N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk A
Portmore eZineCREATING BEAUTIFUL SMILES FOR LIFE
ISSUE#2February
2015
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
MAKE
SOMEONE SMILE Whenever you can, you never know how much of a difference
you could be making in their life at
that one moment
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk 1
Welcome
IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE…2 NERVOUS ABOUT DENTISTRY?
SEDATION MAY BE YOUR SOLUTION
4 NEWS & EVENTS
5 HYGIENE SPA: HEALTHY EATING FOR A HEALTHY SMILE
6 ASK US ABOUT… SHORT TERM ORTHODONTICS
8 TEAM Q&A: MEET CALEY
9 COMPETITION
Welcome to the February edition of our eZine.
We find a lot of our patients are a little apprehensive about dental treatment, you’d have to be a bit weird to actually enjoy it! So in this month’s issue we look at how sedation can be used to help nervous patients feel more comfortable and overcome their fear and anxiety when undergoing treatment.
John also answers some commonly asked questions about short term or
‘cosmetic’ orthodontics, a simple way to straighten teeth and correct minor
discrepancies to appearance or function. If you are worried about crooked teeth
make sure you turn to this article straightaway.
Finally, we need your help! Please turn to our competition page and vote for
your favourite Portmore logo with a chance to win an iPod!
Nikki BBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
2 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
Fear is a very real aspect of life. At times,
we all experience a bit of fear. We often
find that most patients suffer from a little
anxiety when they come to the practice,
especially if they are due to undergo
treatment. That’s understandable, after all,
patients find themselves in a very vulnerable
position in a medical environment. Of
course, we always do our best to make our
patients feel relaxed but for some people
dental anxiety is a type of fear that can
keep them from seeing their dentist when
they really should. Although
dental anxiety may be
quite significant, the
consequences of
forgoing dental
care can lead to far
more problems in
the end.
We find that some new patients have
not seen a dentist for many years and
have suffered terrible pain, or been so
embarrassed by their smile that they have
avoided social situations altogether. This kind
of anxiety can have a very debilitating effect
on some people’s lives.
Sedation dentistry is a simple procedure
that we provide for patients during
any treatment which is potentially
uncomfortable, lengthy or causes
the patient anxiety or stress. It uses
medication to put the patient in a very
relaxed, dreamlike state during treatment.
Therefore, sedation dentistry means that
the patient does not feel the stress and
anxiety that they may usually feel prior to
visiting the dentist.
It may also mean that more surgery can
be performed in one session, reducing the
number of sessions needed to carry out a
course of treatment. We often find that using
sedation helps many patients overcome their
fear of visiting the dentist altogether.
NERVOUS ABOUT DENTISTRY? SEDATION MAY BE YOUR SOLUTION
IF YOU ARE A NERVOUS PATIENT,
PLEASE DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE
Sedation can help many patients overcome their fear of visiting the dentist altogether.
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk 3
Sedation dentistry has many great benefits
for sufferers of dental phobia:
• Patients can visit their dentist without any
pre-visit nerves and it allows the dentist
to complete the course of treatment in
fewer visits.
• Many kinds of dental treatments can
be carried out using sedation dentistry,
allowing patients with different types of
dental phobia to relax and not have to
suffer the usual apprehension which they
experience when visiting the dentist.
• Patients who have extremely sensitive
teeth and find co-operating with the
dentist and receiving dental treatment
very painful can make full use of sedation
dentistry, as it will take the discomfort
away from their treatment allowing them
to receive the health care they deserve
without the stress and anxiety that may
usually accompany it.
• The patient can experience a freedom
from their past fear and apprehension
of the dentist, allowing them to receive
treatment with peace of mind, as well as
receiving treatment that they have not
been able to have for many years because
of their dental phobia.
Sedation dentistry comes in many forms,
including oral sedation and intravenous
sedation. At Portmore, we offer IV sedation
from a highly qualified anaesthetist and our
preferred partners are Sedation Solutions.
Our anaesthetist will meet at our surgery
to sedate our patients for the duration of
their treatment and when booking your
treatment we will arrange this for you.
On the day of treatment we use a drug from
the same family as valium, it’s administered
through your arm and is used as a ‘calmer
downer’, it will make you feel very sleepy
and drowsy. You will be conscious and able
to respond to touch & command, you will
simply lose awareness of your surroundings,
this means that the drug is very safe to use
and has no nasty side effects as with general
anaesthesia . When the sedation wears off,
you will simply feel a little tried for the rest
of the day. The other benefit of IV sedation
is that in your mind, time will go very quickly,
you may be in the chair for 3 hours, but it will
seem like only a few minutes to you.
If you are a nervous or anxious patient,
please don’t suffer in silence. There is so
much we can do to help and sedation may
be the perfect answer to your problems.
