In order to streamline daily procedures, it’s important to use products that maximise both efficiency and quality.

Impregum Super Quick polyether impression material from 3M Oral Care takes just 45 seconds of working time and 2 minutes to set for a super-fast operation. This not only means that clinicians can truly optimise appointment time, but they can also enhance patient comfort and satisfaction.

The patient experience is further improved by a fresh, minty taste.

To update and upgrade your products and ensure a fast and effective daily workflow, use solutions you can trust from 3M.

For more information, call 08705 360 036 or visit www.3M.co.uk/Dental

3M representatives continue to be available via video calling technologies for your convenience.

END

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

Even in difficult times, it is possible for dental professionals to really thrive. Sometimes, they just need a little extra support, some inspiration or a new opportunity.

At Rodericks Dental, we have made it our mission to provide the support our professionals need in practice every day. We offer on-going education and training for all team members, as well as support with everything from administrative tasks to achieving clinical excellence.

We also provide various opportunities for career progression, with a comprehensive support structure designed to deliver the assistance individuals need to fulfil their ambitions.

We understand this has been a tough time in practice, but we believe in our people and in what they do every day for our patients. If you are looking for a new working opportunity with all the support you need to thrive, consider joining Rodericks Dental.

For more information on the career opportunities available at Rodericks, please visit www.rodericksdentalcareers.co.uk,

or contact Ashley Lillyman at recruitment@rodericksdental.co.uk or on

01604 970988 (option 1)

#wearerodericks

In the UK, it is estimated that around 700,000 people are on the autism spectrum, including one in ten children.[i] For dental professionals, treating patients with autism can be a challenge, but with the right approach and better understanding, it is possible to give these patients the care and treatment they deserve.

Understanding autism

First of all, it is important to remember that autism is a spectrum. This means that many people with autism may have only very mild characteristics, and therefore may not have a formal diagnosis. As such, the actual number of people with autism could be considerably higher than the estimated 700,000, especially if mildly autistic people are high-functioning. As such, it is necessary to recognise potential characteristics among some of your patients and to treat them accordingly.

But what is autism?

Autism, by nature, is a developmental disability that impacts how individuals communicate and relate to other people. This means that people with autism may have language problems or become overwhelmed by dental treatment, especially if they do not fully understand what the process involves. Plus, many autistic individuals may experience hypersensitivity – this means that sensory information such as bright lights or cold instruments entering the mouth can be very distressing. It’s also worth saying that there could be a personal space issue present. Many of those who suffer from autism dislike people entering their personal space, which is unavoidable when providing dental treatment.[ii]

So, what can dental hygienists and dental therapists do to make treatment a better experience for these individuals?

Treating patients with autism

A good start is to make sure you know which of your patients are autistic. Although it is not a requirement for them to divulge this information, asking them to state it on their medical history forms means that you will be better prepared to treat them by taking extra measures to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible.

After this, consider communication methods and how these can be adjusted. Can you include information on a website about treatment with photographs and other visual aids that the patient can access before their appointment so that they know what to expect? Are there any visual aids or other methods of communication you can use in-practice to help them understand what you are about to do? There is plenty of technology and resources available on the market that can help improve communication with people with disabilities such as autism, and these can make all the difference between a patient feeling scared and overwhelmed, to them feeling comfortable and ready for their dental care.

Even telling these patients what you are doing just before treatment is performed can significantly help. Call patients by their name and describe what sensations they may experience at each stage so that they are forewarned. For example, if you are about to put a mirror in the patient’s mouth to check their teeth, it is a good idea to explain not only the purpose of this but also that the mirror may touch their teeth and inner mouth, and may feel cold. This helps them to process the action before it is performed, and can help them to remain calm, even if the sensations are unpleasant.

Perhaps you can speak to the autistic individual’s family and find out if they are hypersensitive to noise or sounds or taste – by doing so you can try to find alternatives that will help such as a milder mouth wash or even hand scaling if they are triggered by noises. There are nearly always alternatives available.

Many autistic people suffer from anxiety. In order to tackle this, it is a good idea to book them a double appointment if possible, so you can take your time with treatment. You can also suggest that they wait for their appointment in their car or in a familiar space – this may help to prevent the build up of anxious feelings. Flexibility is key.

April 2^nd is World Autism Awareness Day, and this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about this disability and apply your learning to treating your autistic patients more responsibly. In practice it could be a good idea to bring this up in a team meeting and share these tips with the rest of the practice so that everyone is on the same page. You can also raise funds for autism charities if you want to support these patients in another way.

