Bite magazine is a business and current affairs magazine for the dental industry. Content is of interest to dentists, hygienists, assistants, practice managers and anyone with an interest in the dental health industry.
48
The numbers game While some say there’s an oversupply of dentists, Professor Chris Peck and others are painting a more complex picture of workforce numbers Women’s World Why this Melbourne-based women-only practice prospers, page 12 Drugs of choice The hottest new drugs on the market and what you need to know about them, page 20 Magical dentistry Dr Soo-Wee Ong is a dentist who can do magic—literally! SPECIAL REPORT Handpieces that will change your life, page 33 Caught in the web How to manage your professional reputation on the internet, page 24 The end of minimalism Practice design goes luxe, page 28 AUGUST 2012, $5.95 INC. GST PRINT POST APPROVED NO: 255003/07512
Transcript
The numbers gameWhile some say there’s an oversupply of dentists, Professor Chris Peck and others are painting a more complex picture of workforce numbers
Women’s WorldWhy this
Melbourne-based women-only
practice prospers, page 12
Drugs of choiceThe hottest new
drugs on the market and what you need
to know about them, page 20
Magical dentistryDr Soo-Wee Ong
is a dentist who can do magic—literally!
SPECIAL REPORT
Handpieces that will change your
life, page 33
Caught in the webHow to manage
your professional reputation on the internet, page 24
For more information Email: [email protected] Phone: 1800 225 010 Visit: www.wh.com
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TA-97 C LEDNew LED+ technologySmall headPenta SprayBur length up to 21 mm
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Monobloc design
Ready to reap the benefitsNew Synea turbines with LED+, perfect contra-angle handpieces
New Synea turbines with LED+. Optimal illumination; a colour rendering index of more
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1637-54_AA_Synea Full Page Ad_1A.indd 1 17/08/11 5:42 PM
COVER STORY YOUR BUSINESS YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFECONTENTS
03
ContentsNews & eveNts4. Gum disease linked to oral cancerAnother study has found a suggested link between gum disease, HPV and oral cancer.
your world12. Women in uniformA Melbourne practice has embraced the idea that young patients and female patients will often prefer to see a female dentist. Hence the creation of Women in Dentistry
your busiNess 20. Drugs of choiceDental patients taking a cocktail of medications pose a serious challenge to practitioners who fail to keep up with the latest pharmaceutical advances
24. Screen saversIs it possible to manage your reputation online? Yes, say the web experts, and you should do so because you probably already have a larger web presence than you know
28. Less isn’t moreAfter a couple of decades of stark, white, minimalist designs, new practices are adopting design flourishes that reveal the character of the practitioner your tools 10. New productsThe best new gear and gadgets from suppliers you can trust
33. Handpieces product guide Everything you need to know about handpieces for your practice
43. Tools of the tradeReviews of your favourite products by your peers
your life46. Abraca-dentistDr Soo-Wee Ong of Dewhurst Dental, Armidale, NSW, has some tricks up his sleeves when he performs as a self-taught magician
2012
4624
Cover story
From famine to feastWhile the data suggests the Australian dental workforce is almost full to bursting point, other factors reveal a concerning and less balanced side of the issue.
August 2012
16
7,927 - CAB Audited as at March, 2012
Editorial Director Rob Johnson
Sub-editor Kerryn Ramsey
Creative Director Tim Donnellan
Contributors Sharon Aris, Nicole Azzopardi, Kerryn Ramsey, Lucy Robertson, Maureen Shelley, Gary Smith
Commercial Director Mark Brown
Bite magazine is published 11 times a year by Engage Media, Suite 4.08, The Cooperage, 56 Bowman Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009 ABN 50 115 977 421. Views expressed in Bite magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Engage Media. Printed by Bright Print Group
For all editorial or advertisingenquiries:Phone (02) 9660 6995 Fax (02) 9518 5600
For more information Email: [email protected] Phone: 1800 225 010 Visit: www.wh.com
TA-98 C LED20 watt performanceNew LED+ technologyPenta SprayNew grip profileBur length up to 25 mm
TA-97 C LEDNew LED+ technologySmall headPenta SprayBur length up to 21 mm
WA-99 LT
Smallest head size
Penta Spray
Low noise level
Monobloc design
Ready to reap the benefitsNew Synea turbines with LED+, perfect contra-angle handpieces
New Synea turbines with LED+. Optimal illumination; a colour rendering index of more
than 90; a perfectly positioned LED; and a small head. One light – four advantages, the
perfect combination. Synea contra-angle handpieces. Small head, including Penta Spray
– just one of the many features of the Synea contra-angle handpiece series.
1637-54_AA_Synea Full Page Ad_1A.indd 1 17/08/11 5:42 PM
COVER STORY YOUR BUSINESS YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFENEWS & EVENTS
04 A recent study has found patients with HPV-positive tumours had significantly higher bone loss, a key factor in the development of severe gum disease,
compared with patients with HPV-negative tumours. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the key causes of oral cancer, so the study indicates a link between severe periodontal disease and cancer.
