To be happy at work, what do people need? It’s important to feel part of a team that gets along and that supports one another, also to know it’s OK to voice any concerns or problems freely. A happy practice will be a well-oiled machine too, with efficient structures in place.

Knowing you’re valued and heard is crucial. Workers must be treated well, in order to give their best every day. A satisfied patient – one that completes their treatment, stays loyal and sings your praises – is the result of co-ordinated, joint effort. So, whether you are a small, medium or large business, keeping people motivated, so they always give 100%, will be key to your ongoing success and future growth.

A talent exodus?

Since 2020, in every industry, employees are no longer willing to remain in unsupportive environments. We’ve all had enough on our plates – our health, the wellbeing of our families and friends, finances – the list is endless – which has inspired thousands to make the bold decision to leave a job they weren’t happy in. A HR survey published earlier this year talked of a “talent exodus”, with 38% of those questioned saying how they planned to quit their role in the next 6 to 12 months.[i] Companies that are seen to care and are well-resourced have good staff retention and, with recruitment costing time as well as money, it’s important that you don’t become  a practice that lets brilliant people slip through the net.

Encourage them to feel that they are an essential part of the business and connected to its success. When there is a disconnect, motivation and productivity will fall, but there needs to be a work-life balance, too. Create a team atmosphere and ensure that everyone has all they need to do their job well: equipment that works, consumables that are in good supply and efficient processes with robust contingency plans should things go wrong (which they will, hopefully just not very often).

Audit your systems, to ensure they are running well. Is the workforce spread too thinly, do you need to recruit and are there any tasks that can be outsourced? Look at how you remunerate. If you do not have a benefits package, as we head to the end of a year that many of us will shed no tears to see the back of, maybe now is the time to think about how you can incentivise and reward your hard-working team. Perhaps ask them what would like to see in as a benefit and what would make their life easier. The benefits package has to be attractive and valuable for your existing employees and also a juicy carrot for when it’s time to bring in new talent (although you will not be able to please everybody equally, of course).

Reward and pay well, reward and pay correctly!

For administrating any benefits, as well as salaries and things like maternity and sickness pay and workplace pensions, your payroll must have no room for error. Payroll has to be delivered on time and free from mistakes, every month. Payroll is an increasingly complex responsibility for employers and it has to be fully compliant with HMRC and all the latest legislation. It has to be flexible too and able to be easily scaled up when required; this could mean adding self-employed workers or contractors who must be paid correctly in order to keep them happy and willing to continue supplying their services to you.

As well as being complex, payroll is also becoming time-consuming, particularly when you would rather be spending more time on creating a happy practice and developing your business. So, it makes sense to outsource to a specialist payroll provider who will deal with all the hassle. Pensions auto-enrolment can be puzzling, tax deadlines sometimes creep up on you, but when you outsource your payroll to experts who understand the details of these things, you will be able to answer any questions from your team far better. Specialist payroll providers like Wagemate also use the latest technology to provide a fully-secure service so you don’t ever have to worry about a system failure either.

Payroll is just one ingredient of a happy practice, and how you can retain as well as reward your staff. There are many others and, because a workplace culture starts at the top, outsourcing payroll gives you the space (literally and figuratively) to focus on what you need to do to make your practice a place where people want to be. A productive atmosphere will be picked up by your patients too, who will keep choosing you for their treatment and care. Your team is your most precious asset – treat them well and you can look forward to great year ahead.

Daniel Hull

Director – Wagemate Limited

“Money isn’t everything, but its right up there with oxygen”.

Staff are a business’s most important asset and peoples pay matters! Making sure employees are paid correctly, on time and have access to their pay information is one of the fundamentals to keeping staff happy. That is what we do and much more.

My goal is to take away the stress of payroll away from as many people as possible, making sure staff are paid accurately and on time and by adding value, providing excellent service and plenty of convenience to our clients.

