The importance of putting cash aside for a rainy day is something we hear about from an early age. As we get older, we learn the difference between savings and investments. Rather than squirreling pennies away for future purchases, depending on our appetite for risk, we may decide to invest in assets that will one day (hopefully) earn us money.

When you left dental school you were probably told to start thinking about retirement! Last September, HMRC released figures relating to personal pensions. They showed that the amount of people contributing to a personal pension has increased (auto-enrolment will be a factor), but the annual average annual contributions per person has decreased, albeit slightly. In 2017-18, an individual’s average annual contributions totalled £2,700; in 2016-17 this figure was £2,900.[i] Separate data from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), also published last September, gave more information about the pensions picture in 2018/19.[ii] It found that over 350,000 pension pots were fully withdrawn at the first time of access – so, the user took out all their funds during the period in question, having not accessed it previously. Out of these, 90% were less than £30,000 in value and 63% were less than £10,000. The figures also showed that the most common pensions withdrawal rate for 2018/19 was 8% (except for the largest pots, of £250,000 and above). So, people with smaller pension pots were more likely to have dipped into them, or have taken the whole amount out in one go.

Of course, there are other ways to plan for a comfortable future. If you own a buy-to-let property, you may consider this your true ‘pension,’ and your most valuable source of future income (whether you continue collecting rent or sell) in retirement.

Saving and investing are like eating your greens; we know we should, but many of us find ways not to. Some of the big account providers cut interest rates for savings’ products this year too, which is hardly the greatest incentive. We hear that it’s not how much, but how often we save that’s important, but is this a red herring when the figures appear to show that we should be putting aside more?

Then there is the ‘live for today’ element. The balance between saving for an unknown future/a rainy day that might not come versus enjoying the fruits of your labours now can be tricky to find. In tumultuous times, the temptation to live for the moment is strong – why shouldn’t it be?

Finding the balance is possible, but whatever you do, don’t do anything without advice. HMRC’s report also showed that pensions providers “recorded that 48% of plans were accessed without regulated advice or guidance being taken”. We should add a note about being self-employed here, as many in the dental industry have self-employed status. As per figures from the end of 2019, over half of self-employed people said they wanted more advice on how to be a better saver.[iii]

Investing in the services of a financial expert who can help you save and invest using the right product(s) for you, is always money well spent because they will take short and long-term planning into consideration. The specialist dental accountants at Lansdell & Rose will help you save more, invest wisely and enjoy the present. You won’t achieve this delicate balancing act alone! Good guidance can help protect you from life’s twists and turns and give you peace of mind.

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

Or visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk

[i] Personal Pensions. National Statistics released by HMRC, September 2019. Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-pensions-statistics-introduction

[ii] FCA. Retirement income market data 2018/19. Published 25 September 2019.
Link: https://www.fca.org.uk/data/retirement-income-market-data

[iii] Majority of self-employed are not saving into pensions. FT Adviser, 11 October 2019. Link: https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2019/10/11/majority-of-self-employed-are-not-saving-into-pensions/

Most people have winced after a short, sharp twinge from a sensitive tooth. It often comes unexpectedly and pain originating in the oral cavity is perceived as disproportionately large compared to the rest of the body.² Tooth sensitivity is a common, bothersome dental problem, which may restrict what an individual chooses to consume and impact on their quality of life.

Healthy teeth are protected by hard enamel on the crowns and cementum at the roots. However, if these layers are worn away or damaged, the more sensitive dentine is exposed. The dentine contains thousands of fluid-filled dentinal tubules that lead to the pulp, which contains the tooth’s nerve and blood supply. When stimuli such as liquids, foods or cold air make contact with the exposed tubules it alters the flow of fluid inside, which activates the nerves and triggers pain.[1]

Dentine exposure

Dentine can become exposed due to any combination of the tooth wear processes, including attrition, erosion and abrasion:[2]

Attrition – This is the loss of hard tooth substances due to tooth-on-tooth contact. Tooth grinding or bruxism are parafunctional habits that may be caused by stress, a misaligned bite or in some cases, diseases that affect the muscles. This activity thins the enamel and over time, wears it down until the dentine is exposed.

Erosion – Is the loss of hard tissue from the surfaces of the teeth due to chemicals such as acids. Dental erosion due to intrinsic factors is caused by gastric acid reaching the oral cavity during vomiting episodes or persistent gastro-oesophageal reflux. [3] Extrinsic factors include the frequent consumption of foods and beverages that are high in dietary acids. [4] Behaviours such as snacking or sipping acidic or sugary drinks expose the teeth to repeated acid challenges, which can cause the loss of surface tooth structure.^[5]

Abrasion – This is the physical wear of the tooth surfaces due to mechanical processes other than usual actions such as chewing or tooth to tooth contact.[6] This type of tooth wear is associated with over vigorous or incorrect tooth brushing techniques as well as abrasive oral health products. It is often observed in individuals that use the teeth as tools to remove bottle tops or to hold nails etc. or those that use jewellery within the mouth on a long-term basis.

