ISSUE#5 May 2015
Portmore eZine CREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES FOR LIFE
N01932 855 011 mreception@portmoredental.co.uk wportmoredental.co.uk ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
“
So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about. MARILYN MONROE
”
N01932 855 011 mreception@portmoredental.co.uk wportmoredental.co.uk ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
Welcome
Isn’t it great to experience some warmer weather? The temperatures seem to be rising a bit since the Easter break and with the clocks changing its wonderful to see longer days which means more time in the garden, long dog walks and generally enjoying life outdoors again, having finally shaken off the cobwebs of Winter. Spring is usually a busy time at Portmore, everyone is suddenly thinking about their Summer holidays or special events where they want to look & feel at their very best. The Hygiene Spa is so busy – patients enjoying a Diamond Polish or treating themselves to tooth whitening, we have also seen a huge interest in Smile Makeovers, a real passion of ours at Portmore. The team is busy and that’s just how we like it!! If you are thinking about a smile makeover, why not come into the practice to see Lorraine, our Treatment Coordinator? Lorraine is a very experienced member of our team and will be able to talk you through all the options available to you, you will be amazed at how some simple changes can make a huge difference to your smile. The consultation is complimentary, so what are you waiting for?
Nikki B
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE… 2 NEWS & EVENTS 3 SPECIAL OFFER 4 TEAM Q&A: Meet Katie Frith 6 HYGIENE SPA: The Importance of Flouride & Prevention 8 ASK US ABOUT… Can you help if I’m nervous? 10 A 21ST CENTURY SOLUTION TO LOOSE DENTURES N01932 855 011 mreception@portmoredental.co.uk w portmoredental.co.uk
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NEWS We are passionate
our patients, this means
Every morning before
about team training and
that you have a highly
we start the day we have
development at Portmore
skilled clinical management
a team ‘huddle’ – we talk
and so are delighted to tell
team who will constantly
about all the patients that
you that Naomi, our Nurse
be working towards
have appointments that day
Manager and Lorraine, our
exceptional standards
to ensure everything is in
Clinic Manager have just
of patient care. We wish
place so that their visit to
enrolled on the Institute of
Naomi and Lorraine the
the practice is as stress free
Leadership & Management
very best of luck!
and enjoyable as possible.
Level 3 certificate
It is without a doubt the
in Dental Practice
I’m sure you all know
most valuable part of our
Management. Both Naomi
what a great team we
day – it makes sure that
and Lorraine are very keen
have at Portmore, but I
any potential obstacles
to further their career in
wonder if you know how
are highlighted so that we
dentistry by undertaking
we communicate to make
can deliver great customer
professional development
sure we deliver consistent
service, which is just as
& ongoing training. For
patient care?
important as the dentistry!
Events 8–9 MAY – Dentists visit the 2 day
13TH JUNE – Dentist PRGF training event at Portmore. Sponsored by BTI 21/22/23 JUNE – PRGF training in Spain for Naomi, Lorraine and Katie. 2 day workshop at BTI headquarters in Bilbao.
British Dental Association conference
19TH JULY –Portmore ‘team day’
in Manchester. World class speakers
25TH SEPTEMBER – Macmillan coffee
and seminars.
morning – join us at Portmore for coffee &
19TH MAY - National Smile Month
home-made cake and help us to raise some
Lots of events taking place at the practice
money for charity.
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SUMMER IS ON THE WAY! To help our patients feel fabulous for their summer event or holiday we are offering all existing patients a massive £500 DISCOUNT on a Smile Makeover!! On makeovers over £5k - subject to T&C’s
Thinking about straighter teeth? Whiter teeth? A ‘Hollywood’ smile? This offer is available to existing patients who book a consultation in May – pick up the phone and book your appointment now.
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TEAM Q&A Q1:
What is your role at Portmore, what do you do on a day to day basis? I’m a Dental Nurse at Portmore and I nurse with John in his busy surgery. We do all kinds of dental treatment from orthodontics to full cosmetic treatment. My role includes planning ahead to make sure that every day goes as smoothly as possible. Keeping the surgery organised and making
NAME: Katie Frith ROLE: Cosmetic Dental Nurse
patients feel comfortable.
Q2:
What is your favourite aspect of your role? My favourite part of my job is doing Full mouth reconstructions. We have people come in with
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missing teeth, broken teeth or have just hated their smile for years. Being
Q4:
My guilty pleasure is…
Q6:
What are you looking forward to in the coming
able to help people get the
I’m a bit obsessed with
smile they have always
Harry Potter- I went to
wanted and just giving
Florida last year and went
them a better quality of life
to Harry Potter World. I
I’m due to go on a PRGF
is very rewarding. I spend
know I embarrassed my
course in June so am
a lot of time at work with
boyfriend because I was
looking forward to going
John, so it’s a good job we
acting like a crazy lady
on that. The staff summer
get along.
running around Hogwarts.
party will be exciting as it’s
I never wanted to leave.
a surprise and of course
Q3:
If I wasn’t working at Portmore I would be…? I most probably would be somewhere HOT. I love the sun. I’m desperate to get back to Australia so would love to travel more of it and visit my friends I have there. I would
months, work and pleasure?
