Success at the Smile Awards 2011

The 2011 Smile Awards were held on Friday and I travelled down to London with dental nurses Carly-Ann and Lisa. We got glammed up for the ceremony at the posh Royal Garden Hotel (I met Carol Vorderman while checking in!), have a look at the pictures on Facebook to see our frocks.

Although there are several dental industry awards over the course of the year these are the only ones to judge treated cases, they do this anonymously and reward true clinical excellence. Just making the shortlist is an achievement in itself, I was shortlisted for two categories, Orthodontic Smile Fixed Appliances and Orthodontic Smile Removable Appliances, along with some well known orthodontists and dentists.

Although I didn't get an award for the Fixed Braces category I was awarded Highly Commended for my Removable Appliance entry. In a later blog I'll share the pictures of Katherine who I treated using Invisalign. I always do my best to get not just a good-looking result but a technically great orthodontic result as well, so I am delighted to have this recognised in such prestigious awards.

There really was an amazing array of smile transformations on display, from orthodontics to veneers and implants to a full facial reconstruction following severe trauma. There are some talented dentists, surgeons and and technicians out there and I was delighted to see some fellow northern dentists getting awards, congratulations to all my shortlisted and winning colleagues.

After two years of Highly Commended I will be back next year hoping to go one better and get a trophy!

Should you be concerned about radiation from dental xrays?

With Japan and the Fukushima nuclear crisis in the news the dangers of ionising radiation have been brought to everyone's attention. You can't see radiation but most people are aware that it can be dangerous.

Radiation has several effects on the body. A large single dose (like being very close to a damaged reactor) has immediate effects that will make you ill or kill you, remember Alexander Litvinenko who was deliberately poisoned a few years ago.

For the general population it is the long term effects of an accumulated dose over many years that is more relevant, by either increasing the risk of cancer or causing birth defects, and these are the sort of effects that are seen in people living near Chernobyl where there was a nuclear disaster in 1986. Health problems are still being suffered by local residents and especially children due to the ongoing increased levels of radiation.

So how does dentistry fit into this? You might be concerned that having a dental xray will increase your radiation dose. Of course it does, but it needs to be put into perspective. You receive radiation every day from your surroundings (background radiation) and this is by far the biggest source of radiation most people receive over their lifetimes. A dental xray is roughly equivalent to the amount of background radiation you experience over the course of a day, and less than the additional amount you would get from a plane flight to Spain. Have a closer look at the clever chart above by clicking this link and you will see how insignificant the dose from a dental xray is compared to other radiation sources, including the radiation from Fukushima.

Of course that doesn't mean we don't have to be careful with medical and dental xrays. Modern technology has dramatically reduced the necessary dose to get a good xray picture and there are regulations which we, as dentists, must adhere to, as well as making sure we don't take any unnecessary xrays (for example if someone has had a recent xray elsewhere I always request a copy rather than taking a new one).

Dental xrays are an important tool for diagnosing problems and planning treatment, but they really aren't a significant problem when you consider overall radiation doses from all sources. My thoughts are with those who work or live near Fukushima and I sincerely hope the crisis can be controlled. Like Chernobyl, we may not be able to count the total human cost of the disaster for many years to come.

Brides and Braces

If you are getting married you are probably thinking about your appearance on the day, especially as it will be immortalised forever in the photos. Hair and makeup are just as important as the dress, but have you thought about your smile?

A wedding is often the factor that prompts brides into getting dental attention, whitening is probably the most frequently requested treatment but you may also be thinking about the position of your teeth. I have treated several brides-to-be (and mothers of the bride) to give them a better smile before their wedding. The limiting factor is often time, most orthodontic treatments need at least a year and the more time you have the better.

However, if you have less time don't panic, we can get a significant improvement in most people's teeth in about 6 months. We can fit the braces, progress the treatment as far as possible in the time available, then remove the braces in time for your big day. Afterwards we can reassess whether to re-fit braces to complete treatment.

Alternatively, you could pick invisible braces like lingual Incognito braces or removable Invisalign, which means your treatment can be continued without interruption, these are especially good options if time is a bit short or you don't want the additional cost and time of removing/refitting braces.

Recently one patient got married wearing her ceramic fixed braces as she was keen not to interrupt treatment. Ceramic braces are like traditional fixed braces but made of clear porcelain rather than metal so they blend with the teeth. I changed the wire for a tooth-coloured version before the wedding and she smiled with confidence all day. You can see the braces in the pictures (see above) but they are barely noticable. I know Faye herself was delighted that her teeth looked straighter and knows she made the right decision about keeping the braces on. I'd like to congratulate Faye and her husband on their wedding and wish them the best for the future.

If you would like to get your teeth straightened before your wedding please call us to arrange an appointment to discuss the options, it may be easier than you think!

Cheap Teeth Whitening

As teeth whitening becomes the new "must-have" it's not surprising that bargain treatments are springing up all over the place. I've seen various home kits advertised, beauty salons offering whitening, and offers for someone to do laser whitening in your own home.

It probably seems rather attractive to have your teeth whitened for just £50 or £99 or to buy gel on the internet rather than pay your dentist more for what appears to be the same thing.

Please think carefully before you go ahead with any sort of cheaper deal. You may not know that it is illegal for anybody who is not a registered dental professional to carry out any sort of dental treatment, including whitening. You should always have your teeth checked by a dentist before you have any treatment, including cosmetic work. Professional whitening is very safe but there are some risks which should be explained to you first, these including damage to the gums, especially if the wrong concentration of gel is used. "Laser" whitening does not exist, though very bright lights are sometimes used they are NOT lasers! If you're not sure about someone's credentials check the dentists' register on the General Dental Council website. If you're not sure if it's a legitimate business or dental practice check for a proper address, a local phone number, details of the team members and information about other dental treatment that is offered (no respectable dentist would ONLY offer whitening).

