Worth Fighting Through the Snow from Norway

Today I received this wonderful testimonial from a patient who I have only seen once before to discuss her options. She is an ex-pat, living in Norway, who found our details through our website.

Despite the heavy snow, she made her way here the day after her arrival in the UK on Friday last.
We completed her treatment using Twighlight Sleep Sedation on Saturday afternoon, December 18th during heavy snow here inNewbury. Here is her testimonial received this morning 21st December. I'll add her name once I receive her permission.

Dear Chris and Richard,


Just a quick note to say thank you so much for the treatment this afternoon. After about 12 years of avoiding any form of dental treatment, it was well worth fighting through the snow from Norway for my appointment. Trust and confidence are vital components needed to get me through the door of a dental surgery, and you succeeded where many others have failed!


I can now enjoy Christmas free of the constant nagging guilt of knowing I am ignoring my dental health, so thank you both once again. The appointment may have lasted several hours, but it seemed more like ten minutes, and I am blissfully free of any real memories about the treatment itself, which will make the next visit so much easier.

Wishing you both a very God Jul og Godt Nytt År (as they say in our neck of the woods)

Kindest regards,

Sue Budd

PS: added 22nd December

Feel free to use my testimonial.  Once again, many thanks.  I'm now facing another challenge: how to fight my way back through the snow to Norway - unfortunately via Heathrow ... fingers crossed!

So if you or someone you know wants to have an entirely different experience of dental care, why not make it a New Year's resolution?  Pick up the phone and speak to Chris Charon on 01635 47757 to arrange a FREE consultation over coffee WITH NO DENTAL CHECK-UP to discuss your requirements.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Smiley New Year

Our Jan 2011 Newsletter

Our Newsletter, designed to kick off the New Year, is at the printer now and will be sent out, by post, to a selected group of patients initially, to test their reaction.

In then meantime for those on-line here is a sneak preview.

I'll take the opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year

Richard Charon at Newbury Smilemakers Newsletter Jan 2011

Richard Charon at Newbury Smilemakers: Our Latest Testimonial

What a great way to finish a cold and frosty day. This afternoon I received an e-mail with this lovely testimonial, from one of my patients. Someone I have been looking after for over 20 years.

It is true we all work hard to earn a living but sometimes it is nice to be appreciated too.


“During my recent routine check-up at Richard Charon’s practice, as Richard was doing his meticulous inspection round,  he paused to marvel at his own previous handy work, the bridgework reconstruction of my upper front teeth, which he did for me over 10 years ago.
…..and as he gave me the ‘ALL OK’, the occasion made me think of the impact that the bridge had made on the quality of my life. Remembering the bad old days of the partial dentures I used to have, with all the usual problems of food getting under the plate, and the denture’s annoying track record of breaking just before an important event or occasion, so as if to cause maximum possible embarrassment. The contrast with Richard’s reconstruction of my front teeth has been ‘10 years of trouble free normal life’ with teeth that feel and look as if they were my own natural teeth.”
 
“I first found Richard when he was in practice in Reading at my local and nearest surgery. But when he moved to his own clinic in Newbury, [in 1989] I had no hesitation in making the much longer journey so that I would continue to benefit from his skills and level of care which had made such a major impact on improving my dental health.
 
This experience made me wonder why do people just go to their nearest dentist irrespective of the range of services, skills or quality of care a dental practice may offer, yet most of us happily spend more time researching, travelling for miles and chasing for things a lot less important in life, like when we shop for new sofa!
 
Needless to say, I soon persuaded my wife to switch her dentist and she too is now delighted with the level of care and service she is getting at Richard’s Clinic with real visible improvements of her teeth.”

Many thanks Siamak for your kind words. I like the one about travelling for miles to find the right sofa. I'll have to remember that one.

So if you or someone you would like to benefit as this patient has, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01635 47757 or to find out much more about us, relax and go to visit our website

The Fastest Tooth-Smiths in the West

Yesterday we were surely the fastest tooth-smiths in the West (Berks. that is) since Doc. Holliday
(He was a Wild West Dentist in case you had forgotten) and delivering the ultimate world-class service. Here is the story ...

We had arranged a lunchtime meeting with David Claridge, someone who I had worked with for many years as a dental technician and who now is a rep. for 3M

He had come, prepared with lunch for the team, to educate us all about 3M mini implants, designed to stabilise loose dentures.  We were all gathered around the monitor in the patient lounge.  I was crouched down with David just fixing the screen display and volume. The team were settling down with coffee and just starting to tuck into their M&S lunch, when a man appeared at the reception are door, panting, out of breathe, saying, “ Can anyone please help me, I‘m on a coach trip , my front tooth has just broken off and I only have 20 minutes before the coach leaves.”

David and I looked at each other and simultaneously said,  “ You couldn’t make this up”.
Quick as a flash, the team sprang into action. One dentist and two dental nurses. Within moments the patient was sitting in my dental chair having a medical history taken. Fortunately he was well accustomed to dental treatment. Unfortunately he presented me with a porcelain dental crown, inside of which was the rest of his tooth, which had snapped off level with the gum. 

On one side of the broken tooth was a natural tooth , on the other side of it was a porcelain bridge. A few seconds thought to work out what best to do to get him back on the road.