I’m attending the wedding
Q5:
of the year in September. All very exciting!!!
Outside of work I love… …spending time with my family and my Boyfriend. I love taking my dog Rocky out for walks (more like he takes me for a walk/run) and going to see my friends and nights out with them.
definitely love to travel the world. (If someone would fund the trip).
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HYGIENE
Spa
THE IMPORTANCE OF FLUORIDE & PREVENTION decay within the tooth structure. 13501500 ppm F is the recommended amount Preventing a disease is much better than
of Fluoride that should be in our toothpaste
having to treat a disease. There are many
here in the UK. It can be found on the back
ways to prevent Dental decay which I
of toothpaste packets and tubes. If your
am sure we would all like to do and help
dentist feels you are at a higher risk of dental
prevent those fillings.
decay than others they may prescribe you a higher fluoride concentration usually in
We all know a good diet and good brushing habits help protect our teeth but there is a little bit more to it. The tooth paste we use, mouthwash we use and when and what foods and drinks we consume can have a big impact on helping to prevent dental decay. Fluoride is very important in prevention. Fluoride itself aids the tooth during the remineralisation stage and helps prevent the demineralisation cycle which causes
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THE TOOTH PASTE WE USE, MOUTHWASH WE USE AND WHEN AND WHAT FOODS & DRINKS WE CONSUME CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HELPING TO PREVENT DENTAL DECAY.
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the form of Duraphat toothpaste. With all toothpaste, for the fluoride to have any prevention benefit it is important to not rinse after brushing, with water or mouthwash- ‘Spit don’t rinse’ rule. Non - fluoridated toothpaste is only recommended for those with full dentures
this sugar creates acids as it is broken down
and no teeth.
in the mouth, these acids begin to attack the tooth and cause it to demineralise- it
Many people like to use a mouthwash as it
is this process that causes tooth decay.
leaves a nice ‘fresh’ feeling within the mouth.
Demineralisation continues until the pH of
Mouthwash is fine to use but is recommended
the mouth has become more neutral and
at a different time to brushing; this is due to
allows the remineralisation process to begin.
mouthwash having less fluoride content than
This usually takes 20mins from when the
toothpaste. It is also recommended to use an
product was consumed. Therefore it is clear
alcohol free mouthwash.
to see that the frequency at which these foods are consumed has a great effect on
Diet is one of the biggest factors that can
how long the demineralisation process is
aid in prevention and is controlled by you.
able to continue and therefore the likelihood
Anything we eat will usually contains sugar,
of decay developing.
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Ask us about…
CAN YOU HELP IF I’M NERVOUS?
How do you treat nervous
receptionists will help smooth
the patient to have a rest.
patients at Portmore?
this essential first step.
When the patient is ready, we
A large part of helping nervous
would continue if possible, but
patients overcoming their
Do you find that most
otherwise we could always
fears of dental care is about
patients are nervous?
rebook the appointment.
listening to their worries
Not many people actually
We usually find, that if we
in a relaxed environment.
look forward to coming to
can complete a session or
The key is to help people to
the dentist! But fortunately,
treatment from start to finish
regain their confidence and
modern techniques and
the patient finds this quite
to understand that they have
training mean that both
empowering, they realise they
nothing to fear, a simple way
simple and complex
CAN undergo treatment and
to do this is to make it clear
procedures can be delivered
this gives them the confidence
to patients that they are in
in a calm environment. At
to come back. Sometimes,
control. The first appointment Portmore we are keen to
we may need to manage
is usually a massive hurdle
promote prevention for our
for most phobic patients to
young patients and make their medication given either by
get over. We have a great
visits fun.
mouth or intravenously.
can familiarise
What do you do if you think
Do you offer any medication
themselves
someone is getting anxious
to help patients deal with
during treatment?
anxiety? How does it work?
We would take a break from
Yes, we do offer medication.
what we are doing and allow
This can either be taken orally
the patient’s anxiety with
website that patients
with and also our
NAME: John Brazier POSITION: General dental practitioner
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Did you know?
before your appointment
haven’t been to the dentist
or we use IV administered
for a long time. I’m so
by a sedationist at the time
embarrassed by my teeth,
of your appointment. Both
can you help?
options have a calming effect
Definitely! This is very much
and significantly reduce
my passion, helping patients
A LARGE PART OF HELPING NERVOUS PATIENTS OVERCOMING THEIR FEARS IS ABOUT LISTENING TO THEIR WORRIES IN A RELAXED ENVIRONMENT Can I
anxiety. The drug we use is call to regain their confidence and
bring my partner or friend
Midazolam, which is from the
self- esteem. Please don’t feel
into the surgery with me
same family as Valium, it is not
embarrassed, we see patients
when I have my treatment?
designed to ‘knock you out’
like this quite often, and usually We are very happy to bring
but rather make patients feel
they are amazed as their smile
very sleepy and woozy. The
can be fixed fairly simply. More understand this can be very
a chaperone with you, as we
drug also produces an amnesia often than not we can help
comforting for some people.
effect. We recommend that all them to overcome their fears.
