Plaque is a well-known risk to dental health, promoting the growth of harmful strains of bacteria. From fresher breath to preventing gingivitis and periodontal diseases, everyone stands to gain from better plaque control.

The Waterpik^® Ultra Professional Water Flosser, provides patients with amazing assistance in managing their own oral health. It enables patients to tackle hard to access areas of the mouth, easily and effectively.[i]Many patients evidently struggle with interdental cleaning – the Waterpik® Water Flosser provides more effective results than sting floss[ii]with none of the difficulty or discomfort.

For more information on Waterpik^®please visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik^®products are available from Amazon, Asda, Costco UK, Boots.com
and Superdrug stores across the UK and Ireland.

[i]Goyal C., Lyle D., Qaqish J., Schuller R. Evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of a water flosser compared to string floss in adults after a single use. Journal of Clinical Dentistry. 2013; 24(2): 37-42. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24282867Accessed November 8, 2018

[ii]Barnes C.M et al. Comparison of irrigation to floss as an adjunct to tooth brushing: effect on bleeding, gingivitis and supragingival plaque. J Clin Dent, 2005; 16(3): 71-77.

If we are looking for tasty Italian food locally, or the best place to get a haircut for a child who struggles with sitting still, what is the first thing we often do? We go online to find out what other people recommend.

The beauty of search engines is that we can be specific and use terms that help us find exactly what it is that we are looking for. We may do our research on a laptop, tablet or phone – the number of smartphone users worldwide is expected to pass the five billion mark this year[i]. Consumer websites such as Yelp include a ‘send to your phone’ option so once we’ve found a restaurant/ hairdresser that apparently suits our needs and is well reviewed, booking is easy and our business can be secured in a click or two.

Yelp, along with other sites like Trip Advisor and Which?, use reviews and star ratings to help us make decisions. Look up almost any business page on Facebook and you’ll also find user reviews. We often feel overwhelmed by choice and, despite owning all sorts of devices to save us time, we seem to have less of it to spare than ever. Online reviews are useful snapshots that do the hard work for us, so we don’t have to waste precious minutes trawling the internet.

There is an overwhelming amount of data available to back up the importance of online reviews; 95% of shoppers read them according to one source, with 93% of another sample saying they use them to determine if a local business is good or not.[ii]Over 80% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, claims a separate survey.[iii]

Fresh reviews are important for the informed modern consumer. Glowing reviews that are over a year old – with nothing posted since – won’t stack up against recent testimonials for the savvy internet user. And if we see a few negative comments in a sea of five-star ratings, most of us will be discerning enough to consider the bigger picture. Bad reviews don’t necessarily put us off, then and if we see that a company or service provider has responded, we will take this into consideration too, especially if a full explanation – rather than a generic reply – has been given.

But what about when the reviewer becomes the reviewed? For many practices, there is real fear about online reviews and, in particular, dealing with negative comments posted by unhappy patients. If reviews and ratings can build trust in the reputation of a dental practice, does this mean they can dent it as well? Not at all, as long as they are managed correctly.

Patients are looking online to find out more about your practice and this is why you need to know what people are saying about you. Reviews and review sites are at the centre of local searches. We have a far more itinerant population than ever before, so you must think abut the needs and wants of potential patients moving into the area. If they look up your practice and are able to find fresh reviews and testimonials and prompt, respectful responses to negative comments, you will stand out from the competition. Consider your current patients too. Monitoring reviews is a way to engage with them and show them that you are listening. If you don’t respond, and ignore what they are telling you, compare it to walking away from a conversation. Say someone gives you a one-star rating because they felt the receptionist was discourteous. This gives you the opportunity to address this issue and perhaps review training for the front-desk team. Or what if a patient posts a bad review because they were kept waiting and had to leave, but didn’t realise the delay was due to an emergency? If you know the review exists and deal with it appropriately – rather than hoping it goes away – you can turn a negative into a positive.

If this all sounds stressful and time consuming, rest assured that tools have been developed to help practices manage online reviews. EasyReview, which will be launched by Dental Design at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show (co-located with the Dental Technology Showcase) in May, provides an efficient way for dental practices to obtain, manage and respond to patient reviews, whether they are good or bad.

