1. Our recent CQC inspection – A Practice Manager’s perspective!

Last week we had our second CQC inspection for Dental Studio, our first for the Chichester practice, with the sole purpose focusing on how we care for our patients.

On the surface, this seems relatively simple – providing quality care ethically in a safe surrounding with a qualified team – but as with everything nowdays, this involves a mountain of paperwork, policies, procedures and certificates to demonstrate compliance!

However, one point of discussion that is raised with each and every discussion about CQC and the inspections is this – should the care that we provide be about the paperwork? Or should it be about what we are actually doing? HOW are we providing this exceptional care?

So here it is – what can you, the patient, expect from us regarding the care of your oral health?

  • We provide you with treatment that you both need and want, performed with uncompromising quality
  • We provide you with comprehensive information in many formats – ask us for leaflets and information sheets or we can show you videos on one of our TV screens. Alternatively, ask for the I-Pad on reception and take a look at our website which should give you all the answers you need.

 

  • We promise to take the time with you to make sure that you are making the right choice for you, making sure you are aware of ALL the options available to you. We encourage you to speak with family members before making decisions.

 

  • We promise to focus on our education and development, to ensure that we are the performing the latest, pain free treatments ensuring that you are in the best hands

 

  • We will use the best quality materials to ensure you get the perfect results from any treatment

 

  • We will perform regular surveys to get views from our patients, and we will learn and improve from what people have to say
  • Lastly we promise to welcome you to our family, treat you with the respect that you deserve, and to put your health, and your preferences, FIRST. No compromise!!

We wanted to end with some of the comments that our fantastic patients had told the CQC inspector during our inspection –

“They are interested in you as a person, not just a mouth”

“I feel confident walking in the door. They are caring and professional”

“They offered me options…They gave me all the information I needed”

“They have a really caring attitude”

If you would like to see a copy of the report, it will shortly be available at the CQC website – http://www.cqc.org.uk

Where will you be in 6 months?

Today has been officially named “Blue Monday” by those in the press and on social media (you can’t move for twitter posts and facebook statuses!!) with its reputation as the most depressing day of the year reaching far and wide!

So on this supposedly disheartening day, Dental Studio has been thinking ahead 6 months to summer! We are dreaming of blue skies, bright evenings, warm breezes and summer holidays!

However, alot can happen in 6 months!  The next 26 weeks are going to fly by in a flash!

So what can YOU achieve in the next 6 months?

Six Month Smiles is just that – a new smile in just six months! This is a revolutionary teeth straightening procedure that is almost invisible to wear, using tooth coloured brackets and wire, which can radically change the position of the teeth, closing any gaps, and giving you a beautiful even smile. And all this in just 182 days!

The process is easy, after your first consultation to check that this is a suitable treatment for you, we take some impressions and send them to the Six Month Smiles labs in America. They will then custom make the brackets and wires so that they fit to the exact shape of your teeth. We will then fit these brackets and the wire to your teeth. After this, you will come in for a review and adjustment appointment every couple of weeks where we can check how the movement is going!

When the teeth have moved to the new straighter position, the brackets come off and ta-dah! Your beautiful straight smile in around 6 months!

So just think, are you ready for that perfect smile to arrive just in time for summer?

Dental Studio are offering a free Oral B electric toothbrush for all patients undertaking Six Month Smiles treatments.

If you would like more information, or would like to see if you are suitable for the treatment, then give us a call

Waterlooville – 02392 254234

Chichester – 01243 532992

 6MSmile reco provider

New Year, New You?

It’s that time of year again, time for us to choose a new challenge to commit to for 365 days, be it starting something new or quitting an old habit.

Studies have found that around 50% of the country will make some form of resolution for the New Year with “losing weight” being the most popular choice. However, success rates are low, with around 88% of people not completing their goal.

To achieve success, studies have found that smaller is better and what is easier than popping in for an oral health screening? This is a quick and easy way of taking control of your health, the starting point of your overall health MOT.

A check up allows us to examine all the teeth and tissues of the mouth, checking for any underlying issues as well as perform an oral cancer screen and check that the muscles and joints are performing as they should be.

So let’s not be in that 88% that fail to meet their goal, and make this the year that you take control of your oral health – here’s to sparkling smiles in 2014!

Dental Studio’s Review of 2013!

