You might have heard about how great a Waterpik^® Water Flosser can be for your patients and now is your chance to ask all those burning questions. The team will be on hand at the BDIA Dental Showcase to help you get to know the Water Flosser and how it can benefit your patients. An easy-to-use hand-held interdental cleaner that removes more plaque than string floss could be the answer to your patients’ oral hygiene goals!

What’s more, you can see the Waterpik^® Water Flosser in action when you book a Lunch & Learn with Waterpik^®. One of their Professional Educators, all of whom are practising dental hygienists and therapists, will visit your practice to show you how to optimise the use of the Water Flosser. Included in this will be a delicious lunch for the team, an hour of verified CPD, and a Waterpik^® Water Flosser for your practice to use. 

Make sure you book your place at the BDIA Dental Showcase and visit Waterpik^® to get more information.

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

Join the 3,000+ dental teams who have already benefitted from a professional Waterpik^® Lunch & Learn. Book your free session for 1 hour of verifiable CPD and a free Waterpik^® Water Flosser – available either face to face or as a webinar – at www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/lunch-learn/. 

Buying or selling a practice can be a long process and finalising a transaction can be a welcomed relief – finally, it’s all over. However, the completion of a sale isn’t the end of the entire process as the next part is integration. Similarly to selling or buying a practice, integration can be stressful unless both parties are well prepared. There are a few things that you need to get in order for integration to run as efficiently as possible.

The Key Supplier

The vendor will provide a list of all active commercial contracts, informing any ongoing monthly suppliers that the business has changed hands. This is important because the suppliers need to know that a) the previous billpayer is no longer the one responsible for payment and b) the new owner is authorised to make any changes to the account. There will also be suppliers whom the vendor does not hold a contract with and the buyer needs to know about these too.

For the least stressful integration, the buyer can benefit from not immediately making significant changes. For instance, taking over a business and trying to set up an account with a supplier when the practice already has one can create issue or inefficiencies. This can also be the case for the lab. As long as the buyer has ensured that there are no major problems or discrepancies with existing suppliers, it can be highly beneficial to maintain existing contracts and relationships in the short term.

PAYE Protocol

HMRC needs to be informed about the business’ payroll and PAYE must be performed every month with the buyer sending relevant information to HMRC when payroll is processed. In order to do this, they will need a Government Gateway login and an employer PAYE reference number. When it comes to buying a limited company, the PAYE reference number won’t change and access to Government Gateway can be set up long before everything is finalised.

Using an outside agency to manage the payroll is an option but there are products such as Xero and Sage that can help to simplify the process for ease and convenience.

Pensions in the Workplace and Auto-enrolment

Each employer must, by law, automatically enrol their employees into a pension scheme and send all the data to the practice’s pension administrator each month. The buyer must be prepared and able to carry this out.

Access to the Building

Nobody wants to start their new venture being locked out. That’s why it’s sensible to have an extra set of keys cut and labelled – leave them in a safe space or with someone you trust. As well as this, key cards and alarm codes need to be kept in a secure location.

Access to the Electronics

The increasing amount of software within dental practices makes it crucial to ensure that buyers have access to all electronic systems on the premises or linked with the business. Making a list prior to completion will allow this to run more smoothly and this will include things such as:

• Website backend (everything behind the scenes)
• Website domain registrar
• Sign in for Google Ads, Microsoft Ads or similar
• Sign in for Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn or any other relevant logins
• Telephone portal (if using voIP, or similar)
• Practice management software
• Xero, QuickBooks, or similar
• Document storage such as Dropbox, or similar
• Server login details
• Waiting room screen, if applicable
• Pension provider access.

Access to the Bank Accounts

Making payments from the company bank account is common practice, at least in the short term, if you are buying a limited company. To ensure prompt access to the business’ finances, all relevant mandates need to be pre-prepared and submitted to the bank straight away upon completion of the sale.

Don’t Put the Pressure on Yourself

In summary, the integration process can be just as stressful as the buying or selling process as there is a lot to get through. Many things can go wrong throughout the transaction process but being prepared and having the right kind of support can make the journey a whole lot easier. However, you don’t have to go through the process by yourself.