All the necessary materials were assembled by my two Dental nurses in moments as I snappily called out what was required. In about 10 minutes flat we, painlessly sealed off the broken tooth at gum level, taken digital images for the patient to take to his own dentist, constructed a tooth, by hand, from tooth-coloured filling resin and built this up, bonding it to the adjacent teeth. No time to take any "after" pictures, the patient was out of the chair the moment I said- "Done".

No injections, no pain. Just a temporary tooth and the patient was on his way,  together with pictures and a full  printed description of the treatment, to take to his own dentist, in time to catch the coach waiting outside and of course, having paid his fee. Phew…. Back to the presentation but that’s another story.

Afterwards the team were all buzzed up. They said they felt like they had been in a scene from E.R.
Still I'd prefer not to spend every lunch-hour this way but sometimes, stuff just happens.

By the way If you know anyone with loose denture teeth that would like an elegant and simple solution please let them know we can help.

Please call and speak to Chris on 01635 47757

What a great day

Design - Jennifer Charon - Graphic Designer

What a great day we have had at Newbury Smilemakers today. We have seen several new people wishing to join our dental practice.

Some looking for a nicer smile with Invisalign. Some halfway though getting their new smiles with Invisalign including my wife, Chris.

One having jaw or facial pain looking for help if I can give it. We are trying her with a simple muscle relaxing NTI bite guard. Then we met some lovely new people wanting to join our practice who came to talk things over with us this evening. They found us through Twitter- It is amazing!

We also had a team appraisal meeting, which was very positive and will result in some small but very significant and helpful changes to the way we organize ourselves. I even had the team appraise me too!

Then we returned home to find the decorator has done an outstandingly professional job on our lounge, so he is now 1/3 the way through the house redecoration plan. He also tidied up beautifully after himself. 

Oh did I mention, he is my son and is happy to accept work withing 30 miles of Newbury!

If you are interested, contact me and I'll pass on the details.

If you would like to meet us to talk about your dental care and you are within 50 miles of Newbury, please call us on 01635 47757.

Invitation to find out how you could get an even smile without using wire braces

Invisalign Presentation Evening

You are invited to

A Presentation Evening with

Richard Charon at Newbury Smilemakers

Certified Invisalign Practitoner.

 

Why not call 01635 47757 to find out more

Bring a friend - bring several friends.

Can I lay on an evening for your group or business?

Straight Smiles without "Train Track" braces, Crowns or Veneers

No more gaps, no more crossed teeth, no more buck teeth

on

DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

 

Why not come and meet us for wine & nibbles and  find out about

this revolutionary way to re-align smiles.

From Teens to 60 and any age in between.

Prepare to be amazed!

Learn more about Invisalign

The patented Invisalign® system was introduced to my practice almost 3 years ago and the results are outstanding. Why not come along to find out more. Please bring a friend who may be interested too.

If you have any queries, feel free to get in touch.

Places are limited so please RSVP 

or earlier to help our arrangements and 

set a date to suit you

St.Mary's House

55-6 Cheap Street

Newbury

RG14 5DH

01635 47757

Invisalign Testimonial: No gaps, No wire braces

Well now, the testimonials are coming in a rush, which is fantastic !

We received this Testimonial from Tom 3 days ago.

Not only was Tom delighted with his new smile but it has given a great boost to his self-confidence AND he was very complimentary about the experience he has had with us.

Tom's before and after pictures 

and here is his testimonial

 

I must take this opportunity to praise the whole team at Newbury Smilemakers for their dedicated hard work in winning such praise from so many of our patients. 

Thanks to Chris, Nicky, Rachel and Gosia. Tom's smile makeover was achieved using .......

Invisalign

 

If you'd like to know more we are happy to offer a free initial discussion. Please contact us on 01635 47757 and ask to speak to Chris.

Dental Tourism - a good idea? A salutory tale

The internet is full of offers of cheap dentistry. Is this always a good idea?

In fact it could be a disaster. I was recently asked to see the patient of a colleague referred to me by the dental technician we both use.

The patient's entire upper set of teeth had had to be removed, as they had come to the end of their life.
I did not see him before they were removed.

He did not wish to have a denture plate, which is not so unusual today.  His choice was to have
all of his top teeth replaced with a removable bridge supported on dental implants.

He elected to travel to Spain for a cheap solution. He had 10 implants placed in his upper jaw bone (so far so good) and plastic replacement teeth, on a metal bar, fitted onto these implants. All of this was carried out in a very up-market clinic (he told me) 2 years ago.

Now one of the plastic teeth, near the front, had broken off and he wished to upgrade the plastic teeth for better quality porcelain ones. Fair enough.

He came to see me for what he thought would be an easy quick fix to his problem. "Just unscrew the
bridge and get your technician to make up a porcelain set. You can do it in a couple of days"  he said.

I explained that I could not just unbolt the bridge and fit on a new one- like a pit-stop tyre change without checking the implants were sound first.

I could see that all was not well with the bridge. It was poorly constructed and finished and some of the implant work that I could see was suspect. An initial panoramic 2D x-ray revealed that at the very least 2 of the 10 implants at one end had failed and would need to be removed together with the three end teeth of the bridge.

Given his problem, my immediate advice was to return to Spain as the clinic/ dentist/Oral Surgeon were best placed to do this work for him as they were used to the implant system, which frankly I had never heard of.

His story was that no-one at the clinic spoke English except the head-honcho who could not be contacted as he was travelling the world lecturing.

That being the case I then suggested that he seek the opinion of an implantologist, as I am a general dental practitioner who utilises dental implants but it is not my full-time speciality.

