Times are changing. We are starting to appreciate the effect that our throwaway culture has had on the environment. Our obsession for speed and convenience, particularly in terms of food consumption, has become evident with excessive amounts of waste in our seas and overflowing landfill sites.

Post-war, society went from a mindset of ‘make do and mend’ – with daily visits from the milk-man and reusable bottles – to the opulence of quick food, throw away luxuries and unparalleled convenience. The UK alone produces an estimated 202 million tonnes of waste a year and landfills are struggling to cope. The coffee-culture is not helping – takeaway coffee has created another waste issue with up to seven million cups thrown away every day, and only around 1 in 400 recycled.

Thankfully, the government and environmentally friendly organisations are taking action. The Commons Select Committee, in fact, launched an inquiry into the coffee cup epidemic in March 2017, with the aim of investigating possible solutions and there is further pressure from campaign groups, such as A Plastic Planet. More recently, the UK followed some of its European partners by charging consumers for plastic bags (usage of these has reduced significantly already. )

There has been the concept of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ in the workplace for a while now but times are evolving with consideration now being given to the whole cycle of production and waste, and tackling it on a much wider scale. The idea of a circular economy is taking hold, a regenerative system, endorsed by The Ellen McArthur Foundation and other high-profile advocates, such as Prince Charles, with an aim “to redefine products and services to design waste out, while minimising negative impacts.” There are many practical ways in which consumers can contribute to relieving the problem too; using local farmer’s markets and buying produce with no or minimal packaging, to home grew food and investing in a reusable coffee cup for that morning caffeine fix.

In the dental practice, professionals can play their part by ensuring all waste produced on the premises is correctly segregated according to the treatment or disposal method required. Following the Department of Health’s best practice guidelines for colour-coded waste streams, teams can help to ensure all appropriate waste is recycled or repurposed, reducing the burden on the environment. Leading experts in the field, Initial Medical, offer all the relevantly coloured waste bags, bins, and sharps containers, as well as the ongoing advice and support needed to maintain efficient waste management processes in the practice. The service provider is also committed to recycling 100% of the dental waste collected at its own dedicated dental recycling facility.

It is time to relieve the waste problem currently burdening the planet. Both individuals and organisations must take responsibility for the waste that they produce and together, we can make for a bright future.

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045

Owning a dental practice is a goal that many practitioners aspire to. For Dr. Imran Ahmed, his dream became a reality back in 2015 when he purchased Fern Cottage Dental Practice in Barnsley. It wasn’t long, however, before the bug took hold and he considered buying again. Here, he details how Becki Barnett from DE Finance helped him to secure a loan for a second practice.

When I acquired Fern Cottage Dental Practice I didn’t go into it with the intention of looking for another, but when I saw my new practice on the market, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. It is a nice mixed practice in an affluent area, with a good NHS contract.

In the run-up to the acquisition, I spent a lot of time reviewing my accounts to make sure that if something did come along within my price range, I would be able to feasibly afford to make an offer. Becki was key in this area. From about a year before I successfully bid on my second practice, Becki was in touch to calculate my affordability, and was very honest about what my options were.

When I eventually did stumble across the practice that ticked all the boxes, Becki was very proactive in helping me to put together my business plan and secure the necessary funding. Practice finance can be a bit of a minefield, especially when it comes to technical jargon and knowing which banks to approach, so it was very reassuring knowing that I had Becki to fight my corner.

After shopping around and receiving a number of fantastic offers, I chose to borrow some equity from my first practice and took out a smaller loan from the bank. I also moved all the funding from my first practice to the new lenders, so that everything would all be in one place. Thanks to Becki, I not only received an incredible rate, but my original loan repayments are cheaper than before!

Altogether, I am both very happy with my loan and the service from DE Finance. Becki was spot on with her calculations and negotiations with the bank, and she followed the process right through to the end to ensure that the transaction completed successfully. Without her advice and expertise, the purchase would have been a lot harder, so I am very thankful for the time and energy that she put in.