There is support available! Dental Elite supports clients throughout their entire journey. The team are not just here to help your transaction but their aim is to also ensure that integration is stress-free. The team possess an abundance of skills and experience which ensures that they pay indisputable attention to detail and you can also go to their website and download the full integration guide – why not get a head start?

Luke Moore is one of the Founders and Directors of Dental Elite and has overseen well in excess of 750 practice sales and valuations. With over 11 years working in the dental industry, Luke has extensive knowledge in both dental practice transfers and recruitment and understands the complexities of NHS and Private practices.

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

Purchasing or leasing decontamination equipment is an important investment. After all, these systems are instrumental in keeping your practice a safe, compliant place to provide care.

As such, it makes sense to protect your investment as much as possible to maximise the uptime of your equipment and keep everything running smoothly.

Eschmann not only provide and manufacture a range of exceptional, innovative decontamination equipment, but also help you to make the most of these investments with service offerings that truly go above and beyond. With Care & Cover from Eschmann, you can feel safe in the knowledge that your decontamination equipment will remain effective and compliant.

Annual validation for complete peace of mind

In dentistry, compliance is key. With Care & Cover from Eschmann, you not only benefit from a dedicated manufacturer’s HTM01-05/SDCEP validation at the point of installation, but also annually after to ensure ongoing compliance. Furthermore, Care & Cover includes annual Pressure Vessel Certification – a legal requirement.

By providing this documentation, you can be confident that Eschmann has supplied you with everything you need for CQC inspections – keeping you compliant, covered and prepared.

Keeping you up to date

Regular maintenance of your decontamination equipment can help ensure that uptime is maximised. As part of Eschmann’s ongoing commitment to ensuring your practice remains compliant, the Care & Cover package includes scheduled annual validation and maintenance service visits, helping to guarantee that your system remains in perfect working order.

As an added bonus, the team of engineers at Eschmann will also automatically upgrade your system with the latest software updates free of charge.

Protection in every eventuality

Even with the best maintenance, equipment breakdowns can happen. That’s why Care & Cover from Eschmann includes unlimited breakdown cover as standard. Our nationwide team of engineers boast swift response times, in-depth knowledge of all of our systems and only use original Eschmann parts. This helps us to solve any problems as fast as possible and to the highest standard, giving you the safety net you need in case anything should ever go wrong.

Furthermore, our Care & Cover policy is inclusive of all spare parts and labour costs, so there are no unexpected charges. Our service is transparent, efficient and cost-effective – protecting your investment has never been easier.

Here for you wherever you are

Eschmann has over 50 engineers across the nation, helping us to provide an unrivalled standard of professionalsupport. As we have such a wide network of professionals, we are able to we keep our response times short and our support accessible. Ultimately, minimising any potential downtime for your practice is our top priority, and our team of engineers will always go above and beyond to ensure that you have the backup you need to keep everything running smoothly.

In a similar vein, our Technical Telephone Support team are a trusted first port of call for any enquiries and concerns. We ensure that all of our team members are equipped with the knowledge and understanding they need to answer your customer queries. This helps to further minimise any potential downtime and curb your costs by providing practical solutions to problems.

Learn more with Eschmann

Keeping your team up to date with infection control is a top priority. As an invaluable extra benefit of our Care & Cover policy, our engineers are able to provide Enhanced CPD User Training.  Individuals receiving this training will be provided with certification, helping you to keep your practice records up to date. This way, you can feel confident that your team understand the equipment inside and out and that everyone knows how to operate it while remaining safe and compliant.

Also available for leasing!

Want to lease your decontamination equipment instead of purchasing? Our leasing contracts all include our Care & Cover policy as standard, meaning that this equipment will benefit from the same level of care.

Our advantages at a glance

Here’s what you get with our Care & Cover policy:

• Annual validation & pressure vessel certification
• Annual service & free software upgrades
• Unlimited breakdown cover
• Unlimited Eschmann parts and labour
• Nationwide on-site support
• Enhanced CPD User Training
• Technical Telephone Support

Annual contracts for our autoclaves start at £451, and we have Care & Cover options for our other decontamination equipment too.

