What's on the horizon for 2010

An exciting year ahead...

January - Welcomes Bill Beare, specialist in Implantology, Periodontology and Advanced Restorative Dentistry to our expanding Award Winning team.

Also sees the launch of our Treatment Coordinator service. All new patients to the practice will routinely have an appointment with one of our treatment coordinators to discuss any concerns, and possible treatment options prior to their initial consultation with their appointed/chosen dentist.

April -sees 3 successful years of Absolute Dental, which, we will be celebrating with an open evening, watch this space for more details.

October - A team of 7 'The Absolute Stars' will be doing the 'Marine Commando Challenge' involving an obstacle course, a lot of water, mud, and a 4K fun run. To raise sponsorship for Devon Air Ambulance.

Merry Christmas
The Team at Absolute Dental Have sent you an e-card


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ABSOLUTE DOUBLE SUCCESS

The team from Absolute Dental in Kingsbridge returned triumphant from the 2009 Dentistry Awards held last Friday 4th December with not one but two much coveted winning trophies. The team were recognised as the very best within the South West and Wales as having the best practice and best dental team.
The glamorous ceremony was held at the Athena, Leicester and was attended by dental teams from across the whole of the United Kingdom and is the largest gathering for any dental awards event. The evening has been created to recognise outstanding dental teams and practices that excel and lead the way within the dental profession across the whole of the United Kingdom.
"The judging panel is made up of twelve of the UK's most influential dental professionals and they then merit our practice against their criteria to distinguish a winner" said Rhodri John, Absolute Dentals clinical director. "We are understandably delighted with such an outstanding result".
"I think that everyone at Absolute knows we have a very special “Team” and that our “Practice” is something to be very proud of, and so to receive an award that recognises that we have the best of both of these in the entirety of such a large region (comprising of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Wales) is a great honour, and I am really privileged to be part of a practice that can consistently maintain award winning standards over many years", said Diane Cox, dental nurseOur team is focused on one common purpose – delivering high quality dentistry together with first class customer service. Because all team members share this common vision, our actions are supportive of each other and therefore one action enhances another.

Inspire, create and make them happen...

On Monday of this week we held our Annual Practice Meeting at the Thurlestone Hotel, a chance to reflect on the year, and make plans for the year ahead...Inspire, create and make them happen.

To make everyone feel a real part of Absolute Dental, we are all actively encouraged to have an input into the general day to day running of the practice. Prior to the meeting all the team were asked to make suggestions as to how objectives for 2010 may be achieved, all suggestions are welcomed, and are used as sounding boards at the meeting.

We kicked off the day with local photographer Claire Tregaskis, updating our team photo's for our website and practice literature. Claire's creative approach had us out on the lawns leaping in the air on this cold but beautiful day, the weather was definitely on our side! we all had great fun and are looking forward to seeing the results.

To ease us in gently this was followed by a bingo based quiz - to test our knowledge on all things dentistry and relevant to our practice.

The team had all been asked in advance to prepare an elevator speech to deliver at the meeting, a chance for everyone to be proud of who they are and what they can offer. Here is an example from our newest member of the team, Vickie..

'As the newest recruit at Absolute Dental, I am currently training to become a qualified & registered Dental Nurse. On a daily basis I carry out a variety of tasks, from ensuring equipment is ready for clinicians, sterilisation, stock maintenance, cleanliness, through to excellent patient care. Alongside all of these tasks, all clinicians & nurses within Absolute have a role to educate patients how to look after their teeth and mouths for their well being and health. I can see that Absolute has always offered amazing dentistry with many years of experience which inspires me to become part of the team'

After a couple of hours brainstorming, a light hearted, blind, 'banned words' word search puzzle created by Rhod highlighting unfavourable words NOT to be used in the practice... waiting room, receptionists, painful etc etc. There was a prize of a bottle of wine to whoever could find the most words, so you can imagine how competitive it got! This nicely lead us onto a lovely and very welcome lunch.