For more information contact DE Finance. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email finance@dentalelite.co.uk or call 01788 545 900

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember” and, in dentistry, this could not be more applicable. Dentistry, like many other healthcare fields, can be very technical and often difficult for the untrained to comprehend. Part of the clinician’s mission is to explain complicated issues in a way that patients will understand, to ensure that when they leave practice, they know exactly what they need to do to improve their oral health.

The problem is that it is often difficult for patients to fully understand what they are being told. No doubt you have tried to explain a treatment to a patient only to be met by a blank look. This shouldn’t be surprising – most patients will not have any real exposure to clinical matters let alone dentistry – but it is important. Being sure that patients fully understand about their key treatment plan is crucial – informed consent is not something that should ever be overlooked.

To this end, it is important for dental professionals to find better ways of explaining what they see and communicating treatment plans to patients. One approach that is becoming more popular in modern dentistry is the use of visual mediums in the dental surgery. Just as our Chinese proverb suggests, visual teaching is far more effective than simply conveying information through speech. Indeed, by being able to show someone evidence of previous examples or better still a zoomed picture of their own teeth, their understanding, and critically their compliance will be greater.

Many clinicians now use a digital camera in the surgery to photograph their patients’ teeth so that they can be viewed on a screen placed around the chair. This is a quick and simple way for practitioners to show patients their own teeth from a different perspective and allows them to explain issues clearly and plan treatments more accurately.

Digital radiography is also helping dentists to explain complicated dental issues to their patients in a way that was simply not possible with traditional methods. Indeed, most modern X-ray systems will digitise the scan instantaneously and then make it available for immediate review. When shown on a large screen near the patient this is an incredibly powerful aid to communicating exactly what is wrong – and critically enables a more informed discussion about what treatments will help provide the best result. What’s more, due to the way in which digital images can be shared, patients can be sent their X-ray or scan for no cost, meaning they can take the image away for their own information.

Building on this we now have in practice digital scanners to aid with diagnosis, patient education and understanding. In orthodontics, for example, a full mouth scan can be taken using a modern scanner within minutes, allowing the clinician to show the patient a digital representation of their entire dentition in real time. This can then be manipulated immediately to highlight problem areas and, with certain software, visualise the predicted outcome on the screen – giving patients an accurate sense of what their teeth will be like once the treatment has been completed.

Other new technologies are being developed that enable unprecedented visualisation; digital occlusal analysers are available to show patients the exact nature of their occlusion, periodontal probes display charting information and can be used to explain periodontal issues – in fact, digital and visual technology are helping improve the standard of care across many fields in dentistry. But there are still some gaps.

Take dental caries, for instance. The main issue with this incredibly pertinent disease – which is believed to affect at least 30 per cent of the UK’s population – is that it is notoriously difficult to see and therefore identify – at least in its most reversible, early stage. By the time the majority of practitioners are able to see the tell-tale signs of the active demineralisation, it is usually too late for anything but restorative treatment. This problem is compounded by the difficulty professionals have to engage patients at this early reversible stage if they cannot show them any evidence of what to look out for.

CALCIVIS has spent 5 years developing technology to eliminate this problem. With its unique imaging system, CALCIVIS can accurately identify active demineralisation, at its earliest and most reversible stage and provide a highly engaging visual image to aid in patient education and implementation of a preventive oral health regimen.

By being able to show patients exactly what the issue is, it is possible for practitioners to provide evidence-based advice that make a real difference to the way patients perceive their own oral health.

For more information visit www.calcivis.com

Author Robert Teague

Robert Teague is the Sales & Marketing Director at Calcivis. With a broad business background in dental, surgical and pharmaceutical industries, Robert is able to bring an eclectic range of experience to the innovative new company.