I sent him a detailed written report of my findings and recommendations , in particular that he should have a detailed survey, using a 3D Cat (actually CBCT) Scan, of the entire upper jaw bone and implants, to check all of the implants. I have no interest in this company but their website shows more details about 3D dental CBCT Scans

Well after a delay of about a month, I have finally heard from him. He took my advice. Had the dental scan done and now finds that ALL of his implants have failed and they all need removing, together
(as I had suggested) with a number of his lower remaining teeth, which by the way had been left in a poor state, whilst the upper implant work had been carried out - a no-no in my book.

He now needs extensive reconstructive surgery with bone grafting from his hip bone. As an added complication, as a result of a heart condition, he is in the middle of a one year course of anti-blood clotting medication, so will not be able to have the surgery for at least 6 months.

The cost both emotionally, and in time, energy, effort, surgery as well as hard cash, are enormous.

He thought £2-3000 would give him an new upper set of porcelain teeth as another quick fix.  I dare not guess the cost of the full remedial reconstruction but £20,000- £50,000 could easily be a ball park figure.

To use his words, this had been disastrous.  I do feel desperately sorry for him as a person but with hind-sight it was a poor decision, based on what seemed like a good a idea.  A quick, cheap fix.

The problem with dental tourism is that there is no relationship with the people carrying out the work. You are just another number on a conveyor belt. Moreover IF there are problems, it will mean repeated journeys back to whichever country was chosen to rectify the problem, sometimes just for short visits or paying again, often many times the original fee to rectify a problem here.

Incidentally this is not the first such case I have seen. The previous one I referred to a Professor in London as the poor woman's life had been ruined by inappropriate dental implant surgery in Eastern Europe. He could not suggest a solution other than starting all over again, as with the case I have outlined above

People undertaking dental implant work must ensure full continuity of care. Please check this link to the General Dental Council where you can download a detailed account and check list of issues to consider before going abroad for the cheap option. Caveat Emptor (Let the buyer beware!)

Testimonial from BNI member

I have belonged to the Jack O'Newbury BNI (A business breakfast organisation) Chapter for 3 years.

I have received several testimonials from members in the past which is great.

This morning I received a lovely testimonial, read out to 40-odd local business folk, at this morning's meeting, from a fairly new member of the chapter.

One of my main interests and indeed successes as a dentist, is in assisting anxious or phobic patients, so imagine how delighted we were to receive this from Amanda-Jane Huxford Harley , herself a Hypnotherapist and Clinical Psychotherapist, who's profession is helping phobic and fearful people amongst other things!

Thanks Amanda-Jane

Changing Smiles ~ Changing Lives in Newbury

"Changing Smiles ~ Changing Lives" has been our strap line for about 12 years. We see the results to back this up on a regular basis. Today we received this great testimonial from a lady I have been looking after for over 20 years. She has always had dental problems - including anxiety but finally, when she could put it off no longer, we went forward to a plan we had been thinking about for a very long time.

Today she came into the practice to say thanks with 3 flower arrangements for the team. One each for my two Dental Nurses and one for my wife and Practice Manager/Treatment Coordinator, Chris.  Plus a bottle of bubbly for me and this terrific testimonial. Makes it all worthwhile.

So for a smile to be proud of and a dentist to trust, 

at Newbury Smile Makers, we have it sussed ! 

If you are within 50 miles of Newbury just call us on

01635 47757 for a free discussion of your needs.

If you are further afield, well its a long way 

but some of our patients come from further than 50 miles too!

White filling or work of art?

Hello and thanks for checking my latest blog post.

The idea of "white fillings" isn't new any more. Most people know about them.

I prefer to say "tooth-coloured" fillings, as we aim to achieve a very close match to whatever is the natural tooth colour of that particular tooth.  One-size does not fit all. At Newbury Smilemakers we go the extra mile to select a matching shade and blend different shades of the materials we use to achieve a natural result.

Why not find out how we transformed this ugly, cracked, silver filling into a natural looking tooth?
 
Just click , Its all here !

In this case I completed the transformation in one visit. Sometimes it might be advisable to have a ceramic inlay (which is like a jig-saw puzzle piece) or even a crown made, which does take longer, if the tooth needs it but that's another topic!

If you would love to be able to transform your silver/mercury fillings into beautiful, natural looking teeth and you are within 50 miles of Newbury, please call us on 01635 47757 and speak to Chris Charon our treatment coordinator.

Richard Charon

PS why not subscribe to my blog?

The end of a terrific week.

The end of a terrific week.  We completed two big smile makeovers today.

Both have taken our team over a year to complete.

One lady gave me a cuddle and a kiss, she was so chuffed.  Another was an implant bridge case which will greatly increase the quality of life for a man in his fifties.

Then there was a phobic patient we turned around. "You have healed a broken part of my personality" he said with a very warm and long handshake.

Testimonials and pictures to follow soon.

Cosmetic Dentistry- A Newbury SmileMaker Result

A gappy smile fixed without drilling

I'd like to share this case with you. I have the patient's permission to do so. We transformed this smile just a few days ago.

The problem

This young lady, a 16 year old, came to see me with her mother, as she was very unhappy with her gappy smile.

 

The issues 

Not only were her front teeth spaced but they were individually small and somewhat splayed too. Any type of orthodontic treatment could close the spaces and line up her front teeth but that would open up quite wide gaps further around the corner.