This week sees Dental Studio getting into the festive mood, the decorations are up, and Michael Buble is on constant rotation on the CD player!

But at this time of year, and with 2014 only 11 days away, we have found ourselves reflecting on the year we have had here at the two practices.

Some things that we are thankful for in 2013? A year of fantastic patients, both existing and new, and many of these having smile transforming makeovers, which we have been privileged enough to have been trusted to create.  These have provided us with our inspiration and are carrying us into the New Year with enthusiasm!

At the beginning of the year we had a great night at the Dental Awards, being shortlisted for Best Dentist for Neresh, Best Team, Best Nurse (for Annette) and winning the Best Nurse Category – well done Hayley!

We have had a year of staff changes, with Amy and Gemma joining the practice, Sacha returning to the practice and Kelley moving up to deputy manager at Chichester, a role in which she is relishing!

And so, what changes are we making for next year? This is a question that we tackled in our recent training, both our personal and professional goals, what is in store for the practice in 2014? One idea that we are focusing on is to give back to the local community, so we will be picking a charity that we can fundraise for over the next 12 months and beyond.

 The Dental Awards have almost come around again, and we aim to improve on last year’s performance!

2014, as with every year, will focus our attentions on ensuring we provide to each and every patient, a total commitment to excellence in dentistry.  

And lastly, being part of each patient’s journey to renewed confidence and a beautiful smile? Definitely the part we are most looking forward to!

Here’s wishing all of our valued patients a merry Christmas and a happy new year from all the team at Dental Studio Waterlooville and Chichester!

November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month!

November sees the practice promoting Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, with the focus being that regular checks by the dentist and hygienist can catch the disease earlier. We perform a mouth cancer check at every appointment.

The importance of these regular oral cancer checks is highlighted by a recent study that found the number of patients diagnosed with the disease is on the increase, by around 50% since the year 2000. The British Dental Health Foundation, the organisation raising awareness of the disease have found that there were over 7500 new cases of the disease in 2011. However, if caught early enough, the chances of survival could be as high as 90%. Another good reason for regular screening at your dental checks!

Oral cancer is caused by a number of factors including smoking, excessive drinking and poor diet, as well as the presence of HPV or the Human Papilloma Virus.

The advice we give to patients is to have regular checks of the tissues in the mouth at your dental appointments and if in doubt, get it checked out! Ulcers that won’t go away, any patches – red or white – lumps or bumps, come in and let us take a look. Remember – early detection is key!

A link between oral health and Alzheimer’s?

A thought provoking article created abit of a stir at Dental Studio recently, both in the practice and on Twitter and Facebook – is there a link between poor oral health and susceptibility to Alzheimer’s?

Gingivitis is a common occurrence, with figures estimating that almost half of the worldwide population have suffered with some form of gingivitis at some point in their life.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis occurs where there is a build up of dental plaque. The bacteria present in this plaque can irritate the gums, causing them to become red and inflamed with bleeding on brushing.

Gingivitis can be put right by good oral health – brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth with floss or small brushes, and regular hygienist visits can help to remove this plaque build up, getting the teeth back to their pale pink perfection.

However, where the plaque isn’t removed, and the gingivitis left to worsen, the implications become more serious. Gum disease affects 10-15% of the population, and can eventually cause bone loss – meaning that the supporting structure holding the teeth is lost and tooth loss can occur – a problem that becomes alot harder to solve, as well as other issues including pain, bad breath and sensitivity.

 What has really caused some interest is a recent study from the UK, concerning the possibility that bad oral hygiene and the presence of gum disease could contribute towards the deterioration found in the brains of those patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.

 Gum disease has already been found to contribute to the onset of poor health such as heart disease and diabetes.

In this case, the bacteria that is present in the gum disease have been found in the brains of patients suffering with dementia.

Although these finding are in the early stages of the research, it could be an opportune moment for us all to re-focus on our oral health, and the advantages of regular appointments with the dentists and hygienists could help to protect in the future.

If today is the day to make the change, and be proactive to protect your oral health, then give us a call. Recent rule changes means that it is no longer necessary to see the dentist before you can see the hygienist, so book in today!

