My first few weeks at Absolute Dental

I have really enjoyed my first few weeks at Absolute Dental. The team have been so supportive and welcoming, it has been great getting to know them as they are all such amazing people. 

I have learnt so much already and I love that there is never a day that I don't find out something new and interesting. 

Watching treatments take place has been brilliant, I especially enjoy seeing the progress of our Six Month Smile patients as the change to the appearance of their teeth is just incredible! 

But by far the greatest thing about Absolute is how much everyone truly cares about the patients that come through the door. Watching patients leave after their treatment so happy and often more confident is very rewarding. I would recommend Absolute to everyone! 

Pippa

Diary of my Six Month Smile treatment at Absolute Dental - Week 1

Week 1

"Cover your mouth when you cough, and never when you smile" - this is the small motto I shall be living by for the next 6 months during my Six Month Smile treatment at Absolute Dental.

I had my brace fitted three days ago now, and despite initially feeling as though my teeth did not fit in my mouth, I am incredibly grateful to find out that the horror stories about arduous and agonising pain when one has a brace fitted are not true!

These smart alloy braces are just that little bit 'kinder' to our pearly whites, making the whole process of getting that Hollywood smile a tad more harmonious.

I can't wait to see what my dentist, Dr John has up his sleeve for my new smile, and I am optimistic that the end result will counterfeit the humiliation of the numerous lisping jokes I have been exposed to over the past 36 hours.......

IJ

My First Few Weeks at Absolute Dental

My first few weeks at Absolute Dental have been amazing. Not only have I made some great new friends but they have really made me feel part of the team and I have learnt so much already.

I have especially enjoyed watching dental implant placements and seeing the smile on patients faces once their treatment is complete.

I personally have had some bad experiences in the past with dental treatments at other practices and although I wasn't nervous about nursing for other people's treatments, when it came to my turn to sit in the chair and have treatment I did become nervous, but I can honestly say Dr John made me feel so at ease.

I had to have an anaesthetic injection and where these have been painful in the past....I didn't feel a thing! Magic!

I would recommend Absolute Dental to all my friends and family, not only because I work there but because the whole team makes everyone feel so welcome and like you are the only person that matters.

Gemma.

Absolute Dental goes to Cambodia!

In February I will be travelling to Cambodia with the charity Dentaid as part of a dental team to provide much-needed dental care and education.

 

I am really looking forward to my trip, but I am aware that it will be like nothing I have experienced before. I will only meet my fellow volunteers just before we leave for Cambodia, and during my time there I will be living with a local family and experiencing life as they do.

 

The dental clinics we will be working in will be so very different to the facilities I am lucky enough to have at Absolute Dental, but this is one of the reasons I am going! Although the facilities will be very different, I hope that the knowledge and expertise we take over there, will really make a difference to the communities we will be working in. If we can make a lasting difference to just one family whilst there, I will feel my trip will have been worthwhile. Stories from previous volunteers fill me with pride in my profession as a dental nurse, and I can't wait to be part of such a potentially life changing mission - for all involved!

 

As Dentaid is a charity, we as volunteers have to fund ourselves regarding travel costs and admin fees, and therefore I have been very busy thinking of ways in which I can raise these vital funds.

 

I have a sponsor form in the practice, and our patients have been very generous so far, and for this I am very grateful, but there is still a long way to go.

To help raise funds for this mission I will be hosting a pub quiz night on Monday 21st December at the Creeks End in Kingsbridge, (huge thanks to Terry and his team for letting me take over the pub!)this quiz will start at 7.30pm, teams of up to 4 people, £5 entry per team. Please come along for a fun evening with some lovely prizes (again, HUGE thanks to Terry for these too!)! 

In addition I will also be holding a sponsored coastal walk in January (winter storms permitting!); we plan to walk from Salcombe around to Bantham and hope that we can get sponsorship before we go, and maybe even along the way! The date for this is yet to be confirmed.

And finally Absolute dental will be holding a bake sale on Friday 23rd October - come in and enjoy a slice of homemade cake and a cup of coffee - all proceeds will be going towards Dentaid.

 

Carys

Beware of student lifestyle risks to dental health!

Students who binge drink are more likely to forget to brush their teeth before going to bed, a survey has found.

The study published in The Journey of Periodontal Research looked at the gum health of over 800 students and found those drinking large quantities of alcohol were more likely  to miss brushing their teeth, resulting in a higher incidence of gum disease.

The study suggested that students often feel the affects of excessive alcohol on their general health (especially the morning after!), but overlook the harmful effects it can have on their dental health. As the new university year starts, and there are many cheap alcohol deals on for students, excessive drinking can be a frequent occurrence. But forgetting to brush your teeth before falling into bed after a night out can lead to some serious problems for their teeth.

One of the main threats to dental health from excessive drinking is the amount of sugar in alcohol. It can also cause dehydration, leading to a dry mouth meaning less saliva to buffer the sugar from the teeth.

So, advice for students, or loved ones at university to ensure they can concentrate on their studies and not in the dentists chair:

1. Avoid high sugar mixers - or choose a low calorie alternative
2. Use a straw to minimise the amount of time the drink is in contact with the teeth - offering protection from decay and acid erosion
3. Brush teeth at least an hour after your last drink to allow enamel to re-mineralise and prevent brushing away loosened particles
   

Making A Good First Impression: Start With A Smile

When I began university in September, I felt fairly comfortable that it would not be long before I met some great new people and formed fantastic new friendships, because having moved schools a few more times than most, I am quite used to introducing myself to new people, and feel relaxed meeting individuals for the first time; these situations are never normally uncomfortable for me.

 

However, during my first few weeks here, it became apparent to me that not everybody is lucky enough to have the confidence I have when introducing myself and forging friendships. Often it seems when we are put into a new situation that requires us to meet new people, or talk to somebody we do not know, we find ourselves feeling uncomfortable and unable to convey our thoughts and feelings in a way that our counterpart will understand, simply because it is difficult forming a relationship so instantaneously.

 

Personally, I believe that the only logical place to start, is with a smile. A smile is a universal symbol of happiness, warmth, and invitation. A smile, much like exercise, triggers the release of endorphins, which in turn, makes you feel happier, conveying the positive impression of happiness to you peers - everyone wants to be around happy positive people.

 

Smiling also brings many health benefits, such as reducing anxiety, which really aids you if you become nervous when meeting new people. Trust me, smiling will make you feel a little more at ease in a stressful situation. Furthermore, smiling has been scientifically proven to lower your blood pressure - and who doesn’t want that? Lastly, smiling is contagious. It’s true what they say, ‘Smile and the whole world smiles with you’; your smile makes others smile too, as mirror neurons in your brain subconsciously urge you to reciprocate the expression when somebody else smiles, and just like that, you have a room full of bright, happy, engaging individuals.

I know that every smile I cracked as I introduced myself helped give a positive and balanced first impression of myself, and that the friends I have made so far felt the benefit of that. Smiling will help you in any new situation, be it going for an interview, starting a new job, or any of your daily interactions with other human beings. Try it next time you interact with a sales assistant who seems a little moody, or a bus driver who’s on the night shift. You never know, you might just transform somebody’s day.

Paige John