We are lucky that dentistry is a profession that affords many opportunities to diversify and expand. Indeed, There are so many different aspects of dental care that can be explored, all of which are replete with training options and exciting prospects for the future. These are not necessarily always clinical in nature – while there are many diverse specialists to discover, the modern business of dentistry is a whole world all of its own.
The chance to diversify in dentistry is available to all members of the team at all stages of their career. With the advent of new technologies, materials and techniques, there are always new things to learn even for those with two or three decades of experience. Similarly, with the importance of effective skill mix growing, a practice that is able to fully utilise the scope of practice for all team members will be in the best position going forward.
For anyone setting out on a new endeavor, the first stage involves gathering information. Researching, for example, what the barriers to entry might be, the costs of getting started and the long-term benefits are all crucial to formulating a good sense of whether the decision is a suitable and, ultimately, profitable one.
We are lucky in dentistry to have a very open and sharing profession. Many colleagues are more than happy to share their experiences with others, helping them on the way to success – and this is something that is strongly supported here in the UK by conferences and exhibitions.
The Dentistry Show, in particular, is all about giving dental professionals the opportunity to learn more about what the profession has to offer. With a varied and dynamic schedule of events, ranging from clinical lectures and on-stand learning to business presentations and professional updates, the scope on offer at The Dentistry Show is such that no member of the dental team will be excluded.
The event caters for all dental professionals, no matter what stage they are at in their careers, and has an unfailing commitment to providing every member of the team with the kind of educational content they need to push themselves further and achieve complete satisfaction in their work. Offering presentations from world-leading speakers and live demonstrations, the show meets the needs of the whole team. There are also plenty of opportunities to network, catching up with old friends and making new connections.
There has never been a better time to expand your horizons in dentistry than today. Get the most out of your career and find work fulfillment at The Dentistry Show 2018!
The Dentistry Show 2018 will be held on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May at the NEC in Birmingham
For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

The SmileTube.tv Ultimate Implant Year Course is designed to help clinicians develop both the knowledge and practical experience they need to place implants safely and effectively. The blended learning structure combines the convenience of online theory modules with hands-on training days to ensure delegates get everything they need to develop competence and confidence with dental implants.

Dr. Cole McConnell from Smile on the Square Dental Care in Glasgow is one of many professionals making the most of what the SmileRube.tv course has to offer. He shares his experience so far:
“For a long time I had been looking for a course that offered the most hands-on clinical experience – I really feel that this gives the best type of training. I also didn’t want to have to travel to a learning centre for lectures and clinical days. This is what led me to choose SmileTube.tv, because it conveniently solved both of these issues.
“So far, it has been brilliant. I have been so impressed with the course content and the depth of the lecturers’ knowledge. The clinical days have been amazing. My mentor, Scott, is absolutely top class – very helpful, approachable and up-to-date with current practice. He really put me at ease the first time I placed an implant; we all know how unnerving it can be doing something for the first time. His passion for implant dentistry is truly inspiring – he’s been very encouraging and more than happy to help out with some of my upcoming cases.
“The main benefits of the course format for me are being able to work at my own pace. Not having to take time off work – as I would have had to do for a formal lecture-based course – has been another advantage. Having a training center right here in Glasgow has been great, too. I also really like the fact that I can easily go back to a lecture and re-do it if I missed something, rather than rely on my note-taking skills.

“The hands-on elements of the course have been invaluable to my understanding of implantology. Everything is fully explained prior to any procedures so you know what you are doing, and the patients are all carefully selected.

“I have also been able to access lots of useful information about the products we use from Nobel Biocare through the representative and via the company website and catalogues. This has given me a greater understanding of how to set up my own clinical pathway once I have completed the course. Using products from Nobel Biocare has been beneficial as I have been able to see what the best available materials on the market are. This has shown me what is possible in terms of managing the more difficult cases. Being new to implants, I certainly have more confidence using Nobel Biocare products, because I know that they have been thoroughly tried and tested.

“I cannot recommend the SmileTube.tv training course highly enough. It has been a delight to undertake and I have learned so much that has influenced my dentistry on a daily basis.”

For more details please visit www.smiletube.tv, e-mail Janine the Learning Community Facilitator on Janine@SmileTube.tv or call 0289 252 8522.

For more information about Nobel Biocare, please call 0208 756 3300 or
visit www.nobelbiocare.com

The theme of the annual Oral Health Conference & Exhibition (OHC) is always eagerly anticipated. It is carefully chosen to address the needs of dental hygienists and dental therapists who wish to learn more about the most relevant and up-to-date developments in their field.

This year’s event, on the theme “More to the Mouth”, explores the importance of taking a holistic approach to treating patients instead of focusing only on clinical intervention for their dental complaints.

