely fantastic, her level of customer service is extremely high – she is always prepared to go that extra distance to deliver on our requirements. I get regular emails with any deals or offers that may be of interest and anything she doesn’t know is investigated and immediately reported back to me; it is first-class customer care.

“I am extremely satisfied with Tina and will stick with her for the foreseeable future. I would recommend this service 100%, in fact I always do – Tina is wonderful!”

For a professional yet personal service from an experienced team, next day delivery on top-selling products and exclusive discounted prices, contact Wrights today.

            For more information contact Wright on 0800668899 or visit www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

How could the Florida Probe, one of the most accurate and consistent periodontal probes on the market, be made even better?

Clark Dental is proud to introduce the Florida Probe Dolphin – the single-use and disposable probe that ensures each new patient can be treated with a fresh appliance. Seeing you unwrap a new probe especially for them increases patient trust and reassures them that they are receiving the best and most hygienic care possible.

The Dolphin features a new, more flexible plastic sleeve, in a neon yellow colour to make it easier to see in both light and dark environments. With its improved flexibility, you will also be able to reach difficult interproximal sites far more easily.

The Florida Probe Dolphin is compatible with your existing Florida Probe and the powerful Voice Works perio-charting software. This innovative product is changing the way periodontal exams are conducted and is the ideal tool for any practice. To find out how you could benefit from it, contact the team at Clark Dental today.

For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

Described as a global burden, severe periodontitis has been reported to be the sixth most prevalent medical condition in the world.[1]

In the UK, periodontitis affects about half of all adults with up to 15% estimated to have the condition severely.[2] These shocking statistics echo the findings of the 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey, which reported that, although this generation has a better outlook than their predecessors, there are still many people whose oral health and function does not meet the best possible standards.[3]

Periodontal disease is a particular area of concern because it can cause serious oral health problems and when left untreated, and can result in tooth loss as well as deterioration of both gingiva and bone. Ominously the potential effects and implications of periodontal disease may also extend beyond oral health and recent research has established that periodontal infection is a probable risk factor for various systemic diseases, including pulmonary disease.[4]

Furthermore, periodontal disease has the capability of changing the chemical composition of the blood and glucose levels as well as interfering with the body's inflammatory system and thereby increasing the risk of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,[5] respiratory[6] and cardiovascular diseases.[7]^,[8]

As we know, tobacco use, stress and obesity may be significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. However people with other general health conditions also have an increased risk of developing the condition. Evidence has consistently revealed that diabetes is a risk factor for the prevalence of gingivitis and periodontitis^[9] and a five-year follow-up, population-based study in Taiwan[10] has also indicated that patients with osteoporosis might have an increased chance of developing periodontitis.

Search Engine Optimisation (part one)

Using search engine optimisation

NEIL SANDERSON DENTAL MARKETING EXPERT

You are probably aware that Google now gives the top three search results to it’s paid advertising e.g. pay per click or Google Adwords. This is without doubt the most effective and quickest way to get your website to the top of Google’s rankings.

However there is also a case to be made for being near the top of the rankings organically or free listings. Some people just prefer to click on the free area rather than clicking on an advert. So whilst I would always advocate using Google Adwords as your first choice, I’d like to talk a little about search engine optimisation.

Search engine optimisation is effectively trying to make your website rank towards the top of Google’s listings. You must remember that fourth place is probably the best you will ever get because of the pay per click.

But if you can get yourself to position four of five it’s certainly better than being on page two. So  what do you need to do?

Search Engine Optimisation must do’s

1. Video You must have video on your website, this is now crucial. Not only does video move you up the rankings but it also is a brilliant tool for keeping people on your page and remember to make your video autoplay. Ideally the video should be on either YouTube or Vimeo with a link to you website rather than being embedded in your site.
2. Blog Write a regular blog, between 300-500 words. A blog is also extremely effective in influencing Google, make sure you put lots of links back to your website into the blog and also have outbound links. you also need to optimise any images you put into your blog. You also need to think of the keywords you are trying to influence Google with.
3. Google local business. This is an area often overlooked by most practices but is highly effective at getting you up the local rankings. Put as much content into this area including video, images, your opening times, any special offers, in fact as much as possible. Then get as many reviews from your patients as possible.
4. Metatags These are the short descriptions you see when you search for something and are presented with the listings, ensure that these are relevant and have your key words in them.
5. Links. If you have any links in you page ensure that they still work, Google will check for broken links, if you have lots they will mark your site down.
6. Navigation Analysis ensure that your site has good navigation and all links within the site work.
7. URL names ensure that your URL (the name of the page) is relevant and has your key words in it.
8. Content Change you need to make sure that your content changes regularly, Google doesn’t like static sites, it wants to see things changing regularly, just as you update your Social Media ensure that you regularly update your website too.

I’ll go through some of the other SEO tactics in later posts, but if you start to adopt these you should see your rankings improve, although this isn’t guaranteed and you are at the mercy of Google. As I said earlier, the only tried and tested way to get your site to the top of the listings is to advertise with Google.
 

If you would like help with your digital marketing, call me on 01767 626 398 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit my website www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk Facebook page

The Trailblazer Management Apprenticeship in Dentistry provides an extensive work-based programme with a national recognised level 4 qualification – ILM Certificate in Leadership & Management. The course offers a foundation of knowledge, skills and experience for progression into lots of different roles, not only that of practice manager; it also paves the way for advancement towards area or regional manager roles. It is applicable for individuals working in both independent and corporate practices and the qualification in leadership and management has the potential to open a lot of doors, so there is no limit to the career opportunities available.

The aim of the course is to develop a student’s capabilities and personal awareness in order for them to become a leader. It provides learning pathways in a wide range of areas to allow a holistic approach to how the practice is run on a large scale, enabling them to make better-informed decisions. Graduates will be able to take a strategic approach to managing the practice; increasing the efficiency of operations by streamlining workflows and increasing the quality of patient care.

Due to the nature of apprenticeships, the two-year course keeps students in the working environment with only three or four days taught in college per year. Candidates are able to implement new procedures and processes in an environment they are already familiar with to benefit the entire team. A portfolio of work showing evidence of scenario-based projects, learning activities and assessments is developed in practice and a student mentor supports individuals as they learn. The programme covers Human Resources, Patient Care, Clinical, Marketing, Risk Management, Quality Assurance, Finance and the Dental Industry and other areas, enabling practice managers to marry their existing abilities with new skills.

Employers can obtain fully qualified people to run their businesses without huge expense. They are not required to fund the entire apprenticeship, just a third; the other two-thirds is funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Students must of course provide drive and commitment to the training but they do not pay anything, so it's a fabulous opportunity for learners to gain high-level qualifications as they earn.

Intake for the apprenticeship programme begins every few months and the start dates at Barnet and Southgate College are:

• 18^th March 2016
• 13^th May 2016
• 1^st July 2016 with more dates to follow.

The college offers an eligibility criteria form designed to provide a quick assessment of candidates’ suitability for the course. Generally, candidates need a grade C or above in GCSE English and Maths and should have a level 3 qualification (A-level equivalent or BTEC qualification), but most candidates will be at this kind of level if they are applying.

Dental practice managers are undoubtedly the ‘life-blood’ of the company. To ensure your management staff members have the skills and experience they need to excel in their careers and drive your business forward, find out more about the Trailblazer Management Apprenticeship today.

For more information or applications contact Barnet and Southgate College. Tel: 0208 266 4333

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

With an in-depth understanding of the daily demands faced by modern clinicians, Carestream Dental offers an array of flexible solutions to suit the way you work.

The CS Adapt module allows you to define and customise images in whatever way you wish. Up to six pre-set filter options are available for you to choose between, enabling each image to be presented in a format that best suits the individual case.

The intuitive library-style programme facilitates easy browsing, image selection and the choice of filters ensures faster and more accurate diagnostics every time.

Available to use with various imaging solutions from Carestream Dental, including the CS 8100, CS 8100 3D, CS 9000 and CS 9300 systems, CS Adapt image processing is ideal in a wide variety of situations.

What’s more, you can be confident that the customer service delivered by Carestream Dental will be second-to-none, enabling you to make the very most of your innovations.

Don’t compromise the way you work when employing new systems – discover CS Adapt.

For more information, 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 

Clinical competency is the foundation for excellence in dentistry. Through high quality and on-going training and education, professionals acquire and develop the appropriate skills that enable them to deliver safe and effective dental treatment to their patients.

Particularly in such a fast-paced profession as dentistry, where techniques, materials and technologies are rapidly advancing and changing the way treatment is provided, remaining abreast of the latest innovations and ideas is vital. Not only does this ensure competency to treat patients in the most appropriate way, but it also allows practitioners to enhance the dental care and treatment they offer. 

What’s more, it’s important to develop knowledge and understanding in a broad range of areas. For example, if you wish to offer implant treatment to patients it is clear that you need to complete advanced training so that you have the skills necessary for the provision of safe and effective services. However, even as a GDP who doesn’t provide such treatment directly to patients, you still need sufficient knowledge that will enable you to assess the health of implant supported restorations that you may encounter.

Whether clinicians require education for the placement, restoration or maintenance of dental implants, it is paramount that any training completed is of the highest calibre.

Passionate about improving awareness of and access to first-class tuition in the field is Ken Nicholson. Ken is the founder of the British Society of Oral Implantology, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the Faculty of Examiners at RCS Edinburgh, amongst many other accolades. He is also the founder of SmileTube.tv, a learning portal designed to ensure practitioners’ competency in implant treatment. He says:

“The widespread use and published success of dental implant supported restorations is encouraging more and more GDPs to become involved in this treatment modality. A visit to the dentist’s section of the Yellow Pages makes it difficult to ignore the fact that an increasing number of practitioners are using the label ‘Cosmetic and Implant Practice’. Ensuring the clinician has the appropriate knowledge and skills to undertake dental implant treatment is of paramount importance.

“The GDC’s required learning outcomes of undergraduate education for Dentists: The First Five Years states that dental students should ‘be familiar with dental implants as an option in replacing missing teeth’. UK-qualified dentists are not expected to practise implant dentistry without undertaking structured postgraduate training and assessment of competence.

“The first step towards treating a patient is case assessment, where attention to detail and identification of the salient features of the case are essential. Even if a general practitioner does not wish to provide implant treatment, it is almost certain that he or she will be caring for patients with implant-supported restorations. A component of that care will be assessment of the health of the implant restoration(s) for which an understanding of implant dentistry is essential.”

For those wishing to perform implant treatment themselves, it is crucial that any training undertaken is carefully designed to provide both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience clinicians need to ensure their clinical competency.

Through SmileTube.tv, practitioners have access to a structured, blended learning programme that is tailored to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skill to place and restore dental implants, in a safe environment. The course involves four online modules, which can be completed at a time and from a place of the delegate’s choosing for ultimate engagement and effectiveness of learning. Training concludes with eight clinical days where delegates can develop practical skills for placing and restoring implants, while under the supervision of leading implant practitioners across the country and with access to cutting-edge facilities.

“The SmileTube.tv ‘Ultimate Implant Year Course’ delivered in partnership with Nobel Biocare provides delegates with the core knowledge and competence in implant dentistry expected of a GDP, as described by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for the Diploma in Implant Dentistry at the College,” continues Ken. “The knowledge component of the course, and assessment of that knowledge, is delivered online through the purpose designed e-learning platform SmileTube.tv, and delegates are able to revisit any material as many times as they need for the duration of the course. The clinical skills component, and skills assessment, is delivered through one of a network of clinical training centres throughout the UK and Ireland.

“I believe Nobel Biocare to be a global leader in implant dentistry with a hugely impressive and well documented track record. It is a proactive, innovative and forward-thinking company keen to support education and training for the GDP, which arguably offers the most comprehensive range of services, products and materials in the industry. The latest implant design from Nobel Biocare, the NobelParallel® Conical Connection (CC) implant will be one of the implant designs used on the SmileTube.tv course and promises to be an excellent platform for the newcomer to implant dentistry.

“As Nobel Biocare has been innovative in its approach to implant dentistry, SmileTube.tv has been innovative in its approach to education and training in the field. We hope to develop a passionate, global learning community, pushing the boundaries of education and training in implant dentistry to provide a better experience for our learners and a safe and predictable outcome for their patients.”

For more details on the learning opportunities available, please visit www.smiletube.tv, email Janine our Learning Community Facilitator on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0289 252 8522.

For more information about the exciting innovations available from Nobel Biocare, please call 0208 756 3300 or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

Last year, Dr Peter Collins from Beaconsfield Dental Practice decided to update two of the surgeries in his Buckinghamshire practice. He went to Clark Dental for help with planning and design, and for some of the most cutting-edge equipment in the industry.

“I would highly recommend Clark Dental,” says Dr Collins. “The support and advice the team offered was excellent. 

“I have worked with Matt Rowlingson from Clark Dental on a number of occasions and he has always been incredibly helpful. This project was no different. His team of engineers and experts, including Ryan Shoesmith and Grant Smith, were exceptionally dedicated, helpful and professional throughout the entire process – from planning to installation and their ongoing support now everything has been completed.

“With new Apex Elite cabinetry in both surgeries, and A-Dec dental units, our 100 year old practice has been given a new, modern look that has had a positive response from both our patients and our dental team.” 

For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

“We have been working with Wrights for two years” says Maryam Felkler, Principal Dentist and Clinic Co-ordinator at eleDent Clinic, Sutton. “Our representative Louise is the reason we joined; her reputation is outstanding and she truly represents the standard of staff that Wrights employs.

“When it came to renovating two of our surgeries, Wrights did everything and the team was efficient and well-organised. We were given a really great price and a five-year warrantee with most of our chairs and equipment. What’s more, Wrights beat every single quote I received from other suppliers.

“Due to the excellent and consistent service that Wrights provides, we use it for 100% of our ordering. The delivery of our consumables and materials is faultless; even the most unusual requests are met by Louise.

“Wrights offers no limitations on payment and we are able to pay monthly. This is testament to the strength of our working relationship and the mutual trust between Wrights and its customers.

“The personalised service that we receive in invaluable and is the biggest selling point of the company. We will continue to use Wrights for all of our ordering into the foreseeable future.”

To find out how you can get a dedicated, professional and personalised service, contact Wrights now.

            For more information contact Wrights on 0800 66 88 99 or visit www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

In the UK, there a number of people who are contracted to do unsociable hours with estimations from the Labour Force Survey in 2005 showing 3.6 million in shift work employment.¹ Indeed, with many working in healthcare, manufacturing, transport, communications and hospitality professions, nine to five is no longer considered to be the norm.

With reports showing a decline in nightshifts and the three-day working pattern, it appears that emergence of ‘other types of shift work’ is on the rise highlighting the constant change that workers face.²

Finding the time

Because of the erratic and unpredictable patterns that shift work brings, it can therefore be difficult for people to arrange and attend much needed or emergency appointments.

In comparison to fixed contracts, which specify pre-arranged working days, shift work rotas are subject to change and can often not be distributed to staff until the last minute. As you would expect, booking an appointment in advance can become a seemingly impossible task.

What’s more, because employers are not required by law to allow workers to attend medical and dental appointments in work time,³ booking an appointment without a definite rota is out of the question, unless annual leave is approved for that specific time.

