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| I hope that everyone has had a lovely July and not only have you all enjoyed the ‘Lionesses’ bringing home the trophy, yet are also enjoying watching and possibly going to the Commonwealth Games! One of our Dentists David has volunteered for a few days at the Games (well done David!), whilst I myself am excited to be going to watch the quarter finals of the Netball – I am a ‘retired’ player yet love my second job, which is Netball coaching!Over the past month there has been much press about the hidden dangers of going abroad for cosmetic and implant dentistry. For those that have missed the press coverage, there was a documentary collaboration from the BBC and the British Dental Association (BDA) and this revealed some shocking truths about this new trend. I thought it only prudent to share with you some of this press coverage and a few of the facts that have been exposed:
As always there will be patients who have no complaints or problems about the treatment they received outside of the UK but there are also a very large and increasing number of patients who have suffered pain, abscesses and required more invasive dental work after going abroad for dental treatment.
The presenter of the documentary ‘Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake?’ was a London based dentist called Dr Trisha Lakhani. She initially sent an iphone photograph of her own teeth to 150 dental clinics in Turkey and 50 clinics in the UK, asking them what they would recommend for improving her smile?
Out of the 150 Turkish clinics, 120 responded and 70 said they would recommend replacing her teeth — every single one in some cases — with crowns or veneers. This would involve shaving down her own strong, healthy teeth, leaving pointy pegs to which the fake teeth (crowns) would be attached. These 70 treatment plans were formulated following just an iPhone photograph!
*This may not of been the photograph that was used however you can see that Dr Lakhani does not appear to need any cosmetic dental treatment.
It was not surprising, yet absolutely wonderful and reassuring to read that out of the 50 UK clinics approached with the same photographs and the same question – all UK clinics advised no cosmetic treatment at all.In addition, a survey of 1000 dentists carried out by the BDA earlier in the year found that 95% of dentists reported that they have examined patients who have travelled abroad for dental treatment. Of those, an alarming 86% say they have treated cases that have developed complications.
Furthermore, the BDA reports that ‘Two thirds of UK dentists said that the cost of repairing the damage to the teeth is at least £500 with over half of dentists sharing the cost is over £1000. One in five dentists said the costs exceeded £5000’.
The concern of many UK dental professionals at the moment is that with the rising cost of living, more and more patients may find the lower fees abroad a real attraction. We know that our own registered patients have all of their treatment completed at Treetops Dental yet you may have friends and family who may be considering an ‘abroad dental clinic’ as an option, please do pass our newsletter onto them.
What research is proving is that what looks like an incredible financial saving at first, for many, the reality is quite the opposite!
Thank you
Louise |
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| We were given a fantastic surprise during the recent heatwave. Leo`s ice Creams visited us not once, not twice but multiple times throughout the hottest days of July! All organised by Polly to keep us cool during the hot weather. First it was air conditioning, now Ice Creams. We are truly spoilt!
Here we are enjoying our ice creams. Thank you Polly and Thank you Leo! |
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| I would like to share with you my experience since joining Treetops in May 2021.
I had worked for the NHS for 30+ years, yes I started very young! I have seen a lot of change and sometimes not always for the best. I joined dentistry because I really wanted to be an integral part of a patient’s journey from their very first visit as a patient to hopefully watching them grow and even bring their children in to see us. In the early days I felt so honoured in the sense that at times we almost became part of their family. We were there for the good and the bad times, our patients knew that if they needed someone to speak with, we would be there to help in any way we could. Alas though, more recently the pressures of the NHS did make this more difficult day by day, so I made the decision to join Treetops Dental Surgery in May 2021 and a new chapter of my life began. It would be fair to say I was apprehensive, would I fit in? Would I be accepted for being me? Thankfully the answer was yes and yes, with open arms! I now work with a team who have values very similar to my own in that communication with the patient and the team is key to ensuring everyone is well cared for and that the patient’s journey runs smoothly. One size doesn’t always fit all therefore a patient’s individual needs should always be put first and here at Treetops this is just so!