The solution

Although porcelain veneers could be used to cosmetically close the gap, I felt she was really too young yet for these and that as she matures, the gum line will go a little higher so the join would show and then they would need replacing after just a few years.

I decided to make "Gradia"TM resin veneers, which are easily repairable, should the need arise and which are designed to last about 10 years or so.  At that time a more permanent solution could be offered using Porcelain veneers. These would have a life expectancy of about 15 years. so these two stages would take her to her early 40s. At that stage she could have new veneers or perhaps crowns which should take her into her 60s.

The material is similar to the composite resin dentists use for "white" fillings.

How we did it

First Treatment Visit

Following the first consultation and a written treatment plan we saw her (and Mum)

for a first treatment visit. 

From an initial impression, my dental technician made a preview set of simple plastic veneers that she could come along and just clip on, to see what the effect would look like and be sure she wanted to go ahead. We were able to trim these to a pleasing length for her. 

Second Treatment Visit

A second appointment was booked to give her time to discuss everything at home.

We made a final set of accurate dental impressions and the information from the first treatment visit was sent back to Precision Dental Studio in Thatcham. ( They have produced some of the "10 years younger TV dental work) .
They made 4 "Gradia"TM resin veneers which they returned to me to fit

Third Treatment visit
Without any injections or drilling , the four "Gradia"TM resin veneers were bonded on to the front natural teeth and here is the result...... 

  Just a reminder .....


Before and after

What a life-transforming and confidence boosting result !

We offer a free initial discussion, so if you or someone you know would love to have a transfomed smile and would like the chance to discuss it over a cup of coffee (or indeed tea) please contact Chris Charon our treatment coordinator on 01635 47757

A Great New Testimonial

Today at the Jack O'Newbury chapter of BNI , I received a wonderful testimonial from one of the member's partners. We have not yet completed his treatment but this is what he had to say.

Do you or someone you know have a dental or smile problem that you worry about?

We love to be able to help you.

Call us in Newbury on 01635 47757 and ask for a free discussion about your dental issues.

Click on this image to read it more easily.

Just about all you need to know about us and our services are here

Newbury Smile Makers Yesterday I successfully treated an 18 year old referred to me by another local practitioner as a "needle-phobic" using RA (“Happy Air”) and The Wand

for "restoration of an upper molar tooth" and the removal of a retained baby tooth.
We interviewed her in the patient lounge area last week to begin gaining her trust.

She then attended for an "RA trial", to assess her suitability and allow her to experience the technique and the feelings it produces.

Yesterday, she was completely relaxed and accepting of the entire procedure without batting an eyelid. The tooth had a large cavity and we needed to start root canal work for her. She was unaware of any of this, though we had told her this might be needed before we started.

The extraction was very simple for her.

Her mother, who was present throughout, was amazed.

Here is a nice testimonial I received from another parent about her daughter’s care helped along with “RA” happy air

I also teach this technique to other dentists. I am The RA Coach !

If you feel that you or someone you know would benefit from this approach come contact us at Newbury Smilemakers on 01635 4775 and speak to Chris Charon.

Invisalign - Straight teeth with no wires- a very happy patient

Yesterday we completed treatment for young man in his 20s. He had always been very conscious and unhappy about his gappy smile and misaligned teeth. Well after about 9 months, his treatment with Invisalign is now  completed and he tells us he is delighted with the result.

Before

After

Yes , this really is the same person !

If you or someone you know would love a great smile but without train-track wire braces, call us now on 01635 47757 and speak to Chris who will arrange a no obligation, free, initial discussion, over a coffee without even sitting in the dentist's chair worth £50.00.

More details on the Invisalign web site

Tooth grinding or clenching - a harmful habit.

Tooth grinding - a harmful habit.

Are you (or your partner) fed up with clenching or grinding your teeth?
Are you worried it might be harmful?
Please read on ...
Tooth grinding and clenching is common and can cause many problems:

Did you know that these are just some of the problems that can be caused

• Migraine
• Chronic headaches
• Morning headaches or face pain
• Aching muscles in the jaw, neck and even shoulders

These symptoms may be part of TMD. (Tempero-mandibular dysfunction)

Bruxism- is the medical term we use for grinding the teeth.
Can bruxing cause other problems?

Well, yes. Quite a few.

• Corners of fillings or teeth which keep chipping of breaking off.
• Loosening of teeth, usually if there are gum problems too.
• Wearing down of teeth. Sometimes evenly, often in an uneven way.
• Jaw joint (TMJ) problems including.

             Aching joints, tender joints
             Clicking, popping of locking jaw joints
             "Lock-jaw"

Front teeth wearing down? A domino effect.

Did you know that, front tooth wear is also usually due to the back teeth not fitting together properly when your jaw is relaxed.

When back teeth don’t line up, this often leads to a habit of pushing the jaw forwards to rest or even rub the front teeth together and so prevent clashing or tripping contacts of uneven back teeth.

In turn this leads to front teeth wearing down and then the teeth lose their shape and beauty and actually wear out, which is often unsightly too. Its a domino effect.

It is so common that you or someone you know may well be suffering in silence with it.  In fact, tooth grinding can be so noisy that perhaps your partner is suffering too and not in silence either !