The toll on oral health

Not only does working unsociable hours and shift work have an effect on the convenience of booking an appointment, it could also create or contribute to medical and oral health problems.

Although there is insufficient research specifically on the topic of oral health in patients who work these hours, there is some evidence to suggest that it can be damaging to a person’s general health and wellbeing. As well as affecting sleep, weight and increasing the chance of diabetes, studies have shown a link between shift work and increased cardiovascular morbidity.⁴

The solution

Making appointments more accessible and offering online booking will encourage the general and oral health of shift workers. The current system has many flaws including busy phone lines, lack of out-of-hours options and limited choice of appointment times.

In comparison, online booking is flexible and transparent, offering 24/7 access to available appointments. A quick, easy-to-use and stress free alternative, online platforms such as Zesty offer a solution to those who work unsociable hours.

If you want to streamline your practice, optimise your surgery time and allow patients who do shift work to access services, contact Zesty today.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. visit www.zesty.co.uk or call 02037717799 for more details today

¹ Unite guide to shift work and night work – a health and safety issue for unite members. Revised October 2013. Accessed online 24^th July 2015.

http://www.unitetheunion.org/uploaded/documents/ShiftandNightWork%2011-4950.pdf

² Changes in shift work patterns over the last ten years (1999 – 2009). Prepared by Office for National Statistics for the Health and Safety Executive 2011. Accessed online 6^th August 2015 http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr887.pdf

³ Advice Guide. Citizens advice bureau. Accessed online 24^th July 2015 https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice%20factsheets/Employment/e-time-off-work.pdf

⁴ Europe Published Central. Shift work and health – a critical review of the literature on working hours. J.M Harrington. Accessed online 24^th July 2015 http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/784775

Providing a rare opportunity for you to learn and interact with more than 20 of the top global speakers in the field of implantology, the Nobel Biocare Team Conference 2015 is an event not to be missed.

Held on 6^th and 7^th November at The Brewery London, the conference offers an exceptional programme with lectures, hands-on workshops and masterclasses run by leading global professionals.

Among the outstanding speaker line-up will be Professor Sreenivas Koka, renowned for his leading expertise in the field of implantology and prosthetics. He will be presenting a masterclass alongside Professor Daniel van Steenberghe, entitled “Peri-implantitis: a tsunami waiting to happen? Facts and fallacy”.

“Reports of peri-implantitis are steadily increasing and it is up to the profession to ask what we can do to reduce its prevalence,” says Professor Koka.

“During our session, Professor Steenberghe will focus on the treatment and management of the condition, while I will look at how the disease is caused and what we can do to prevent it.

“We know that patient behaviours influence the development of peri-implantitis to some degree, but it is how we as clinicians use dental implants that will have the most significant affect. The key is in the treatment planning, before implant surgery is performed. We need to fully understand the science behind our decisions: where do we choose to place the implants, in what types of people and why?

“We used to have many concerns with regards to implantology, but as the procedure has become more common and success rates have improved, we have relaxed our approach slightly. This just needs tightening up again to ensure we create the best possible chances of clinical success.

“My section of the masterclass will focus on what we should be looking for and doing in preparation for implant placement. Particularly relevant for those who are relatively new to the field, the session will emphasise that implants will not always work well with every patient.”

Professor Koka will also present a lecture on “Prosthetic solutions for the edentulous patient: What, when and why?”, exploring the key prosthetic pathways for different solutions. Discussing the evolution of protocols and materials in this area, there will be an opportunity for debate regarding prosthetics for the All-on-4^® treatment concept, prosthetic implant bridges, IBO and maintenance.

A member of the Scientific Committee and involved with the creation of the programme, Professor Koka concludes by highlighting the calibre of the event:

“This conference will celebrate how far we have come as a profession in the past couple of decades – the science and clinical experience we have developed is truly astounding. It will also highlight how much more there is yet to come.

“Historically, Nobel Biocare has been a major leader in the dental implant arena and this kind of programme will definitely keep it at the forefront. The conference will go back to basics, emphasising the science, education and research supporting the many products, materials and techniques used today. It’s a very exciting programme!”

For more information about the Nobel Biocare Team Conference, or to register, please visit www.nobelbiocare.com/uk2015, or call 0208 756 3300.

Mobilegeddon

From the 21st April Mobilegeddon happens, you need to act now
 

For some time now I’ve been banging on about how your website should be mobile ready because 60% of all search is now carried out on mobile devices and you should have your website ready for these visitors.

Well things are just about the heat up even more. Google have announced major changes to their algorithms, (the industry is calling this Mobilegeddon that will do two things.

1. They are going to tag all websites in the search listing that are mobile ready.
2. They will lower your ranking if your site isn’t mobile ready.

The marketing press have been full of this, Read This Article. So just what does this mean to you as a dental practice? Well basically everything. As I have mentioned on many occasions 60% of all search is not done on mobile devices. This means that if your site isn’t mobile ready, people searching for you will probably never see your site listed.

But and it’s a big but, if your site is actually found by someone who is searching for you, your listing will not have the Google mobile stamp of approval so they may well decide not to bother with your site.

This Google update is not some small thing that they will roll out as they have been doing over the last two years with most people not noticing, this is a major deal for Google, (Mobilegeddon), this is why they have been flagging this up for some time.

So what do you need to do to ensure that your website is mobile friendly and you won’t fall foul of Mobilegeddon?

1. Ensure the mobile version of your site is active and functional. Responsive designs are the most popular, these are the one’s that we supply, but you can also have a separate hosted mobile version of your site. Google doesn’t have a preference, as long as mobile users’ experience isn’t interrupted.
2. Ensure Google’s mobile bots can crawl your site. If Google can’t see it, it may as well not even be there.
3. Check each individual page of your site on a mobile device to ensure navigability. Just because your home page is mobile friendly doesn’t mean the rest of your site is.

In addition Google are offering you a new tool to test your website, click here to check your website and ensure that it is mobile ready, this tool is completely free and safe, it will give you all the information you need to ensure your site is mobile ready.

Incidentally Google are also checking to see if you have a mobile app too, and again if you pass this test they will rank you higher than if you don’t so you might want to think about getting yourself a mobile for the practice (we sell these too) click here to see how our Mobile App can build your practice, it’s been designed specifically for dental practices.

We are now very busy converting many websites to make them mobile ready, if you would like us to give you a quote on making your website mobile ready, call us today on 01767 626 398 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk or check out our Facebook page.

Offering you a choice of cutting-edge digital imaging solutions, Carestream Dental is delighted to bring the power of 3D imaging within the reach of every general dental practice.

The outstanding CS 8100 3D produces both 2D and 3D images of exceptional clarity, optimising versatility, accuracy and predictability of diagnostics and treatment planning procedures.

Further aiding a quick and smooth image acquisition, the intuitive interface is easy to use and patients of all shapes and sizes can be scanned in just seconds.

The CS 8100 3D also offers carefully controlled radiation exposure, with flexible fields of view available to ensure the safety of patients at all times.

To harness the benefits of 3D imaging within your every day practice, find out more about the CS 8100 3D from Carestream Dental today.

For more information, 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 

The dental practice goodwill values for the last financial year ending March 2015 are out at last, and average practice sales with Dental Elite as a broker have risen to 3.23x adjusted net profit, 6.99x adjusted EBITDA with 137.8% as a reflection of turnover.

“I think anyone involved in dental practice sales and goodwill values will have noticed that the market has gained considerable strength,” reflects Luke Moore, Co-Founder of Dental Elite. “Most practices this year have achieved over and above our valuation.”

This year, NHS practices are displaying a 3.66x ANP, 6.79x EBITDA and 156.70% turnover compared to mixed practices, which sold for an average of 8.98x adjusted EBITDA or 3.56x ANP with a reflection of turnover standing at 136.02%.

“The breakdowns are very interesting,” says Paul Wilkinson, Co-Founder of Dental Elite. “It would seem that mixed practices tend to sell more to dentists who seek to work in the practice themselves, hence the slightly higher EBITDA multiple which is counteracted by the lower Adjusted Net Profit. It is also interesting to see Private Practice Multiples starting to narrow the gap between NHS Practices.”

To find out how you can get the best deal on your practice, and for a free, no strings valuation, contact Dental Elite now.

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

EuroPerio8, the triennial world leading conference in periodontology, made its visit to London this year.

With lectures held throughout the duration of the conference, EuroPerio Platinum Sponsor, Acteon, presented lectures on Thursday and Saturday.

On Thursday, Dr Amit Patel and Donna Schembri explored the concept of ‘Seeing the Unseen’ - Utilising Fluorescent Technology for Optimal Periodontal Care.

The theme from Acteon and the two speakers was clear: improve patient understanding to empower self-care and utilise technology to see better and treat faster.

Cutting-edge products mentioned as examples for the effective removal of plaque included the Newtron P5xs ultrasonic generator, the Air n Go easy airpolisher and Soprocare - which utilises state of the art photonics technologies.

It was a similar story from the Ziv Mazor lecture on Minimal Invasive Surgery Utilizing Piezo Surgical Device - Optimizing Biological and Functional Outcome in the Posterior Maxilla.

Using products such as Piezotome® and Sinus Lift Kit as examples, he articulated that innovative technology minimises complications, reduces treatment and healing time, and ultimately enhances function.

Improve patient understanding and encourage them to look after themselves by giving them the tools and the knowledge: together we can improve patient care.

Find out more about innovations available from Acteon by calling the team today.

For more information on Acteon and how to educate your patients, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call 01603 227019 or visit www.acteongroup.com

As an established independent company, Wrights prides itself on providing a customer-centred, professional and friendly service.

At this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase Wrights was pleased to introduce for the first time, the sophisticated and quality imaging software, CAD/CAM solutions and dental units from leading manufacturer Planmeca.

Wrights also had the pleasure of launching its new partnership with the easy-to-use and multi-functional cloud based practice management software Dentally, as well as a new orthodontic range from leading provider of clinical solutions, G&H Orthodontics.

“I am pleased to finally announce the launch of these three ranges exclusive to Wrights,” said Ahmed Zaher, “and I thank everyone for their support”.

For those who missed out on the exciting array of old and new products and brands, flyers displaying exclusive discounted offers will be made available throughout the year.

To find out more about quality products and brands unveiled at the BDIA Dental Showcase 2015, contact Wrights now. Rest assured that whatever your supply needs, Wrights has it.

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

Prestige Dental is delighted to announce the appointment of Jennifer Ball as its Product Specialist for the M62 corridor and surrounding areas.

Never one to rest on her laurels, Jennifer, who has an extensive dental nursing background, is in the process of rolling out an exciting programme of learning opportunities in individual practices.

Whether lunchtime, first thing or after the practice closes is best for you, armed with sandwiches and in the space of just one hour Jennifer can provide invaluable information on products such as ACTIVA™ BioACTIVE, as well as vacuum forming and Medentika’s implant range – obligation free.

Speaking about her new role, Jennifer commented: ‘I am really looking forward to meeting customers – new and old – and learning what support I  can offer individual dental practices so that dentists and their teams can remain focused on what they do best – delivering excellent patient care.’
 

To make an appointment for Jennifer to visit your practice or for more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01274 721567.

The state of the nation’s children’s dental health never seems far from the headlines. Although the NHS insists there has been a vast improvement over the past decade, the fact that nearly 26,000 five-to-nine year olds were admitted to hospital for tooth decay in England in 2013-14[i], means the time for action is now. But a focused, multi-agency approach, based on education and prevention, must consider how a child’s needs change as they grow older and move into adolescence.

Just like other life stages, hormones play a significant part, making a good oral health routine crucial. Research has shown that puberty’s rush of ‘sex hormones’ affects the periodontium.[ii] This is an unavoidable factor; as for an ‘avoidable’ one, a smoking habit usually starts, and gets established, during adolescence, and obviously has many serious consequences for dental and systemic health.

Like smoking, eating disorders are often initiated during the teenage years. Individuals who develop bulimia nervosa may experience acid erosion to the surface of the teeth as a result of vomiting. Anorexia nervosa can lead to increased caries, xerostomia and osteoporosis due to a lack of essential nutrients.

Energy drinks are popular during examination time as they are marketed as boosting energy, decreasing fatigue and enhancing concentration. However, they are often full of sugar, too. Skipping breakfast – or grabbing something unhealthy on-the-go – is also common. New research has shown that teens are twice as likely to suffer from halitosis if they miss breakfast[iii] and, with these years being a defining time socially, bad breath can be a great motivational tool to trigger better oral care!

With finances also likely to be an issue we need to look at simple, cost-effective ways to boost teens’ dental health between appointments. Education about the causes of halitosis, proper brushing techniques and the dangers of smoking of course are important, but they could add some adjunctive products, too, such as CB12 mouth rinse and Boost chewing gum which are clinically proven to neutralise the gases that cause halitosis and keep the the mouth fresh all day.  

With such a drive to improve children’s dental health, we much not forget what comes after. Late adolescence is full of social, psychological and financial pressures and regular trips to the dentist are unlikely to be a priority, especially if an individual has just left home for the first time. The best solutions are always the simple ones, and no one wants to be known as the person with bad teeth or breath! Guidance and support is not just for kids, and will provide life-long benefits.

For more information on CB12 and the extensive research behind it, please visit www.cb12.co.uk

Rapidly produced products are often poor quality. If we take the example of fast food, this is widely accepted – you will not find ‘Superfood’ in your fried chicken bucket, but a meal delivered within seconds, saving you hours of toil in the kitchen. Convenience versus excellence is often the trade off for speedy delivery. But is this an exchange we’re still happy with in the 21^st Century?

Today, convenience and immediacy are ever more in demand but with less room to compromise on quality. For example, the first digital cameras produced low resolution, poor quality images that couldn’t compete with the detail and pin sharp quality of conventional film/transparencies. However, in recent times the developmental explosion in digital photography embraced the modern age and replaced conventional, film photography. Not only are there cameras available that generate pictures in enormous file sizes (such as 36 megapixels), they can also integrate High Definition video functions (gaining popularity over conventional ‘stills’ photography) and even allow you to adjust the focus after the picture has been taken.

Today, the speed of digital photography is taken for granted. Formerly, with conventional film cameras, an initial camera click led to processing, printing and perhaps retouching – commonly taking up to a week. Nowadays, digital photography is instantly downloaded, manipulated in Photoshop and then emailed or shared via an internet platform. It’s now so commonplace that we forget how time consuming this whole process used to be. Without digital images, we would have a very different world – no Instagram, Snapchat, or pictures on Facebook or Twitter!

Similarly, restorative dentistry has made enormous strides in technology, but these innovations have been married with remarkable improvements in quality. Digital intraoral scanning, CAD/CAM and 3D capabilities have improved the patient experience enormously. A comparative study conducted by Bio Med Central in 2014, tested conventional and digital techniques with the same patients – 100% preferred the digital option, from the perspectives of comfort through to the amount of time spent in the dentist’s chair.[i] Today, using the combination of intra oral scanning, CAD/CAM and 3D printing, technicians can produce a wide range of bespoke models and orthodontic appliances, constituting failsafe precision.

The CS 9300 CBCT and panoramic imaging system from Carestream Dental offers both rapid and faultless restorative dentistry. There are 7 fields of view enabling clinicians to meet patients’ diagnostic needs with impressive detail, and two low radiation dose options that give exposure control by both the adjustable field of vision and rapid scanning functions. Available on its own or as part of the fully integrated digital system, the CS 9300 system offers streamlined workflows, increased productivity, patient security and satisfaction. Let technology save you the precious time needed to fully focus on your patients.