Beware of guarantees about the amount of improvement or the longevity of the result and you should always be told about potential drawbacks as well as benefits. As I said on my previous blog, if an offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

DIY Orthodontics?

Two slightly bizzare things happened yesterday.

I saw a lady who had braces fitted elsewhere about four years ago. Following a disagreement with her orthodontist she had not returned, so had not seen a dentist or orthodontist for about three years! Eventually she got fed up with the braces and removed most of them herself. She was unable to remove the upper ceramic braces or the remaining adhesive so had asked me to finish the job.

I later had a phone call from a man asking about using elastic bands bought over the internet to close the space between his teeth. He didn't want me to do the treatment, just to tell him if it was a good idea. You might guess my response. This was the first I had heard of self-treatment with elastics but a check on the internet shows that a lot of people have tried it.

Please don't attempt any sort of DIY orthodontics or dentistry. Dentists train for five years and orthodontists a further six at least (three of those just devoted to orthodontics) and understand all the drawbacks and risks to treatment. Orthodontics is NOT simple, it might appear so but damage to teeth, gums and bone can occur and teeth do not necessarily stay where you put them. Similarly there are a lot of "quick" options springing up that many general dentists are being encouraged to try without detailed orthodontic knowledge. If you find a cheap or quick option that seems too good to be true then it probably is!

About a year ago I introduced low cost intitial consultations for both adults and children who want to find out if treatment is possible without spending large amounts. They have proved so popular they are continuing indefinitely, £30 for age 16 and under, £40 for adults and I can usually tell you what type of treatment will be needed and an approximate cost. Please contact us if you'd like either a full consultation or a short one.

Why I love Mary Portas

I've really enjoyed watching Mary Portas' "Secret Shopper" on Channel 4 and both her previous "Queen of Shops" series for the BBC.

In "Queen of Shops" she was helping small independent retailers make the most of their shops to stand out from the competition. The makeovers of the shops were fantastic but what she really pushed was doing something different to stand out from the big chains and this often included great customer service. In "Secret Shopper" at first sight she is on the customer's side, fighting for better customer service. There have been some great examples of pushy salesmen, the sort of thing that a lot of people shy away from. The hard sell, the sales patter, the constant discounts and the formulaic shops were particularly well highlighted in the sofa shop programme. After some persuasion she got the MD and the salespeople on her side and turned around the way they did sales. A win for the customer who wasn't subjected to the hard sell any more, but also a win for the business as their sales increased and their staff got job satisfaction.

You might think this has nothing to do with dentistry or orthodontics, we are not exactly a retail or a sales business. However, I believe many of Mary's principles can be applied to dentists or indeed many other types of business. When I set up my practice I was sure I wanted to focus on great treatment and treating my patients with care and empathy. As dentists we are taught how to treat teeth, but we are not tauught how to run a business. There are two people in particular who have helped me develop in this over the years.

Ashley Latter is a sales coach for dentists. His inspiring course helped me "sell" my services without sounding like a salesperson or using pushy techniques. By talking to my patients and finding out more about them I can recommend the right sort of treatment. Think of the difference between the sofa salesmen with their standardised patter selling sofas that are too big or the wrong colour, and how Mary transformed them into people who listened to the customers and tried to understand what they wanted.

Chris Barrow is the Mary Portas of the dental world. Like Mary he can instantly see what is wrong with a dental practice and guide the owners to a better place. Like Mary's shops a dental practice might need a visual makeover, a team who care about service or behind the scenes help.

Neither Chris or Ashley are dentists and I am sure they experience the same sort of scepticism Mary faces when she first talks to the retailers about what they are doing wrong. Dentists can be stuck in the "we've always done it this way and so have our competitors" rut. I love seeing the moment of enlightenment on the faces of the retailers on Mary's programme as I can empathise with that, I've experienced it myself and seen it in other dental professionals.

I'm always trying to improve my practice, I love my job and my patients and want the best for all of us. Watching Mary's programme I've picked up a few things, visit my website and you'll see I've added my personal promise to the front page, inspired by her programme. I'm also very aware of the customer service experience wherever I go, whether it is a shop, a hotel, a restaurant or another dental practice.

More from Mary Portas please!

PS If you watched the first series of Queen of Shops you may have noticed she's had her smile improved since then, I think she looks fab!

My Marathon Challenge

Over the last few years I've done a few challenges, from walking the Edinburgh Moonwalk to running the Great North Run. I've really got the running bug now and enjoy getting outside and getting fit.

This year I am taking on my biggest challenge yet, the Virgin London Marathon on 17th April 2011. I will be running 26.2 miles which will take me about five hours! I'm currently deep into training and already running further than I ran for the Great North Run. Its hard work but I can feel myself getting fitter.

I am running for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a fantastic charity my parents have been involved with for several years. Mum and Dad help by "socialising" puppies and young dogs before they go for full training. The recipients not only get companionship but a dog who is trained to alert them to everyday noises like the doorbell or alarm clock, and even emergency alarms. It costs a lot to train every dog (who are often rescue dogs or otherwise without a home) so every penny will help.

Your support is greatly appreciated, please visit my Just Giving page if you'd like to donate. I shall be thinking of all the people who donate when the going gets tough on 17th April.