It should be noted that tooth whitening products have been identified is a risk factor for tooth sensitivity, as chemicals such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are able to quickly defuse through enamel and dentine and activate the nerve fibres.[7] Sensitivity from bleaching is usually transient, however if bleaching is performed on a patient that already has sensitive dentine, the sensitivity can be severe and prolonged.² 

Recession of the gums and loss of cementum

As well as loss of tooth enamel, the other main factors that can lead to tooth sensitivity are gum recession and loss of cementum. Gingival recession is common, affecting 60-90 per cent of the western European population, although reviews suggest that it is not age related.² Nevertheless, recession of the gingival marginal tissues exposes the thin shield of cementum that protects the roots of the teeth. Cementum is less mineralised and softer than other mineralised tissues,[8] which means that once it is exposed to mechanical friction for instance, it can be lost rapidly to reveal the deeper dentine beneath.

Gum recession can be caused by a number of factors including periodontitis and the management of the condition, orthodontic therapy, prosthetic treatment that traumatises the gingival tissues, over-zealous tooth brushing and horizontal bone loss due to osteoporosis. Smoking is a risk factor strongly associated with periodontitis and also increases the likelihood of recession in periodontal tissues. Furthermore, gingival recession has also been observed in young adults with oral piercings as these may cause gingival tissue trauma.

Preventing sensitivity

Preventing the loss of enamel and/or cementum is the key to averting tooth sensitivity. Dental professionals can offer dietary advice and oral health instruction to help patients to protect their teeth. Fluoride treatments and sealants may also be helpful to remineralise the tooth surfaces. However, the CALCIVIS^® imaging system provides dental professionals and their patients with an effective early warning system. This technology visualises active demineralisation on the surfaces of the teeth in real time, at the chair side. Using bioluminescence, the CALCIVIS imaging system detects the loss of minerals from the hard tissues of the teeth at the earliest, most reversible stages. Furthermore, the engaging CALCIVIS images help patients to understand their oral health status and comply with measures to remineralise the teeth before the sensitive dentine is exposed.

Exposed dentine is at particular risk for demineralisation and vulnerable to acid sources. As acids are produced by the bacteria in dental plaque on the tooth surface they can readily diffuse through the dentine and into underlying tissue resulting in tooth decay or infection. However, with the use of innovative technology, dental professionals can help patients to keep their teeth both healthy and pain free.

For more information visit www.CALCIVIS.com

or call 0131 658 5152

[1] Preventing and treating tooth sensitivity. JADA Sept 2013:144 (9) 1084. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)60601-2/fulltext [Accessed 5th August 2019]

^[2] West N.X. et al. Dental hypersensitivity: pain mechanisms and aestology of exposed cervical dentin. Clin Oral Investig. 2013 Mar; 17(Suppl 1): 9–19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3585766/ [Accessed 5th August 2019]

[3] Lussi A. et al. Erosion – diagnosis and risk factors. Clin Oral Investig. 2008 Mar; 12(Suppl 1): 5–13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2238777/ [Accessed 5th August 2019]

^[4] Zero D.T. Etiology of dental erosion – extrinsic factors. Eur J Oral Sci. 1996 Apr;104(2.Pt 2):162-77. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8804884 [Accessed 5th August 2019]

[5] Scheutzel P. Etiology of dental erosion – intrinsic factors. Eur J Oral Sci. 1996 Apr;104(2.Pt 2):178-90. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8804885 [Accessed 5th August 2019]

[6] Dental Health Foundation, Ireland. Tooth Wear. https://www.dentalhealth.ie/dentalhealth/causes/toothwear.html [Accessed 5th August 2019]

[7] Markowitz K. A new treatment alternative for sensitive teeth: A desensitizing oral rinse. Journal of Dentistry 41 Supp.1 S1-S11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300571212002667#bib0045 [Accessed 5th August 2019]

[8]  Chen H et al. in Advanced Ceramics for Dentistry, 2014. 2.2.3 Cementum https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cementum [Accessed 5th August 2019]

The Dental Nurses Forum – presented in collaboration with the BADN at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2020 – will offer an array of learning opportunities for dental nurses.

Among the highly anticipated speakers will be Debra Worthington, discussing the Mouth Care Matters programme.

“The Mouth Care Matters programme aims to create a healthcare team that is more responsive and personalised for patients. It aims to deliver better clinical outcomes, increasing awareness of the importance of good mouth care and how it impacts on general health and quality of life.

