COLTENE gives its support to prominent oral health charity

 

 

 

COLTENE, who develops, manufactures and supplies innovative, high-quality products and materials to the dental market, is delighted to announce its support for oral health charity Dentaid.

For over 20 years, Dentaid has been helping people all over the world access good, safe and essential dental care. At first, the focus was on refurbishing donated equipment and sending it overseas. But, as funding grew, Dentaid was able to extend its scope and start developing its own education projects, training programmes and volunteering trips. Initiatives like the DentaidBox – a complete, portable dental surgery that can fit into a wheelie bin – have allowed Dentaid to travel across the globe, delivering care and supporting outreach teams in hard-to-reach rural areas, refugee camps and countries affected by conflict and natural disaster.  

Dentaid now also works to improve oral health here in the UK. It supports oral health education in schools and developed the popular BrightBites resource packs for teachers to promote the importance of good, preventive care. Recently, Dentaid’s UK work has expanded hugely. In 2017, its mobile dental unit started delivering care to vulnerable people around the UK. It also holds clinics for fishermen at quaysides. The unit is invited to go and set up wherever there is a need; last year it travelled nearly 6,000 miles and made an immeasurable difference to hundreds of patients’ lives, many of whom were homeless and/or had experienced extreme hardship, including domestic violence. Dentaid, through its team of volunteers, was able to give these individuals back their pride, self-respect and self-esteem, helping them to smile again with confidence and removing the source of debilitating oral pain. With access to a NHS dentist impossible for most of these patients, some were often left contemplating pulling their own teeth to end their toothache.

COLTENE will be providing the mobile dental unit teams with Fill-Up!™, a dual-cured posterior tooth-coloured restorative material, for use in their clinics. COLTENE says:

“With around 30 per cent of homeless people living with constant dental pain, taking it away can be the first step on the road to a better and healthier life.[i]The more support Dentaid receives, the more clinics it will be able to put on and the more opportunities it will have to help vulnerable people.

“COLTENE is proud to be helping Dentaid improve the world’s dental health.”

 

To find out more visit www.coltene.com, email info.uk@coltene.com or call 01444 235486

 

[i]Dentaid promotional video, January 2019.

Register today! “Shaping the Future of Dental Implantology”

For every member of the dental team looking to update their knowledge in the field of dental implantology, the ADI Team Congress 2019 is not to be missed.

Entitled “Shaping the Future of Dental Implantology: Techniques – Technology – Teamwork”, the event will present internationally renowned speakers from around the world, covering a wide range of exciting topics.

The major exhibition will also host various companies demonstrating the latest dental implant-related innovations.

Book online today!

ADI Team Congress 2019

Shaping the Future of Dental Implantology: Techniques – Technology – Teamwork

2 – 4 May 2019, EICC, Edinburgh

 

For more information or to book, visit www.adi.org.uk/congress19

ADI members can attend at significantly reduced rates, join online today.

 

‘All in all, fantastic!’

Senior dental nurse, Georgina Whittle, shares her thoughts on the Continu range of disinfection products supplied by Nuview:

“We started using Continu due to its low risk of irritation. A few of the dental nurses at our practice have eczema and we found that Continu was the only range of disinfection solutions that didn’t irritate their skin. I would highly recommend Continu products to other practices – they’re easy to use and don’t emit any harsh smells. All in all, Continu is fantastic!

“Moreover, the team at Nuview provides excellent support to our practice. They send out our orders very quickly and are willing to help with any queries or concerns we have. Nuview has excellent knowledge of HTM 01-05 and we often ask for the team’s advice, as they also carry out our annual infection control training and swab testing.”

 

For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266, email info@nuview-ltd.com, visit www.nuview.co or ‘like’ Nuview on Facebook

Markus Blatz at the ADI Team Congress 2019

 

Markus Blatz will be representing the USA as part of the fantastic speaker line-up at the ADI Team Congress 2019.