Don’t bury your head in the sand about reviews. As consumers ourselves, we often read them before investing in products or services. When it comes to online reviews for your practice, focus on the positive. They will improve your search engine ranking and also enable you to attract new patients. They can inspire confidence in your services and help you to raise standards across every area of the patient experience. Don’t hide from them – embrace them!

To find out more about Dental Design’s services,
visit: https://dental-design-products.co.uk/
email: enquiries@dental-design.co.ukor tel: 01202 677277

^[i]Statistica. The Statistics Portal. Number of smartphone users worldwide from 2014 to 2020 (in billions). Link:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/(accessed February 2019).

[ii]G2 Crowd. 50+ statistics proving the power of customer reviews. Link: https://learn.g2crowd.com/customer-reviews-statistics(accessed February 2019).

[iii]Invesp Blog. The Importance Of Online Customer Reviews. Link: https://www.invespcro.com/blog/the-importance-of-online-customer-reviews-infographic/(accessed February 2019).

Want to streamline your daily workflows? Your composite can make all the difference when you choose the NEW Filtek Universal Restorative from 3M Oral Care.

Filtek Universal Restorative from 3M Oral Care has NaturalMatch technology that means even a single shade can blend easily with natural dentition. This allows professionals to create high-quality, aesthetic restorations quickly.

Available in 8 different shades and universal opacity, Filtek Universal Restorative also has an Extra White shade and a new Pink Opaquer for the masking of stains and metal. This versatile new composite meets most clinical indications, and a natural fluorescence enhances the life-like appearance of restorations.

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

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

Treating the edentulous mandible efficiently has been made easier for more patients with the introduction of the new Trefoil™ system from Nobel Biocare.

The first ever system able to provide passive fit with a pre-manufactured bar, Trefoil exceeds expectations in terms of efficiency at every step of the restorative journey.

Not only does the system feature a simplified restorative workflow which takes only around 6 hours, but it also helps to reduce chair time so that the patient can experience a shorter time-to-teeth – reducing the treatment period by up to 6 months.

Find out more about the Trefoil system by contacting Nobel Biocare for more information.

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

Dr Raffaella Gabassi, Principal Dentist at White Dental and Cosmetic Rooms, explains how the CS R4+ practice management system from Carestream Dental has help enhance customer service.

“The organised appointment book has been incredibly helpful. We use it to keep track of our patients and can easily see patients who have cancelled their appointments and not rebooked – giving us the chance to follow up effectively and provide excellent customer service.

“I would definitely recommend the CS R4+ system to others, in fact I have done many times in the past!”

To find out more, please contact Carestream Dental today.

For more information, call 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl and Facebook

For well over a decade, the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) has distinguished itself as an innovative organisation that pushes the boundaries of education within dentistry. The Annual Conference proves to be a true highlight of the dental calendar and the BACD is confident that this will be no different in 2019.

Returning to the Millennium Gloucester Hotel at the end of the year, the BACD Sixteenth Annual Conference, entitled “Delivering Excellence: Tradition vs. Innovation”, will provide the ideal opportunity for delegates to join thought-provoking lectures, engage in hands-on workshops, and explore the latest products at a diverse tradeshow. Dental professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in cosmetic dentistry can look forward to a three-day programme of educational sessions led by renowned practitioners from both the UK and abroad.

As well as keynote speaker, Dr Mauro Fradeani, other top-class clinicians presenting at this year’s Annual Conference include: Dr Paolo Nardinocchi, Dr Tony Rotondo, Dr Josef Kunkela, Mr Daniel Dunka, Dr Elliot Mechanic, Mr Phil Reddington, Dr Oliver Harman, Dr Julian Caplan, Dr Eric van Dooren, Dr Isabella Rochietta, Dr Koray Feran and Dr Luis Bessa.

As an expert in prosthodontics, Dr Mario Semenza will also be delivering a session on the “Management of complex and interdisciplinary cases with indirect restorations”. Having graduated with honours in Dentistry at the University of Pavia in 1984, Dr Semenza is passionate about helping clinicians develop their skills in dental preparations and impression-taking procedures, which is why he works with the University of Chieti, the Tor Vergata University of Rome and the Vita E Salute San Raffaele University of Milan. He has also presented at many other national and international conferences, and now operates independently in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy, where his focus is mainly on prosthodontics and periodontology.