For more information please contact the experts at Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

Delegates at this year’s BACD Annual Conference will be treated to a diverse range of exceptional educational opportunities.

Among these, and promising to be one of the event’s highlights, is the occlusion management panel, hosted by Dr Ken Harris, Dr Ian Buckle, Dr Heike Krämer, Dr Any Toy and Dr Chris Orr. “I’m looking forward to a vigorous and forthright exchange of ideas,” says Dr Harris. “Delegates will be encouraged to offer their own insights, as well as being exposed to ours.

“Occlusion plays an important role in the success of our restorative dentistry and, as the population ages, it is incumbent on today’s dental practitioners to be able to restore these gradually failing dentitions so patients can retain their own teeth.”

A long-standing fellow of the BACD and the first UK graduate of the Kois Center in Seattle, Dr Harris is known for his knowledge of the Kois approach to occlusion, one of the most popular trends in modern occlusal theory and thought – and will be bringing his considerable expertise to bear during the session.

Join delegates from all across the country for this inspirational three-day event – make sure you register your place today!

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. For more information and to book your place, go to www.bacd.com

Not to be missed this November – amazing savings on industry-leading brands such as 3M ESPE Dental, Dentsply, NSK, Voco and more.

As well as exclusive promotions on quality products such as Alkazyme and UltraWipes Expert from Alkapharm and Alveogyl and Endocal from Septodont, other top packages in the Wrights seasonal flyer include:

• Buy four K3™ or K3XF Files from Kerr and get one free
• Buy two get one free on Maxcem Elite from Kerr
• Buy three packs of xantasil® from Heraeus Kulzer and get preVision® Temp A2 completely free of charge

With a highly experienced and dedicated team delivering exceptional customer service, it is no wonder that more dental professionals are turning to Wrights as their first choice dental supplier.

To find out what you are missing and for a full list of products and promotions available, contact the team today – you will experience customer service like never before.

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

Working with the British Dental Health Foundation, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) continues to pledge its support to Mouth Cancer Action Month in November and it’s mission to promote understanding of oral cancer.

With over 40 years of experience, the British Dental Health Foundation has dedicated its time to educating, imparting advice and running crucial campaigns, with its messages reaching 560 million people.

Together, the ADG and British Dental Health Foundation continue raising awareness of the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer and encouraging regular dental check ups. By increasing the chance of early diagnosis, morbidity rates and the devastating effects of oral cancer can be minimised.

Through the Blue Ribbon Appeal and by taking part in Blue Wednesdays and the Blue Lip Selfie Campaign, you can show your support to the cause.

Get involved and help change tomorrow’s statistics, today.

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

Four members of the Rodericks management team will soon be participating in the “Sleep Out for Centrepoint” on 12^th November, hoping to help raise awareness and donations to support the amazing work of the charity.

Georgina Linton, Training Manager at Rodericks, is among those sleeping rough for the cause:

“As part of Rodericks’ work with Centrepoint, I had been looking into how the group could help regarding the dental and health education needs of individuals the charity supports. It is an inspiring organisation that not only helps young people get off the streets, but also helps build them a future by teaching essential life skills.

“I jumped at the chance to get more involved and raise money through the ‘Sleep Out’ campaign and my colleagues Aaron Baldwin, Kavita Malhotra and Lesley Marr were keen to join me.”

The group will sleep under the stars at The Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane in London this November, hoping to raise £1,500 towards this fantastic cause.

All donations, however large or small, are greatly appreciated and can be given at sleepout2015-londonotb.everydayhero.com/uk/rodericks/members.

Thank you for your support!

For more details about the “Sleep Out for Centrepoint” or to get involved, visit www.centrepoint.org.uk/news-events/events/sleep-out.

For more information about Rodericks please visit www.rodericksdental.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or call 01604 602491.

If you haven’t already booked your place at the BACD Twelfth Annual Conference, now is your last chance.

Always an exciting event, the 2015 conference looks ready to surpass previous years: world-class speakers, inspirational and exciting topics and endless networking opportunities await delegates this November.

Speakers include: Dr Serhat Köken, Dr Hatem Algraffee, Dr Oliver Harman, Dr Heike Krämer, Dr Ken Harris and more – all of whom will be delivering a diverse selection of lectures, seminars and hands-on sessions.

This educational programme has been tailored to provide a compelling overview of cosmetic dentistry and will cover isolation tips, clinical photography, BACD Accreditation advice, implantology and much more. The opportunities here for creativity and learning are infinite and simply cannot be missed.

So, if you are looking for a way to reignite your passion for beautiful dentistry, meet like-minded individuals and learn from some of the very best professionals in the industry, look no further than the BACD Annual Conference.

To book your place, contact the team today.

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. For further enquiries about the BACD  and to book your place, please visit www.bacd.com

A combination of stimulating presentations, hands-on workshops and masterclasses will be delivered, with delegates able to attend two out of the eight available. A broad spectrum of topics from peri-implantitis to team collaboration, integrated workflows, immediate placement protocols and long-term management of dental implants will be covered, with every session designed to inform and inspire.

Held on 6^th and 7^th November at the stunning location of The Brewery in London, you won’t find a programme quite like this elsewhere in the UK.

For more information or to register please visit www.nobelbiocare.com/uk2015, or contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300.

Representing the very latest in dental practice management software is the CS R4+ from Carestream Dental featuring Springboard.

Operating in real-time, the intuitive software delivers live data on key KPIs so you know exactly how your business is performing at any given time. At a glance you’ll better understand your practice’s chair occupancy, treatment pan uptake rate, appointment confirmations and effectiveness of recare programmes in place.

The CS R4+ can be easily and fully integrated with any imaging or patient communication programmes and technologies you employ, so that a smooth and seamless workflow can be enjoyed by all members of the team. Popular solutions from Carestream Dental include the eSignatures module, Appointmentor Online Booking System, Text Messaging Service and AutoPost, each optimising security and convenience for both patients and professionals.

The team at Carestream Dental are also committed to the business corporate programme, eXceed, so you can trust in the high standard of service and support you will receive with any and all new innovations.

Discover the CS R4+ practice management software and all its benefits for yourself today.

For more information, 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 

“I was very happy with the service I received from Dental Elite,” says a Principal from Sussex who has recently sold their practice. “My representative was very supportive and I found it extremely valuable to be able to deal with the same person throughout the whole process.

“I thought the valuation process went very well and I was pleasantly surprised at just how flexibly the figures could be analysed.

“I would highly recommend Dental Elite to other professionals – in fact I’m singing their praises to all of my colleagues.”

Dental Elite prides itself on being able to offer dental professionals honest and pragmatic advice when it comes to selling their practice. With a wealth of hands-on experience and a dedication to seeing a job well done, the friendly team at Dental Elite are always ready to help.

To find out just what they can do for you, contact them today.

For more information and to find out how Dental Elite can value
and assist your practice sale 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

The Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) is pleased to welcome Straumann as Headline Sponsor for the 2016 event.

Event Director Chris Brown comments:

“We are delighted that Straumann, a leading provider in implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry, is supporting DTS in this way. Together, we hope to deliver a diverse range of high quality education for all delegates, while also presenting the very latest products, materials and state-of-the-art technologies on the market.”

Stephen Booth, Country Manager of Straumann UK notes,

‘CADCAM and digital technology is becoming even more essential for streamlining laboratories to make them more efficient. In a rapidly changing market, we are excited to showcase our solutions for technicians and DTS provides the ideal opportunity to explore how we can work together in partnership.’

At the UK’s largest and leading event for dental technology, DTS, held alongside The Dentistry Show, the Straumann team will be available across the two-days demonstrating their extensive range of innovations for dental laboratories.

The Straumann® Dental lmplant System is complemented by a range of matching precision components, designed and crafted to the highest quality standards in order to ensure long-term reliability, and technicians are encouraged to use genuine Straumann components to ensure the long-term success of all implant cases. The Straumann® Variobase® Abutment delivers a highly cost-effective solution for screw-retained single crowns and cement-retained crowns and bridges on either Bone or Tissue level implants, offering extended restoration options for maximum design freedom.

Straumann is also a leading developer of digital solutions that seamlessly connect computer-assisted imaging, planning, design and manufacturing across the entire tooth replacement/restoration workflow. With this advanced technology, the company offers state-of-the-art CADCAM prosthetics to specialists, general dentists and dental laboratories around the world. Straumann® CARES® CADCAM prosthetics are manufactured to very high precision standards in centralised milling, processing a broad range of materials.
 

Additionally, Straumann’s partnership with Createch provides a wide range of CADCAM structure solutions for implant-borne dental prostheses for a variety of indications, and is importantly underlined by Straumann’s Guarantee of clinical accuracy of components.

DTS 2016 will be held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd April at the NEC Birmingham. For more information please visit www.the-dts.co.uk, call 020 7348 5263 or email dts@closerstillmedia.com

Learning from the best

As soon as one begins their training to become a dental professional, they understand this will never really have an end point during their career.  The natural skills involved in being a dentist have to be accompanied by continual education and ongoing learning to ensure that new techniques and materials are kept abreast off, resulting in the optimum care provided to patients.

Additionally, patients are becoming more aware of the treatment options available to them and consequently more demanding of the results that they receive. They know that they can choose which dentist to go to depending on the treatment that they require, and often carry out extensive research to ensure that they choose the best. There are a number of ways to differentiate yourself from the other practice down the road; one of which includes subscribing to a specialist academy. By marketing this membership to your existing and potential patients, you are showing your commitment to your education, an outstanding quality of service provision and the dedication that your patients are looking for.

Your time is valuable – choose wisely

They say nothing beats face-to-face interaction and this is most certainly true when it comes to education. The academy that you choose to join will depend on the education avenues available from them, so you need to ensure that you select the one that suits your learning needs the most. However, the choice of academies to join and their educational conferences to attend is vast and confusing. Your time is very valuable, to both you and your patients, so it is important to choose wisely.

A worthwhile academy should offer the latest in education, career support, assistance to find more patients and value for money. The larger academies in the industry will hold an annual conference that should be a high point of your yearly membership.  The most prestigious conferences offer internationally recognised experts in their field, meaning you can remain close to home, but find out about techniques and developments from all around the world. You usually watch a series of lectures and participate in hands-on workshops on a range of topics by highly regarded opinion leaders and there is the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from the experts.

It’s not what you know, but who you know

Another important aspect of attending the most high profile of annual conferences is networking. At these events you can meet old and current acquaintances and catch-up on their most recent news. But, you also get to the chance to meet new peers and opinion leaders that have similar professional interests to you and can become an important mentor within your career.

It is only at some of the better conferences that you can get access to the speakers on a one-to-one basis. This allows you to seek valuable career advice from them, clinical case counsel, get suggestions on specialist courses to attend and hear their experiences with particular products and materials. This is most definitely valuable time well spent!

The most talked about conference of the year!

The most influential conference in the aesthetic dentistry calendar is no doubt the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s (BACD) Annual Conference in November. As always, the 2015 event it is expected to be one of the most talked about conferences of the year! For the last 12 years, the BACD has staged professional educational conferences that have attracted the most eminent of dental professionals offering their insights into their specialist topics.

This year the conference is titled, ‘The Aesthetic Equilibrium’ and it seeks to achieve harmony between biology, science, technical aspects, aesthetics and mechanics, as well as balancing the patient’s emotional, financial and clinical needs. By using the finest national and international speakers, the BACD hopes the topics will inspire you and offer an insight on how to achieve this balance. The speakers are also very approachable and will be happy to offer advice and recommendations; a trait thought to be quite unique to this particular conference.

Further still, there will be trade representatives present to provide demonstrations and advice on the latest equipment and materials, as well as offering special offers and prices. There is something for everyone at the BACD Annual Conference, so bring along other team members to optimise the opportunity; there will be something for everyone.
 

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. Go to www.bacd.com, email Suzy Rowlands at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0207 612 4166.

Make a Dentist Charity is proud to present;

Make a Dentist Conference and Exhibition 2016

Following on from the huge success of lasts years inaugural conference, MAD has lined up an exciting list of speakers that will be sure to get your parotid glands going!

When: Wednesday 6th January 2016 at 12.30-17.30

Where: Kings College London, New Hunts House Lecture theatre, New Hunts House, London, SE1 1UL.

Tickets: Buy here

As the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) continues to promote prevention of dental health problems and delivery of quality outcomes for patients in a sustainable, high quality manner, Mouth Cancer Action Month remains of utmost importance.

“As long term supporters of the British Dental Health Foundation and Mouth Cancer Action Month, we are as pleased as ever to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause,” comments Chair of the ADG, David Worskett. “By working together we can tackle oral cancer and make a real difference to those who suffer, one campaign at a time.”

Indeed, now that Mouth Cancer Action Month is underway – as launched by the British Dental Health Foundation on the 29^th of October at the House of Commons – the ADG will once again resume its task of raising awareness on diagnosis and prevention.

Currently, statistics show that only 40% of patients who develop mouth cancer visit the dentist with concerns. [i] But as Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation Dr Nigel Carter OBE explains, “if the dental and wider health profession can inform and urge patients to regularly attend dental check-ups, we can increase the chances of mouth cancer being detected at an early stage.”

If any headway is to be made, these wise words must be implemented. Indeed, with the latest figures showing that 6,767[ii] people are diagnosed with mouth cancer in the UK each year, it is important that as many people as possible get involved with Mouth Cancer Action Month.

Whether it’s the Blue Lip Selfie Campaign – where all you need to do is take a selfie of yourself and share it with the hashtag #bluelipselfie – or showing your support by wearing a blue ribbon badge, your participation is crucial to the success of the campaign.

Another useful tool available is the oral cancer CPD module available through the ADG, designed by {my}dentist. While it may not be mandatory, recapping on areas such as early symptoms, referral and treatment pathways for the disease and improving patient awareness could be the difference between saving and losing a life.

That is why the ADG is pleased to announce the return of the CPD module, and hopes that the tool will help in the battle against mouth cancer. The module is free to review, with only a small cost of £25 plus VAT – £5 of which will be donated to the British Dental Health Foundation and the Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign – for those wishing to apply for a CPD certificate.

Ultimately, the campaign needs all the help and support it can get, especially as research indicates that early detection of mouth cancer can result in a survival outcome of 90%.[iii]

For more information on Mouth Cancer Action Month, the CPD module and to find out how you can be a part of the month long November campaign, contact the ADG today.

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

Situated just outside Coventry and within the spectacular Ricoh Arena – home to the Wasps, Europe’s most progressive rugby club – Planmeca welcomed their new distribution partners and esteemed guests last Thursday to officially open a new customer experience centre and UK headquarters.

The showroom was opened by Tuomas Lokki, Planmeca Group Senior Vice President and Karl O’Higgins Managing Director of Planmeca UK.

Tuomas said “this is a new era for Planmeca UK and our new home is one of the most important foundations from which success can be built upon. This new facility offers the perfect environment to discover our range of digital imaging solutions, world class CAD/CAM system and our range of highly innovative digital dental units.”