A White Wedding…

Last week saw the practice participate in a wedding fair at the Portsmouth Guildhall. We went armed with photos, testimonials, leaflets and some obligatory freebies in the shape of tubes of toothpaste, ready to talk to some soon to be brides and grooms about how we can help them to improve their smile for their big day!

What we were excited to see was that it wasn’t just the two leads that wanted to whiten or straighten; it was all members of the bridal party that wanted to look dazzling in the wedding photos.

Whitening and brightening was the order of the day, due to its ease and speed, and the dramatic difference that even just a few days of whitening can create.

At home whitening is an easy to use process; custom made trays are created that fit to each patient’s teeth, and a small amount of gel is placed into the tray which is then fitted around the teeth.

The advantages to this system are that it gives the patient the freedom of when to whiten, during the day or at night, it can fit around your schedule. You are in control as to how white you want to go – whitening has been found to improve the colours of the teeth by up to 13 shades.

 One thing for all to remember…whitening won’t affect the shade of any existing fillings or prosthetics – your crowns and veneers will stay the same shade!

 Good luck to all the brides and grooms that we met this weekend! We hope to see some of you soon!

Dental Studio have various wedding packages catering for all the wedding party – give us a call for more information

Waterlooville – 02392 254234

Chichester – 01243 532992

A beautiful smile using the latest, and least invasive, approach…

For years, patients have been visiting Dental Studio looking for that smile that will bring back confidence lost. Patients complain of missing their smile, hiding their teeth, being embarrassed of the colour, shape or alignment, but also being nervous about the treatment involved in putting things right.

We are proud to be offering a new type of treatment that could solve all of these problems without the need for drilling away tooth surface – a beautiful smile using a minimally invasive process – ABB or Align, Bleach, Bond.

The process is as follows:

It all starts with Alignment, or tooth straightening! Using one of the invisible straightening systems that we have in place – 6 Month Smile, Invisalign, Lingual Braces or Simpli 5 – we straighten the teeth to the perfect position to enhance your new smile.

The second process is the Bleaching – the whitening of the teeth, improving the colour of the teeth by up to 12 shades.

The final stage of the smile makeover is the Bonding section, or the placement of tooth coloured fillings on the front of the teeth. This is less invasive than the placement of veneers, which involves the drilling away of tooth material. These fillings are placed over your original teeth, allowing us to get the perfect shape and shade, without damaging the underlying structure.

No need for veneers, no drilling away of precious tooth, just amazing results.

We are offering this treatment as a package to our patients – please speak to reception for more information on 02392 254234 or 01243 532992.

 

 

 

Our recent win at the Dental Awards 2013 – Press Release

Heres the press release for our recent win at Dental Awards 2013 –

 A Waterlooville dental practice is celebrating after it was shortlisted in 3 categories at the prestigious Dental Awards 2013, before going on to win in the category of Dental Nurse of the Year.

Hayley Buckwell, Head Dental Nurse at The Dental Studio in St George’s Walk, secured the top spot in the competitive category at last week’s Dental Awards 2013 which were held at the Lancaster Hotel in London.

“I am delighted to have won Dental Nurse of the Year, especially at such a high profile national awards ceremony. Working at The Dental Studio is extremely rewarding thanks to fantastic patients and an amazing team, and I wouldn’t have won this award without them,” said Hayley.

Dr Behari runs The Dental Studio with his wife Dr Usha Ramjas, with surgeries in both Waterlooville and Chichester. The practice offers a wide range of cosmetic treatments as well as providing general dentistry.

Both Dr Behari and his wife, regularly attend cosmetic dentistry courses in the UK and the US, and constantly strive to learn and perfect the latest cosmetic dentistry techniques. They are both members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentists (BACD) and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists (AACD) and are only a handful of dentists in the UK who have completed world renowned Spear Institute curriculum in Scotsdale, Arizona, USA.

Dr Behari said, “We had an incredible night at the Dental Awards and I’m proud to say that we are amongst the best!”

“Every member of our team put 110% in and it’s great that our hard work and passion for what we do has been rewarded,” he added.

Welcome to Dental Studio’s blog

Hi all and welcome to our shiny new blog for all things cosmetic dentistry! Not long to wait before we post our first article, so stay tuned and stay in touch!

You can reach us via our facebook page – search “dental studio” or you can find us on twitter – @ourdentalstudio

Looking forward to blogging to you soon!! 😀