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

[i] Counting the Cost: How Businesses Risk a Post Pandemic Talent Drain. Research by Personio and Opinium, published 13 May 2021. Link: https://www.personio.com/blog/post-pandemic-talent-exodus-could-cost-up-to-17-billion-for-businesses-in-uk-and-ireland/(accessed September 2021).

The sales team at COLTENE team is now at full strength across the UK and Ireland, with NEW territory managers for Scotland and the Northeast!

For Scotland, introducing KIRSTY McLAUGHLIN.

If you’re in the Northeast, CLAIRE GRIFFIN is your area rep.

Kirsty and Claire, along with the rest of the team, will help you upgrade your dentistry with COLTENE’s high-quality materials, equipment and tools.

Whether its endo, restorative or general dental solutions, COLTENE can save you time and money with products that optimise workflows and support successful clinical outcomes.

To speak with your friendly and knowledgeable local contact, get in touch today. 

For more on COLTENE, visit www.coltene.com,
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.

For dental technicians, receiving an accurate bite registration makes the job easier.

The Alminax Bite Registration material range from Kemdent helps dentists to capture a precise bite registration with minimal distortion, which in turn means you can produce high-quality and precise restorations, whether they be crowns, veneers or dentures.

When the bite registration is captured incorrectly, time and money are wasted having to make either adjustments to the restorations, or remake them completely. Not only is this a pain for the dental technician and the dentist, but also for the patient, who will have to wait longer for their results.

Why not suggest the Alminax Bite Registration material range to dentists? With a smoother bite registration process and a reduced potential for error, you can rest assured that you’ll receive high-quality impressions and can therefore produce the finest, accurate restorations.

For more information on the Alminax Bite Registration material range, visit https://www.kemdent.co.uk/ or call 01793 770 256

Dr Mervyn Druian from The London Centre of Cosmetic Dentistry explains the benefits of using the new 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive in practice:

“I first started using 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive 6 months ago and was instantly impressed by how easy it was to use. It removes the need for additional primer so it’s streamlined the way I work and it reduces sensitivity as well. By simplifying my restorative workflows, it has also proven how reliable it is – I would absolutely recommend it to other professionals.

“The customer care from 3M has been simply amazing. I love the webinars that 3M put on – they give the products great credibility and it’s good to see how the solutions can improve dentistry for everyone.”

To find out more, please contact the team at 3M Oral Care today.

For more information, call 0845 873 4066 or visit www.3m.co.uk/Dental 

3M representatives remain contactable by phone or via video conferencing

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

Even before the world changed, online learning was in full force. Though it will never fully replace in-person learning, it remains a highly beneficial adjunctive educational tool for dental professionals around the world. Of course, at the height of the pandemic, the majority of individuals had no choice but to delve further into how online platforms could be used to broaden their knowledge. But now, even with the gradual return of live events, online educational resources retain an important place for dental teams. 

Anytime, Anywhere

The first thing people tend to think about when it comes to virtual learning is the flexibility that it offers. For those who would like to continue using online educational tools or get back into traditional forms of studying but currently have other priorities to consider, such as full-time working hours or a young family, online education allows them to tailor their classes to their schedules. This flexibility also gives them an opportunity to better manage their time – a skill that can easily be applied to other aspects of their lives.         

Easy Access

With internet learning also comes the opportunity to connect with other people all over the world. By removing physical restrictions of geographical location, professionals can vastly broaden the number and type of people within their networks.

Additionally, online learning can be highly cost-effective. It eradicates the expenses of travel or accommodation if studying away from home. It also significantly increases access to programmes for individuals who may not be able to go abroad for modules to learn from world-leading instructors and lecturers. Virtual events and/or live-streamed lectures mean that everyone has access to the same type of education, no matter their situation or geographical location. 

The Personal Experience

It’s no secret that not everyone thrives within a traditional schooling environment. Some individuals may struggle to concentrate while comparing themselves to others, or they might not feel confident enough to interact and share their own thoughts or questions. This can be detrimental to how someone learns, preventing them from gaining maximum information and understanding, while also potentially contributing to anxiety and stress levels. Online learning allows these people a level of anonymity  that can encourage them to seek the answers that they need.