Karl echoed Tuomas’s comments by saying “This stunning facility is testament to Heikki Kyöstil?’s vision for Planmeca UK to be an integral part of Planmeca’s global success – Mr Kyöstil? is founder and president of the Planmeca Group, who unfortunately could not be present for the event, but wished the local team and distribution partners well for the future.

Via our new and expanded distributor network, alongside a world class product portfolio and innovative mobile showroom, we are now well positioned across the UK and Ireland. Any dentist or DCP wanting to experience Planmeca’s innovative digital workflow now has that opportunity through multiple channels and in multiple environments.

The new customer experience centre features a dedicated CAD/CAM training zone alongside a full range of 3D imaging machines showcasing the latest in imaging technology. The showroom also includes Planmeca’s range of digital dental units, all combined through the comprehensive and modular Romexis software. The showroom can be easily transformed into a small conference and event facility capable of hosting courses for up to 40 delegates.

The showroom is equipped with the latest technology to ensure seamless presentations with full HD LED projectors and multi speaker surround sound installed, ensuring a seamless experience for both presenters and delegates. There are a number of meeting rooms available, all of which are equally fitted out with the latest conference technology and catering is available from the Ricoh Arena in-house hospitality team. If you have need for a high quality Midlands lecture and events facility, maybe give us a call.

To view the complete range of Planmeca digital solutions at our NEW customer experience centre, please call 0500 500 686, alternatively email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


www.planmeca.co.uk

0500 500 586

Mark Oborn will be available for one hour from 6pm on 13th October for a live Q&A session to answer your questions on how you can best market your practice to help grow your implant business.

Register now to have your questions answered in this live session where Mark will answer as many questions as he can within the hour.

Mark spent 25 years as a dental technician working exclusively within the high quality sector of the private market.  After 15 years of running his own laboratory he now also has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) majoring in marketing, innovation and creativity. Mark is also a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and Master Practitioner of Hypnosis which further assists him in the skilful art of marketing communication.

In one of the largest transactions of the year to date, specialist dental adviser Christie + Co has sold six dental practices based in the East Midlands operating as Jordan Dental.

Jordan Dental is a progressive and well run group of predominantly NHS practices in excellent locations in Nottingham, Derby and Mansfield. The portfolio has been sold to {my}dentist, the largest corporate operator in the UK. The price was undisclosed.

Acting for the Jordan family, Christie + Co undertook a confidential marketing process from which {my}dentist was chosen as the preferred bidder. Clare Emery, Senior Associate at specialist solicitors Harrison Clark Rickerbys acted for the vendors.

Simon Hughes, Director and Head of Medical at Christie + Co comments: “I am delighted that Christie + Co was chosen to act for Dave Jordan in the sale of his business. He took advantage of strong market conditions and we were able to agree and conclude terms much more quickly than can often be the case with NHS practice sales. We wish {my}dentist the very best with their acquisition which gives them a significant and quality presence in the Nottingham dental sector.”

Dave Jordan of Jordan Dental comments: "It was a pleasure working with Christie & Co, the team showed great understanding of our needs and guided us through the difficult decision to sell something that we had worked so hard to build from scratch. I wish the team at {my}dentist every success in the future and trust that the group will continue to flourish as part of a much bigger operation."

Robert Pilling, Director of Acquisitions at {my}dentist adds: “I am delighted with the acquisition of the Jordan Dental Group and look forward to working with the practice teams over the coming months and year ahead. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Jordan family on choosing to sell to {my}dentist and also to the Christie + Co team who supported the acquisition process in a very professional manner.”

Denplan has today announced that it will be running a high-profile national TV advertising campaign throughout October.  The ad has been produced by one of the UK’s leading creative agencies, Brothers and Sisters.  They successfully demonstrated a unique and creative approach to answer Denplan’s brief by developing an innovative strategy connecting the importance of good oral health and visiting a dentist with the current social phenomenon of the “selfie culture”.  

The first airing of the TV ad will be on primetime television during the Scotland v Samoa Rugby World Cup match on the afternoon of Saturday 10^th October and it will be aired for three weeks on a host of popular channels, including ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Channel 5. 

The aim of the ad is to capitalise on the unique strength of the Denplan consumer brand which will work in partnership with Denplan’s member practices own brands to help them stand out in a competitive market. The ad will provide dentists with the ideal opportunity to talk to their patients about the benefits of joining Denplan. The ad has also been created to help Denplan engage with a larger audience and build affinity with more consumers, alerting them to the importance of loving their teeth and looking after their oral health and encouraging them to find and talk to a Denplan dentist.

Richard Ward, Head of Marketing at Denplan commented: “The ad has moved away from the typical clinical or educational advertisements that could be for any number of dental products. Instead, viewers will see a memorable, impactful ad using humour to engage them.  The ad plays on todays’ selfie-obsessed culture by using humour to dramatise what happens when people lack confidence about their teeth whilst taking a selfie.  There is also a fun interactive element with the incorporation of a hashtag (#doitforyourselfie) encouraging people to generate and post their own selfie via Twitter, Instagram. Facebook or via www.doitforyourselfie.co.uk.”

Denplan conducted some selfie research which gives further credence to the campaign. The YouGov survey revealed that a staggering 5.6 million selfies are taken in an average day by adults online which equates to an incredible 2 billion plus per year!  Three quarters (74%) of adults have worried about how their teeth look in photographs and a third of adults (33%) have smiled but purposely not shown their teeth due to being embarrassed by them*.

Richard Ward continued: “We want everyone to feel proud of their smile, so the TV ad highlights the importance of preventive care and encourages patients to seek advice from a Denplan dentist. We’ve also produced a lot of supporting collateral for our member dentists and their practices to use, to support this nationwide campaign so that it becomes a real talking point with both their new and existing patients. 

“All practices have been sent a #doitforyourselfie pack which contains a range of marketing tools to help practices make the most of the campaign, including some eye catching background posters and a selfie stick so that practice teams can encourage patients to take a “post check-up selfie” and enter  the #doitforyourselfie competition. There are also post check-up selfie stickers to give to participating patients.” 

Denplan’s Chief Dental Officer Roger Matthews has also been involved in advising on the campaign and says: “Research has shown that using humour to emotionally engage with people creates more impact and recall than non-humorous adverts, so we were confident that the humorous approach was the right way forward for Denplan’s dental ad. That said, this meant it was vitally important to consult dentists in the making of the ad, especially when we were working on producing the tooth and gum prosthetics.

“We wanted to ensure the ad remained sensitive to real dental conditions that are no fault of the patient – such as chipped or misaligned teeth - but at the same time we needed to convey a positive feeling towards the importance of visiting the dentist regularly and having a good oral health routine to prevent problems before they start.  Without paying adequate attention to your teeth and oral health, it’s possible that people’s teeth may not always look or feel good, which can impact confidence.”

As one of the UK’s leading providers of corporate dental plans, with more than 1,900 schemes covering over 190,000 employees, Denplan is also encouraging companies to take note of the campaign and use the opportunity to raise awareness and educate employees about the importance of good oral health. Promotional marketing packs containing a double-sided selfie zone poster have also being sent to Denplan’s corporate clients with employees also eligible to enter the #doitforyourselfie competition.

Simplyhealth who bought Denplan in 2011, has invested £1.2 million into the project, making it Denplan’s biggest advertising campaign to date. The Denplan ad supports Simplyhealth’s long term everyday health strategy – of which Denplan and dentistry is a key part. 

www.doitforyourselfie.co.uk

#doitforyourselfie

References

*Source: Online YouGov Survey for Denplan. Survey was carried out online with 2,077 UK adults. The figures have been weighted are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

Forward thinking Dental Practices in the UK looking to simulate an “open all hours” reception service to their patients through clever advancements in practice management system technologies will now be able to achieve their ambition.

Thanks to a revolutionary approach and the latest developments from the pioneering software development team at Systems for Dentists, 24/7, 365 days a year access for patients is now a practical reality.

Made possible by bringing to market e-based development solutions as an extension of their existing successful Dental Practice Management software services, Dental Practices in the UK who run V6 Practice Management from Systems for Dentists, or switch to the system in the future will be able to radically improve their accessibility in the dental market place to patients through Virtual Reception, offering the very latest in on line access and real time technologies.

And dental practices looking to adopt an open door approach through the new on line patient portal will be able to look forward to being accessible on line – 24/7, improving their patients’ experience, making cost savings, driving up profits and achieving even greater operational efficiencies.

Virtual Reception, as part of V6 Dental Practice Management System is set to open up a host of benefits for busy dental surgeries looking to take an innovative lead through the simplicity of open door reception access through the clever portal to patients in their care;

The attractiveness for dental receptions always being able to be “accessible” through the arrival of on-line booking functionality, with patients able to book, move, cancel and view their own appointment information for instance is just one feature sure to be a popular and welcome benefit where convenience and avoiding missed appointments is concerned for all.

Two way communication at the click of a button and instant self-service functionality means patients will be able to review consent forms, post-operative care and estimates, amongst a plethora of other hosted information. And with timely access to personal records, data and treatment images, as granted by the Practice, the new portal offers a more effective and open exchange between Practices and their patients leading to an enhanced customer experience.

Add to this patient’s ability to pay for treatment in an instant via an embedded secure payment gateway, reductions in practice administration, cost savings in resourcing and reductions in printing costs through forms being available for completion on line  and practitioners will be quick to see why “Virtual Reception” makes complete commercial sense.

And its not only dental practices, but the patients in their care who can also enjoy and look forward to a whole array of fantastic benefits;

Through the portal, patients will be able to gain access 24/7 to review and amend their own dental appointments on-line, synchronise these with electronic calendars, complete mandatory information on line instead of having to fill in time consuming paper work and forms at their surgery.

Other features mean they can also be amongst the first to review the latest marketing offers and event share tweets relating to their practice, depending on the range of functional enhancements their dental practice is offering through its portal interface.

And Managing Director of Systems for Dentists,  Ryszard Jurowski is absolutely delighted to be at the very forefront of the practise management development curve;

“Having listened to our customers very carefully, we were quick to identify and understand the critical importance of communication, driving efficiencies and bringing to market development solutions to meet the operational and commercial needs of UK Dentists.

The development of Virtual Reception is just one of the innovations we are delivering to ensure we stay at the touchpoint of our relationship with our client base and respond to opportunities and the demands of our marketplace”

“We are confident that the investments we are continuing to make and the potential that Virtual Reception offers to market will continue to act as a catalyst for growth and for shaping emerging future technologies in the UK dental market”

For further information  contact:

Sam Clarke at Systems for Dentists on

Direct line ; 0845 643 2828

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

Communication forms a huge part of dentistry, allowing practitioners to provide effective care to patients. From the initial encounter with new patients through to the final treatment, providing an empathetic, understanding and interactive service can reduce dental anxiety and heighten treatment adherence[1].

Successful communication is fundamental to good clinical practice, allowing people to inform, be informed and to exchange information effectively. This is crucial to understanding the patient’s reason for attendance, their medical history, to explain treatment needs, gain consent and provide appropriate preventative advice[2].

There are three main elements of communication: words, tone of voice and body language. Verbal interaction accounts for just 7% of transmission, while tone of voice is estimated to convey 33% and non-verbal elements 60%². Practitioners must provide patients with clear, jargon-free messages, explaining problems and procedures effectively and precisely. Understanding the issue and treatment protocol can enhance compliance, as well as minimise the risk of complaints².

Research has shown that there is often a substantial gap between patients’ expectations and dentists’ understanding of those expectations[3]. It is suggested that dentists sometimes believe they know what patients should want, rather than finding out what they do want. According to one survey, problems with dissatisfaction were attributed to issues regarding the information patients receive and the ‘responsiveness’ of the practitioner[4]. In another, individuals complained of being excluded from treatment decision-making[5]. Bad experiences with previous dentists and perceptions based on media reports of dental malpractice can also contribute to a patient’s lack of trust³.

Clear and concise communication is therefore crucial to avoid any discrepancies or misunderstandings in the information exchange. This is particularly true with nervous patients, as anxiety can impact on the complex process of communication, making it more difficult to hear, retain and comprehend information. Utilising modern technology to provide images of the problem can help to enhance communication and relay messages to patients. It is also beneficial to provide written material or reports that can be taken away and read at home.

The CS 3500 intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental takes communication to a whole new level. Available as a stand-alone solution, or as part of the integrated CS Solutions CAD/CAM restoration portfolio, the CS 3500 provides practitioners with precise true colour 2D and 3D digital impressions. From realistic digital models to printable reports, the CS 3500 teamed with CS Model software makes it easy to communicate and share information with patients.

Relaying information clearly and effectively enhances understanding, treatment adherence and the overall patient experience. Utilising the latest in innovative technology helps make patients feel more involved in their treatment and provides an effective means to convey information, even when patients are suffering from dental anxiety.

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

The Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) is well established as the event of the year for dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and lab owners. The 2015 show welcomed more than 1,500 professionals through the door and so it remains the best-attended event in the UK, with 84% of delegates rating the show as excellent or good[1].

Highlights of 2015

• 95% of delegates discovered new products and services and / or suppliers among the extensive exhibition.
• 47% of delegates made purchases while at the show.
• More than half of those in attendance were interested in CAD/CAM solutions.

New for 2015, the CAD/CAM Theatre proved highly popular, with leading experts presenting inspirational cases, fresh ideas and cutting-edge technologies. Also introduced for the first time was Launchpad UK, introducing the latest products, materials and equipment on the UK market following global launches at IDS 2015 only a few months previous.

Further highlights of the event included the Association of Dental Implantology’s (ADI) Implant Theatre and copious networking and socialising opportunities. The Lecture Theatre also hosted a selection of world-class speakers, plus there were opportunities to witness live demonstrations in the Practical Theatre and then get hands-on with new materials in the workshops.

What’s New for 2016?

As the Dental Laboratories Association’s flagship event, DTS has long received support from various leading dental organisations and societies. In 2016, we are delighted to welcome two brand new educational features run in conjunction with the Orthodontic Technologists Association (OTA) and the British Association of Clinical Dental Technology (BACDT).

Orthodontic Technician’s Seminar Stream – Supported by the OTA

This brand new seminar stream will offer a combination of exciting lectures and workshops suitable for both experienced orthodontic technicians and those who work in other fields and are interested in finding out more. A range of topics will be discussed from cleft lip and palate care to multi-stranded wire retainers and positioning stent, orthodontic technology materials and poly(methyl methacrylate)- free appliances. Sessions will also be run by top names in the field, including:

• James Green, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
• Andrea Johnson, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Paul Mallett, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
• Rye Mattick, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Edward Mapley, Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Daniel Shaw, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Paul Mallett, OTA Chairman, comments:

“The OTA is happy to be contributing to the educational programme at DTS 2016, where we will be presenting highly informative and relevant sessions for delegates to enjoy. DTS has been a great event in previous years, giving us, as the representative association for orthodontic technicians here in the UK, a valuable opportunity to engage with our fellow technicians and to continue to work as an education partner with DTS. We look forward to connecting with more orthodontic technicians during the next event.”

National CDT Conference – in partnership with the BACDT

Providing headline speakers, verifiable CPD and a professional trade show, the BACDT Annual Conference has always been a great event. By partnering with DTS 2016, the experience will be taken to a whole new level for all those in attendance. The conference will be open to all clinical dental technicians and dental professionals with an interest in the spectrum of topics explored.