Markus is a Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Chairman of the Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, and Assistant Dean for Digital Innovation and Professional Development at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia. He is a co-founder and past President of the International Academy for Adhesive Dentistry (IAAD) and a Board-certified Diplomate in the German Society for Prosthodontics and Biomaterials. Markus has also received various awards for his commitment to teaching and research, plus he has published and lectured extensively on dental aesthetics, restorative materials and implant dentistry.

His session at the ADI Team Congress – “The Evolution of Ceramics in Aesthetic Implant Dentistry” – will be relevant to all clinicians and dental technicians involved with the restoration of dental implants. Markus explains:

“Digital technologies and new materials for dental implant restorations are evolving at a rapid pace. There is now a whole range of aesthetic and long-lasting treatment options to choose from.However, the sheer number of materials – especially ceramics – digital tools and technologies available has made effective selection rather challenging. There are many open questions among the profession and straight answers are hard to find, especially when relying on manufacturer information rather than scientific evidence. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of misinformation circulating, sometimes at the expense of our patients when materials and technologies are not applied in the proper manner.”

Hoping to help set some records straight at the ADI Team Congress 2019, Markus will be speaking in the plenary programme.

“When it comes to choosing appropriate materials for implant-supported restorations, aesthetic, physical and biologic properties have to be taken into consideration during treatment planning, manufacturing and clinical treatment. Typically, ceramics with better aesthetics (or translucency) tend to have lower physical properties. It is, therefore, key to include all pertinent patient information in the decision-making process in order to select the strongest, most aesthetic, biocompatible ceramic based on the patient’s individual needs and preferences.

“Questions that come up rather frequently are: What are the fundamental aesthetic treatment planning guidelines? How do you select the best materials and treatment options for patients, considering the large variety of silica-based, high-strength and hybrid ceramic materials available today? How do you best integrate digital workflows? Do different ceramics require specific laboratory and clinical treatment to function properly in the mouth? Is all zirconia the same? How do you cement different ceramics? And finally, in this age of ‘evidence-based dentistry’, what is the scientific evidence supporting all of these topics?

“During my presentation I hope to answer these questions in an unbiased manner and provide an update on aesthetic, long-term functional treatment options from single-implant crowns to implant-supported full-mouth rehabilitations. Ceramic material properties, digital CAD/CAM manufacturing in the dental laboratory and practice, as well as important material science aspects based on decades of research and the latest scientific evidence will be presented.

“My intention is to help delegates select appropriate materials for optimal aesthetics, function and biology, as all these aspects have a direct impact on treatment outcomes and long-term clinical success. While the importance of material selection is unfortunately often overlooked, it remains especially important in implant dentistry. Getting it right will reduce the risk of remakes, failures and unhappy patients.”

Aside from an inspirational plenary programme, the ADI Team Congress 2019 will also present lectures dedicated to other members of the team, including dental nurses, dental hygienists and therapists, practice managers and dental technicians. Not only does this encourage all professionals to update their knowledge and skills, but it also provides a platform for networking and promotes that team spirit that modern dentistry relies upon so much.

Speaking about the event as a whole, Markus added:

“I love the ‘team’ aspect. Some people believe that digital technologies eliminate some of the team members, but nothing could be further from the truth. Since some of the technological aspects have become even more specialised, working together with a team of experts is now more important than ever. The ‘team’ spirit and great variety of speakers at this event clearly represents and embodies the ADI’s philosophy.”

Give your entire team the opportunity to advance their capabilities in the field of dental implantology. Book your place at the ADI Team Congress 2019 online today!

 

ADI Team Congress 2019

Shaping the Future of Dental Implantology: Techniques – Technology – Teamwork

2 – 4 May 2019, EICC, Edinburgh

 

For more information or to book please visit www.adi.org.uk/congress19

ADI members can attend at significantly reduced rates, join online

Getting to the root of good communication

Smart data and communication technology systems are allowing modern dental practices to overcome the challenges of managing outbound communications, freeing up time to sharpen business in other ways. Jeremy Hutchins of Paragon Customer Communications gives an insight. 

