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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'

Absolute Beginnings

Two months have passed since I started my Trainee Dental Nurses position with Absolute Dental. Within this short time I have learnt so much, from Health & Safety, through to nursing skills.

All of the team have already helped me progress so far and they couldn’t be more willing to help me succeed. I attend the Absolute Dental Training course run by Diane Cox here at Absolute with the other students on Wednesday evenings. I have consistent support from my tutor, Diane and the rest of the team. I feel very lucky to have such hands on training support, which leads me to say I am delighted to have found this professional and friendly practice.

Vickie

Great South Run Success

On Sunday October 25th a team from Absolute Dental took part in the Great South Run in Portsmouth. This popular event saw record numbers of 21,000 participants race the 10 mile route around this historic port on a gloriously sunny day.

We had all trained well, but awoke with a certain amount of apprehension on Sunday morning - after a restless nights sleep. We travelled to the race start and were overwhelmed by the sheer number of runners taking part - it was like a rainbow to see all of the brightly coloured running vests representing the many hundreds of national and local charities that these remarkable people were running in support of.

Our chosen charity was Cancer Research UK.The race itself was completed by the elite athletes in a times of 46 minutes for the men, and 52 minutes for the ladies - times that we fully appreciate now as remarkable! Rhod completed the course in 1 hour and 34 mins - this meant he was placed 5,773rd out of the field of 21,000; and the girls team of Emma, Rachel and myself crossed the finish line together, in 2 hours 10 mins & 30 secs - putting us in 13,014th place!!The city was at a standstill as most of the main roads around the city were closed of for the duration of the race - but the streets were lined with supporters for the whole 10 miles!

The atmosphere was incredible, with the crowds cheering you on and encouraging you the whole way around. Towards the end, with approximately 1.5 miles to go, just when our bodies were beginning to weaken, we turned to run along Portsmouth seafront, the wind was whipping at us from the Solent, but the end was in sight! As a team we chattered, sung and encouraged each other around the course - and crossed the finish line to hear Tina Turner on the sound system singing "Simply The Best" - and, do you know what - at that moment (and for a long while afterwards!!) we really thought that we were!!

We challenged our minds and our bodies and accomplished something amazing. We raised over £1000 for Cancer Research UK - a charity that means a great deal to each of us. I hope that our efforts will make a difference in the lives of someone who needs it.

I would like to thank my running team for making a difference in my life on Sunday - without you I might not have made it, but it is true what they say - 'together we are stronger' and at Absolute we are... Simply The Best!

Di

Absolutely fantastic news

We have just had notification that we have been short listed in the regional finals of the prestigious Dentistry Awards 2009.

http://http://www.dentistry.co.uk/awards2009/

As finalists in the categories of South West ‘Best Team’ and ‘Best Practice’ we are all delighted to be recognised in such prestigious awards and are looking forward to the award ceremony in December
Ruth Page commented ‘what fantastic news – even to be short listed is an accolade in the face of stiff competition from other great dental practices’
Now in its third successful year, these national awards, staged by award-winning Dentistry magazine – aim to recognise outstanding individuals, teams and practices in the dental world who are top of their profession.
The competition was of a high standard and Absolute Dental battled against a whole host of other practices in the region to reach the shortlist. Leading Dentists, hygienists and practice managers form the judging panel and will be looking to decide on the regional winner then the overall UK Best!

Absolutes Smiles – Out & About

On Sunday October 18th a team from Absolute Dental attended a wedding fayre held at Holne Park House in Ashburton.

Among our fellow exhibitors were florists, photographers, cake makers, beauticians and chocolate fountains – everyone you would expect to find at such an event.