Alan Forest, Director for Membership at the BACDT, says:

“DTS, co-located with The Dentistry Show, is the perfect venue to hold the BACDT Conference due to the mix of high profile speakers, great trade turn out and great networking opportunities.”

Don’t miss out

All the favouriteswill also return for 2016 including the CAD/CAM Theatre, ADI Implant Theatre and an array of stimulating lectures, live demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Up to 14 hours of vCPD will be achievable for every delegate and Steve Campbell RDT will be chairing the educational programme to ensure standards remain high. He comments:

“I believe this is the most important show in the UK for dental technicians and lab owners. I hope that we can make a real statement about the quality and passion of UK dental technology by showcasing some of the world class technicians we have working in the UK labs, that are now lecturing all over the world.”

The exhibition floor will also be the perfect place to source the very latest innovations, materials and products, with fantastic deals on offer and all the experts on hand to help.

So, for the chance to discover something new, develop your skills, expand your professional network and have a great two days, make sure you don’t miss DTS 2016!

DTS 2016 will be held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd April 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, co-located with The Dentistry Show

For more information visit www.the-dts.co.uk, call 020 7348 5263 or email dts@closerstillmedia.com

The digital workflow is growing ever more powerful in the dental profession. In fact, we found that 95% of dentists who employ digital technologies enjoy a smoother workflow, 88% suggest any staff training expenses are perfectly acceptable, and more than 50% experience an increase in earnings. Perhaps most importantly, the majority of users also agree that the patient experience is enhanced.

At Carestream Dental, we understand the pressures on modern professionals and have invested heavily in research and product development to create effective solutions to the challenges you face every day. All our technologies are available on their own but work together seamlessly for a flexible and totally integrated workflow.

From the very beginning, our new CS Digitalizer enables you to quickly and easily evaluate your practice to establish your individual needs and discover the most suitable innovations for you. The Needs Assessment Survey will enable you to enter basic information about your practice and future goals, and then produce a full report with suggestions of relevant areas to consider in order to optimise and grow your business. Available on the website www.carestreamdental.com/digitalizer or from the App Store, this quick and convenient tool will show you exactly how your practice stands, offering the opportunity to see how others compare in your area.

Whether you are looking to increase your digital capabilities, or take your first steps towards a digital workflow, we provide a range of solutions backed up by expert advice and support. From the handheld CS 3500 intraoral scanner to the CS 7200 imaging plate system, our user-friendly technologies deliver outstanding image clarity for accurate diagnostics, with the flexibility to work in the way you prefer. The innovative CS 8100 3D imaging system even harnesses the power of 3D and brings it within every general practice’s reach, all the while limiting radiation dosage for a safer examination process for both patient and professional.  

Offering further benefits to you and your team the CS R4+ practice management software, featuring Springboard, operates in real-time data, giving you an up-to-the-minute analysis of your practice performance whenever required. Focusing on chair occupancy, treatment plan uptake, appointment confirmation and recare protocols, the programme highlights strengths and weaknesses in an instant so you can manage your business as efficiently as possible.

When utilised effectively, the digital workflow offers copious advantages for the modern dental practice. Every day systems are simplified and streamlined, with enhanced diagnostics, treatment planning and patient communications contributing to an overall superior patient service. At Carestream Dental, we will continue our commitment to you through our leading innovations and first-rate customer service, and we are always on hand should you need more information, advice or technical support. A move towards digital is often much easier and less costly than you would think – and the rewards can be mind-blowing.

For more information, 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

Time is running out to register for our Restorative Dental Practice MSc - to start this programme in January 2016, you must complete your application by 16 October 2015. Find out more>>

This part-time, four-year Master’s programme enhances students’ ability to provide high-quality and comprehensive restorative management for the majority of patients. Students are able to assess, plan and provide quality treatment at an advanced level, forming a sound foundation for the restoration or rehabilitation of a compromised dentition in their own clinical practice.

The programme is delivered through seminars, lectures and practical sessions in state-of-the-art skills laboratories, providing a highly supportive learning experience. Assessment is through practical, clinical and oral examinations including written papers, presentation of clinical cases and a dissertation.

Graduates use the qualification to improve their prospects of moving to better dental practices, setting up their own dental practices, progressing to full-time Master's programmes and Specialty Training, progressing to PhD level, and developing careers in teaching

Year One: two taught modules, 60 credits, exit with Postgraduate Certificate. There are 28 contact days in Year One, including a compulsory induction and enrolment day on 6 January 2016.

Years Two and Three: four taught modules, +60 credits, exit with Postgraduate Diploma. There are 12 contact days in each year.

Year Four: dissertation, +60 credits, exit with MSc. There is a short (three-to-four day) preparatory course at the beginning of Year Four.  Thereafter, students undertake a self-directed research project during Year Four.

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UCL Eastman Dental Institute is the largest postgraduate dental school in Europe and has a reputation as one of the world’s leading academic centres for dentistry. As part of UCL – London’s Global University – the Institute welcomes UK and international students.

With a focus on translational research, postgraduate education and training, the Institute offers a wide range of study opportunities – Master's degrees, specialty training, certificates, diplomas, research doctorates and CPD courses – from its twin sites in central London. Find out more on our website>>

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CPD Survey

Do you think CPD is valuable to you? Are you interested in having your say on CPD? Then you will be glad to know UCL Eastman is carrying out a nationwide survey to find out your views on the current state of CPD.

If you have an opinion and wish to complete the online survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7YD9T9S.

“We have a longstanding relationship with Wrights,” says Vishal Jasani, principal dentist at Malden Dental Care, New Malden.

“We currently use the service for 90% of our sundries and equipment ordering and have also worked with the team in the past when we refurbished three of our surgeries.

“Since the refurbishment, we have received outstanding aftercare from our representatives, Harvey Notts and Louise Bartlett. Any problems have always been rectified immediately, and they have both always been supportive and proactive.

“What’s more, they are both incredibly knowledgeable about equipment and materials, and they always strive to do the best job they possibly can for us. 

“The reason we joined Wrights in the first place, and continue with this arrangement, is not only down to the high standard of service, but also because they provide us with the best value for money, beating or at least matching competitors’ prices on the products that we order.

“I would definitely recommend Wrights to other practices, for both refurbishment and general use.”

To find out how you can get top products for the best prices and to work with a professional, friendly and dedicated team, contact Wrights now.

For more information contact Wrights on 0800668899 or visit www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

The T-Scan digital occlusal analyser from Clark Dental is one of the most innovative diagnostic products on the market. Unique in its ability to provide an accurate, time-scaled review of a patient’s bite force, the T-Scan is improving the way dental professionals diagnose and treat occlusal issues.

At this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase, Clark Dental is delighted to present the highly regarded Dr Thomas O’Connor discussing the revolutionary T-Scan in a number of enlightening lectures. Dr O’Connor is well-known for speaking on all aspects of aesthetic dentistry and understands the importance of occlusion in achieving top-quality results.

What’s more, the eminent Dr Ash Parmar will be taking to the Clark Dental Education Centre on stand G195 to speak about the T-Scan’s functional utility in-practice. A long-time advocate of the T-Scan, and a close friend of Clark Dental, Dr Parmar’s sessions are simply unmissable for anyone wanting to know more about better occlusal analysis.

With a reputation for bringing dental professionals the best products and equipment on the market, Clark Dental strives to educate as well as equip. Be sure to visit the stand to find out more. 

For more information contact Clark Dental on 01270 613750,
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.clarkdentalsurgerydesign.co.uk

A staggering 95% of dental professionals (NHS Providers and Performers) working within the NHS who responded to the most recent  NHS Confidence Monitor have stated that they are less confident in the future of NHS dentistry than they were 12 months ago.

Over 300 NHS dental professionals completed the second NHS Confidence Monitor, a comprehensive industry survey conducted on behalf of Practice Plan, sharing their views about the future of NHS dentistry. The aim of this on-going survey, which will take place every six months, is to gain insight into the profession’s confidence levels in NHS dentistry over the coming months and provide a snapshot of the mood of the profession going forward.

The NHS Confidence Monitor also revealed that dentists are very worried about their own future, with 90% of respondents saying they are less confident about their career prospects within NHS dentistry going forward than they were a year ago.

Confidence levels are also at a shocking low in terms of dentists’ ability to offer their patients the right balance of treatment versus prevention in times to come under the NHS, with 85% of respondents expressing fears that the balance won't be right.

94% of respondents said they had lost confidence that practising dentistry within the NHS will offer an appropriate level of remuneration in the future, serving as a worrying statistic for the Government since this is suggestive of staffing shortages in times ahead if dental professionals choose to leave NHS practice.

It also seems that there is little confidence that dental teams will be able to work effectively within the NHS framework as time progresses, with 89% feeling less confident on this matter than they did in the previous 12 months.

Perception of patient satisfaction is also at a worrying low, with over three-quarters (77%) of respondents lacking confidence that patients will be happy with the outcome of attending an NHS dental practice in the future, when compared to 12 months ago.

Commenting on the results, Eddie Crouch, Vice Chair of the Birmingham Local Dental Committee, stated: ‘I think it’s worrying that so many people have become markedly more despondent since the last survey. I think it’s partly anticipatory and partly because the issue appears to be so low down the Government’s list.

‘It seems a sad state of affairs and we can only hope that results such as these will persuade the powers that be to look at the situation anew in consultation with representatives of the profession.’

Each NHS Confidence Monitor survey will be followed up with a forum of key opinion leaders, dentists and dental professionals to explore the results in greater depth and place them in context. The next forum is scheduled for October 2015, after which the group’s opinions on the survey results will be made available to the dental profession in the UK.

In the meantime, to see the full results or for further information on the NHS Confidence Monitor, please visit www.NHSDentistryInsights.co.uk.  

The Nobel Biocare Team Conference 2015 will be held on 6^th and 7^th November at The Brewery in London, offering a programme with a difference. The unique format will be deliver by more than 20 international celebrated Professionals, through  a combination of lectures, hands-on workshops and masterclasses.

Professor Sreenivas Koka, globally renowned for his expertise in implantology and prosthetics, will be presenting a masterclass alongside Professor Daniel van Steenberghe, entitled “Peri-implantitis: a tsunami waiting to happen? Facts and fallacy”, as well as a lecture session on “Prosthetic solutions for the edentulous patient: What, when and why?”

Professor Koka comments:

“This conference will celebrate how far we have come as a profession in the past couple of decades – the science and clinical experience we have developed is truly astounding. It will also highlight how much more there is yet to come.

“Historically, Nobel Biocare has been a major leader in the dental implant arena and this kind of programme will definitely keep it at the forefront. The conference will go back to basics, emphasising the science, education and research supporting the many products, materials and techniques used today. It’s a very exciting programme!”

For more information about the Nobel Biocare Team Conference, or to register, please visit www.nobelbiocare.com/uk2015, or call 0208 756 3300.

When Peter Instone and his colleagues were ready to sell their practice, they chose to work with Dental Elite. “We were happy with them in every way,” he says. “They were excellent; we had no problems.

“Being able to talk to the same person throughout the process was useful – they knew everything that was going on from start to finish. Any questions we raised, they were able to get back to us with answers.

“I would certainly recommend Dental Elite to others.”

With a team that is proud to have over a hundred years’ experience in the dental sector, Dental Elite is in the perfect position to assist professionals through the sale of their practice. They have a reputation for offering practical and pragmatic advice and approach each case with honesty and openness.

If you are looking to sell your dental practice and want guidance from the experts, look no further than Dental Elite – contact the team today!

For more information and to find out how Dental Elite can value
and assist your practice sale 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

The Dentistry Show and DTS welcomed an amazing 7,908* dental professionals this year, which represented nearly a 13% increase from 2014! Visitors to the 2015 event described it as “A great team day out”, “Fantastic”, “Really enlightening” and “progressive and innovative”.

The Dentistry Show 2016 promises to build even further on this success, with yet more first-class learning and networking opportunities than ever before.

You can expect all your favourite features to return including two-day lecture programmes dedicated to each area of the profession, theatres exploring the very latest in each specialist field, world-class speakers and hours of verifiable CPD.

The extensive trade floor will also provide the perfect platform from which to source cutting-edge dental equipment, materials and products, with industry leading manufacturers and suppliers in attendance.

Held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd of April 2016 at the Birmingham NEC, this is one event you don’t want to miss. If you only attend one dental show in 2016, make it The Dentistry Show and save the dates today!

The Dentistry Show and DTS 2016 will be held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd April, NEC in Birmingham. For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk call 020 7348 5270 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ending 31^st October, the latest flyers from Wrights have countless special offers, deals and promotions available to you right now. With top products at your fingertips, you’re sure to find exactly what you are looking for. At such a steal you might even come away with more!

From ‘buy three get one free’ offers on numerous 3M ESPE products including Filtek Supreme XTE, Imprint 4 and Filtek Bulk Fill to 40% savings on the Cavitron THINsert from DENTSPLY and up to 37% savings on Kerr products such as SonicFill2 Refills, there are great offers available from your favourite brands.

Because Wrights understands your every need, this October there are also exclusive deals on dental pharmaceutical supplies including:

• Over 30% saving on Septoject Original single use dental needles
• Up to 40% saving on Xylonor Spray
• Over 40% saving on Endocal

For your flyer and a full list of offers, contact Wrights today.

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

Why Would Your Patients Want Your Mobile App?
 

When the developers of the dental mobile app first approached me this was the first thing I said to them. Let’s face it why on earth would anyone want to to got the trouble of downloading your mobile app?

First let me explain what a mobile app is. If you have a smart phone either Apple or Android, you will almost certainly have lots of apps on it. For instance to access the iTunes store, Google maps, etc. etc.

Apps are now the best way for all companies to communicate to their customers, but why would anyone want a dental mobile app?

The answer is you make it worth their while to download and use your mobile app!

Firstly you have to advertise the app, particularly in your practice. Patients can download the app simply by pointing their mobile phone at a QR code in your reception. But they need a reason to download it in the first place.

So here’s why they will not only download the app but use it.

Mobile app Loyalty Scheme

There is a built in loyalty facility on the app. Each time your patient comes into the practice they scan a QR code in reception and this puts a tick in a box for them. When they have a certain number of ticks on their app they get a reward from you, maybe an electric tooth brush or a free hygiene session of a bottle of wine, it can be anything. This feature not only guarantees that your patients continue to come and see you but they use the app every time they come to the practice. The app does all this for you automatically.

Mobile app Referral Feature
There is the most amazing referral feature on the mobile app. Did you know that the average Facebook user has between 50 and 100 friends on it? The apps referral feature will send a message to every one of their friends urging them to download the app. If just 100 of your patients do this for you, you’ll reach between 5,000 and 10,000 new potential patients.

But why  would the do this for you? Because you reward not only the referrer but also the person being referred and the app does all this for you. When one of your patients gets let’s say five of their friends to download your app, they are rewarded by you, when a person is referred, they get something off their first appointment, you win, your patient wins, the new patient wins.

You can’t buy advertising like the mobile app

Why because just think of this, if you advertise with Google or Facebook, the press or any other media it is just that “an advert”. Whereby when your patients send a referral to their friends this is a thousand times more powerful. Because it’s word of mouth advertising, but on an industrial scale.

It’s estimated that 50 of your patients sending our a referral to all their friends is worth £1,000 of Google advertising, and that app costs just £50.00 per month. A fraction of the cost.