NEWS
4 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
Events
We are delighted that our
implantologist Johann, has
joined the Expert Panel at
comparethetreatment.
com/experts this very
informative website is aimed
at helping patients choose
the right kind of dentist
and/or treatment for their
needs. We are thrilled to be
involved in this new venture.
Johann has also been very
busy writing articles for
‘The Dentist’ a professional
dental journal that aims to
inform and educate dentists
from across the UK. This
combined with future
teaching commitments will
mean that 2015 will be a
busy year for Johann!
The ladies at Portmore
are still raising money for
their charity challenge, the
Moonwalk on 16 May in
London. A 27 mile midnight
walk in London, we are
hoping to raise £2,000 for
Breast Cancer. You can make
your donation by visiting our
Just Giving page justgiving.
com/Portmore-Team
Every little helps.
We welcomed a new
member to our team in
February. Mizzy is our new
dental nurse and will be
assisting Eben & Naomi.
Mizzy comes with 6 years
experience and is a kind
and gentle new addition
to the team. Look out for
her and say hello when you
next visit Portmore.
IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL START TO THE YEAR FOR THE TEAM AT PORTMORE.
7 MARCH – GDP PRGF ‘Live’ surgery
workshop for dentists, 9am–5pm.
21 MARCH - GDP PRGF ‘Live’ surgery
workshop for dentists 9am-5pm
22 APRIL - Patient Open Evening
5.30–8pm. Dental Implants – are they for you?
Free consultation, up to 20% discount available.
16 MAY – Team charity event
The Moonwalk – Hyde Park, London
justgiving.com/Portmore-Team
20 MAY - GDP PRGF CPD evening
Lecture evening for dentists 6–9pm.
10 JULY – Portmore ‘surprise’ team day out
Watch this space for photos.
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk 5
It is true that the foods we choose to put
into our bodies affect us both inside and
outside – the saying ‘You are what you eat’
has never been more apparent than today.
It is very much reflected in our smiles; the
perfect white smile is what we want and the
diet we have can help achieve this.
Staining
Many people suffer with stained teeth but
are we fully aware of the significant role our
diet plays in causing this common problem?
Tea and Coffee are well known culprits, along
with smoking, however did you know that
red wine and curries can also cause staining?
As a general rule, if it is a dark colour and
would stain clothing, it will stain your teeth.
5 easy steps to avoid/reduce tooth staining:
• Have milk in tea and coffee
• Rinse with water/mouthwash after eating foods with staining potential
• Use a good tooth brushing technique
• Use inter dental brushes and floss daily
• Visit the hygienist for regular cleans
Sugar
With the current Health 4 Life sugar swap
campaign, it is in everyone’s mind that
reducing sugar is good for ones health – it is
also very good news for your teeth. Sugars
attack the tooth and can cause decay which
results in a filling being required. This does
not mean you cannot eat sugar!
The sugar rules: 4 sugary intakes a day
• It is the frequency of sugary intake that causes the tooth to decay
• It takes 20 minutes for the good bacteria to stop the bad bacteria attacking the tooth surface
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner will all contain sugar – keep sugary foods and drinks to meal times to help reduce decay forming
• Drinking sugary drinks through a straw and drinking it all at the same time again reduces the time bad bacteria can attack.
SUGAR FREE ALTERNATIVES
• Breakfast: swop a sugary cereal for porridge / muesli / toast with butter / fruit
• Drinks: keeping sugary drinks to meal times and through a straw and drinking water in between meals
• After school: slice of toast with cheese / slice of fruit / crackers
HYGIENESpaHEALTHY EATING FOR A HEALTHY SMILE
6 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
What is Short Term
Orthodontics (STO)?
How does it work?
STO is a very useful
orthodontic treatment
option to help patients,
usually adults, achieve
straighter teeth. The
systems available are usually
fixed to the teeth for the
duration of the treatment.
They can be used to produce
a complete cosmetic solution
or as part of a programme
of restorative treatment
(crowns, veneers
and/or whitening). The
fixed appliances (braces)
are very discreet and work
by applying very gentle
pressure to the teeth via a
wire that fits into a slot on
the brackets of the brace.
How do I know if I am
suitable for STO?
That’s easy. You could
book a complimentary
consultation with Lorraine,
our Treatment Coordinator.
She will be able to answer
any treatment questions you
have and make a preliminary
assessment of your teeth.
She will also ask one of our
clinicians to look at your
teeth on the day. You need a
full assessment with myself
or Eben if you would like to
proceed with treatment.
How long does the
process take?
The usual treatment
period for STO ranges from
6–12 months.
My previous dentist
advised that STO does not
work as well as traditional
type braces, is this true?