In the end, by understanding the condition and going the extra mile to ensure that these patients are comfortable and feel safe in your practice, you can be better equipped to provide them with the care and attention they require.

 For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk

Author: DIANE ROCHFORD – President BSDHT – CEB DIP DENT HYGIENE 1996, BSC (HONS) 2016 – DENTAL HYGIENIST

[i] BMA. Autism Spectrum Disorder. Link: https://www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/population-health/child-health/autism-spectrum-disorder [Last accessed December 20].

[ii] National Autistic Society. Dental Care and Autism – A Guide for Dentists. Link: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/going-to-the-dentist/dentists [Last accessed December 20].

Are you looking for a visor that enables you to wear your dental loupes comfortably?

Nuview offers two innovative solutions with the Nuview Headband Visor and the Nuview Loupe and Light Visor System. While the former is designed to be used with headband-mounted loupes and lights, the latter is ideal for frame-mounted loupe/light combinations.

Optimised for maximum user comfort and to comply with EN166:2001 requirements, these visors are positioned at a distance that your loupes and light can be used behind them. You can be confident they are also of a high optical quality to ensure supreme clarity.  

Contact Nuview to order now.

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

As every dental practice owner knows, the delivery of quality care can only happen when there is an efficiently run business underneath.

Whether you are large or small, payroll is one of the essential processes for a smooth, successful practice. It isn’t just about people being paid on time, as there will be workplace pensions to deal with, and you may offer a package of incentives and benefits too. You are likely to have self-employed workers and perhaps individuals who are paid on a different schedule. Throw a curveball like furlough into the mix, and payroll can be as complicated as it is essential.

Changes to payroll

Payroll has changed a lot over the last decade. The phased introduction of Real Time Information (RTI) by HMRC began in 2012, to improve how employers submitted PAYE data. More companies are now required to auto-enrol staff into a pension than ever before –plenty of businesses across the UK have faced a penalty because they unknowingly failed to comply. Next up in the immediate future is Off Payroll Working legislation (IR35), due to come into effect in the 2021/22 tax year.

No business owner ever wants to make a payroll error and risk a penalty or upsetting a valued worker. But what could future payroll look like – is there anything you can do now, to get one step ahead?

More Cloud-based working

Thankfully, technology has also advanced over the past 10 years, making it easier for payroll to move with the times. Cloud-based working came into its own in 2020; when work travel was restricted, the ability to access data remotely meant that payroll could be processed without anyone needing to come into the building.

If you were reluctant to use Cloud-based software before, it has certainly proven how efficient and secure it is. Also, information can be accessed in real time and it is easier to add new people to your payroll – these technologies are flexible, adaptable and here to stay. Ultimately, the more people who use these systems, the more software developers will have to raise their game, meaning that in the future, choosing to work in the Cloud will be even more of a no-brainer.

Flexible pay?

There have been rumours that the payroll of the future might not be monthly or even weekly, but flexible, so businesses can pay people on demand. Might this work for your practice if your schedules are still subject to ongoing change? This could be something to look out for.

Key insights from your payroll data

Artificial intelligence, or AI, sounds very space-age but AI technology platforms can look at your payroll data and extract valuable insights that could inspire positive action. This is another example of how payroll and cutting-edge technology are a match made in heaven.

Employee engagement with payroll

Might we see a time where employees could update their payroll information, such as their personal details, via secure Cloud-based platforms? Maybe! Of course, there needs to be trust and collaboration between every worker and business owner but then this is essential for any thriving dental practice anyway…

When the pandemic started, we were all reminded how none of us can predict the future. So, is all this talk rather fanciful, when things that occur out of the blue, as well as ever-changing legislation, might complicate payroll further, leaving even the most advanced technology on the backfoot and having to adapt?

This is reason number-one why so many dental practices are choosing to outsource their payroll. When you outsource, you will save yourself time and stress. You can focus on the million-and-one other tasks needed to keep a business growing and thriving in this current challenging climate, knowing that, whatever happens, people will be paid and you will be compliant with HMRC. Wagemate is a dedicated payroll provider that supports many dental practices and uses the latest technology to ensure an accurate, efficient and high-quality service.

When you think about payroll of the past, it all seems rather antiquated – now it’s a high-tech area, this has made it less complicated, surely? Not necessarily, as the functions of payroll have increased too. So much has changed in the last 10 years, so the next 10 could predict a very different future. Stay ahead by outsourcing your payroll, and you will be ready for anything.

To better manage your payroll, contact payroll specialists Wagemate today, tel: 03330 102102 or email info@wagemate.com

Author:

Daniel Hull

Director – Wagemate Limited