Tasked with managing care for a growing patient list, whilst at the same time transforming administrative procedures in dental services in a bid to create an enhanced patient experience, practice managers are increasingly seeking ways to reduce errors and deliver a marked improvement in the three-way communication between dentists, non-clinical staff and patients.

The dentistry world is far, far more competitive than it once was. Practices now have to compete effectively in the world of business to attract new patients and keep existing ones, meaning excellent communication has to be the way forward for practices to thrive.

For today’s dental practitioners operating against a backdrop of cuts to public health budgets – with The British Dental Association (BDA) criticising news that the government will proceed with £85 million of cuts to public health grants[1] – employing an enriched communications strategy can have a substantial impact on both the operational efficiency of practices, as well as the associated costs – making it an enticing prospect for dental surgeries.

Whether it is sharing digital patient files, confirming appointments or processing information for referrals to specialists it is paramount that patients and other professionals get the right message at the right time, written and delivered in the ideal format.

Drilling down into multi-channel communications

Communicating with patients whose age range often spans numerous decades, for instance, requires a truly multi-channel communications strategy that integrates a multitude of channels, both print and digital. The ensures that patients remain engaged at every stage of the treatment pathway, from initial contact to the consultation and post-appointment follow-up.

Leading edge technology for outbound communications is already delivering enhancements in the exchange of information both in the private sector and the NHS, allowing practice managers to keep patients well informed and build trust through clear, timely and continuous correspondence.

Innovative communications technologies can be deployed across multiple practices and departments, making it possible for dental surgeries to provide a truly multi-channel mailing strategy for patients that includes a mix of printed correspondence, digital communications or even SMS push notifications that remind them of upcoming appointments.

In the fast-moving pace of modern life, where patients are inundated with electronic communications, this can prove an invaluable tool for managers.

By harnessing innovative technologies practice managers are able to efficiently streamline patient liaison and daily operations, from managing patient appointments to sharing information for referral treatment or correspondence between technicians and clinicians. Such enhanced communication is going some way to delivering not only a marked improvement in attendance rates and patient satisfaction, but also in the wider patient experience due to speeding up response times and follow-up.

Easy to install and set up on internal networks, state-of-the-art systems allow dental practices to reduce the time non-clinical staff has to deal with administrative tasks associated with the fulfilment of letters such as the printing of documents, putting them in envelopes and sorting them for postage. This, in turn, frees up employees to focus on core business activities such as patient liaison and critical day-to-day administration tasks.

What this means is, by deploying such systems, dental care teams can regain control of print, mailroom and postage costs, whilst increasing staff productivity levels when it comes to outbound communications.

These systems allow practice managers to take back control of their operating budgets and free up staff time to concentrate on the important core business activity of excellent dentistry and patient care. This then results in increased productivity all round. As a consequence there is a more positive customer experience with quicker follow up and a marked improvement in appointment attendance rates.

Partnering with an experienced customer communications expert, such as Paragon Customer Communications, can help practice managers to formulate the most effective solution for transforming their surgeries outbound communications. 

Paragon Customer Communications combines generations of expertise with the latest innovations in technology and smart data. The company is ideally placed to improve all aspects of communications in the healthcare sector, with services developed around the latest in print technology and data use. For more, visit: www.paragon-cc.co.uk

[1] http://www.the-dentist.co.uk/articles/bda-savage-public-health-cuts-perverse/

 

Get Your Core CPD

Pete Gibbons, Decontamination Specialist from Henry Schein Dental, will be presenting “Dental infection prevention, decontamination and HTM 01-05” from the Core CPD Theatre at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2019. He says:

“We will discuss the main principles involved with infection control, as well as the pathogens that dental professionals need to be aware of including bacteria, viruses and prions.