We appreciate you might not expect to find a dental practice at a wedding fayre – and this is often confirmed by the raised eyebrows that greet our stand when people arrive!
A wedding can often be a very expensive event, with lots of time and effort going into the preparations to make everything absolutely perfect for that special day. Once the day has passed all you have are your memories – and the photographs. We ask one question on our stand – “Can you smile confidently in your wedding photo’s?” The question is aimed at all members of the wedding party and asks them to consider if they would like their smiles to simply be whiter, brighter or straighter or if they have a more ambitious smile makeover in mind. If you consider that in addition to this we can also improve facial aesthetics with either Botox, Juvederm or skin peels – we really are able to offer a package that could improve confidence and help you to cherish the memories of that special day forever!

World Smile Day

It was World Smile Day last Friday 2nd October, and I happened to be sorting through my clinical photographs. This reminded me how much fun and how rewarding it is to change people's outlook on life by enhancing their smile. This can be achieved simply by whitening or may require a full makeover. Often the biggest transformation is when we can replace a missing tooth (or teeth) with implants. Implants are small titanium screws that replace a lost tooth's root, enabling new 'teeth' to be built. The loss of a tooth can be a very traumatic and emotional experience and the ability to replace it, almost like for like, with a permanent solution has a dramatic positive effect on these patients instantly restoring their confidence and self esteem.

One chapter ends another one begins

We said a sad farewell to Fliss last week, Fliss had been with Absolute Dental for 6 years. Although we have lost a valued member of the team, we see it as a triumph, as she has blossomed from being a young trainee dental nurse through to a confident Practice Manager with great ambition and determination. We all wish her luck and success in her new position.

On the other hand we welcome Vickie Adams to the team, Vickie has joined us as a trainee dental nurse, and is already fully in the swing of things and fitting in like one of the family. She is attending the Absolute Dental nurse training course lead by Diane and lots of support from all the practice team.
Vickie is a lovely, smiley girl with lots of enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge – a great attribute for a dental nurse and for a perfect team player at Absolute Dental.

Smilestrips

As Seen on GMTV and Hello magazine.

Absolute Dental is one of an elite few practices that have been licensed to sell, Smilestrips™ .

Quick and easy to use, Smilestrips™ are worn daily for just 30 minutes for up to 14 days to deliver affordable professional whitening.

Other benefits include:

Value – a 14 day course costs only £45
Comfortable – Smilestrips™ are thin and flexible and mould to your teeth so can be worn on the go
Fool proof – Each strip contains the exact amount of whitening gel you need already in place. No more fiddling with syringes!
Safe – Whitening gel contains 6% Hydrogen Peroxide; no damage to healthy natural teeth

Smilestrips™ is a whitening system that gives great results. Because Smilestrips™ contain 6% Hydrogen Peroxide,the highest legal amount, you’ll initially need a consultation at your dentist to make sure they are safe for you to use and a prescription. But after that you can repeat your prescription time and time again, ensuring that your teeth always look pearly white for the fraction of the cost of regular tooth whitening.”

Smilestrips™ are available at Absolute Dental.

For trials, samples and case studies please visit www.smilestrips.co.uk. To book a consultation at Absolute Dental please call 01548 852165

Smilestrips ™ - Professional No Fuss Tooth Whitening

Smilestrips ™ - Professional No Fuss Tooth Whitening

I've recently been on a continual professional development course on Dental Sterilisation techniques within the dental practice.

As I am sure you are very aware our practice has the very best equipment and the highest standards of cleanliness, disinfection and sterilisation techniques available, coupled with the very best knowledge applied to using all this equipment.

As a practice and as I was always taught 'cleanliness is next to godliness' and how very true that is.

We always do the 'Absolute' best with regard to all our patients health, care and comfort when they come to the practice - it is how I would wish it to be if I were a patient.

I thought you would like to know after listening and learning at this course, we are very definitely at the forefront of all the most modern and up to date sterilisation programmes.

Sarah Edwards - Hygienist

Pamper Day

Absolute Dental held a ‘Pamper Day’ last week for our privilege members. After their treatment with the hygienist patients were invited to relax in our comfortable patient lounge, enjoying a drink from our extensive hot and cold menu, whilst being pampered with either a Hand Massage or a Manicure.