“I hope to empower colleagues to implement the project in their own Trusts  and organisations.”

Make sure you don’t miss out!

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2020 – Friday 15^th and Saturday 16^th May – Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.

Visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

Dental imaging needs to be straightforward, accurate and fast.

The CS 8100 3D system from Carestream Dental gives you all three. Able to switch between 2D and 3D imaging methods to ensure that you have complete control over every case, the system also features an intuitive interface and letter landmarks on the bite block to simplify and streamline the acquisition process.

Furthermore, the CS 8100 3D scans in as little as 7 seconds and helps to promote patient comfort due to its open face-to-face design.

Enter an era of advanced imaging by contacting Carestream Dental today.

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

visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

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

and Facebook

Author: Nicky Steadman Senior marketing manager Eschmann

When describing a product or service as ‘good value’ what do we mean? Value goes way beyond price and affordability. For example, the all-you-can-eat hotel buffet represents great value if it enables you to feed a fussy family at considerably less cost (and less stress) than the à la carte restaurant next door. But buy your children cheap winter boots that fall apart after a month and you’ll wish you had gone for the more expensive, robust pair. ‘Good value’ isn’t a linear concept. Sometimes you have to pay for quality, but on other occasions spending less might be best.

So, if it isn’t only about cost, how do we decide if something is good value or not?
Returning to the hotel buffet, if everyone was able to eat as much of the food that they like as they wanted, the experience would have been enjoyable for all. Level of satisfaction is therefore key to good value. In the case of the winter boots, the cheaper pair simply couldn’t do the job they were intended for effectively. For something to be good value, then, it must be affordable as well as effective and functional in order to offer all-round satisfaction.

Good value in the dental practice

 Combining affordability with quality, effectiveness and functionality is key to almost everything that happens in a dental practice. If an individual is considering aesthetic treatment, for example, they will research all their options thoroughly before making a decision. Even if they have been visiting your practice for years, there is no guarantee that they will choose you for this treatment. For them, better value might mean going to another practice that can perform the procedure in one appointment rather than two. Convenience is important to people and your patient might be happy to pay more for one visit rather than have to take double the time off work.

Good value means added value. If a product or service offers more, ‘cost’ becomes only a small part of the good-value recipe. If your practice offers more, you will find that people will often be happy to pay more, rather than go to a practice that can perform the same treatment, but without the added benefits that make you the best place in town.

Offering more, means better value

What can practices do to ensure good value for patients? General preventive advice and support should always be given. Treatment plans should be comprehensive, include full pre- and post-op instructions, and be presented in a patient-focussed way, using clear language to cut through any jargon. The stability of a patient’s treatment is key to its good value.  

Spend your budget for tools, equipment and materials wisely, so you can offer excellent treatment at the appropriate price. Make sure that everything you use is
of the highest quality, to set the right impression. But even if you are a small two-chair practice, don’t think that the very best is out of your reach. Even when it comes to the latest technology, you can find stunning solutions that combine affordability with functionality.

Overwhelmed by technology

The market for dental technology seems saturated – you only have to visit any dental show to see the overwhelming number of options available for practices to invest in. But technology is only as brilliant as it is effective. Any investments you make will be appropriate to what you do, too. It might not be the right time to purchase a high-spec digital scanner, but finding an autoclave that utilises the latest technology in an affordable, high-performance product is not only essential, but is within every practice’s budget. Source autoclave options that facilitate smoother daily workflows for busy dental teams. Models that come with a range of ongoing benefits will represent the best value and also the canniest investment.

The Little Sister 2020N, from Eschmann, builds on the reputation of the best-selling SES 2010 model by being more effective, reliable and cost effective than its predecessor, as well as capable of dealing with larger capacities without any compromise to performance. It is the most affordable 17 litre non-vacuum autoclave on the market in terms of both initial investment and to operate during its lifetime. Ongoing maintenance and aftercare makes it a sensible long-term choice and it is fully compliant with the latest infection-control standards too.

The concept of value may be tricky to define, yet every thriving practice must be committed to offering good, added value as part of an excellent patient-focussed service. It’s about aiming for the best; the best service, the best skills and the best care, backed up by the very best tools, materials and technology. Good value comes from a mix of several key ingredients and, if you invest wisely, you’ll find out how that things like effective, high-quality technology can also be affordable, too.

For more information on the highly effective and affordable range of decontamination equipment and products from Eschmann, please visit www.eschmann.co.uk or call 01903 875787

Not all dental practices are the same. They are not all run in the same way and they do not aim for the same goals. It is just as true to say that not all dental corporates are the same. They too differ in everything from ethos and values to management style and professional training commitments. Consequently, it’s important to consider each business on its owns merits and avoid being distracted by generalisations and misconceptions.