To find out more about our service offerings, please get in touch with the team today.

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

Working as a dental hygienist or dental therapist can feel isolating, especially if you work between multiple practices.

So, why not find your voice by joining a Society run by professionals for professionals?

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is excited to be attending the BDIA Dental Showcase in March. Our team will be present  to answer your questions, give you information about the Society and tell you about our exceptional membership benefits!

So, if you’re attending the show this year, make sure to come say hello to our BSDHT representatives and take your first step to joining a Society where your voice really counts.

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

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

Buying and selling a practice can be a long and arduous process – that’s why it’s crucial you have the right support at your back to minimise potential complications, and make the process as smooth as possible.

Dr Karim Abdel-Khalek recently bought a practice with the help of Dental Elite. Karim comments on his experience:

“The process of buying a practice is quite complex but it was made a lot easier having Helen Craine supporting me in the background.

“She was always on hand to help, from the start of the process when getting the Heads of Terms agreed, through to helping organise the CQC application.

“I’d give my experience with Dental Elite a 10/10, and I’d absolutely recommend to others looking to buy!”

Be sure to stop by stand D29 at the BDIA Dental Showcase 2022, and have a chat with the knowledgeable Dental Elite team. Regardless of whether you’re buying, selling or would just like some information for the future, Dental Elite is here to help!

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

When it comes to improving a patient’s oral health, look no further than the Waterpik^® Water Flosser.

Clinically proven to be up to 50% more effective than traditional dental floss and up to 3X as effective as dental floss for cleaning around braces,[i] the Waterpik^® Water Flosser is one of the most researched and supported water flossing solutions on the market.

Laboratory tests also prove that the Waterpik^® Water Flosser removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas in just 3 seconds,[ii] ensuring that patients are always using the best tool to get the best results.

With 9 out of 10 professionals recommending it over other brands[iii], choose the Waterpik^® Water Flosser and ensure all patients get the oral care they deserve.

For more information on Waterpik^® Water Flosser products visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik^® products are available from Amazon, Costco UK, Argos, Boots, Superdrug and Tesco online and in stores across the UK and Ireland.

Join the 3,000+ dental teams who have already benefitted from a professional WaterpikÒ Lunch & Learn. Book your free session for 1 hour of verifiable CPD and a free WaterpikÒ Water Flosser – available either face to face or as a webinar – at www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/lunch-learn/ 

[i] NC Sharma, DM Lyle, JG Qaqish, et al. Am J Ortho Dentofacial Orthop. (2008). Waterpik® Water Flosser: 3 Times as Effective as String Floss for Orthodontic Patients. Waterpik Uk Clinical Research. 133 (4), 565-571.

[ii] A Gorur, DM Lyle, C Schaudinn, JW Costerton. Compend Contin Ed Dent. (2009). Waterpik® Water Flosser Removes 99.9% of Plaque Biofilm After 3-Second Treatment Biofilm Removal with a Dental Water Jet. Waterpik Uk Clinical Research. 30 (1), 1-6.

[iii] Bell Family Dentistry. (2018). Why Waterpik?. Available: https://bellfamilydds.com/why-waterpik/. Last accessed 3rd June 2021.

“It was absolutely brilliant. I learned so much, met some incredibly lovely and talented people and was made to feel so welcome. I really hope to return and thank you so much for having me.” – delegate feedback

The ADI Members’ National Forum 2021 exceeded expectations with hundreds of dental professionals coming together to share experiences, gain expertise and reignite their enthusiasm for excellence in dental implantology. The Forum saw the return of live events for the ADI, providing an exclusive opportunity for members to socialise and enjoy connecting face-to-face once again.

Delegate feedback included:

“Brilliant to be back face-to-face – I am Zoomed out! Also, great to be able to talk to the speakers informally. The value of interacting with colleagues one on one should not be underestimated.”

“It was an awesome day with some wonderful speakers and I learned a great deal. It was a pleasure to be a part of the day.”