Our patients were delighted and commented on how it made them feel very special, for one patient it happened to be her birthday that day, she commented ‘what a lovely way it was to start my special day’
This is just one of the many special offer benefits of becoming a privilege member of the practice.

Forever Bright

Aloe Vera ToothPaste

We have been selling the ever popular Forever Bright aloe toothpaste for many years. It has consistently been popular with some of our long standing patients as it believed to aid healing of various periodontal conditions and promotes healing.

It was therefore most interesting to see a feature in the July issue of dentistry magazine referring to the effectiveness of the Aloe vera gel, this time in relation to preventing decay.
According to the May/June issue of General Dentistry Aloe vera gel is intended to perform the same function as toothpaste, eliminating pathogenic oral microflora in the mouth.
The study compared the germ fighting ability of an aloe vera tooth with two commercially popular toothpastes and revealed that the aloe vera tooth gel was just as effective, and in some cases more effective, than the commercial brands at controlling cavity causing organisms.
So the bathroom cabinet favourite may once again grow in popularity, although buyers must ensure that the tooth gel contains the proper form of Aloe vera, which has been located from the centre of the Aloe vera plant.

If you are interested in purchasing the Forever Bright Aloe toothpaste product, do contact us on 01548 852165

Dental Nurses Evening Course Starting Soon!!

It is a very exciting time here at Absolute Dental Training; the first intake of student dental nurses are due to start their evening classes in preparing for sitting their National Certificate Examination in May 2010.

I have already met several of my students, and I'm pleased to say that we have a really varied mix of personalities and experience in this first group, so I am really looking forward to working with them all.

I pride myself on my abilities as a dental nurse, and look forward to passing my experience in both dental nursing and customer care onto my student nurses. I don't just want to train dental nurses who can mix filling materials - I want trainees who have been through our training course for dental nurses to be confident, knowledgeable and more importantly I want them to know how important their role is within the dental team, empowering them and encouraging a real sense of job satisfaction within them - happy dental nurses are what every dentist and patient wants to see!

Diane

Your Hygienist Might Just Save Your Life!

The majority of people see the hygienist as a person to clean their teeth or give them a "scrape & polish". So with this sort of profile, what is the point of sending patients to see these "glorified" toothbrushers?

Those of us who have supported the role of the hygienist have long been explaining the benefits of fighting gum disease, thus preventing premature tooth loss, fresher breath and a better smile; but it now seems we have also been, albeit inadvertently, increasing our patients chances of a healthier life.

Over the last few years plenty of evidence has been emerging linking the health of our gums to our overall health. For example, pregnant ladies with uncontrolled gum disease are 7-8 times more likely to have premature births. But it doesn't stop there; toxins released by gum cells due to inflammation from gum disease have been proven to enter our blood stream and potentially cause inflammatory changes to parts of our body.

Diabetics with gum disease find it harder to control their blood sugar levels, elimination of this inflammation directly improves diabetic control, reducing the progression of the disease.

Moreover, bacteria can attach to platelets in our blood causing them to clump together and possibly lodge inside blood vessels potentially reducing blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Thus people with long standing gum disease have been shown to be more susceptible to life threatening heart attacks and strokes.

At Absolute Dental we have always screened our patients to identify patients with gum (periodontal) disease to enable us to provide appropriate treatment. Whilst it is even more critical to address gum disease in these patients, we also need to promote the benefit of simple conservative therapies performed by our hygienists to prevent gum disease in the first place, thus reducing the likelihood of ever suffering from these life changing events

Best Kept Secret In Town

Summer is here and our thoughts turn to outdoor living and enjoying the fine weather.At Absolute Dental, we don’t want your trip to the dentist or hygienist to mean you have to miss out on enjoying the fine weather, so I’m going to let you in on one of the best kept secret in town! Did you know that we have a peaceful courtyard, with table, chairs and parasol for you to relax in and enjoy when you visit us? From this tranquil little corner of Kingsbridge, you can sit and read the newspaper, or browse one of our many and varied up to date magazines – all whilst sipping a hot or cold drink of your choice from our extensive drinks menu! If the heat outside is too unbearable (it might happen!), then come inside and enjoy free internet access whilst you sip your freshly made coffee. We want your experience of visiting Absolute Dental to be memorable for more than just the exceptional treatment you receive here – so when the sunshine appears, you can be assured that a warm welcome and cool drink awaits you at Absolute Dental.