With this in mind today I would like to share with you something that I feel encapsulates the reason why I became a dental nurse all those years ago. To begin, a gentleman visited us as a new patient at the practice, he was extremely nervous and apprehensive of all dentists, maybe due to past experiences elsewhere. Dr Peter Reece and I sat for some time and listened to what he wanted, what it was that bothered him and what his own expectations were. At the examination we took x- rays and pictures and advised him that we would construct a treatment plan, following this we invited him back to discuss how we could meet his wants and needs and the investment in time and cost.
Our patient was keen to start, although once he realised that the first part of the treatment would take four hours, he admitted to us that he was feeling terrified and asked if he could have something to relax him. He shared with us that he had reservations his nerves wouldn’t hold for the duration of the appointment. We were able to talk this through with him and prescribe something for him. On the day of his first appointment he looked so uncomfortable, we could immediately tell how nervous he was. We chatted with him and explained that anything he needed or wanted, all he had to do was put his arm up and we would stop. A short time into the appointment it became apparent that he was really struggling, more so than we originally thought, he needed to occasionally get up and walk about and distract himself and this was not a problem at all. When he was ready he would sit back in the chair and we continued, ensuring he had regular breaks for him to compose himself, have a glass of water and for us to reassure him that he was in control of the situation. This continued for a few more appointments yet after a while we noticed we were starting to see him becoming more and more at ease with us. After a few more visits the medication wasn’t needed and he became so comfortable with us that we could see almost a physical change in him. I can not tell you how amazing it is to have been a part of this transformation.
This week we completed the last of his treatment, and to say he was pleased is an understatement. He arrived beaming with pride, a far cry from the patient we saw just months earlier. When the treatment was completed he hugged me (mask on of course!) and said that he felt that this is what it feels like, to be a normal patient again. He was so happy with the results but most of all all of the hard work each team member had put in to make this a possibility for him. He even said that he was going to miss his regular visits with us! It was a truly memorable moment for both of us. This reminded me why I do the job I do and how some things may change over the years, however demonstrating empathy, kindness, and communication during appointments will never be one of them, at least not with the team at Treetops.
The overall message I would like to convey to anyone out there with dental anxiety is that you don’t need to suffer in silence, we can help you and we want to help you and together you could be that patient having the smile of your dreams too. |
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| As you can see above, some of our patients are concerned about going to the dentist and unfortunately this results in neglect with their oral health, this usually leads to more invasive treatment further down the line and in some cases undiagnosed periodontal disease. This can result in the loss of teeth and undiagnosed mouth cancer. The majority of our new nervous patients share with us that it was our google reviews that gave them the confidence to visit Treetops Dental.
Therefore could we ask if you have had a good experience with our Treetops Team would you be so kind as to leave us a review. All you need to do is hover your mobile phone camera over the QR code and add your comments.
By sharing your experiences, will without doubt lend a helping hand to those patients putting off that first visit.
Thank you so much
Treetops Team |
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| We do appreciate that life can sometimes get in the way and patients do not intentionally miss their appointments. July has seen 70 missed appointments equating to approximately 23 hours of lost clinical time.We have developed our system over time to help decrease this lost clinical time:
On booking your appointment you will receive either an email or text confirming your booking.
48 hours prior to your appointment you will receive a text or email as a gentle reminder. If you have 2 appointments booked on the same day, sadly the system will send out 2 emails in no specific order, so we would kindly ask you to check both messages.
To help our system be as efficient as possible, we would be so grateful if you would check when you are next in, that we have your most up to date mobile number and email address.
Thank you so much
The Treetops Team |
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| Another fantastic patient Denplan Loyalty award!