Big jaw muscles

Muscle over development (Masseteric hypertrophy- for the technically minded)

Some people clench the teeth together rather than grind them side to side. There are several reasons why this may happen.  This clenching habit, gives the jaw muscles a real “work-out”.  Apart from causing muscle fatigue and soreness, over-use this is like “pumping iron” and can sometimes cause very obvious cheek muscle development. So much so that the shape of the face actually changes . Some of my patients actually thought they were just getting “fatter” faces.

Jaw clenching and life stress

Do you think David Coulthard clenches his teeth? It looks like it from the shape of his face.
Perhaps its not surprising in his case!
Is he alone in leading a stressful life? I don't think so.  So stress can lead to  a "gnashing of teeth" too.

In fact this jaw or tooth clenching action can really cause a disfigurement, which cannot easily be reversed. In time, if the cause of the clenching is addressed or the mini splint used over a long period of of time, the jaw muscles may reduce in size of their own accord, like any other muscle which is not over-exercised. Some people even resort to Botox to artificially cut off the muscle tone in the face muscles.

More useful information

and more here too.

One solution (or part of it- at least)

This can be a complex problem but over 10 years we have found that one simple approach to diagnosis and sometimes treatment is the complicated sounding NTI-tss “mini splint”.

This approach is "conservative" and "reversible."

Try this simple test yourself now .........

What is the NTI-tss mini splint and how are they made?

If you think you have one or more of these problems and are within an hour or so of Newbury and you would like a free initial discussion worth £50, just call Chris Charon our Treatment coordinator for a chat over coffee soon on 01635 47757

Sensitive teeth & some solutions to being long in the tooth!

Are you "long in the tooth?" 
Do you show too much tooth when you smile? 
Do you have

• Sensitive teeth? 
• Receded gums?
• One long tooth which looks unsightly?
• Sensitive, exposed tooth roots?

Here is some helpful advice for you

• Don’t brush with a sideways scrubbing action
• Change to an electric tooth brush e.g Braun/Oral B or perhaps Sonicaire

There is a wide range to suit all preferences. Our Dental Therapist, Laura or Hygienist , Nicky can help you decide.

• Reduce sensitivity by using one of several de-sensitizing toothpastes such as Sensodyne or the new Colgate Pro-Relief. 

The innovative Tooth Mousse may also help reduce sensitivity.

Dietary issues
Try to  reduce your acidic food and drink:
The obvious ones if you have these often are...
Citrus fruit, esp lemons/lemon juice,grapefruit juice.vinegar and yogurt, some fruit or green teas

Less obvious ones
“Sharp” tomatoes and fizzy drinks (including sugar free ones) Even fizzy water is a little acidic.
When taken hot, the acid effect on teeth is speeded up- beware hot Ribena for example.

All of these have foods and drinks have worthwhile health benefits but IF your teeth are very sensitive then its best to stop eating drinking these things, for a while at least. When you do have an acidic drink or food, then follow up with some plain water but DO NOT brush your teeth as this can assist in causing more rapid enamel thinning.

Using a fluoride mouthwash can toughen the enamel against the acid attack as well as reducing tooth decay.

All of these ideas are very important for your dental health and comfort BUT none of them can re-cover the exposed tooth with new gum - but guess what? We may be able to do this for you, in the right situations.

21st century solution to receded gums

In the right situation we can, using proven “micro-plastic gum surgery”, cover over the exposed/ long tooth or teeth, greatly improving your smile and making the tooth or teeth look more youthful, as well as reducing or eliminating sensitivity more permanently.
This site gives a useful overview of the situation, without being too scary!

This site is from a US dental practice which presents the issues nicely.
Some of the exact details may vary with us as we choose the technique to suit not only each person but each tooth or group of teeth.

I hope you have found this useful

Please call us now on 01635 47757 for a free initial consultation or e-mail chris@newburydentist.co.uk to arrange a discussion to see if we can help you.

What our New Dental Therapist means for you

Introducing Laura Woosey - Dental Therapist (B.Sc. Hons.)

We are delighted to announce that Laura Woosey will join us at Newbury Smilemakers in July 2010 , on a part-time basis, as a valuable member of our patient care team. Because of this we thought we would explain what a Dental Therapist does and why it is important that you see her at our practice.

What does a Therapist do?
As with all Dental Therapists, Laura will work under the dentist’s written prescription.
This means that your personal, tailored treatment plan will be developed, after consultation with the dentist. Once we have decided together what that plan might be, we offer you any options or choices in a written and costed treatment plan. Here we look at how best to utilize our team for your benefit and in the most cost effective way, to ensure that you receive an excellent standard of care, based on your needs and preferences.

At the other end of the scale, Dental Therapists have detailed and intensive training in providing, for example simple filling work, all forms of preventive dentistry and all aspects of non-surgical gum treatment and prevention of gum disease. The sort of thing that many people need to keep their teeth in good order. She will be able to tailor a program to your needs.

Laura says this about being a Dental Therapist “By assisting the dentist in providing this level of treatment, the dentist’s time is freed to focus on the more complex, demanding and time consuming treatments that may require hours of planning.”

So what treatments do Dental Therapists carry out?

