Thoughts of the 12 months gone by - Ruth, Absolute Dental

Twelve months ago I wrote down some thoughts on how I wanted to travel through the year. As 2015 draws to a close its good to take a little time to reflect and be thankful for another 365 days gone by.

We may ask ourselves if we stayed on track? Were goals reached? Did we take opportunities? Did we set ourselves challenges? And hopefully answer 'yes' to these things.

A challenge for me this year (and at times an obsession) has been Sea Swimming. Week by week and month by month and in all seasons I have dipped in the salty water as a way to clear my mind.

The challenge is definitely a mental one.Wearing Speedo swimsuit only (aka skin swimming) at times it can feel like a meditative experience to be enveloped in that chilly water. Sometimes so cold the sensation can feel like burning. Always it leaves me invigorated, ready to face my "other" challenges and feeling fortunate to be able to do it and in a such a beautiful place. With senses heightened I really hear and see all things around me.

Last week I reached my goal of 100 swims.

Ruthie x

The European Federation of Periodontology Manifesto - What it means at Absolute Dental

Absolute Dental and all the team that work under it's umbrella have been delighted to add support to the manifesto created by the European Federation of Periodontology on the vitally important subject of Periodontal and General Health.

The EFP MANIFESTO (European Federation of Periodontology) is a call to action in terms of prevention, early detection and treatment of periodontitis. It is the first formal declaration in international dentistry to condense years of research into the links between periodontal disease and systemic illnesses into an acknowledgement of periodontitis as a major public health issue.

By signing this manifesto and committing to supporting it by ways of educating our patients we join a growing community of professionals and experts who want a fundamental shift in the perception of dental professionals’ responsibilities. We embrace the mission to bring benefits from periodontal care to the general health of individuals and society, a purpose based not on the wisdom of the crowd but on strong and consistent scientific analysis.

This MANIFESTO calls upon all dental and health professionals to act in the prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of periodontal disease in order to combat the devastating oral and general health effects for the individual and society.

Over the next few weeks and months you will see many blogs and updates from the team at Absolute Dental who always work  with our patients to improve and maintain their dental health. The vital thing we now have is the scientific analysis to support the message we have long been trying to convey.

The views and intentions that we plan to express are informed by the rigorous scientific analysis of the evidence base for reported links between periodontal and systemic diseases, as carried out at the 9th European Workshop in Periodontology, an event jointly organised by the European Federation of Periodontology and the American Academy of Periodontology, and held at La Granja de San Ildefonso, Segovia, Spain.

Consensual agreement was reached by the experts at this meeting (in November 2012) that periodontal disease should be acknowledged as a major public health issue, that all dental and medical professionals should be provided with relevant treatment guidelines, and that recommendations be given for future research to help clarify these associations and their consequences in terms of primary prevention.

Our philosophy at Absolute means we are delighted to take this opportunity to collaborate with so many other like minded professionals to spread the message

Six Month Smiles at Absolute Dental

The popularity of this treatment just keep on growing.

Only today we received another review from a very delighted patient on our Facebook page who began her treatment with us earlier this year.

Short term adult orthodontics can be for everyone and there are a range of options available, if you are looking to improve the appearance of the teeth that show when you smile. Treatments times are short which makes it the perfect choice for many people..

We have two options that we generally use here at Absolute:

Six Month Smiles - This treatment it what is says on the label, great straight smile in an average time of six months. The system uses tooth coloured braces which allow the teeth to move gently and effectively move the teeth into line.

Inman Aligner - this is also a cost effective way for adults to have straight teeth and for those who require relatively simple tooth movements. The treatment work by wearing two aligners, one at the front and one at the back, which guide the teeth into their new position. Inman aligners are removable so you can take them out to eat and clean your teeth. The movement of teeth is very quick and results can usually be seen in a matter of weeks.

‘Tis The Season: How to Enjoy the Holidays Without Compromising Your Oral Health

During Christmas, I think it is fair to say we all indulge perhaps a little more than we should, and I for one am a complete advocate for a little excess during the party season. But whilst all the the drinking and dancing is in swing, sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves, and our teeth unfortunately may become particularly neglected. So, to ensure a worry free month of festivities, take a few of these tips out for a spin

1.     Force of habit: Brush your teeth!

            Did you know it takes the brain roughly thirty days to adopt a repeated behavior as a habit? If you aren’t already, begin brushing your teeth at specific times (I brush my teeth immediately before I go to bed, and immediately after I get up) so your body learns that part of going to bed/ waking up is brushing your teeth; you’ll think of it automatically. So no more excuses involving not brushing you’re teeth because you’d been out at the pub till late!

2.  Avoid pre-prepped food

            If you can, try and cook as much of the food you eat, this way you can control the sugar intake in your diet far more easily. Convenience dictates that sometimes its easier to use products that are ready-to-go, such as prepared vegetables and ready meals, but these dishes often contain staggering amounts of sugar, and if you can find the time to prepare yourself from fresh, do it. Then you can have a cheeky extra glass of wine!

3.  Straws

There’s very little point in me trying to convince anyone to drink less alcohol or fnacy exciting soft drinks at this time of year; it’s christmas and to be honest, you deserve a treat.  If you’re going to drink it, try and get a straw. This way, when you drink, the acid and sugar make virtually no contact with your pearly whites, thus preserving them through till new year in relatively tip top condition, result!

4.  Drink Plenty of water

            If you’re not hydrated, your saliva glands cannot function at maximum capacity and as a result, the pH level of the mouth is more acidic than it need be, which leads to tooth decay. Try to match every drink you have with an equal amount of water and you’ll be just fine.

5.  Have fun

            The holidays are a time when you can relax and enjoy spending time with those who are nearest and dearest to us, so remember to relax and treat yourself, and remember to use that smile this christmas - it’s the ultimate party accessory!

Merry Christmas!

Paige

 

 

Absolute Dental - Patient Survey Results

Every year we ask our lovely patients to complete an anonymous patient survey to tell us how well they feel we are doing, or if there are any aspects of our care which we could improve.

We are always pleased with our results, and this year was no exception!

The survey measures how well Absolute Dental is performing in different areas by asking patients to rate various aspects of the service they receive.

In general, our patients are between 84-99% "very satisfied" with all aspects of our service ranging from the technical skills of our dentists (98% very satisfied), our sterilisation and infection control (98% very satisfied), treatments to ensure teeth and gums stay healthy (99% very satisfied) and care from the front desk team (93% very satisfied).

It is interesting to look at our patient satisfaction scores against that national benchmark (over 1000 other practices use this survey nationwide) and see that national satisfaction rates range from 41-65%, compared to our 84-99%.

Great results, for a great team who work hard to make your visits to us as pleasant as possible.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to participate this year.