If you would like to know more about Denplan memberships and how budgeting monthly for your dental needs could work for you, just call our friendly reception team on 01902 842 555.
or click on the link below:
https://www.treetopsdentalsurgery.co.uk/fees-and-payments/denplan/
Next month it could be you! |
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| Here we see a wonderful example of how replacement veneers have completely transformed this lovely patient’s smile – Dr David Aberoje and nurse Georgia have produced an amazing result.
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain that are precisely made to fit over the visible surface of your front teeth and as you can see, transform smiles! They are like a false fingernail which fits over a nail, the veneer covers your natural tooth which may be discoloured or chipped. Veneers can also close gaps between the front teeth. They are often considered the go-to treatment for anyone who doesn’t require extensive dental work. Veneers are permanently bonded over your existing teeth and can create smiles that you want to share! |
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| Below we see a wonderful example of how replacement crowns can totally alter the size and shape of the tooth or in this case teeth. As you can see the results are staggering and our patient was over the moon with them. |
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| “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference” Aristotle.Being a mom of 4, and with the summer holidays about to start my focus is on children because starting good habits young is so much better than trying to break bad habits as an adult.
In the UK dental extractions are the number one reason children are admitted to hospital for a general anesthetic! Our mouths and teeth let us make different facial expressions, form words, eat, drink, and begin the process of digestion. Good oral hygiene, healthy diet, and regular visits to the dentist are great habits to start as soon as possible, so let’s set our children up for an adult life with a great smile, healthy mouth and pain free teeth.
I always suggest trying to get your baby familiar with a toothbrush as early as possible, use a baby toothbrush to gently massage their gums. When their first teeth erupt (around 6 months) brush them morning and night, using a smear of baby toothpaste. As they get older use a pea sized amount, and get them to spit out rather than rinse. Toothpaste contains fluoride which helps to remineralise teeth and protect against decay, so we don’t want to rinse all that away. |
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| Most of us know sugar is bad for our teeth, frequent sugary drinks and snacks will cause decay. Every time we eat, the plaque bacteria produce acid, which then lowers the pH in the mouth and when this happens minerals are lost from the teeth; saliva acts as a buffering agent and raises the pH in our mouth, and remineralizes the teeth. If we snack constantly this buffering and remineralisation cannot happen, so more minerals are lost and eventually the enamel decays, which can then lead to pain, even infection and tooth loss.Good dietary habits also improve our general health, it is much easier to eat healthily as an adult if we start young with good eating habits, rather than trying to break bad eating habits later on.
Finally, visit the dentist! Bring the babies in when you have your check up, get them used to us. We are a friendly bunch, we can show them from an early age that a dental surgery is not a place to fear. Let the children have a ride on our chair, a look at our teeny mouth mirrors, we even have stickers! What more could you want?!
We hope to see you soon, have a wonderful summer. |
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| You may have noticed a new face around the practice during the last month. We have the pleasure of introducing you to our newest member of the Reception Team Vivienne Denton!Vivienne has joined our crazy reception team following over 30 years of reception experience. We have the added benefit of Vivienne starting her career as a Dental Nurse so you are in very capable hands!
Vivienne’s hobbies include walks with her beautiful dog (and husband), theatre and is a very keen gardener. Vivienne says when not working she will usually be found pottering in her garden as this is her sanctuary.
We think Vivienne’s fantastic sense of humour and professionalism has meant she has fitted straight in and feels like she’s been here forever!
Say hello the next time you see her! |
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| May I book an urgent Appointment ?
When you book an appointment
No matter where or when
You don’t think twice
Or pay the price
If you do not then attend
So when you call with toothache
An urgent request you make
Can I see the dentist?
I’m in pain for goodness sake!
I’m sorry for your suffering
But the situation is like this
Due to patients not attending
Places drop into the abyss
So if for any reason
An appointment you can’t attend
Just think of what they’re enduring
On your cancellation they depend.
Your plight was duly noted
So what was I to do?
With paper and pen
I’m at it again
Sending all good wishes to you |
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| Thank you again Liz for our fabulous poem!
Wishing all of our patients a fantastic August. |
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