Amongst all the clinical, financial and general topics covered it was decided that next years fundraising event is to complete the Royal Marine Commando Challenge which involves running 4K and getting soaking wet, covered from head to toe in brownie/orangie coloured mud - and all in the name of charity! we must be mad!

The afternoon ended after many hours of throwing ideas around, leaving everyone, inspired and enthusiastic to put in place all the new proposals. Here's to a very successful and productive 2010.

Great South Run Fundraising Update

The Absolute running team raised over £1000 for Cancer Research UK - a charity that means a great deal to each of us. Hopefully their efforts will make a difference in the lives of someone who needs it. We would like to express great thanks and appreciation for all those who supported us and this very worthy cause. Sore feet and knees aside, Rachel was so overwhelmed by the experience she is looking forward to a similar challenge next year... Well done guys, from the rest of the Absolute team who supported you from our armchairs!

Make an 'Absolute' Difference

As a hygienist I take on a new patient as a challenge, especially someone who has never seen a dental hygienist before. Someone who, until seeing a dentist doesn't have any idea they have gum disease and how, if left untreated could lead to ongoing problems throughout life and could lead to the loss of otherwise healthy teeth.

I have recently seen a new patient who thought they had brushed well and had a good routine of looking after their teeth - not so...

Poor oral hygiene, bad breath, teeth looking dull with a coating of plaque and bleeding gums. But the most wonderful thing of all is that with guidance and treatment from Sarah one of our hygienists this young patient now has a better understanding and is now able to implement a thorough oral health routine on a daily basis to make a real difference.

A follow up appointment after two weeks with Denise our Oral Health Educator ensures these patients are able to use all the products effectively, help with any difficulties and to answer any questions they may have.

A difference that the patient has noticed... mouth feels fresher, gums are no longer bleeding and has since been into the practice and thanked the team for making a difference.

With a well established daily oral health routine, using all the essential equipment, hygienist appointments as prescribed by the hygienist and dentist will help maintain good foundations for the teeth and help keep them for life.

Interested in holding back the tide?

Absolute Dental is able to offer a programme of anti-ageing facial treatments, to rejuvenate your facial appearance. Our treatments enhance the natural beauty of your skin by eliminating fine lines and wrinkles and restoring younger, healthier more vital looking skin. During the month of November we are offering £50 off any Facial Aesthetic treatment.

Juvéderm® ULTRA is a new generation of dermal fillers from ALLERGAN, a world leader in surgical and non-surgical aesthetic products. It’s a natural, biodegradable gel that flows easily into your skin, instantly filling out those troublesome lines leaving a smooth and natural look and feel. So, you’ll notice an immediate difference after just one treatment.

CosMedix Peels and Products. These are revolutionary skin enhancement therapies using Nobel Prize winning CosMedix peels and products. These treatments do not cause unsightly peeling or discomfort associated with chemical peels, and their results are immediate.
Unlike acid peels, CosMedix peel treatments change the skin from the inside out - without skin trauma - and give instant improvement in skin health and appearance. After only one treatment skin feels smoother because these products 'communicate' with your skin, telling it how to repair itself. CosMedix therapies offer patients the opportunity to have their skin's health and vitality restored with specific rejuvenation processes that address all common skin problems such as hypersensitivity, sun damage, acne, rosacea, lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation/melasma, dry or oily skin and enlarged pores.

Wrinkle Relaxing Injections. Deep wrinkles such as crows feet and frown lines are caused by overactive muscle movement which gradually wear away the collagen in the skin, causing the skin to sink and wrinkles to appear. The Treatment Botulinium toxin, is used to reduce muscle contraction by injecting it directly into the wrinkle. It temporarily relaxes the muscles thus softening existing lines. The result is a more youthful look. This treatment has been used to treat over 1 million patients worldwide for more than 11 years.

...'I have received so many compliments on my complexion since the face peel and my continued use of CosMedix products. I just had to write and tell you that I cannot praise the procedure and the products highly enough. It has certainly been gain without pain! My skin is better than it has been for years'