Dr Semenza’s experience in this complex area of dentistry ensures he is suitably placed to share his professional insights at this year’s BACD Annual Conference. Speaking of his session, he says:

“Evolving digital technology and the continuous development of adhesive and dental implant techniques have profoundly affected our modern approach to treatment. However, dental preparations and the study of anatomic data through the use of dental impressions still remain essential to achieving a successful treatment outcome.

“In the field of dental preparations, the type of line used for marginal finishes has now become a highly discussed topic. With regard to dental impression-taking, the debate between the use of analogue or digital processes has become more significant. Dentists may ask themselves, ‘Will I carry out preparations using the Chamfer or BOPT technique? Is it better to use an intraoral scanner or should I use a traditional method and material for taking an impression?’ In my session, delegates will explore different solutions to these questions and the ways in which dentists can achieve the best possible result in their restorative work.”  

The main focus of Dr Semenza’s presentation at the Annual Conference will be to provide delegates with guidance on a wide range of complex processes and techniques relating to indirect restorations. Delegates will be able to find out how they can approach complex procedures to ensure a highly satisfactory end result.

“The biggest challenge of modern dentistry is identifying the correct therapeutic indication,” explains Dr Semenza. “Therefore, analysing the advantages and disadvantages of different dental preparations, as well as digital and analogue impression-taking methods, is fundamental to ensuring the correct workflow is implemented. I hope delegates realise that any theoretical concepts used must be fully supported by well-considered operative protocols that are rigid and easily executed.

“By the end of my session, practitioners should be able to face complex and interdisciplinary cases with confidence. To achieve successful treatment results, practitioners must ultimately be prepared to improve their skills and knowledge, which involves thoroughly analysing all the steps involved with specific procedures.”

Dr Semenza adds: “The BACD is well known as an organisation that encourages dentists to innovate and keep up-to-date with the latest industry trends and developments. I’m looking forward to attending the Annual Conference and delivering a highly informative session that is easily understood by delegates.”  

With insightful lectures and engaging presentations delivered by the likes of Dr Semenza, the BACD Annual Conference 2019 will be an excellent showcase of the very best that cosmetic dentistry has to offer. What’s more, delegates will not only have the chance to network with some of the industry’s leading lights, but will also be able to catch up with friends and colleagues at the exclusive Gala Dinner. To avoid missing out, make sure you save the dates in your diary and book your place by visiting the BACD website today.

The BACD Sixteenth Annual Conference 2019

‘Delivering Excellence: Tradition vs. Innovation’

7^th– 9^thNovember 2019

Millennium Gloucester Hotel

Kensington, London

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

Visitors to the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show discovered BRILLIANT COMPONEER™, the new, improved composite material from COLTENE.

COLTENE prides itself on offering dentists ways to upgrade their dentistry. BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ can be used for chair-side restorations in one session – no laboratory necessary!

With high gloss retention, excellent polishability and stability, BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ has a range of indications from reconstructing tooth substance to restoring carious defects.

Dentists and patients favour minimally invasive preparation and delegates learned how BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ facilitates this too.

If you missed out in May, contact COLTENE to find out about this fantastic new addition to its portfolio.

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

Clark Dental can help you maintain an efficient workflow by supplying a high-performance treatment centre you can rely on. Recognised as the best system in its class, the Intego from Sirona is available as a TS or CS model, so you can choose your preferred way of working.

The Intego is designed to ensure supreme comfort for both you and your patients, and also boasts integrated disinfection features to help you comply with infection control regulations. Customisable with a double-articulating headrest and compact assistant element, the Intego facilitates greater freedom of movement for the whole dental team.

Contact Clark Dental for further details.

For more information, call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.uk or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

“The original ethos of Rodericks to be run by dentists, for dentists, resonates with me and I feel that it is really like that,” says Dr Dinesh Gunatunga from Buckingham House Dental Practice.

“There is always someone to talk to at Head Office when you need to, either by phone or email. Even the top management team are not alien to you and are all very approachable.

“We have good materials and equipment in Rodericks practices and we absolutely have the necessary clinical freedom to deliver the care we feel is best for each of our patients.”

Read the rest of Dinesh Gunatunga’s blog by visiting www.rodericksdental.co.uk/blog/long-term-relationship

#wearerodericks