So don’t hesitate you need to call me on 01767 626 398 or email me at enquiries[at]dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk  or visit the website www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk or visit our Facebook page

Selling a dental practice can be stressful, especially when it comes to completing the CQC Registration Process. Since changes to the paperwork on 1st April 2015, it is more crucial than ever to ensure the form is populated correctly and accurately.

As a leading specialist in practice finance, sales and valuations, Dental Elite is dedicated to providing first class advice that helps simplify the process of selling your practice, referring the contract and deregistering as the owner.

For just a small fee, the majority of which is donated to charity, Dental Elite is offering a not-for-profit service for anyone requiring CQC application support.

Because Dental Elite understands what selling a practice means to you, it works alongside charities BDA Benevolent Fund and Bridge2Aid, investing its time and money back into the dental community.

Anyone already buying, selling or financing with Dental Elite will receive this service included as standard for free.

Contact the friendly, profession team at Dental Elite today and discover how it can help you with your sale and CQC application.

For more information 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

Do you know how well your practice is performing right now? Do you need an easy but accurate way to measure your business performance?

The CS R4+ practice management software featuring Springboard has been designed specifically for this purpose. Provided by Carestream Dental, the innovative software utilises real-time data to deliver an up-to-the-minute representation of your business, whenever you need it.

Four key areas – chair occupancy, appointment confirmations, treatment plan acceptance and patient recare – are carefully monitored and the live data can be accessed at any time to establish exactly how the practice is doing. Immediately highlighting any problem-areas, the cutting-edge technology will help you implement changes when necessary and steer your business towards long-term success.

You can also enjoy outstanding on-going support from Carestream Dental – committed to eXceed, the team strive to deliver exceptional customer service every time.

To find out more about the exciting CS R4+ practice management software and Springboard, contact the experts at Carestream Dental today.

For more information, 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 

Bringing you a one-of-a-kind event this November, the Nobel Biocare Team Conference 2015 can’t be missed. This exciting event will present a totally unique learning opportunity for all members of the dental team.

Surrounded by like-minded professionals, there will be time for discussion, debate and networking, including a chance to broaden your existing knowledge and share in each other’s experiences. Along with a stunning but practical conference location and environment, you won’t find a programme quite like this anywhere else in the UK!

Delivering educational experiences on an unprecedented scale, this conference will present a truly outstanding speaker line-up, with more than 25 internationally leading professionals. You’ll be able to look back at what we have learnt since it all began with Torsten Jemt, before exploring the modern innovations such as the All-on-4® treatment concept with Wolfgang Bolz. Renowned for their expertise in prosthodontics, immediate implant placement and associated periodontal conditions, Daniel van Steenberghe, Sreenivas Koka, Joseph Kan and Rishi Patel will discuss everything from effective case selection to maximising aesthetic results.

Sharing tips from the very forefront of oral surgery, Ian Brook, Edmond Bedrossian, Carl Manhem and Isabella Rocchietta will look at various clinical techniques and case studies that are sure to inspire. Also considered leading authorities in their respective fields, Guy Mclellan, Richard Brookshaw, Peter Wohrle and Alessandro Pozzi will explore the different aspects of digital dentistry, including CAD/CAM and 3D modelling, demonstrating the many benefits available to improve clinical outcomes and ensure an integrated workflow.

For those looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of implant design and materials, don’t miss Jose Navarro and Rishi Patel, and Andrew Dawood will offer a wealth of practical hints and advice when facing rehabilitation of severely compromised patients. Michelle Ryckman and Steve Bongard will also help the entire team communicate more effectively with patients, encouraging increased treatment acceptance and helping you grow your business.

In addition, ideal for dentists and dental technicians alike, Stefan Holst, Susan Tanner and Glenn McEvoy will present a practical session on ‘Clinical & laboratory realities: partnering for future success’. Discover fresh ideas on how to improve your inter-team relationships for enhanced collaboration and exceptional treatment outcomes.

Learn through interaction

Enabling you to make the very most of the rich educational offerings, a unique programme format will be presented. Everyone is invited to the first session of the day on Friday, during which leading speakers will share their perspectives and expertise on management of terminal / failing dentition. The programme then splits into a two-track system, when you can either explore the art and science of exceeding patients’ aesthetic expectations, or discuss pioneering changes in the arena of modern dental implantology.

In the afternoon, you will have the choice between eight different masterclasses and hands-on workshops, allowing you to get up and personal with the world-class podium speakers. Sessions will then be repeated on Saturday morning so you can attend a second workshop or masterclass of your choice. After lunch on Saturday, everyone will gather together once again to demystify the options available for patients with a compromised maxilla and fixed prosthesis.

To compliment the unrivalled speaker line-up and pertinent topical subjects, Friday evening will host the Team Conference Gala Dinner. Dressed in your finest, the event will offer the perfect opportunity to network and enjoy an evening in the company of friends and highly esteemed colleagues.

The Nobel Biocare Team Conference will be held on 6^th and 7^th November at The Brewery in London. A grand yet inclusive environment, the entire dental team will be brought together for two days of intense but practical training and education, delivered by some of the best in the business in a fresh and unique way.

To raise the bar of your dentistry and ensure you operate at the very cutting-edge of the profession, make the most of this year’s Nobel Biocare Team Conference and the astounding, one-of-a-kind programme available. Secure your delegate position by booking online today.

For more information, register online at www.nobelbiocare.com/uk2015, or contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300.

In general, we make provisions for the things we value; many of our most treasured possessions are insured against loss an damage. Our homes, cars, pets, holidays, through to our general health and life itself, are all typically covered by insurance plans. The amount of value we attach to these cherished articles, for various reasons, tends to differ from individual to individual.

For example, however expensive our home sound system, the equivalent equipment to a professional Disc Jockey is likely to be worth considerably more to him or her as it constitutes the tools of their trade. For many, body parts are of great value, but few of us will insure limbs like Cristiano Ronaldo who reportedly insured his legs for $144 million when he was at Manchester United.

When it comes to safeguarding dental health, the risks are high; the repercussions of poor oral health influence not only our self-confidence and relationships but are also linked to general health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, pneumonia, premature birth and rheumatoid arthritis. In this context, it seems strange that only 12% of the UK population invest in dental insurance policies[i]. Because completely free NHS dental care is only available to a few – pregnant women, new mothers, children up to the age of 18 and those in receipt of benefits – insurance policies can be the most affordable option. NHS dental care currently comprises of three different treatment bands, ranging from £18.80 for an examination, x-ray and diagnosis, through to £222.50 for treatments including bridges and crowns. Even practices offering these treatments have to charge the patient significant fees, especially for complicated work. 63% of NHS dental patients choose their practices for cost reasons[ii] so it’s prudent for patients and clinical professionals alike to familiarise themselves with dental insurance options, which can provide good value for money, particularly where several treatments will be required.

For patients with good oral hygiene and health, a six-monthly or yearly check up can be all that is required, at a current cost of under £20 each time. However, the statistics show these patients are relatively rare. The 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey revealed 45% of the adult population with teeth displayed gingival pockets of 4mm or more, indicating that periodontal disease is a widespread issue.[iii] However, few dental practices offer hygienist services under their NHS umbrella – a British Dental Association report in 2013 showed that over half of the dental practices in the UK with more than a 75% commitment to NHS dentistry, didn’t employ hygienists at all[iv]. Dental patients with periodontal conditions are recommended to visit a hygienist at least twice a year, typically costing around £50 each time. Add to that the cost for a standard amalgam filling at £50.50 (a composite, white filling is usually a private treatment), and the necessary dental check ups, it’s clear to see how costs can escalate. For those patients requiring extensive dental procedures, a policy from a reputable insurance company – ranging from £220-276[v] for annual private cover – will pay 75% of the final bill and can end up being much more cost-effective. For dental patients who require extensive dental work but can access all the treatments through their NHS dentist, NHS clinic-only insurance options are even better – with unlimited treatment cover starting at £120 covering 100% of costs incurred[vi]. Depending on the extent of treatment required, dental insurance policies can make sound financial sense, particularly as they can sometimes cover family units, accidents or emergencies overseas, and some offer no upper age limit for new customers.

Munroe Sutton has been organising, designing and managing stand-alone, affordable dental plans for over thirty years. These plans are created by dentists, modelled to benefit both the professional and the patient with the committed provision of fair compensation for dental services and improved accessibility to quality dental care for the individual. It costs a practice absolutely nothing to join the Munroe Sutton database but inclusion reaps unlimited rewards.

Prominent insurance, healthcare and finance institutions direct customers seeking their services to your practice, constituting free marketing and a continual flow of profitable new business. With dental professionals feeling pressure to meet UDA targets and remain competitive with the use of new technology and treatment options, what could be better than a free, successful marketing tool to keep your business moving forward?

For more information please call 0808 234 3558

or visit www.munroesutton.co.uk
 

In 2009, the GDC commissioned research to gain patient input into the development of its new framework and Standards. Part of this research included a study entitled, Revalidation: The Patient Perspective, which sought to identify insights and detailed information from patients to establish their expectations of the standards that dental professionals should meet.

This study looked in detail at the patient journey and found that: “for most participants [this] involved feelings of trepidation and anxiety in the lead-up to the appointment.” It went on to state that, “Much can be done to set patients at ease through good communication and friendly and relaxed staff.”[1]

While plenty has been achieved since 2009 in regards to improving the patient experience, many practices could still benefit from addressing the fundamental communication issues that lie at the heart of the patient journey. After all, whichever business model your practice follows, whether Private, Mixed, NHS or multi-practice, the key aim will be to increase sales and profitability, and at the centre of that is the patient journey. This is what keeps your patients coming back or encourages them to attend your practice in the first place.

So by understanding your patient journey, looking at each stage in turn – and clearly communicating it to your patients – you will naturally create a more successful practice. Some do this extremely well, while others are far less consistent. For instance, a practice that has taken into account their patient journey might have a clear description on their website, detailing everything from first contact right through to aftercare and follow-ups.

This approach empowers patients with the foreknowledge of what to expect. Which in turn creates more and better quality leads, happier patients who appreciate you and are easier to serve and a more efficient business where you can cope with increased patient numbers without the need for more team members.

This might all seem too good to be true; it isn’t – but it does take a lot of hard work to achieve and is not an overnight project. Central to it all is understanding your own patient journey, providing clear communication and enhancing and enriching the patient experience.

What is the patient journey?

The patient journey comprises everything from the first visit to your website to any treatment itself and beyond. It covers every interaction or point of contact between patient and practice and is impacted by everything you do, this includes:

·      Phone calls (in and out bound)

·      Communications by post

·      Emails

·      Text messages

·      The service provided in reception

·      Interactions with the dentists and associates

·      Interactions with the dental nurses and treatment co-ordinators

·      Posters, advertising, leaflets

·      The content of your website

·      Follow-ups post treatment and aftercare.

In order to get to grips with your patient journey and understand how this affects your patients and their decisions, it is crucial to analyse each interaction, deciding what you want those exchanges to say about your practice and what the desired outcome of each is.

To get this right you will need to focus on your brand and consider exactly what it stands for. You might decide your brand is clinical and professional, or friendly and welcoming, but whatever message you want to deliver must be consistent throughout each and every interaction; from the tone of voice to the way your practice is described.

Each point of contact will likely have a slightly different key message, so it is also vital that this is clearly communicated. For instance an email sent to a prospective patient should have a very different message and content to that of a phone call to arrange a follow-up.

Trust

Whatever the message, medium or content of your interactions, it is crucial that each one works to build trust in your practice and services. 

Most dental patients don’t understand what they’re buying – they know their teeth hurt, or they look bad, but they don’t understand how to make the right choice. This means you have to assure them they can trust your practice and every member of your team.

To do that you need to be consistent: have the same branding everywhere, with every communication to the same standard, and all the team in the same uniform. You must be accurate, having the correct pricing on every document, good spelling and grammar, and their paperwork ready when they come in. You also need to be up-to-date – not having pictures of old team members on the website; and provide all the necessary details when asked, explaining exactly what’s going to happen, and what the differences between treatment options are.

Once you’ve spent time considering and designing your patient journey, looking at the ways you build trust and communicate with your patients, you will need to find the best way to implement these changes. This is where turning to a proven solution can help. 7connections, along with software giant Infusionsoft can assist your practice in implementing the ideal patient journey using the much-discussed Artisan Lifecycle Marketing approach. A marketing and lead generation system, it addresses the patient journey from start to finish, so that you can begin to grow your business through increased efficiency, higher productivity and more satisfied patients.

A strong patient journey is one of the most fundamental aspects of creating a successful practice. By spending time focusing on how your patients experience your practice from start to finish, you will ensure the service you provide is always of the highest calibre.

For more information about 7connections, please call 01647 478145 or email pThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Alternatively, please visit the new website www.7connections.com.

Recent research has revealed that only half (53%) of UK parents, with children under the age of 12, take their children to visit the dentist regularly[1]. Furthermore, just a quarter (25%) of parents believe it is important to take a baby to the dentist as soon as they develop their first baby tooth. This coincides with reported figures that suggest dental caries among children are rising[2] and that more children in England are being admitted to hospital because of tooth decay than for any other reason[3].

These worrying trends highlight the need for healthcare professionals to educate parents on the importance of regular check-ups. Creating a more child-friendly practice could also help to improve the number of children visiting and encourage them to return.

Starting with the entrance and reception area, practices should be inviting and put both adult and child at ease from the moment they walk in the door. Parents should feel comfortable enough to want to bring their babies to the practice, so that the dentist can check on the development of the milk teeth and ensure any problems or signs of decay can be identified and addressed early⁴.

A small number of changes can be made within the practice to enhance a child’s experience, for example:

• Smaller chairs for children to sit on
• A specific area in the waiting room with toys, comic books and magazines
• Experienced and friendly staff who can help to build a child’s trust
• Providing stickers, sugar-free sweets or healthy snacks for children at the end of their treatment.

It is essential to gain a patient’s confidence within the operatory room, and despite including some of the above changes, the dental chair can remain a particularly daunting place. Climbing into an intimidating chair and letting a masked, gloved stranger poke around in their mouth can be a big deal for some young patients[4]. It is important that all patients feel safe and relaxed, and a dental unit that looks and feels comfortable will help achieve this.

A modern stylish dental unit, such as the innovative Skema 8, will reassure patients that they are going to be well looked after and help keep stress to a minimum. Developed by leading manufacturer Castellini, the Skema 8 is designed to optimise the workspace while improving patient comfort. Dentists can work easily without leaning over the patient, and by not intruding so much on a child’s space this may reduce worries and ensure a quick and efficient appointment.

Maximise comfort and provide a professional service to all your patients with the Skema 8 – contact the experienced team at Castellini to find out more.

If you want more information on how to receive Castellini Technical Accreditation, please call 08000 933975 and speak to Castellini UK Ltd directly for assistance.

The CS 7200 intraoral imaging plate system from Carestream Dental delivers the optimum in versatility for modern practitioners.

An affordable solution for practices making the transition from film to digital imaging, the CS 7200 is the ideal companion for professionals looking for a fast and chairside workflow.

Its compact and elegant design enables flexible installation possibilities, and it can be seamlessly integrated with existing practice management and record keeping technologies for easy access and data security.