Ryan Harford is a multiple-site practice manager in Kent. He has several years’ experience in management and customer-facing roles, with a background in retail and healthcare. He considers his experience of working for large corporate organisations throughout his career so far.

“I have worked for some of the largest corporates in the world. I have felt very comfortable in this environment and liked working for well-established and well-run companies. Many of the skills learnt in the retail sector were easily transferable to dentistry. For example, the regimented protocols installed in me from retail translated into the strict compliance procedures required in dentistry. I also understood how to guide and enhance the customer journey, which I can apply in the practice to ensure a high-quality patient experience too.”

So, what makes particular companies good places to work?

“Corporates are often associated with an impersonal and cold environment,” explains Ryan. “In some cases they can be, with individuals identified more by number than as a person. A good corporate (just like any good place to work) does the opposite. People know you by name and they take the time to understand your capabilities and your aspirations, despite the size of the business. They provide the support you need to do your job to the best of your abilities.”

In dentistry, the patient should be at the centre of everything and so the quality of care provided is the first metric by which any provider – including a corporate – can be measured. Based on his experience of working with different dental corporates, Ryan believes there is one thing that impacts quality of patient care within the corporate environment above others.

“The team is integral to delivering quality patient care. My current practice has received investment in equipment and we have an amazing environment for patients to seek their care, which is fantastic. But ultimately, I believe the team makes the biggest difference. I like to ensure a very warm and welcoming practice, where patients are put at ease from the very first smile from reception. They are made to feel comfortable, to talk about their lives and to really engage with all members of our team.

“We also follow up after treatment by calling to see how they are – by going this extra mile we ensure the highest quality service for our patients and our community. Patient care always comes first and everything else falls into place from there.”

With a new-found passion for helping to deliver high-quality health and dental services, Ryan’s enthusiasm for his present situation and future with Colosseum Dental is infectious.

“It’s essential that people realise not all dental corporates are the same,” he comments. “I have worked in one where I felt isolated, micro-managed and without sufficient support. However, as soon as I joined Colosseum Dental I was engaged, excited and energised – there’s a real excitement and buzz on a daily basis around the company. There is always someone to provide support and reassurance, yet I have been given the freedom and opportunity to drive the practice forwards. Entrepreneurship is encouraged and facilitated, with plenty of training giving individuals the skills and the confidence they need to take the helm.

“I am very proud to work with Colosseum Dental — I believe in what they are trying to achieve and will put my heart and soul into helping them, my colleagues and my patients. I can say with absolute confidence that joining Colosseum Dental has been a life changing career move for me and I am delighted to get such an opportunity to affect change and really help people. I love my job!”

As Ryan suggests, working with different dental corporates may provide varying experiences. As such, it’s important they are not all tarred with the same brush. Ryan offers some advice about how to know what you’re getting into and to find the right working environment for you.

“You’ve got to do your research so you know what the company is about,” he says. “Where possible, visit a practice and ask the team what they think about the group. The support they receive and their insight into the quality of patient care they are able to provide will offer far more than the business website. There are definitely dental companies out there that are providing a high level of service and care with the right environment for professionals to develop. You just need to find the right ones.”

For more information about Colosseum Dental, please visit www.colosseumdental.co.uk

When it comes to high-performance sterilization, nothing compares to the new generation Lisa type B vacuum sterilizer from W&H.

Hygienically designed with an intuitive interface, Lisa is capable of processing instruments in just 13 minutes. This unit features an integrated EliSense system that displays detailed cycle information, enabling you to optimise both workflow and output at a glance.

With its innovative EliTrace function, Lisa also facilitates extended documentation down to a single instrument or set without any extra software or hardware. This can be combined with the Lisa Mobile App to ensure full traceability for improved record-keeping.

Discover Lisa’s unique features by contacting W&H today.

To find out more visit www.wh.com/en_uk, call 01727 874990 or email office.uk@wh.com

Help patients ‘go pro’ with their home oral hygiene routine by introducing them to the innovative Wisdom Clean Between Pro Interdental Brushes.

They feature a uniquely curved profile that makes it easier to access all areas of the mouth. The broader thumbgrip improves ergonomics and promotes patient comfort whilst the robust, flexible stem affords enhanced strength and durability for an effective clean and a long-lasting product.

Clinically proven^[i] to reduce plaque and gingival bleeding, the Wisdom Clean Between Pro Interdental Brushes are ideal for a wide range of patients, including those with crowns, bridges, dental implants and orthodontic appliances. Recommend them to your patients today.

Please visit www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com or call 01440 714800

[i] James A. Plaque reduction of a dental product. In-use laboratory test report. Advanced Development & Safety Laboratories Ltd. April 2019.