Virtual programmes can also offer more control over studies, so candidates can do things at their own pace. There is often material to go back to or to review prior to a virtual session, which can encourage a deeper understanding of the content being covered.

One of many learning avenues

Gaining an online education is just one of the many forms of learning that dental professionals will want and need as they further their understanding in any topics of their choosing. In-person education and hands-on training are both still essential aspects for successful skill and career development in dentistry.

This is particularly important within dental implantology, where clinicians and their teams must be competent and have confidence in a range of clinical techniques in order to achieve the best outcomes for different patients. Online learning and networking definitely have their place, but they are optimised when accompanied by in-person education.

The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) understands this and, as a keen supporter of professional education in the field, offers an array of online and face-to-face learning opportunities for the entire dental implant team. These include membership of Dentinal Tubules – an expansive online library of articles, case studies and more, ideal for those looking to advance their knowledge at any place and time that suits them. This is complemented perfectly with the return of the ADI live events, which will include the ADI Team Congress 2022 next year. A highly anticipated event, it will provide a dynamic programme with lectures designed for each member of the dental implant team presented by both nationally and internationally renowned speakers. Visit the website for the full range of exciting educational opportunities available to ADI members.

Everyone learns differently, but a combination of methods is often the most effective. Online learning has been life-changing and a real asset during this pandemic, so even as live events and courses return to the profession, virtual resources and educational platforms will remain an important part of professional development for all.

For more information about the ADI, or to join, please visit the website www.adi.org.uk

One of the main perks of joining the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is that, regardless of where you are in the country, you can easily access exclusive educational content and more hosted by our Regional Groups.

We have twelve Regional Groups who between them cover the whole of the UK. Each of these groups host study days that provide attendees with eCPD that is tailored to the profession. Plus, these sessions are all focused on relevant, cutting-edge topics, giving you the chance to learn, expand your skills and network with other professionals in your area all at once! Some of the biggest dental companies in the profession also use these events to showcase some of their latest releases and give unique opportunities to try new products first-hand.

So, what are you waiting for? You can find out more about our Regional Groups by speaking to the team today.

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk

call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk

Here at Curaprox, we understand that kids need a little push when it comes to brushing their teeth – that’s why we offer a bright and stimulating kids range to make oral health routines cheerier.

Our kids toothbrushes come in a range of exciting colours with soft, ultra-fine filaments to protect their gums. They can be paired with our delightful range of kids toothpastes – which come in strawberry, watermelon and mint flavours – for the perfect oral health care routine.

Do you stock Curaprox in your practice? For those that do, from the 1^st to the 31^st of December, Curaprox is offering unmissable savings on kids toothpaste and toothbrushes, among other amazing special deals:

• When you buy 10 or more tubes of kids toothpaste, you can save 25%*
• When you buy 10 or more kids brushes, you can save 25%*

Consider recommending Curaprox as the ultimate product to help your younger patients find the joy in caring for their oral health.

For more information, please call 01480 862084, email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.curaprox.co.uk

*Minimum order of £100 required to receive offer. Offers are available to residents of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland only. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.

Adina Mclivar, Associate Resourcing Business Partner for Bupa Dental, comments on what it’s like to work with Dental Elite to recruit for dental practices:

“Dental Elite is one of the agencies I work with that provide me with the highest quality candidates. I work with Lee Fletcher, who is always on hand when I need to speak with him and who constantly gives me updates on candidates in progress and live vacancies. He is very passionate about filling my vacancies, which is important to me.

“I would rate Lee and Dental Elite 10/10 and will always pass my vacancies to him. After speaking to Lee for the first time, I told the rest of my team to get in contact with him as I thought he was brilliant. He understood the needs of the practices we were recruiting for and worked really hard to fill the vacancies.

“Lee has definitely been a great addition to Dental Elite’s team and I look forward to our long-lasting professional relationship.”

For more information on Dental Elite visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email info@dentalelite.co.uk or call 01788 545 900