With the Carestream Dental team’s commitment to eXceed and the delivery of exceptional customer service, you can also be sure to receive all the help and support you need, whenever you need it.

If you prefer a chairside phosphor plate imaging system, look no further than the CS 7200 from Carestream Dental.

For more information, 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 

The BACD is proud to announce that Dr Serhat Köken will be presenting two sessions at the 12^th Annual Conference this November.

In what is going to be an unmissable event, Dr Köken will discuss isolation techniques and tips in his two exciting lectures. Delegates will get the chance to develop essential practical skills in the art of isolation under skilled tuition during the first hands-on session. Then, in the second day’s presentation, Dr Köken will cover all clinical aspects of anterior composite from choosing the correct shades to preparation tips, layering composites, and tricks on finishing and polishing.

Commenting on the forthcoming BACD conference, Dr Köken says: “Covering all aspects of direct resin composite restorations, the lectures will be applicable to everyone. I hope that delegates benefit and learn from the sessions and come away motivated and enthused. It is a huge honour to be asked to present at the Annual Conference and I am very much looking forward to coming to London.”

Serhat will join a fantastic line up of speakers who will bring delegates the latest knowledge and techniques in cosmetic dentistry – don’t miss out book your ticket today.

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. For more information and to book your place, go to www.bacd.com

The CS 3500 intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental has been very well received throughout the dental profession. Users have described the innovative scanner as “really easy to use, compact, flexible and intuitive”, offering “exceptional portability, excellent ergonomics and ease of use” as well as “an enhanced margin of detail” compared to previously used techniques.

Designed as an open system, the CS 3500 also enables “seamless integration with existing technologies” encouraging a smooth and efficient workflow.

Delivering 2D and 3D images in high resolution and true colour, the innovative system improves diagnostics and treatment planning in various clinical situations.

Add “a WOW factor” to your practice with the CS 3500 intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental.

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

The BACD Twelfth Annual Conference is fast approaching – have you booked your place yet? Entitled ‘The Aesthetic Equilibrium,’ the three-day event in November is sure to be an exciting and inspirational opportunity for delegates across the entire dental profession.

With a dynamic line-up of internationally renowned speakers, the conference will cover a wide range of pertinent topics, including isolation techniques, veneer preparations, clinical photography, BACD Accreditation advice and implant techniques.

Certainly an educational opportunity not to be missed, the BACD Annual Conference is also the ideal occasion for delegates to network with enthusiastic, like-minded professionals, attain valuable CPD and reignite their passion for beautiful, high quality dentistry.

If you haven’t booked your place for the BACD Twelfth Annual Conference yet, make sure you do it today: you certainly won’t want to miss out!

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. For further enquiries, go to www.bacd.com

Loyalty to one’s dentist cannot be taken for granted. Just like for any commercial operation, every person who walks through the door needs to be treated like a highly-valued customer, every single time.

Determine who your core, ‘good’ patients are, then think about how you can offer the very best service for their needs. With a few simple changes, finding a perfect balance between service provider and profitable business is possible. 

Put a strategy in place to encourage patients to not only stay loyal, but to recommend you to their family and friends, too. Run a friendly practice and make it easy for people to book. You might want to investigate online booking, which many patients find convenient. Have a system for reminding people that they have an appointment: a text service, a phonecall or appointment card. If they want to reschedule, do so with minimal fuss. Also, if someone has had major treatment, give them a call to see how they are. A financial incentive for referrals is always a great idea, especially if they recommend another ‘good’ patient. Simple touches like colouring sheets and crayons to keep children occupied, or free water in your reception area work well, too.

Present a knowledgeable team who can answer questions promptly and comprehensively. Regular staff meetings will help you identify if someone needs to be bought up to speed with your pain relief policy or finance plans, for example. If you think your patient base will appreciate it, think about a blog or newsletter to keep the lines of contact open between appointments.

Business articles seem to bombard us with the importance of attracting new patients, however, it is vital to remember that these strategies are not the only way to increase profits and be one step ahead of the rest. When you are a dental practice owner, it would be a huge mistake to neglect the people who are keeping your business ticking over, day in, day out. Invest time and effort in your current patients and you will create a fantastic platform from which your practice can grow. It is easier to keep and nurture a patient than it is to sell your services to someone new, yet the rewards will be just as great.
 

Specialist medical and dental accountants Lansdell & Rose offer business advice alongside regular tax planning and financial accounting. Visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk or call 020 7376 9333.

For many in the current economic climate, the price of dental treatment can be daunting. Careington Corporation and their UK affiliate Munroe Sutton believe that everybody should have access to high quality dental care, which is why they dedicate their time to designing, organising and managing affordable and accessible dental plans.

The companies have already benefited many patients across the US and UK, and continue to grow through their new partnership with Toothpick, the UK’s leading online booking platform for dental appointments. The new partnership aims to further increase accessibility to private dentistry, ultimately reducing the gap between NHS and private care, and it all begins with the introduction of the ‘Toothpick VIP’ card.

How does it benefit the patient?

The ‘Toothpick VIP’ card is cost effective and simple to use, and through its use, patients can benefit from an immediate 20% discount on private dental treatment at participating practices in the UK.

The card is available for a low annual fee and it is possible to include family members into the plan. This money-saving scheme offers unlimited use, and can be used for both pre-existing conditions and emergency dental treatment.

How does it benefit practices?

Because this scheme is not an insurance policy – it is a money saving option – it is beneficial to dentists and patients alike. Essentially, any practice in the UK that is registered with Munroe Sutton can offer this service, which is likely to attract new patients, in turn increasing practice profit. What’s more, practices are likely to receive positive reviews and build a good rapport with new and existing patients.

Working with Munroe Sutton offers copious opportunities for networking and free promotion, as it liaises with customers of leading companies within insurance, finance and healthcare. Ultimately, involvement with this scheme could allow you to develop and unlock your business potential and it is completely free to join the network.

With studies showing that only 61% of people in England attend their dentist regularly[i], it is crucial that schemes such as ‘Toothpick VIP’ continue to be implemented. As prices continue to rise, so will the number of people that miss out on necessary treatment.

For more information please call 0808 234 3558 or visit www.munroesutton.co.uk

A staggering 95% of dental professionals (NHS Providers and Performers) working within the NHS who responded to the most recent  NHS Confidence Monitor have stated that they are less confident in the future of NHS dentistry than they were 12 months ago.

Over 300 NHS dental professionals completed the second NHS Confidence Monitor, a comprehensive industry survey conducted on behalf of Practice Plan, sharing their views about the future of NHS dentistry. The aim of this on-going survey, which will take place every six months, is to gain insight into the profession’s confidence levels in NHS dentistry over the coming months and provide a snapshot of the mood of the profession going forward.

The NHS Confidence Monitor also revealed that dentists are very worried about their own future, with 90% of respondents saying they are less confident about their career prospects within NHS dentistry going forward than they were a year ago.

Confidence levels are also at a shocking low in terms of dentists’ ability to offer their patients the right balance of treatment versus prevention in times to come under the NHS, with 85% of respondents expressing fears that the balance won't be right.

94% of respondents said they had lost confidence that practising dentistry within the NHS will offer an appropriate level of remuneration in the future, serving as a worrying statistic for the Government since this is suggestive of staffing shortages in times ahead if dental professionals choose to leave NHS practice.

It also seems that there is little confidence that dental teams will be able to work effectively within the NHS framework as time progresses, with 89% feeling less confident on this matter than they did in the previous 12 months.

Perception of patient satisfaction is also at a worrying low, with over three-quarters (77%) of respondents lacking confidence that patients will be happy with the outcome of attending an NHS dental practice in the future, when compared to 12 months ago.

Commenting on the results, Eddie Crouch, Vice Chair of the Birmingham Local Dental Committee, stated: ‘I think it’s worrying that so many people have become markedly more despondent since the last survey. I think it’s partly anticipatory and partly because the issue appears to be so low down the Government’s list.

‘It seems a sad state of affairs and we can only hope that results such as these will persuade the powers that be to look at the situation anew in consultation with representatives of the profession.’

Each NHS Confidence Monitor survey will be followed up with a forum of key opinion leaders, dentists and dental professionals to explore the results in greater depth and place them in context. The next forum is scheduled for October 2015, after which the group’s opinions on the survey results will be made available to the dental profession in the UK.

In the meantime, to see the full results or for further information on the NHS Confidence Monitor, please visit www.NHSDentistryInsights.co.uk.  

Providing you with all the information and skills you need to maximise your investment in cutting-edge digital technologies, Carestream Dental is running FREE seminar sessions for the CS 3500 intraoral scanner.

Giving you practical tips and ensuring you get the very most out of your equipment, the sessions will cover everything from benefits of digital impressioning to ensuring consistency of image quality and practical techniques when using the handheld scanner.

You’ll even have the opportunity to get hands-on with the scanner and experience the advantages first-hand.

Ideal for you and your whole team, the CS 3500 seminar evenings are completely free to attend. The CS 3500 intraoral scanner comes with a dedicated laptop and software, and there is even now 0% interest-free credit available, so you’ll have everything you need to get started!

The autumn / winter meetings will be held 6.30pm – 9.00pm on:

• 17th Sept - Jersey
• 22nd Sept – Derby
• 6th Oct - Cheltenham
• 7th Oct - Haydock
• 8th Oct - Oxford
• 28th Oct - Norwich
• 29th Oct - Kent
• 11th Nov - Bath

To book your free place please call 0800 169 9692.

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 

In 2006, the NHS and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) introduced the current funding system to NHS dental practices based on the amount of Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) completed in one year. Since NHS England took over the responsibility from PCTs in 2013 operating this system, a total of 27 Area Teams replaced the 150 PCTs nationwide.

There is no sign the pressure on practices to reach their UDA targets will ease. In fact, underperforming practices today could be finding the targets even harder to meet; any shortfalls in one financial year are carried over to the next, meaning a ‘rolling’ deficit is a real concern for year-on-year figures. During this financial year, NHS England is also required to reduce running costs by between 10-15%, so if anything a tightening rather than a slackening of the rules on meeting targets is inevitable[i].

In the quarter of the financial year ending December 31^st 2014, the NHS published data showing that in England, 88.8 million UDAs had been commissioned. This presented a 0.8% decrease from the same quarter in 2013, equating to 696,000 fewer contracts and also 90,000 fewer contracts than were commissioned in the previous quarter of 2014[ii]. This situation has had a knock on effect that determines the prospect of selling those NHS practices struggling to make the quotas they’ve been allocated. 

The sale of practices with NHS contracts in some areas of the UK has been detrimentally affected where NHS England has over-commissioned dental services. Simply having enough people in a locality to justify a contract hasn’t proven to be reason enough to award one. It doesn’t automatically follow that the community wants more NHS dentistry; they may instead prefer long-standing local private practices, or worse still, not be seeking dental services at all.

Failing to be within 4% of the fixed year-on-year target can be catastrophic, in the most extreme cases practice contracts can be terminated. In examples such as underperformance or closing during contractual hours, NHS England initially serves a breach notice but if the practice then makes any kind of future breach of contract (which may be for an entirely different reason) the contract can be immediately revoked. NHS England will then negotiate a new contract, with less funding. Also, the degree of leniency previously afforded to NHS dentists will diminish with Area Teams having to enforce a harsher approach and breaches of contract are far more likely to be issued this financial year than ever before. In cases of underperformance alone, NHS England may deem that a practice was over-funded for the services being provided and will effectively ask for a refund from the practice (a claw back).

Nowadays, competition is fierce between NHS practices to entice patients through the door so that they have a fighting chance of meeting their UDA targets. This fact contributes towards complicated agreement negotiations when valuing a dental practice for sale. Purchasers (and their financial backers) involved in buying NHS practices must thoroughly research and become assured that the UDA contracts can be maintained and that they have the finances for any necessary improvements to facilitate this. Sellers on the other hand, will want to ensure that the post-completion obligations and liability are kept to a minimum. In short, a shrewd perspective and business plan are two essential ingredients for all involved in the sale of NHS practices. The predicted outcome of patient recruitment plans and any expense involved in them needs to be assessed and built into the valuation of the dental practice for sale.

A claw back of 500 UDA’s is equivalent to a £11,000 reduction in funding (based on average treatment costs) which can seriously undermine profit, so a potential buyer will need these kinds of figures incorporated in the practice value. Essentially, you are on your own in terms of building a patient base, NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups play no part in filling appointment slots. This means examining the practice’s current performance to see if there is room for improvement on reputation and profit.

Action plans cover anything from a complete re-fit of the surgery and reception areas, to designing a trendy website, prioritising SEO and right down to the skill of your receptionist in welcoming patients and putting them at ease. The team at Dental Elite can help you identify key areas to note during the sale of NHS dental practices whilst retaining a realistic view of the changes that actually need to be made to the business; often the simplest aspects such as chairside manner and the comfort of the patient waiting room are the cheaper and most effective alterations needed.

For more information and to find out how Dental Elite can value
and assist your practice sale 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

There are an infinite number of ways to improve our world from peace in the Middle East through to saving endangered species. In every case, mankind can effect changes by working in unison, communicating, cooperating and taking small, positive steps forward.  Poverty and suffering needs the attention of those fortunate enough to have more, helping those with less. Similarly, with knowledge on pollution and waste, we must consider the impact of what we discard on the environment.

A 2010 study at the University of Georgia considered 192 countries bordering the Atlanta, Pacific, Indian oceans, Mediterranean and Black Seas, and found that 275 million tonnes of plastic waste had been generated in one year. An estimated 8 million tonnes of it was dumped at sea – amounting to five shopping bags full of plastic on every foot of the coastline [i].  The same study estimated this would double by 2025, to ten plastic bags for every foot of coastline.

The largest ocean rubbish site in the world is in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre – a   floating mass twice the size of Texas where plastics outnumber sea life six to one[ii].  The result of such abuse to our seas is that 44% of all seabirds, 22% of cetaceans, all species of sea turtle and a growing list of fish species have plastic in or around their bodies ⁱⁱ. The seemingly innocuous household plastic toothbrush also plays a role, routinely found in the stomachs of dead seabirds and turtles worldwide[iii].

The truth is that every plastic product entering the sea will wreak havoc either directly to wildlife by ingestion or entanglement or when broken down into tiny fragments by UV rays constituting what is known as ‘plastic soup’, causing:

• Damage to critical ecosystems such as coral reefs and smothering of sediments.
• Chemical ingestion of marine organisms through ingestion of small plastic particles.
• Potential changes in biodiversity due the transport of invasive species on plastic fragments[iv].

Making a stand, Humble Brush has just been launched in the UK – an everyday toothbrush making a big difference. The handle is ergonomically fashioned out of panda-friendly bamboo – the fastest growing plant on earth with natural antiseptic properties. Complementing any contemporary bathroom, the biodegradable handle is non-slip, functional and stylish. The durable bristles available in a range of bright colours are nylon, free from bisphenol A (BPA) toxins, degrade over time, soft and gentle on gums. Every brush is packed in a transparent, biodegradable wrapper made from plants and the box is also 100% produced from recycled materials. In addition, for every brush sold, the equivalent amount of one toothbrush is donated to the Humble Smile Foundation to pass on to people in need of oral care.

By caring about your toothbrush, show you care about the world. For your free sample (one brush per practice) contact Humble Brush today.