STO can be used very
successfully for a large
number of adult patients
to achieve very good
cosmetic and functional
NAME: John Brazier
POSITION: General dental practitioner
SHORT TERM ORTHODONTICS
Ask us about…
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk 7
results. These treatment
are in addition to regular
orthodontic treatment, not
a replacement. STO does
work and is the correct
treatment option for a large
number of patients.
Will it hurt?
All orthodontic treatment
moves teeth. As the
teeth start to move they
can become tender. This
tenderness lasts for 1–2
days and is easily controlled
with analgesics if necessary.
Initially there is also a short
period of adaption to the
physical presence of the
brace. Our lips and tongue
investigate the brace and
this may cause some minor
soreness to the skin in our
mouths. Again, this usually
stops after a day or two.
What happens if I don’t
like the final result?
Patients nearly always
love the final result. We
aim to listen to all our
patients and take care not
to over-promise on what is
achievable. I plan and discuss
all treatment with the
patient, anticipate potential
problems and hopefully
avoid them. I strive to deliver
the best possible outcome
for each patient.
How do you make sure
they don’t move again?
All adult orthodontic
treatment needs indefinite
full time retention to reduce
the risk of the teeth relapsing
to their original positions.
I find this is best achieved
with a small, discreet fixed
wire bonded to the back
surface of the teeth.
What kinds of food do I
need to stay away from
during treatment?
You should avoid all hard,
sticky foods such as toffees,
apples (unless chopped)
and tearing crusty bread
rolls etc. Fizzy drinks should
also be avoided as should
highly coloured foods which
may cause staining to the
brackets.
My 2 front teeth are
very crooked, will STO
solve this?
STO very well with teeth
that are rotated or twisted.
The crucial factor for your
teeth is how much space
is needed to deal with the
rotations and do you have
any other crooked teeth
that need correcting. A
thorough assessment of
your particular problem
would be required to give
you a realistic answer.
For more information,
get in touch today on
01932 855 011 or visit
portmoredental.co.uk/
treatments/straighter-
teeth to find out more.
Did you know?STO FIXED APPLIANCES
(BRACES) ARE VERY DISCREET & WORK BY APPLYING
VERY GENTLE PRESSURE TO THE TEETH
8 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk8 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
TEAM Q&A
Q1: What is your role at
Portmore, what do you do
on a day to day basis?
I am a qualified Therapy
Nurse , I assist the therapists,
Gemma and Dayle with
paediatric treatments. As
I am also a qualified Oral
Health Educator I am really
keen to promote good oral
health for all our patients,
but most importantly our
child patients. On a daily
basis I ensure all patients feel
welcome and comfortable
during their time here
at Portmore.
Q2: What is your
favourite aspect of
your role?
Supporting and
comforting very anxious
or nervous patients who
have a dental fear/phobia –
and also helping out my team
members should they need it.
Q3: If I wasn’t working
at Portmore I would be…?
Jet skiing or swimming
with the dolphins in
the Caribbean sea. Or
sunbathing on a sandy beach
sipping Pina Coladas served
by David Beckham!
Q4: My guilty
pleasure is…
Praline Chocolate’s – a big
box of them preferably as a
small box doesn’t fill me up!
This is also accompanied
by a large glass of original
Baileys with lots of ice.
Q5: Outside of work
I love…
Relaxing with my boyfriend
after our long working
week, seeing family and
friends, dogs (rotweillers
and bulldogs especially),
keeping fit, MAC make up,
fast cars, chocolate, house
music, shoes, handbags and
sunny holidays.
Q6: What I will be doing
in 2015…
I am turning 30 in June so
will be celebrating with a nice
girly pamper at the spa with
friends, as well as planning
to race on the ‘Nurburgring’
in Germany with my
boyfriend and friends in a
recently purchased Audi
A4 , 3.0 litre Quattro. Later
this month I will be doing
a Venipuncture course
at work, which I’m really
looking forward to.
NAME: Caley Redman
ROLE: Therapy Nurse
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk 9
Competition
HELP CHOOSE THE NEW PORTMORE LOGO & WIN AN iPod!
We are changing our logo at Portmore as we feel the current logo is a little tired and
doesn’t reflect our vibrant team and the world-class dentistry we provide at the
Practice. Our designer has created 3 different styles, but we just can’t decide! So we
thought we would ask our patients for their help.
Please email Nikki at [email protected] with your
favourite logo by 10 March 2015. The winner will be drawn randomly
on the 10th and the practice will use their favourite logo, the
lucky winner will also receive an iPod!
Good luck choosing!
LOGO 1 LOGO 2 LOGO 3
TEAM Q&A
10 N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
N01932 855 011 [email protected] wportmoredental.co.uk
ROADWAY HOUSE, 35 MONUMENT HILL, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY KT13 8RN
Recommended