After your examination and initial consultation, Richard might refer you to the Dental Therapist or Dental Hygienist for one or more of the following:

•  Panoramic digital x-ray imaging
• Initial study model impressions and measurements to help assess your bite or plan your treatment.
• These impressions can also be used to make soft vinyl tooth whitening trays, if that is part of the plan.
• Photographs to assist the technician and as a record , if smile design, is being considered. Laura would then explain why the method we have chosen is appropriate for you and of course how it all works and how to use the gel and trays, how to care for them and many other aspects of tooth whitening and answer all of your questions.
• Either our Hygienist (Nicky) or our Laura our Dental Therapist may undertake dental cleaning, a tailored home care plan, non-surgical treatment of gum disease, dietary advice and fissure sealing for prevention.
• Some teeth that I have identified may be checked with the Diagnodent laser tooth decay detector and the results recorded by one of our dental nurses. This means that only teeth that definitely need filling will receive them.
• If a tooth has early enamel softening but not an actual cavity, then this may be treated by the Therapist, using a resin seal, after skimming off any stained enamel to prevent a full blown filling being needed.
• If there are fillings that are chipped , or new cavities , then then I may refer that part of the treatment to the Laura to be completed before going on to any more complex treatment such as crowns, bridges, veneers, root fillings, or dental implants.
• ·Once any complex work is completed by me, more photographs may be taken, by whichever of the team is available on the day and further follow up or maintenance visits may be advised with either the Laura or Nicky, perhaps to monitor progress of gum health improvement.

Why is it important to have a Dental Therapist at the practice?

This way of providing comprehensive care for you, we believe makes the best use of our team for your benefit and indeed will have the overall effect of keeping dental costs down for you. So you get the best treatment, from the best person at the best price… sounds like a perfect choice!

More about Laura

Laura qualified as a Dental Therapist, after studying at the Portsmouth School of Dental Therapy for 3 years and passing her BSc degree with Honours in Dental Therapy. The examination is a detailed and intensive test of her knowledge and capabilities. She is registered with the General Dental Council who regulate all Dental Care Professionals.

So a Laura’s training has lead to her being able to provide general dental care. It is equivalent to about half of a full dental degree. So everything a dentist learns for day to day patient care, except the more advanced treatment such as orthodontics, crowns and bridges, root canal treatment or oral surgery.

Laura’s interests include

Yacht and dinghy sailing.
Surfing and wake-boarding.
Various outdoor and physical activities.
Travelling.

We look forward to introducing Laura Woosey to you when the time comes.

Richard Charon at Newbury Smile Makers

This could just save your life or that of someone close to you.

At this mornings weekly business breakfast meeting f the Jack O'Newbury chapter of BNI, I chose to devote my 60 seconds "sales pitch" to a serious subject. Mouth Cancer. The reason why I chose to do this today was that each week ,we normally tell a brief story of the previous week's matters of  business interest.

My story today was as  follows:

Yesterday I saw a 57 years old male patient for a review. I last saw him for some routine dental care in September 2009. At that time he came for a visit and mentioned that he had had an odd sensation when swallowing, as if something was irritating the back of his tongue of throat. He had seen his doctor but it was felt nothing to be too concrned about. However he was still perturbed. I made it very clear that he must return to his doctor for a more detailed examination and to take matters further.

He did just that. It transpired that what he had was a malignant cancer of his tonsils on one side- quite unusual but apparently more cases are being seen in recent times. He was a non-drinker and a non-smoker.

The result for him over last Christmas and New Year was 30 sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and an extensive operation of his neck and face area. He has pulled through to date and we wish him well, naturally. As he also knows, time will tell.

CANCER can occur in any part of the mouth, tongue, lips, throat, salivary glands, pharynx, larynx, sinus, and other sites located in the head and neck area.


These "Mouth Cancers" have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma.

Much more vital information can be found at the Mouth Cancer Awarness Foundation
 
If you have any concerns about anything unusual in the mouth, throat, neck, sinuses, palate or gums PLEASE don't delay, visit your dentist. They are all highly trained in knowing what to look for, if anything is out of the ordianry and will arrange a rapid referral if there is any doubt.
 
We do change smiles and change lives and just occasionally may even have a hand in saving lives too.
 
 
 

What made me smile today

From time to time I look back at some of my older blog posts. This one made me smile. Its great to be reminded of how we do walk the walk of our "Changing Smiles ~ Changing Lives" strap line.

Here are just some of the many testimonials we have received over the years.
Can we help you acheive the smile you want based on a foundation of good dental health?

Free initial discussion

If you'd like to discuss your requirements, call and book an appointment with Chris Charon our Practice Treatnent Coordinator. She has a wealth of knowledge, experience and understanding of every aspect of  dental care. You'll find her very understanding.

Please call us on 01635 47757 or e-mail

Richard Charon at Newbury Smilemakers - where we are "Dedicated to Fear-Free Dentistry"

"Painless Potter"

At my regular Friday BNI meeting held at Newbury and Crookham Gold Club in Newbury   yesterday, I told a short story of what happened when one of my patients, who is due to start her Invisalign treatment in July, when came to visit us, the day before.

Unusually she did need to have a upper wisdom tooth removed to allow the proper movement of her upper row of teeth. This will be able to make a huge difference to he uneven smile.

Today I recieved a great e-mail of thanks from her. She said

" Just to say thanks to you, Richard and the whole team for yesterday, I was amazed how quickly the tooth came out and it was completely pain free, I was nervous which I am not normally, but that soon went...... Very excited about the next steps, can't wait for July."

If you are interested to find out how Invisalign might be able to "fix your wonky smile"
please call us at Newbury Smilemakers on 01635 47757 to book a free discussion.

I am a member of the Jack O'Newbury chapter of BNI.

Jab-Free Dentistry

Painless dentistry & no more dental syringes - really!