“I will offer suggestions to help delegates enhance their day-to-day work while safeguarding their patients and staff. I will share ideas I have seen work within the industry, to help delegates work smarter and a little faster.”

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2019 – Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May – Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.

Visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270

or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

Information they can keep

It is important to tell patients considering dental implants the necessary information during their consultation, but it is also helpful to give them something to take home and refresh their memories.

The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) facilitates this by offering members 50 free patient information leaflets a year that cover key details about dental implant procedures.

A wonderful resource that allows patients to have the information at hand, these leaflets can also be used as resources in the waiting room, which may lead to more patients asking about the procedure for themselves.

Just one of the benefits of joining the ADI, visit the website today to find out more.

For more information please visit www.adi.org.uk

For the ADI patient website, please visit www.consideringdentalimplants.co.uk

Easy handling, shaping and placement

Filtek One bulk fill restorative from 3M Oral Care helps clinicians create excellent[i] restorations with speed and simplicity.[ii] It features an ideal viscosity,[iii] a low shrinkage when cured,[iv] good adaptability to margins,[v] no slumping when placed[vi] and easy sculptability.[vii]

It has also received praised from various dentists, including:

“Filtek One makes posterior composite restorations much easier and achieves good results.” – Dr Lucy Gooch

“Filtek One handled very nicely, was easy to use and saved time. It was non sticky and was of a thickness and consistency that enabled me to press it into the contours of the cavity.” – Dr Jay Burke

“Filtek One is super easy to handle, is relevant in every day practice and offers excellent aesthetics.” – Dr Kunal Shah

For more information, call 0800 626 578 or visit www.3M.co.uk/Dental

3M and Filtek are trademarks of the 3M Company.

 

[i] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One excellent restorations. Claim 6783 (2016)

[ii] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One speed and simplicity. Claim 6065 (2014)

[iii] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One ideal viscosity. Claim 6759 (2016)

[iv] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One low shrinkage. Claim 6823 (2016)

[v] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One adaptability. Claim 6763 (2016)

[vi] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One resists slumping. Claim 6762 (2016)

[vii] 3M Oral Care internal data. Filtek One sculptability. Claim 6761 (2016)

‘Improved confidence’

“I invested in the EyeMag Pro loupes and the EyeMag Light II from Nuview because of my desire to improve the quality of my restorative dentistry and achieve results of the highest standards,” says Dr Alan Knight from Hospital Lane Dental and Implant Clinic.

“The loupes are very clear, lightweight and comfortable to wear, offering good magnification. I was able to start using them instantly, without any period of adjustment.

“As an endodontist, much of my work incorporates the use of a microscope, but I often use loupes when I’m sectioning crowns and carrying out post core build ups. The EyeMag Pro loupes have improved my confidence with regard to performing these procedures. In turn, patients can benefit from enhanced diagnostics and higher quality restorations, while I’m able to benefit from being a better clinician.

“I would definitely recommend the EyeMag Pro loupes and the EyeMag Light II – they are the best I’ve used thus far. Moreover, the customer service I have received from Nuview has been excellent. The team are very professional and accommodating.”

For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266, email info@nuview-ltd.com, visit www.nuview.co or ‘like’ Nuview on Facebook

Realise your potential

Practitioners must stay up-to-date on the latest trends and techniques of the dental profession, in order to achieve successful aesthetic outcomes.

With a membership at the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD), dentists are able to take advantage of excellent educational opportunities. These include Recommended Meetings that cover a wide range of interesting topics and subjects, presented by leading experts from the profession.

Members also have exclusive access to a vast database of clinical articles, research and publications, including the International Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry (IJCD).

At the end of the year, the BACD holds its celebrated Annual Conference, which gives members the chance to network with some of the world’s most renowned dental professionals, while in the company of friends and colleagues.

There is no better way to stay informed for the future benefit of patients.

Join the BACD today and start reaping the rewards of your membership – visit the BACD website for more information.

For further enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com