“Botox in Trial to Cure Depression”

This was a headline in the Sunday Times on 2nd August, and is based on what the scientists leading the research in Switzerland and Germany are calling “facial feedback hypothesis” theory. This theory is based on our emotions having corresponding facial expressions – and vice versa. For example, if faced with a social event that we find daunting, if we force ourselves to smile, we might actually relax and enjoy the occasion. Therefore, by inhibiting facial expressions such as worry lines, could we actual help to relieve the emotions causing us to feel worried or depressed? Certainly early research carried out on 10 patients already suffering from depression found that after 2 months 9 of the 10 were no longer depressed and the 10th showed improvement in their mood.
At Absolute Dental, we offer Botox as a treatment for patients who are unhappy due to the appearance of their facial lines – but to think that we could soon be offering Botox to patients as a method of improving their well being as well as their self esteem is truly amazing – watch this space! Please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our “absolute facial” page on the website for more information and to see what others have said about their Botox experiences.

Have you remembered your oral health?

I was reading an interesting article today in the British Dental Journal linking yet another important health issue in this case memory, to oral health.

Previous research has associated oral health with various health problems including dementia, however no study has yet made clear how the state of teeth and mouth affect mental function.

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a grant of $1.3 million to a team in America led by Dr Bei Wu, a gerontologist and Dr Richard Crout, an expert on gum disease. This team will test oral health and memory in 273 people aged 70. The new funding will establish larger studies looking for links between oral health function over time, while scientists will also seek to establish a link between cognitive function and better oral hygiene through intervention to improve oral health.

I wonder if this will assist us all in raising the public awareness of the importance in a visit to us and as importantly our hygiene team?

Training is a two way process

I spent last week runing a bespoke training course for a practice manager new to the role. A few days after her departure I received the following testamonial from her

I had been a practice manager for nearly a year and found myself struggling with the business side of running the practice and also needed a little help with some staffing problems. Emma John at Absolute Dental was recommended to me, through a work colleague, as she has an excellent team and amazing practice down in Devon.

Before my trip to Devon, Emma emailed and called me to find out exactly what I was struggling with and set our week based on things I needed help with, which was great as some courses go over things that may not be relevant.

On arriving at Absolute Dental I had a lovely greeting from all the team, smiles all around, and a lovely relaxed atmosphere.

Emma had planned out each day so I could gain as much as I could from my time with her. Not only did Emma explain how to implement things within my practice she even gave me copies of letters, spreadsheets, information leaflets etc to help me work from when I got back to my practice.

Emma's knowledge and personality is very inspiring and she has helped me out greatly with introducing me to ideas and systems that will benefit my practice.
Not only did I learn a lot from Emma but the whole of her team, Felicity and Diane assisted with some elements of my training, both girls again are an asset to Absolute Dental and I’m sure have an excellent career ahead of them.

I would like to thank everyone within Absolute Dental for an amazing eye opening week.

The best course I have been on without a doubt.

Cheryl Burnall, Dental Health Care, Hertford, Herts

What Cheryl will not know is that we "trainers" also learn and benefit from the time we spend with some very unique individuals working within the dental profession

Cheryl has bundles of enthusiasm and worked around the clock with the tasks I set her, I hope she will be able to maintain this enthusiasm when she meets with inevitable hurdles along the way.

I believe in order to both teach and learn you have to listen and be empathetic, how else can you assist each other through a situation,task or scenario. Cheryl was a great listener and was keen to absorb all I could offer.

Cheryl reminded me of myself many years ago, frequently wanting to run before I could walk but having a very clear idea of where I was going. Reflecting on yourself can sometimes be very rewarding, looking back how far you have come.

