Dental Implant Treatment at Absolute Dental - from a patient perspective.

My name is Melanie, I am one of the dental nursing team here at Absolute Dental.

Last month, I had an dental implant placed in my lower jaw to replace a molar tooth which had to be extracted as it was unfortunately beyond repair and was causing some discomfort.

An implant is essentially an artificial tooth root which is placed in the jaw bone and onto which a crown will eventually be fitted.

This was a great opportunity to organise a training session for the whole Absolute nursing team.

I know that the idea of having an implant can be daunting so I thought I would share my experience from a patient point of view.

Before having the treatment, I was given a dose of antibiotics; this is a precautionary measure as the implant placement is a surgical procedure.

Our clinical director Rhodri John then administered some local anaesthetic, ensuring that I would be completely comfortable and remain pain free throughout the procedure, all I could feel thereafter was a little pressure and some vibration.

The procedure is not very long and feels very much like having a filling.

Once the implant was placed, Dr John placed 3 stitches in my gum, they are not necessary for every patient and are removed usually one week after the implant has been placed.

During the procedure, Dr Beare our restorativespecialist and Diane our dental nurse trainer were talking our nurses through the techniques and equipment used, whilst I was lying in our very comfortable chair!

I was then given all necessary post operative instructions by Dr John and some Corsodyl mouthwash which we advise our patients to use for a while after the procedure to aid healing and help the area to stay as clean as possible.

I know that the thought of post operative pain may put some people off the idea of having an implant; but I can honestly say that any discomfort was mild, and short-lived. Once the anaesthetic wore off, I could feel a little pressure and the area was tender to the touch or two to three days but it certainly did not stop me from doing anything that I normally would as a busy mum and full time dental nurse!

A week after the procedure, the stitches were removed; this is also completely painless.

The next stage of the procedure will take place in around 3 months after the area has healed fully.

 

To be continued.....watch this space!

 

Mel

Excellent Six Month Smiles case at Absolute Dental

Here are some amazing pictures of a recently completed Six Month Smiles case here at Absolute Dental, carried out by Clinical Director of Absolute, Rhod John.

Natalie is 31, and had orthodontic treatment as a child, but once her teeth had been straightened, the retention was not permanent and her teeth lapsed again, giving her a smile that she said made her feel like "a vampire".

After her initial complimentary consultation with Rhod where we took photos and study models and discussed the treatment, Natalie decided to proceed with the Six Month Smile treatment, and after just six months, the results are fantastic!

The patient is thrilled with the results and couldn't wait to go out and show off her newly straightened smile.

As a thank you she bought the whole team a box of chocolates to her last appointment with a thank you card that read:

"Thank you for being so welcoming during my visits and a big thank you to Rhodri who has corrected my wonky teeth! You are a great team, keep up the good work."

We will certainly try, Natalie!

Absolute Dental team takes on The Commando Challenge

Achy muscles but it was for a good cause!

On the 5^th October the Absolute Dental Team where all out of bed nice and early and heading towards the Commando Challenge, all with old clothes on and bin liners to bring them home again!

We were transported to the start in 6 ton trucks and then we were off! 4 kilometres of narrow tracks through gorse bushes and woodlands and tackling pitch black tunnels on our hands and knees, some half full of water!  We squelched through the ‘black bog’ and waded through waist height water, until we reached the sheep dip…..we were man-handled by Marines we had to count to 3 then we were plunged under the murky water and shoved through a concrete tunnel, holding your breath for what felt like minutes, until a pair of hands grabbed you and pulled you up, to take a big gasp of air, phew relief until some-how we stumbled into a Marine who was intent on making us jog all the way back, shouting some stern words along the way.  But boy was it for a good cause!

Rachael

 

Why do we do it!!! What drives the Absolute Dental Team in their Charitable quests

Commando Challenge

On October 5^th 2013 a team from Absolute took part in The Commando Challenge, a 4 kilometre course of pools, pits, tunnels and lots of mud! As well as being great fun and a tough challenge, The Commando Challenge is first and foremost a charity event held by the Royal Marines from  their nearby Commando Training Centre who still use this world famous Endurance training course on Woodbury Common near Exeter to train new recruits - and once a year in October they uniquely allow members of the public to try it themselves and supports three very deserving charities:

Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund

Helping the wounded and injured in any way we can, particularly as the most severely injured begin their transition into civilian life; quite simply, the RMCTF will help when others cannot.

Helping those still serving and facing successive tours in high threat environments - providing adventure training for those returning from operations, funding homecoming events, financing memorials, maintaining our heritage etc.
 
C Group supporting the rehabilitation of injured royal marines.

Support any Royal Marine whose military career is ended prematurely due to injury, however the injury is incurred.

Support serving and former Royal Marines, their families and dependants who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.

Assist serving and recently discharged Royal Marines to resettle into civilian life.

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the Charity which raises the funds to keep 2 emergency Air Ambulances flying.

This is a charity which we are all in great support of due to our out of work hobbies, Emma, Rhod, Diane, Maureen and Rachael are all keen horse riders, Ruth is a keen cyclist and sea swimmer, Bill is quite often out on his boat fishing and I love to walk on Dartmoor. We are all aware that we live in a beautiful part of the world (we are VERY lucky!), but that often means we are in remote quite remote spots with difficult road access. The Devon Air Ambulance flies 365 days of the year, when needed, and we support this whole heartedly as we never know when we or one of our loved ones might require its help!

Dental Care and Oral Cancer Checks at Absolute Dental

Cancer Research UK recently attributed the increase in Oral Cancer diagnoses to rising rates of infection with HPV human papilloma virus 

Two thirds of the 6,200 cases of mouth cancer diagnosed in the UK in 2011 were men.

Experts say men are more likely to smoke and drink heavily, both significant risk factors in oral cancer although the increase may also be due to rising rates of the HPV infection.

Up to eight in 10 Britons will contract HPV at some point in their lives and the virus is usually harmless.

However one strain in particular HPV-16 is known to cause cell changes which could develop into cancer.

There were particularly sharp rises in rates of cancers at the base of the tongue (an almost 90 per cent increase) and the tonsils (around a 70 per cent increase) - two areas of the mouth where cancers are more commonly HPV-related.

Richard Shaw, at the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre, said: 

'We have seen a rapid increase in the number of HPV16-positive cases of oral cancer. Patients tend to be younger, are less likely to be smokers .'

Sara Hiom at Cancer Research UK said 

'It's really important for people to know the signs and symptoms ....mouth ulcers that just won't heal, lumps in the mouth, lips or throat, or red or white patches in the mouth that won't go away.

'Dentists have an important role to play in spotting oral cancer early and encouraging their patients to take care of their mouths. So make sure you attend regular dental check-ups.'

Ruth