“We have deliberately designed the programme to bring together all aspects of dental hygiene and therapy that we hope will help delegates to transform their working lives for the benefit of the patient, and also themselves,” said Helen Minnery, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT).

“We have set out to ensure the choice of themes is relevant to their day-to-day lives and concerns, whether the delegate is a qualified hygienist or therapist, or a student who is still honing their skills.”

The event, to be held on 3rd–4th November 2017, at Harrogate Convention Centre, provides a broad range of session topics on oral, physical and mental health. Among them are presentations on mental health, sexual and oral health, head and neck cancer, efforts to promote healthy behaviour among patients, a holistic approach to whitening and employing a tactical team approach to handling complaints.

The full programme of educational sessions provides up to 10 hours of verifiable CPD for delegates.

The OHC is also an ideal setting for networking, from sharing and learning about best practices, to discovering more about state-of-the-art products and emerging services during the exhibition.

Participants can submit a poster of their own design that displays their work to their peers and the public in the Annual Poster Competition; the submissions will be on exhibit during the event and the deadline for submission is 1st September.

A golden opportunity to catch up with new and old acquaintances will be had at the opening day’s evening reception. The Hand Care Bar, sponsored by Philips Oral Healthcare in recognition of the hard work of hygienists and therapists, will hand out well-deserved pampering sessions.

Early bird registrants can take advantage of a 30 per cent discount off the full fee by registering by 4th September, and students are entitled to further discounts.

3rd-4th November, Harrogate Convention Centre

For more information on the Oral Health Conference and Exhibition, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk/oral-health-conference-and-exhibition

Marketing your dental practice is increasingly important in modern UK dentistry and if you underestimate how much it could affect your success, you will undoubtedly lose out. As such, here are some marketing tips to get you started on the path to success:

What are you?
It’s incredibly important to decide what your practice is and what you are going to offer your patients. This way you can build a clear brand and target a specific audience.

Change your perspective
Patients want to know they are getting the best possible treatment – and they increasingly want to be offered a little extra on the side. This necessitates a change in the way you perceive both yourself and the treatments you offer. If you are offering cosmetic treatments, such as tooth whitening, your patients will expect a different experience to what they would receive for a routine dental check-up. This means that you need to change the way you approach such treatments, especially in the way you discuss them with patients and the way you promote them to your audience. If we continue using tooth whitening as an example, you might choose to offer patients a regular shade-monitoring service (and make this service one of your practice’s USPs) as a different way to inform patients about whitening and its benefits. By simply changing your approach and giving patients a little extra, you will be able to distinguish yourself from the practice down the road.

Spread the word
The very essence of effective marketing is letting the wider audience know what you’re all about and, once you’ve worked out what you are and what you can offer patients, you’ll need to shout it from the rooftops. You can do this in a number of ways, including posting on social media – Instagram is particularly effective, especially if you want to show potential patients how great you can make their smiles look – writing an interesting blog or sending out a newsletter with updates and offers. Maintaining contact with your patients and the wider community is a great way of keeping your practice in the limelight, and the more you do, the better the results.

Share the love
Referrals and patient feedback are a great way of showing prospective patients how great your practice is. Always ensure that you ask for feedback and then, if it’s good, put it on your social media, your website, and your newsletters. If you want to be more dynamic, ask patients if they wouldn’t mind providing a short video testimonial and upload this to your website too. Or you could ask them to share a picture of themselves in the practice on their Twitter or Instagram.

Find enlightenment
Not only does Enlighten provide the UK’s only system that can guarantee whitening to shade B1, it also runs a Regional Centres of Excellence scheme that gives dental practices the opportunity to become the whitening expert in their local area. With exclusive training and dedicated marketing support that covers a wide range of different markets and mediums, the Enlighten Regional Centres of Excellence programme provides the tools to help practices become the first port of call for whitening services for patients.

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at info@enlightensmiles.com or call the team on 0207 424 3270

Payman Langroudi – author bio

Dr Payman Langroudi has designed several teeth whitening systems being used by dentists all over the world, including Enlighten – the only teeth whitening system that can guarantee results.