It also reminded me not to forget about the people that support you along the way whether it be family, team members, advisors, coaches. I am lucky to have the best in all of the afore mentioned list

Emma

Dealing with Dental Injury to Children

One in five children will have some accident involving the teeth. Toddlers tumble as they learn to walk; older children cycle, run, skateboard, trampoline and dive into swimming pools. - and they play contact sports– football, hockey and rugby. Boys are twice as likely as girls to have an accident, and the most common age group for accidents is 6 to 12 years old. Children with front teeth that stick out are at greater risk of injury. Should your child be unfortunate to have an accident involving the teeth, take them to the dentist straight away.
The dentist will examine your child and treat as necessary. An x-ray is sometimes required.
A small break to a milk tooth or permanent tooth can be simply smoothed down. If necessary a tooth coloured filling can be matched to repair a bigger break.
A tooth, which has been pushed into the gum may be left untreated as it usually comes down again by itself.
A tooth knocked out of position can be repositioned by the dentist. A permanent tooth might need
some support for a period of time until stable. A nerve exposed by injury must be treated straight away. The nerve may be removed and the tooth restored appropriately.

Remember If your child has an accident involving a tooth, whether a milk tooth or permanent see a dentist AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

If a PERMANENT TOOTH is knocked out, do not panic but act quickly. Follow these steps:
FIND THE TOOTH Hold the tooth by the crown (the visible part in the mouth) NOT the root
DO NOT scrub the tooth or place in disinfectant
IF THE TOOTH IS CLEAN Hold by the crown. Gently push it into the socket making sure it is the right
way round. This is usually painless if done immediately after the accident
IF THE TOOTH IS DIRTY Rinse gently in milk or cold water before pushing gently back into place
HOLD THE TOOTH IN PLACE Ask the child to bite gently on a handkerchief
GO TO THE DENTIST IMMEDIATELY FOR ADVICE
Do NOT attempt to replace a baby tooth

IF YOU CANNOT PUT THE TOOTH BACK IN
PLACE IN A CUP OF MILK When milk is not available place the tooth in the mouth between the
cheeks and gums
DO NOT let the tooth become dry
DO NOT place the tooth in disinfectant
GO TO THE DENTIST IMMEDIATELY – or to hospital casualty department and ask to be seen by the
dentist on duty
Your Dentist has many skills to help restore teeth that may be injured

On the lookout

I find myself frequently working under cover as I travel around the UK, looking for new examples of great customer service, I can share with the dental teams I work with.
I am constantly on the look out because it reminds me what I am trying to achieve, and reminds me of the ideal I am trying to help teams create.
Recently I found myself living out of a hotel bag for just over a week and over that period I travelled a great deal of miles and was really struggling........... Struggling to find any sort of experience to share with the team I was about to work with in London. I kept looking and felt a little bit like Indiana Jones on a crusade by the end of day two. Nothing was remarkable and there was nothing to remark upon. Lots of people doing enough and sufficient, but nothing more

Then suddenly it happened, there I was standing on Petersfield railway platform along with several hundred other people (I stupidly booked the busiest train that happened to be going to Wimbledon on the day that Andy Murray was in the quarter finals). I was a part of a huge number of tennis fans wanting to board the next train. A coffee was required then I would be prepared to join the challenge of finding a space and if I was lucky a seat!

On the platform there was a chap selling coffee from a portable stall, I now know this to be Java Java coffee stand. This stand was nothing to look at, nothing flashy and I only know its name because it was on my cup. All the customers were referring to the chap on the stall as Rooey, and Rooey had a moment with each of his customers, every one of them felt special for that one moment, he had a smile and a chat for each of them. He wasn't just making coffee.
Then it was my turn, I ordered and the coffee was made. I clearly had the look of a woman who had dragged several bags of luggage from a hotel some 1/2 mile away and was about to do battle with the entire audience off Centre Court. Rooey had a few words with me, we discussed lack of understanding as to the appeal of tennis. Rooey then told me to wait nearby so he could help me onto the train when it came into the station. I was completely blown away and will remember him and the way he made me feel for a very long time. His story will travel with me.