 “Excellent, as always, and reflects the validity of this Association. A true credit to the profession, by very professional members.”

Making this a highly unique conference, the ADI Members’ National Forum presented a dynamic programme with short, sharp presentations from members themselves. The concept was to give delegates quick and efficient insight into new ideas, innovative technologies and novel products that colleagues are using right now. This enabled professionals to share real-life experiences, gain invaluable information and seek advice from trusted and well-respected peers across the profession. It also gave members a chance to get a taste for presenting their own findings or discuss topics of interest to them in a safe and supportive environment.

Eimear O’Connell

Eimear O’Connell, Immediate Past President, commented:

“The ADI Members’ National Forum was a great success and it was a wonderful way to mark a return of face-to-face events for the ADI. The highlight was having representatives from different member groups; dental hygienists, technicians and dentists.

“This Forum is a wonderful way to get started in presenting your work. The ADI is a friendly, welcoming organisation that wants to support its members in the field of dental implant education. I personally loved the discussions around remote working as this is still at the cutting-edge and utilises technology to the advantage of the dentist and the patients.” 

Among the sessions of note was one by Avik Dandapat sharing his approach to immediate molar placement. Colleagues were interested in his step-by-step guide for surgical success in immediate implant placement cases, gaining plenty of practical hints and tips along the way to be applied to their own practice. The different augmentation techniques discussed further ensured a comprehensive lecture, even in the brief time allotted.

Also making use of every minute available was Nigel Jones, who encouraged delegates to think more about the materials they are using as part of their bone augmentation procedures. Clinicians were asked to critically consider whether the bone substitutes they typically use in practice really are the best for the patient, or if there are other solutions that might encourage even better outcomes. Questions asked and debate was sparked – both signs of an engaging and constructive presentation!

Claire McCarthy

Reflecting the ADI’s continued commitment to promoting a team approach in dental implantology, the event incorporated sessions for all members of the dental implant team. Claire McCarthy, for example, shared her extensive wisdom in peri-implant diseases, their development, risk factors and management. Supported by the significant body of evidence currently available, she offered a plethora of easily implementable protocols to help clinicians enhance their management techniques for exceptional results. The message was clear – prevention is always a priority, followed by delayed disease progression and early intervention.

Aside from those mentioned, there were various sessions that offered a quick fire-round of information, guidance and innovative ideas to promote quality, efficiency and confidence among the dental implant team. Dominic O’Hooley introduced a unique implant design and concept, while David Burgess presented the findings of a 2018 study into how site preparation differs between clinicians as well as other factors impacting success and reproducibility. Colleagues were also able to review sinus elevation techniques with Stavros Eleftheriou and full arch rehabilitation concepts with Alfonso Rao. Panel discussions and between-lecture conversations ensured a highly interactive programme that kept delegates engaged throughout.

As with all ADI events, the Members’ National Forum 2021 was also a fantastic opportunity for attendees to catch up with friends, socialise in-person and enjoy some down time with individuals from across the profession. As the first live event from the ADI in many months, it was also a great chance for individuals to reconnect with the association and keep abreast of the latest news and innovations.

Amit Patel

As part of the AGM, the Presidency baton was officially passed on from Eimear to Amit Patel. About the event, Amit commented:

“It has been a fantastic event to be a part of – just as we all knew it would be. Being able to see so many friends and colleagues from the field has been amazing and an important reminder that we as clinicians have a supportive network to turn to. The topics covered as part of the programme have been enlightening and it has been a pleasure to hear from peers with such an extensive and eclectic range of expertise. I have certainly taken plenty away and will be implementing new ideas in my own practice!”

So, what’s next? The ADI offers an array of educational and networking opportunities for the entire dental implant team to make the most of. Eimear outlines the upcoming events that members can look forward to:

“We have lots of exciting events lined up for 2022 and really are looking forward to a more normalised way of catching up with everyone. Whilst I love digital technologies, I really will be glad to not to be restricted to virtual meetings!”

A huge thank you to everyone to helped make this such a fantastic event!