In 2004, well ahead of the game, we at Newbury Smilemakers introduced "The Wand" which has been very well received by our patients. "The Wand" is a revolutionary way to acheive painless dentistry without the use of a traditional syringe from the USA. It really is magic!


We believe in bringing the benefits enjoyed by people in leading edge dental practices the world over to our patients in Newbury.  So If I could show you a way to painless dentistry, without a syringe, would you be interested?


This new technology, called The 'Wand'(tm), has been heralded as the first major advance in painless dentistry since the anaesthetic syringe was invented by Cook in 1920!!.

The 'Wand'(tm) ,is a state of the art system which uses a very slow and gentle computer-controlled technique that minimises the anaesthetic dosage needed. This means that it can be used to numb just the area needed, not the surrounding face, so no more feeling as though part of your face has disappeared, sometimes for several hours after treatment. Such a plus if you have meetings to attend or people to speak to after your dental visit.

The Wand, as well as using a completely revoloutionary technique, complies with our stringent cross infection control standards. A new sterile delivery unit is used for each patient. These are then disposed of carefully and incinerated by a licensed clinical waste collection service.
When we first introduced the system, we thought we would use it for youngsters and especially nervous people. It is so good that we now use it routinely and all of our regulars who need fillings or minor surgery have tried it. All of them think it is a huge improvment on the old syringes.

If you wish to try The Wand for your next filling

 please let us know.

Call us at Newbury Smilemakers

on 01635 47757

or e-mail

Laser tooth scanner prevents drilling. Diagnodent

Every dentist , every day is faced with a tricky decison. Is that a hole I see before me?  Shall I use the "pokey thing" ? Is that a new hole in that tooth? Is it just a bit of staining from food and drink such as tea, coffee, red wine or curry? Can I leave well alone or should I be thinking about some MID or "Minimally Invasive Dentistry". Prevention or a stitch in time? If I leave this will there be a bigger hole in a year or two?

Well here at Newbury Smilemakers we don't use "pokey things" . For the last 5 years we have used a reliable laser tooth-decay detector. The Diagnodent. Painless, simple and quick, normally used by our dental hygienist, the tiny tip of the laser scanner is passed over the biting surface natural fissures to double-check.
It stops me from using the dreaded drill if the tooth can be safely left alone.

• Low score         4-10 the tooth can be left alone or perhaps sealed against decay .
• Medium score 10-15 then the stained can be skimmed away from the surface of the enamel and then the areas sealed against decay.
• High score        15-99 - The tooth has a cavity which needs filling. Usually the higher the score the deeper the hole !
  

Does your dentist you a "pokey thing"? Do you hate them? Well we don't and we get it right every time with Diagnodent.

Please don't keep us a secret. Let your friends know!

From Zero to Hero(ine)- A dental phobic's odyssey.

Here is a terrific testimonial from one of the two people mentioned in my last blog post. Here is what she had to say in her own words after her visit to us at Newbury Smilemakers.... I have added some links where I felt you might like to know more.

"I just want to say a really BIG Thank you to Richard and yourself as I think I am now cured of my dentist phobia !!!

Testimonial -
Happy Gas Rules is all I can say !!! I have gone from being a total Dentist Phobic to being able to sit in the chair and have a tooth out totally PAINLESSLY in 5 sessions !!!

At the age of 34 I had only been to one private dentist once since primary school as was just so scared, and a total nervous wreck when it came to going.  I couldn't even sit in the chair and would start hyperventilating and boo my eyes out but now at the age of 37 I am a total convert and am actually looking forward to my next session.

This is all because I found Richard and Chris via a website search regarding Nervous patients, up they popped and I gave them a call. The first session I couldn't even sit in the chair but they were fine with this and made me feel totally at ease. We then arranged another session where no work was done just a total check up / photos and xrays. My third appointment was to have a trial of the Happy Gas, boy is this good stuff. You are totally conscious and coherent throughout but it just totally relaxes you and although you are aware of what is going on you're just not really that bothered and time flies by so quickly.

My 4th session was because although I had all this done I then left it a year and a half as I didn't have any pain so did not see the point in going, called them with chronic toothache. I have now had my fifth visit and
because I had left it so long I have had to have the tooth out, I could kick myself as it is my own fault. If I had kept going it would have just been a filling. On this 5th session I had a filling and a tooth out and can
honestly say I did not feel a thing and although I was in there nearly an hour it only felt like 5 minutes and all totally painless to boot.

If you are a total Dentist phobic, very nervous, anxious and cry like a baby just like me then please go and see them as they will totally sort you out and actually make your dental experiences an enjoyable one !!

Please feel free to manipulate this text as you feel necessary as not sure if all of it will fit on your website.