The flip side of this story was my breakfast experience at the Holiday Inn, London. A very smart 4* hotel. I arrived at breakfast and at the dining room door was a large sign saying" Please wait here you will be seated by the next smile". What a great sign I thought, really clever, I was looking forward to meeting my smile, I had been away from home for a few days, a bit lonely, missing my family, probably like many of the other sad business soles frequenting this type of hotel. My smile did not arrive... they completely over promised and under delivered. Perhaps no one had got discussed this customer service promise with the people supposedly delivering "the smile". This experience will also stay with me.

Are you under delivering and over promising, or are you doing a Rooey?

Emma

Absolute Nurses

These "Gems" are a very important part of the Absolute Team- usually very over looked- they are vital to the smooth running and functioning of our Dental Practice.

Our Dental Nurses, Denise, Hatty, Rachel, Di and Fliss are a huge asset to our practice, they have studied and trained for at least 2 years full time and now qualified are required to keep all their skills and knowledge learnt up-to-date through a programme of Continual Professional Development.

Our Nurses act as a go between to the Dentists, Hygienists and the patients offering a kind and supportive role to all patients whether nervous or not. They are discreet and caring and of course the are the "captains" of the treatment room making sure that everything is in its place, scrupulous clean and hygienically kept with regards to all instrument and materials and last but not least assisting the Clinician, while caring for patients.

Other duties including answering the telephone, dealing with paperwork, collecting and taking payment, stock control and being the face of the practice.

Our dental nurses are a vital part of the Absolute Team because the practice would not function without them- so I say again- very rare "Gems"

Sarah

Absolute Success!

I passed!

After 6 months of hard work and study, I got my results through saying I had passed the National Certificate for Dental Nurses.

Having sat a 2hour written exam paper which included Multiple choice, short answer questions, Diagrams, Charting & 3 Essays,Then talked for 13 minutes (much harder then you think, when 3 strangers are staring at you and making lots of notes!) mixed a cement that I have never seen before and a spotter test where I had to identify 20 instruments in 4 minutes and all in just one day!

It is an understatement to say I am relieved to not have to go through it all again, but I will miss my sessions of Nerve Supply Bingo with Di!

Now I am able to register with the General Dental Council and become a fully fledged Registered Dental Nurse! Being more confident, able and up to date with knowledge, it will not only benefit myself, but the Dentists I work with, other staff members at the practice and our patients.

The exam is designed to asses my depth of knowledge and understanding- I have proved that I have both!

I'm looking forward to the next challenge!

Hatty

With news of Hatty passing her National Certificate in Dental Nursing hot off the press this morning, I feel in high spirits – a fitting end to a fortnight of challenges (and hopefully triumphs!) for me.

On June 23rd, I accompanied Emma to an event organised by College Street Dental in Petersfield, where she had been invited as the guest speaker for an evening event. The assembled group represented all areas of the dental team and we were asked to speak to them on the importance of the patient journey.

Whilst Emma concentrated on one of her many areas of expertise – the front desk team – I spoke from the dental nurses point of view, describing for the group my perception of what both good and bad dental nursing look like, and how the dental nurse plays a vital role within the dental team, and what attributes a dental nurse in a modern, forward thinking dental practise needs to demonstrate.

My emphasis was for the dental nurses to consider their actions from the patients’ perspective, emphasising continuity from the front desk team and helping to raise the profile of the dental nurse in the patient’s mind. Knowing that we were presenting to a group that consisted of dentists, hygienists, nurses practice managers and sales representatives was very daunting for me – to say the least!!!