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

Images

Bill Schaeffer

Cemal Ucer

Dominic O’Hooley

Fazeela Khan-Osborne

As professionals, we know that plaque accumulation is the root cause of a number of oral issues. Decay, gingivitis – these common problems persist because plaque management among patients isn’t always exemplary. Indeed, statistics suggest that even in today’s world of water flossers, interdental brushes and wider understanding of interdental hygiene that two thirds of the UK public still have visible plaque.[i]

But what if there were a way to prevent plaque accumulation – or at the very least destroy the harmful plaque bacteria that does lead to oral issues? A new piece of research has found a significant link between iron-deficiency anaemia and severe tooth decay. A result of this is, it has now been suggested that treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia may also be effective at preventing plaque build-up and destroying harmful oral bacteria.[ii]

An iron-oxide nanoparticle-containing solution called ferumoxytol and hydrogen peroxide have been tested against tooth enamel to assess this hypothesis, resulting in promising outcomes. This “Nanozyme” treatment when used twice daily significantly reduced the build-up of harmful dental plaque and effectively targeted the bacteria responsible for dental decay.[iii]

The implications of this treatment are enormous, especially when we consider that as a solution, patients could easily adopt this into their daily oral hygiene routines. If this treatment continues to prove effective and does eventually become available to the general public, this could significantly lower plaque levels, help prevent decay and gum disease and make our jobs much easier as professionals when it comes to helping patients to adopting effective at-home oral hygiene routines.

Nanozyme therapy in general is a fascinating concept. Nanomaterials with distinct enzyme-like qualities, nanozymes are categorised as a form of nanobot – a concept I have often written about as they could, without any exaggeration, absolutely revolutionise healthcare in the near future.

While, as ever, I must end this piece with the confirmation that we cannot know what the future may bring, the fact that treatments like this are being tested is very exciting indeed. It’s amazing how fast new areas such as nanozymes are developing, and we as professionals need to keep pace so that we are ready to adopt these radical new treatments as soon as they become available.

Ultimately, plaque is our most persistent enemy in dentistry, so any breakthrough treatment that can help us eliminate plaque build-up is something to be celebrated. I, for one, am very excited to see how nanozyme technology will progress!

For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999

Or visit www.endocare.co.uk

[i] Oral Health foundation. Oral Health Statistics in the UK. Link: https://www.dentalhealth.org/oral-health-statistics [Last accessed October 21].

[ii] Science Daily. ‘Nanozyme’ Therapy Prevents Harmful Dental Plaque Build-Up. Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025172130.htm [Last accessed October 21].

[iii] Science Daily. ‘Nanozyme’ Therapy Prevents Harmful Dental Plaque Build-Up. Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211025172130.htm [Last accessed October 21].

The British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) is run by working dental therapists to represent all dental therapists and dental hygienists in the UK profession. It aims to fight for its members’ rights at all levels, raising awareness of individual’s skills sets and helping to safely expand their scope of practice.

For anyone interested in learning more, or wishing to become part of the BADT community to help make change for the profession, the team will be on hand at the BDIA Dental Showcase this March. You’ll be able to discover the huge number of resources available to members, from educational to networking and campaigning opportunities. These include a jobs board, webinars, accountancy support, access to legal advice and indemnity support, as well as direct access and facial aesthetic guidance.

If you have a passion for clinical excellence and developing the role of the dental therapist, why not join a dedicated organisation and make your voice heard? Find out more about the BADT at the BDIA Dental Showcase, stand A24!

For more details, please visit www.badt.org.uk

Everyone works differently, so why not choose an intraoral scanner that gives you the freedom to work your way while still acquiring truly outstanding images?

The new CS 3800 wireless intraoral scanner from Carestream Dental is a game-changer that grants freedom in every respect. Incredibly accurate and swift, the scanner boasts lightning-fast scanning times, wireless functionality and a deeper and broader field of view for exceptional detail reproduction.

Featuring a light and compact design, the wireless scanner is ergonomic, powerful and gives you full control over its intraoral capabilities right from the handpiece – streamlining care for everyone.

To find out more, please contact Carestream Dental.

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 Facebook and Instagram @carestreamdental.uk