Very Best wishes to you both and your assistants

Suzy :)

One VERY HAPPY PATIENT !!! "

Suzy Lovitt
Accounts Assistant
Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd

"R.A." changes people's perception of dentistry

The power of "R.A." to change people's perception of dentistry

I'd love to share two recent stories from Newburysmilemaker's patients whose future dental care has indeed been transformed by the "Happy Air" sedation service we have used for very many years.
Story 1
We were contacted by the mother of a 10 year old who needed to have two good baby teeth removed to help relieve his crowded row of teeth.
His own dentist had tried to do the necessary but the whole session ended in tears and upset and had to be abandoned.
His Mum found as after a Google search for dentists experienced in helping anxious people and was happy t travel 25 miles to see us. On his first visit we just sat and chatted with the young chap and his Mum in the patient lounge area to hear their story and explain how we could help offering a "test drive"of the "Happy Air" next time.
On the second visit we carried out the planned dry run, letting our 10 yr old sit in the dental chair, with his mouth shut tight and breathing the happy air for a few minutes to experience the nice feeling of relaxation, warmth and cosiness it provides and starting to regain his confidence. He then left having had a positive experience.  He returned about a week or so later, full of confidence to have the two baby teeth popped out using the happy air. He was completely relaxed and the whole session passed off completely uneventfully. I expect to be receiving a nice testimonial soon. I'm so pleased that we were able to prevent this chap from becoming a dental phobic.
Story 2
Last Friday we saw a lady who we saw for the first time several weeks earlier with severe toothache and with a great fear of dentistry. Through floods of tears and trepidation, we did manage to treat the toothache using Happy Air Sedation. However her tooth was cracked in a way that was unsalvageable.
She came back to see us, having come to realised that what she had feared was nowhere near a bad as she had feared. We did a filling and removed the tooth that had to go, without the slightest sign of fear or tears.
She left with a beaming smile She was just so pleased with herself. Returning to the patient lounge, her partner was totally incredulous that she was relaxed and smiling. Another terrific result !
If I can help you or someone you know, to experience fear free dentistry please contact us.
At present this method is probably available in no more than 15% of dental practices in the UK and Ireland and the courses I run is helping to increase its availability for anxious dental patients,

Please call 01635 47757 and speak to Chris for freindly and helpful advice

My Favorite Dental Veneer

Today I saw a great patient for a consultation. I just had to take a photo of my favorite porcelain veneer.

Sad I know but it really is a chameleon.  Can you guess which tooth it is?  Can you guess how old it is?

Well it is 14 years old. It was made by master dental technician

Carlo Nepute  (sadly no longer working as a technician)

&

This is the one

Did you guess right ?

Invisible mending !

Dental Acid Erosion & Youtube Video

Dental Acid Erosion

You are what you eat and your teeth are too!

Dental Acid Erosion is a major problem today. Healthier diets mean cutting down on fats, carbs and salt and so on leaving us with higher fibre diet with healthier food and drink. Right? Well maybe.

Many of these healthy nice things[ pics of grapefruit, oranges, yoghurt] are on the acid side. Some are very acidic. Just like eating or drinking too much sugary food and drink, too often, will lead to tooth decay, acidic diets lead to tooth erosion. Here the tooth enamel simply dissolves away, changing the shape of the teeth often in a particular way.

So what are acid foods?

Well in general these are obvious- Anything sour is very acidic: Lemons, grapefruit and all citrus fruit and their juices. Also vinegar, pickles and colas are all acidic too.

Now some of these foods, eaten sometimes, are fine and some are important for their Vitamin C and fibre content, but excessive amounts taken frequently are where the problems begins.

Did you know other things are also quite acid:

• Yoghurt
• All fizzy drinks
• Even fizzy water is slightly acidic.

So what harm does acid erosion cause?

Well to start with only very slight changes in the teeth occur. Often so slight that only a trained eye can spot it. The teeth start to get very smooth and more rounded. They start to lose their proper shape, The pointy bits (cusps) get blunted.

Eventually more obvious signs happen. Back teeth get flatter or jagged on top and also on their sides

Front teeth get thinner either from the front 

or the back or both

and eventually the teeth get shorter too!

 

In the picture above the two left hand front teeth have beeen rebuilt to their original length. The two right hand front teeth show how acid erosion has shortened them.

 

On back teeth, little hollows start to appear in the tops and at the sides too.

These may stain or may stay the normal colour. Once the enamel cover has disappeared, it can never grow back and once it is gone, the sensitive dentine underneath is exposed, so anything cold to eat or drink causes sensitive or painful teeth. The little hollows get deep and wider until the remaining thin enamel starts chipping off. In turn this alters the bite level and eventually the whole facial profile.

So what can be done about it?
Prevention is better than cure.

1. Don’t overdo the frequency of acidic foods and drink.
2. Use a fluoride mouthwash and toothpaste to harden the enamel against dissolving
3. Don’t brush immediately after an acid tooth bath- instead just have a swish of plain water as soon as possible to dilute the acid. 
4. Other products such as Tooth Mousse®, replace lost calcium but needs to be used almost before any sign are seen.

BUT If the erosion is advanced then this will often require extensive and expensive dentistry to reconstruct the worn teeth so please keep your acid diet under control. Here is an example of how we can treat Acid Erosion:



If you can't see the video here, please watch on YouTube.

This may involve crowns, veneers or ceramic onlays to cover and protect the damaged enamel and also to return the beauty and harmony of the smile as well as improve comfort and chewing ability.

 What else can cause acid erosion?

Well if its not food or drink, then the only other place for acid to come from is the stomach. Some people have acid gastric reflux, heartburn or hiatus hernias. These all cause acidity in the mouth and the usual pattern is for the back surfaces of teeth to be affected.

Also all dentists are seeing cases of Bulimia (nervosa). So self-induced vomiting can have a catastrophic affect on teeth depending on how long it goes on for.

Other medical condition, including pregnancy can cause repeated vomiting which can have the same effect, though this is often only for a few weeks and months, not for years.

If you think you , or someone you know might be suffering from acid erosion of the teeth then contact your dentist or call us on 01635 47757