Emma has a background of speaking nationally to large groups of professionals – whereas I don’t – yet!! But the group were very receptive – even if it was 6.30pm on one of the hottest days of the year so far!! More to the point – I really enjoyed it! I enjoyed being able to offer some practical advice that I hope enabled those present to improve the way in which they work to the benefit of the patient, and also to enable them to get more satisfaction from their role.
Hot on the heels of the Petersfield presentation, we were back in Devon and presenting to the Plymouth DCP group on Saturday morning to a dedicated (and they must be dedicated – devoting a Saturday morning to CPD!!) group of mainly dental nurses. The presentation had been tailored to suit our briefing for the group and was titled “Dental Care Professionals – Why First Impressions Really Do Count”.

Again, Emma looked at this from a front desk/practice managers point of view, and I emphasised the dental nurses role. Still daunted by this large group, but encouraged by the sight of a few familiar faces in the audience, I began to relax and enjoy this presentation a little bit more. This time I had the knowledge of one success under my belt and I knew I needed to build on it, and the feedback received suggests we did just that.

I read in a magazine this week an excellent quote from a sports psychologist at Cardiff Metropolitan University; at first I only thought of applying it to my training for the 10k, but then I realised that it applies to so many other things in my life at the moment:

“If you’re feeling lethargic, weak or sick before a big event, challenge yourself to quit – this strategy transforms anxiety into anger. Imagine how you’d feel having thrown away all that training and this chance to prove yourself, and you’ll savour the challenge ahead” Sheldon Hanton

So, my final thought for this blog is to do something each day that scares you – the rewards can be amazing!

As with so many things in life Dentistry is a Team Game!

At Absolute Dental we have sought the best dental technicians to be on our side.

They are highly skilled, trained and talented artists who help create beautiful natural smiles for our patients.

Working closely with my fantastic technicians gives me the confidence to know that together we can achieve a beautiful predictable result for our patients.

By involving Sue @ Oral Concept & Julian and Co @ Kingsbridge Dental Lab- from the beginning, we can plan each stage and interpret our patients wishes to become a reality.

No job is too big or small!

Whether it is building a bridge to fill a gap or fitting a beautiful natural ceramic crown- some veneer to make you smile or designing a lovely RPD which is a modern design of denture to fill in lots of spaces.

Increasingly at Absolute Dental Implants are a first consideration too...........

The technician will sometimes join us at Absolute to meet the patient and imagine the smile........

Recording with photos

Matching colour and shapes

Or our patients can visit the laboratory where they are invariably surprised by what they see- the art, science and technology that combines to produce the final result- which become part of them!

The technical side of dentistry and development of materials progress rapidly............

There is always a new choice to be made.

But never to the detriment of the personal side of things.

Communication and understand is vital for everyone at every stage.

I always feel happier and more confident to know my trusted Absolute technician is sharing the experience.

"Like so many other patients, my first visit to the practice was a very nervouse one. I'd read other testimonials prior to my inital appointment and thought "all those people can't be wrong!"

I neednt have worried- Ruth and the rest of the team have a great "bedside manner" and i felt quite cossetted and safe.

My first major treatment was a maryland bridge; The result of which was a prefet match. The second treatment was the fitting of a porcelian crown- again the procedure whilst not easy was completely pain free. The end result for me was being able to smile with confidence- in fact, I think I probably smile too much now!"

Sandra- Taunton

Ruth

Accountability

This week has seen a huge turnaround for Rhod and I in our focus, drive, ambition and direction for Absolute Dental and its people.

Why? Because we once more became clients of Chris Barrow

http://www.coachbarrow.com

Chris has already once again made us accountable, measured our performance and encouraged us to reconsider the vision. It so often becomes blurry whilst we are all so busy doing "stuff". Who do you have that will encourage you to look at the big picture, question your failures and put positivity back to the fore front of your mind?

I spend a huge amount of my time and energy focusing on other peoples practices and the people that are working in them and am truly proud of the achievements they then make. However I must not forget myself and the Absolute team, they play far too big a part of my life to brush over. So team be ready for the next Absolute adventure, I am getting fired up...

On a Course!