Is it possible to get my
our patients are accompanied
treatment over with in just
if they are having sedative
What happens if I’m so
medication.
nervous on the day that I
one session?
refuse treatment?
Depending on what
How do we prevent our
At your first appointment
treatment you need and
children from becoming
we wouldn’t be doing any
decide to go ahead with, then
nervous patients?
treatment unless you
this can often be delivered in
We strongly encourage
were in pain and you were
one visit. We do encourage
registering children at the
happy to proceed. The first
our anxious patients to
practice from an early age, say appointment is about gaining
break their treatment into
18 months. This helps them to your trust and confidence,
small manageable sessions,
get used to the practice. They
when this happens, very
during these sessions we are
will usually be happy to have
few patients go on to refuse
careful to help you with any
their teeth counted when they treatment at subsequent visits. concerns. However, if you are 3 years old. We have three However, if this does happen,
are being sedated it would
excellent therapists who have
then we simply rebook and
be a good idea to complete
a special interest in running
maybe discuss some anti-
as much treatment in one
our children’s preventative
anxiety medication.
session as possible.
dental care programme. I’m really nervous and
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A 21ST CENTURY SOLUTION TO LOOSE DENTURES Wearing dentures can be a challenge for many of our patients for lots of reasons. We find that most patients struggle with
this can be very upsetting – imagine not
loose dentures, especially if they have
being able to enjoy your favourite foods
been wearing dentures for many years.
anymore? Also, removing certain food
This is extremely debilitating for people
groups from your diet can have harming
as it has a huge effect on their day to day
effects to your overall health, as you may
lives in terms of eating, health, confidence,
not be getting the essential nutrients
relationships, self- esteem and speech.
you need to stay fit and healthy, this is especially important as you reach old age.
The ability to eat or chew effectively is often lost which is usually due to the
Patient’s biggest complaints about
instability of the dentures which move or
dentures are undoubtedly the
rock in the patient’s mouth when eating.
embarrassment it can cause them in
Patients often find they cannot enjoy
social situations. Altered speech, and
foods they once loved, most commonly
loose dentures that move around whilst
apples, vegetables and steaks or any foods
talking are very common and can be
that are slightly sticky or ‘doughy’ such
distressing. Some patients suddenly find
as sandwiches or pasta. In fact, a broad
social situations very stressful and begin
range of foods may need to be eliminated
to avoid them altogether.
from a patient’s diet if they have dentures. The great news is that there is now a Of course, the psychological effects of
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long-term, permanent and cost effective
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A LONG-TERM, PERMANENT & COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION
solution to these problems. Denture
After initial implant placement, there is
stabilisation, using dental implants to
a healing period of approximately 3-4
secures dentures firmly in place, giving
months, this is to allow the dentures to
denture wearers confidence in knowing
‘fuse’ to your own bone and become
their dentures won’t move around whilst
part of you (a process known as
eating or talking.
osseointegration), during this period, your usual dentures are worn as a ‘temporary’
The treatment process itself is fairly
measure. The final stages of treatment
straightforward in most cases. A dental
comprise of 4-6 short appointments to
implant is a small titanium screw that is
construct the new dentures with the
placed into your jaw bone, via a minor
secure attachments.
surgical procedure, to which your denture is attached. For lower dentures,
Patients are still able to remove dentures
we usually place two dental implants
for cleaning, but can be confident that
at the front of the lower jaw; fewer
when the denture is attached in place it
people struggle with an upper denture
will remain secure and will not suddenly
that moves, but if this is the case then
dislodge. By ensuring dentures are secure,
we generally place three to four dental
patients smile and speak more easily,
implants. Each implant is connected
clearly and confidently knowing that their
securely to your denture using a series of
dentures won’t slip out unexpectedly.
specially designed connections.
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OUR PATIENTS THAT HAVE UNDERTAKEN THIS PROCEDURE HAVE REPORTED A NEW LEASE OF LIFE, THEY FEEL MORE CONFIDENT, ARE ABLE TO REALLY ENJOY FOOD AGAIN AND OFTEN REGAIN THEIR SOCIAL LIVES.
SO, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF DENTURE STABILISATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL? • Do your dentures move around when eating or chewing? • Do you avoid social situations
If you have answered ‘YES’ to 1 or more of the questions above, you may be a good candidate for denture stabilisation.
because of your dentures? • Have your dentures ever fallen out in front of others? • Do you feel self- conscious when you smile? • Do you find yourself avoiding
Our patients that have undertaken this procedure have reported a new lease of life, they feel more confident, are able to really enjoy food again and often regain their social lives. Why don’t you contact the practice to schedule your
certain foods because you can’t
complimentary implant consultation? It
chew properly?
really could be the start of a new life.
• Have you found that you have drastically altered your diet to accommodate your dentures? • Has your speech been affected by wearing dentures?
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N01932 855 011 mreception@portmoredental.co.uk wportmoredental.co.uk ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
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