Humble Brush is now available in the UK and Ireland. For more information please visit www.humblebrush.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0286 862 8880. To order please contact our exclusive distributor Quintess Denta at www.quintesshumblebrush.co.uk

You can also follow us on social media:

@HumbleBrush and www.facebook.com/humblebrushuk

Denplan is urging the British public to go sugar-fee for September, following the results of its latest survey of over 2,000 adults¹, which has shown a desperate need for better sugar education as Britons think chocolate, sweets and fruit juice contain no sugar.

It appears the public are clueless when it comes to sussing sugar in foods, as one in five (21%) don’t believe chocolate contains sugar, with the same amount (22%) thinking biscuits are sugar-free too. Drinks are not immune from sugar ignorance either, with almost half (47%) of respondents believing that neither wine or beer contain sugar. Perhaps more worryingly, over a third (38%) of people asked did not know that fruit juice contained sugar, despite warnings from Action on Sugar that many juices contain at least six teaspoons of sugar - more than cola².

Other food and drinks which respondents believed were free of sugar included the below:

-      Sweets (20%)

-      Hot chocolate (30%)

-      Fruit (40%)

-      Spirits (58%)

-      Fizzy drinks (20%)

-      Sports drinks (26%)

-      Energy drinks (28%)

This worrying lack of knowledge could be reaping havoc on the nation’s teeth. Many patients are not aware that each time sugar is consumed, teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour, producing harmful acids and increasing the risk of tooth decay. Some are also unaware that fizzy drinks could be just as harmful to the teeth and that carbon dioxide gas is used to create bubbles in fizzy drinks, which then turns into a very dilute acid in the drink. This exposure to dilute acid can lead to the dissolving of tooth enamel if consumed on a regular basis.

The new results also showed a clear need for more clarity on labelling of products, as 54% admitted that they wanted to reduce their sugar consumption, but just one in five respondents could decipher whether a product contains sugar by reading ingredient labels. 80% said they don’t always check the list of ingredients before buying or eating food, and over a third of respondents (38%) said they didn’t know the difference between ‘sugar-free’ and ‘no added sugar’. 

Whilst this low level of knowledge may seem surprising, it’s now harder than ever to avoid sugar, even in unexpected foods such as bread, sauces, flavoured water drinks and canned soups. And looking at the labels for sugar content isn’t always straightforward, as there are over 30 different names for sugar – including fructose, lactose, glucose, and dextrose. 

Although a range of diets have advocated a low or no-sugar approach over the last year, in reality, less than half of respondents had tried to quit sugar, and less than 10% have successfully done so for more than a year, with a quarter lasting less than a month.

Henry Clover, Deputy Chief Dental Officer at Denplan said “With sugar ‘hidden’ in so many unexpected foods and drinks, managing our daily sugar consumption can be a challenge. Not only is this detrimental for the nation’s general health, it can also significantly affect our oral health because the frequency at which we consume sugar is a huge factor in tooth decay. However, there are so many simple changes people can make on a daily basis to cut back on unwanted sugar and still enjoy a healthy and tasty diet, leaving them with healthy habits that their teeth will thank them for.”

Worried about the lack of knowledge surrounding sugar consumption, Denplan are urging Brits to go sugar-free for September. Logging on to www.sugar-free-september.co.uk will give patients access to information on hidden sugars, reveal the health risks of too much sugar consumption, provide tips on how to cut back on sugar and explain the importance of regular dentist visits and a better oral health regime.

References

¹  A Onepoll survey of 2,000 participants conducted in May 2015

² http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29986012

Planmeca were extremely delighted to host a high-ranking ministerial visit earlier today, as we welcomed the United Kingdom’s First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. George Osborne, as well as Finland’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Alexander Stubb, as guests to Planmeca.

Mr. Osborne and Mr. Stubb took time out of their busy schedules to meet with Planmeca founder and President Mr. Heikki Kyöstilä, as well as other top company representatives which included Planmeca’s Vice President of Sales, Mr. Jouko Nykänen
and Managing Director of Planmeca UK, Mr Karl O’Higgins,

As part of the visit, our esteemed guests were also introduced to Planmeca’s X-ray production facilities, where they were able to familiarise themselves with our high tech assembly process.

From left to right: Mr. Heikki Kyöstilä, Mr. Alexander Stubb, Mr. Karl O'Higgins, Mr. George Osborne and Mr. Jouko Nykänen.

A tour of Planmeca's X-ray production facilities where they learnt about the intricacies of our high tech assembly line.

Mr Osborne had an instant feel for the Planmeca production process

For more information about Planmeca and our range of digital solutions, please call us today Freephone 0500 500 586

or visit www.planmeca.com

0500 500 586

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

www.planmeca.com

Although dental implants have been used for around fifty to sixty years, it used to be that they were considered very much a last resort, and only really meant for those patients who really struggled with their dentures.  However, with recent advances in cosmetic dentistry, and the accessibility thereof, people are beginning to realise that there is a better, more comfortable and potentially more permanent way. Dental implants, whereby a biocompatible titanium screw, inserted into the jawbone, replaces the failed root of the tooth with a prosthetic tooth, crown or bridge are becoming more and more popular.  Whilst they’re still considered ‘cosmetic’ dentistry they bring far more benefits than just a lovely smile – they can improve speech which has been affected by tooth loss; improve eating and allow the patient to eat foods which may otherwise cause them a problem; prevent deterioration of the surrounding bone; have no negative impact on surrounding teeth and, due to their completely natural appearance and feel, dramatically improve confidence and self-esteem.

As with all cutting-edge techniques, people may have concerns about whether dental implants are for them, what problems may occur, and most commonly, how long will they last?  After all, a smile is possibly the most clear and instant form of non-verbal communication and if that’s compromised then life in general can be adversely affected.

The simple – and rather reassuring - answer is that, as dental implants actually fuse with the bone, they could quite literally last a lifetime (although, as with other surgical implant procedures, there is no lifetime guarantee) and cared for correctly, should certainly last many years.  This also makes them an economical solution in the longer term, as the initial treatment can cost little more than more conventional options.  However – and this is a big however – this very much depends on two important aspects:

1.      Expert Aftercare

This is why it is so crucial to ensure you use the very best specialist dental practice, one which has an exceptional reputation in dental implants and restorative dental treatment.  When researching which to use, you will need a comprehensive examination and consultation resulting in a distinct and individual treatment plan detailing exactly what treatment is proposed, the total cost of the procedure, what experience the dentist has in this work, and what the alternatives, if any, could be. 

They should provide clear guidance and instruction on how best to care for your implants along with regular maintenance appointments and ideally as much help and advice as you need, even long after treatment has finished.

2.      Ongoing Hygiene Care

Meticulous hygiene, inter-dental cleaning, perhaps an anti-bacterial mouthwash and regular check-ups are imperative whether teeth are natural or not and the general health of the rest of the mouth and gums is fundamental to the success of implants – as well as the longevity of natural teeth. 

Implants themselves do not decay but the build-up of plaque around the surrounding gum can cause inflammation which may even lead to peri-implantitis, a bacterial infection which causes gradual loss of the bone supporting the implant, and the ultimate failure of implants.  Inadequate oral hygiene is the number one cause of failed dental implants.

A healthy diet, avoiding sugary foods as much as possible is also vital to all dental health and thus the success of implanted teeth, as is the avoidance of smoking.

Observation of common sense dental care and overall good health, along with an expert practitioner will give the very best chance of your implants lasting for a very long time – and give you reason to smile for many years to come.

Article supplied by London City Smiles, specialists in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry procedures.

When it comes to unveiling your new and exciting products, timing is key! As one of the first major dental shows of the year, The Dentistry Show 2016 will enable you to reveal your latest and greatest in style, while networking with the 8,000 plus delegates expected.

The Dentistry Show 2016 will be working alongside leading societies and associations to deliver you a high quality and high value experience, including names such as the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD), British Society of Periodontology (BSP), British Endodontic Society (BES), British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) and many more.

With the support of The Product & Services and Launchpad UK Guides exhibitors receive extensive coverage leading up to the event through print and online media platforms, show guides and direct mail to delegates promoting your products and company logo.

80% of exhibitors from 2015 have already booked in for 2016 with a confirmed total of 196 stands. With a first come first serve choice on location avoid disappointment and book your place now!

Sign up now and guarantee your place at one of the biggest dental events of the year.

 

The Dentistry Show and DTS 2016 will be held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd April, NEC in Birmingham. For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk call 020 7348 5270

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

As a provider of dental care and treatment, the quality of service you deliver is of paramount importance to your patients, and by extension, to the success of your practice. You strive every day to meet the ever-growing and sometimes complex demands of your patients, using your skills and facilities to work closely with them and tailor your service to their needs.

This involves listening carefully to patient concerns and offering bespoke advice and guidance to support them, helping them overcome their problems while being as accessible as possible, and centring all treatment and services around them. Perceiving your patients as individuals with unique personality traits, characteristics and needs underpins the trusting and respectful relationships at the core of your business.

A UK independent dealer for UK independent providers

For the past 44 years, The Dental Directory has been dedicated to nurturing its customer relationships with the same ethos at its heart; focusing on your business as a unique entity. Known within the UK dental industry for its high quality customer service, The Dental Directory has evolved with the profession to help you meet the demands of increasing regulation and rising patient expectations.

Today, The Dental Directory works closely with some of the modern dental corporates (constituting 10% of their customer-base) but the team retains the same ethos it always has and remains as committed as ever to supporting independent practices around the UK. Your local representative is easy to reach whenever you have a question or require support, and those in management roles are also contactable should you wish to speak to them directly. Each and every customer receives a service tailored to their individual needs, ensuring a mutually beneficial relationship where practices have access to top-of-the-range products and services at affordable prices.

Only the highest quality

The truly dedicated full service dental dealer is committed to providing only the highest quality of products and technologies, offering an array of globally leading brands to help your practice streamline its daily processes and enhance clinical outcomes. From cutting-edge CAD/CAM technologies to leading endodontic instruments, handpieces, consumables and facial aesthetic products, the full portfolio is sure to provide everything you may need. What’s more, with 99% of all orders made in 2014 dispatched the same day, you can be confident to receive the fast and efficient service you need.

Increasing value

As The Dental Directory continues to evolve with the changing tide of dentistry, it looks forward to advancing with you to the next level. With the customer as its focal point, the company hopes to expand the services available. The Dental Directory already collaborates with DBG to bring you a spectrum of training, CQC support and equipment maintenance opportunities, adding value for you and your practice. Building on the success of these, The Dental Directory will continue its quest to identify problems faced by professionals and provide an effective solution.

True both of the products and additional services available, the company is committed to offering tools that will simplify your daily practice processes for the enhancement of your dental care provision and ultimately the profitability of your business. Working in collaboration with the manufacturing teams at Unodent, we continue to enthusiastically endorse these high end products and offer the full range at affordable prices. In addition, you can rest assured that all data is stored with stringent safety and security protocols in place, ensuring your information is always kept private.

Sharing your passion

The team at The Dental Directory understands and shares your passion for clinical excellence and efficient business strategies. Delivering the solutions you need, when you need them, trust The Dental Directory to provide the support your practice needs to truly excel.

For more information on the innovations and services available form The Dental Directory, please call 0800 585 586, or visit

www.dental-directory.co.uk

With a diverse line-up of leading speakers, the BACD Twelfth Annual Conference looks set to be another exciting and inspiring event. Delegates will be treated to some of the best education the dentistry profession has to offer, from some of the world’s most prominent experts.

Like previous years, there will be a wide range of vibrant presentations and workshops to discover, covering topics including isolation techniques, veneer preparations, crown lengthening techniques, anterior composites and BACD Accreditation processes. Discussing his own involvement at this year’s event, Dr Oliver Harman says, “My sessions this year will be looking at the use of lasers in modern dentistry. Dr Mark Cronshaw and myself want to give delegates an overview of where we are today with this impressive technology, to explore some of the theoretical ideas and how they can be applied in practical scenarios to great effect.

“It sometimes takes a little while for technologies like this to transition from one sector to another. With already established applicability in medical situations, we want to show delegates how it is now time for lasers to be integrated more in dental work.

“We will be going through the wealth of evidence and research that has been conducted on the use of lasers to explain their viability in practice – as well as exploring a number of important cases that show how lasers have contributed positively to treatment.

“I think we’re very much at that point now – we’ve reached the critical mass where research, evidence and results have culminated to show how the use of lasers in dentistry can become truly mainstream.”

Dr Harman has extensive experience in all aspects of cosmetic and general aesthetic dentistry. Not only does he provide high quality treatment from his own clinic in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, he consults for clinics in Helsinki and Saudi Arabia. In 2010 he achieved the prodigious British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Fellowship Award. 

He says, “I think the BACD is a driving force behind the legitimising of cosmetic dentistry – for both professionals and patients. I also think the BACD is at the very forefront of cosmetic dentistry – and it’s bringing together the latest concepts from across the globe and has been a world leader in a minimally invasive approach. It really emphasises how we should not just focus on UK dentistry, but look worldwide for ideas and new techniques. It’s broadening our minds.”

With such a dynamic line-up of presentations and workshops to choose from, the BACD Annual Conference is an event which simply cannot be missed. For dental professionals of all levels, the three-day event will feature something for everyone – and is a great opportunity to meet and network with like-minded, enthusiastic and friendly colleagues. Be sure not to miss out: save the dates in your diary today!

The BACD’s 12^th Annual Conference runs from 12^th - 14^th November 2015 at The Hilton London Metropole Hotel. Go to www.bacd.com, email Suzy Rowlands at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0207 612 4166.

Brought to you by Healthcare Learning in association with Sterling Dental Group and Practice Plan, the Clinical Innovations Conference (CIC) 2015 presented some of the industry’s most exciting innovations and latest technologies. Not only this, but the event gave attendees an excellent opportunity to gain up to 14 hours of verifiable CPD, in the form of a dynamic and eclectic lecture programme.

Included amongst a prodigious line-up of leading speakers were Chris Barrow, Dr Komal Suri, Bob McLelland, Sheila Scott, Jansie Van Rensberg and Tony Knight. The topics of their presentations were truly diverse and catered to a wide range of interests and specialities – but were united by truly forward-thinking philosophies.

The event was perfectly balanced by the Clinical Innovations Awards, held on the Friday evening in association with MyDentist. A chance to celebrate some of the achievements and innovative successes in the profession last year, it also gave delegates the opportunity to relax and network with like-minded colleagues.

Be sure to keep up to date with Healthcare Learning for information about next year’s event – sure to be as inspiring and educational as this year’s. Don’t miss out!

For more information call 020 7400 8989, visit www.healthcare-learning.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And follow us on twitter for all the latest @smileonnews @hlc_smileon

543 Dental Centre and Genix Healthcare, both members of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), are dedicated supporters of the Teeth Team charity.

The well-established school-based supervised tooth brushing programme aims to promote the importance of oral health among children, reducing inequalities and instilling effective dental routines in young people.

The charity’s recent review of dental health among children involved in the scheme found an overall reduction in the presence of decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft) in the past year. The number of those needing treatment reduced from 25% to 19% between January 2014 and May 2015.

This is encouraging news for both the public and the profession, but with work still to be done, it’s important for all to get involved and help improve oral health for the next generation.

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