When I say "I'm of on a course" it doesn't necessarily mean I'm off studying for the ever important Continuous Postgraduate Development (CPD), it's more likely I'm trying to lower my handicap on the local Golf course!

My other passion though is sailing. When I set course around the beautiful South Devon coastline, it gives me ample opportunity- apart from spotting dolphins and basking sharks- to catch up on my CPD.

Many hours of continuous study are needed to ensure that I keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in Dentistry to continue to be able to provide the high standard of Dental Care we pride ourselves on at Absolute Dental. We invest hugely in training specific to the needs of our team and the ever developing business.

I find cruising along on a calm day the best environment to do this.

Watch this space for summer sailing photos.........................Steve

Toothbrush Amnesty Update

National Smile Month's 'Toothbrush Amnesty' has been a great success. It has highlighted a problem with patients using a toothbrush that is far too big and with bristles so worn and flattened, this is despite our constant reinforcement to patient at Hygienist and examination appointments of the need to be using the correct size tools for effective cleaning.

The amnesty has given us the opportunity to reinforce this message again.

We have decided as a result to routinely ask patients to bring their toothbrushes along with them to their appointments, especially with the Hygienist and Oral Heath Educator, allowing us to check the size and quality of the bristles.

It was surprising to see the extent of the wear of the bristles on many of the brushes, and to think that the patients were still using it!

Approximately 90% of the brushes handed in were typical of the ones found in supermarkets and chemists, our patients commented that these were the only sizes available unless they made a special trip to the practice.

Our Toothbrush Amnesty made the local News- Denise was pictured in action spreading the word to ensure that all our patients use the correct size toothbrush.

Expect the unexpected

When my good friend Chris Barrow alerted me ( in his usual early morning email) to the existence of Absolute Dental in Co Carlow, Ireland I was naturally curious but totally unprepared for what I was about to discover- for, as it turned out, they had been equally curious about us.

Clearly liking what they saw, they have made minor adjustments to our logo and brand and used it for themselves without even mentioning our wonderful designer Sandra Tate.














Astonished? Yes
Angry? Yes
Over it? Getting there

It is hard to believe that there are those in our industry who would so blatantly take from others.

Chris has since aired the subject in his recent Confidence Club ezine dated 26th May 2009 and his wise words have helped a great deal.

The whole incident has reminded me to expect the unexpected, just when you think everything is perfect something comes from out of the blue and the more surrounded you are by great people the easier it is to deal with.

I hope the practice in Ireland do come to find their own identity and do the honourable thing however I will simply have the adopt a philosophical attitude in the meantime, and remind myself that imitation is the best flattery

Emma

Absolute Kisses

A simple gesture that can express love and reverence- or insult and betrayal. A kiss, is never just a kiss!

I am Nicola part of the Hygiene and preventive team who work at Absolute Dental. I am here to ensure that there is more kissing in the world and to make sure your mouths are happy and healthy and ready to pucker up.

When you kiss you could be receiving bacteria from your partner!? How I hear you ask?

Your mouth is a busy place. The human mouth is awash with bacteria. There are more than one hundred species of bacteria and hundreds of species of fungi and viruses resident in our mouths. In addition microbiologists estimate that there up to 500 other living, breathing organisms inhabiting our mouths still to be identified and named.

Harmful bacteria are contained in a colourless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not removed, plaque builds up on teeth and ultimately irritates the gums and causes bleeding. Over time the plaque becomes calculus. Left unchecked, bone and connective tissue are destroyed (this is called gum disease) and teeth often become loose and may have to be removed.

The good news is that in most people the gum disease is preventable. So if you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums. I am here to assist you to do this. Attention to everyday oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), coupled with professional hygiene visits twice a year, could be all that's needed to prevent gum disease and actually reverse the early stages, helping you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

As it is National Smile Month 2009 this month and there is scientific evidence that there are links between oral health, heart disease, strokes, diabetes and premature and low birth weight babies, what better time to come and see us for an appointment.

We look forward to seeing you, Keep Kissing!