The study, published in the Archives of Oto-laryngology, sampled 124 patients suffering from oral cancer, 50 of which were as a result of HPV. Lead author Mine Tezal, D.D.S., Ph.D., of the University at Buffalo, New York, said: “Prevention or treatment of sources of inflam-mation in the oral cavity may be a simple yet effective way to reduce the acquisition and persistence of oral HPV infection.”
The news comes at a time when the Austra-lian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) is fighting to increase awareness of oral cancer, the risk fac-tors that contribute to it and lifestyle changes that can help reduce a person’s risk of getting oral cancer.
“Every day, at least three Australians are being diagnosed with oral cancer. Survival rates for oral cancer remain low despite ad-vances in treatment and this can be attributed to late detection. Recognising the risk factors and signs of oral cancer is vital to better prog-nosis and outcomes,” said chairman of the ADA’s Oral Health Committee, Dr Peter Alldritt.
Although further research is required to determine the exact relationship of the link between severe gum disease and an increased risk of HPV-related oral cancer, it is not the
first time poor oral health and cancer have been linked.
Recent research carried out at the Karolin-ska Institute in Sweden suggested failure to brush your teeth properly could increase the chance of premature death resulting from can-cer. They found a link between high levels of dental plaque—the cause of gum disease—and dying from cancer up to 13 years earlier than previously expected.
“Early detection of oral cancer can save lives, so it’s important to know what you should be looking out for in your mouth. Ulcers or lumps in the mouth which do not heal within two weeks should be treated with suspicion. Smoking, alcohol, poor diet, sun exposure and the human papilloma virus all contribute to a person’s risk of presenting with oral cancer,” said Dr Alldritt.
“What is more concerning is the incidence of oral cancers in non-smokers,” Dr Alldritt added. The British Dental Health Foundation has also been campaigning on this topic, and chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, added, “Most of us suffer from gum disease at some point in our lives, yet it is entirely preventable. By developing and keeping a good oral health routine it lowers the risk of gum disease and any possible links to more serious diseases. We should all take time to reflect on how we can make that a reality.”
National seniors lobby for free dental check for elderlyA seniors lobby group, Na-tional Seniors, is pressuring the Federal Government to provide free means-tested dental checks for those older than 64 years. A spokesperson for the group, Mar-jorie Green, told a Federal Com-munity Cabinet event at Ipswich, Qld, that many elderly Australians cannot afford to see a dentist.
“For people living on a pension it’s just not possible,” she said. “That causes malnutrition, and that causes a lot of other chronic ailments. All these people end up in hospital blowing out the health budget.”
National Seniors has been advocating for more money for dental care for some time. In their member magazine, policy adviser Dr Sarah MacNeil said, “The pre-budget announcement of $0.5 billion to reduce public dental waiting lists and encourage more dentists to work in regional and remote Australia is a great step forward.”
Green says govenments should be looking at preventative mea-sures to reduce costs and waiting lists for treatment.
“We also put forward a pro-posal about mobile dental vans for the people who are confined to home,” she said. “They’re getting home care but they can’t get out to see a dentist.”
Another gum disease cancer linkAnother study has found a link between periodontal disease and cancer
A study has confirmed a link between severe periodontal disease and cancer.
Opportunities are now available for experienced Dentists, including Specialists who are looking to expand their earning capacity by practicing 2-3 days a week in outer urban and inner regional areas of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Pacific Smiles Group has 32 Dental Centres, many located within 1-3 hours drive of the city. Stay overnight and practice back to back days with accommodation provided. Let us assist you in establishing your part time country practice.
Enjoy country practice benefits including high patient demand while still maintaining your life in the city.
Your country practice is waiting!
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City Living - Country Practice
Enjoy the Best
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NEWS & EVENTS
Opportunities are now available for experienced Dentists, including Specialists who are looking to expand their earning capacity by practicing 2-3 days a week in outer urban and inner regional areas of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Pacific Smiles Group has 32 Dental Centres, many located within 1-3 hours drive of the city. Stay overnight and practice back to back days with accommodation provided. Let us assist you in establishing your part time country practice.
Enjoy country practice benefits including high patient demand while still maintaining your life in the city.
Your country practice is waiting!
www.pacificsmilesgroup.com.au/bite
City Living - Country Practice
Enjoy the Best
of Both Worlds
YOUR BUSINESS YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFENEWS FROm OUR SpONSORS
6
Diamond
RubySapphire
Medica l and Denta l F inance
SCDL Launches ONLINE Real-Time Mentoring and Clinical Support
A team of experienced clinicians are on hand during normal surgery operating hours to field questions and provide advice whilst your patient is in the chair. The service is available
to any dentist in Australia, whether they are current customers of SCDL or otherwise. The facility also allows for a screen-sharing function, enabling SCDL clinicians to view still images or video (via intra-oral cameras) on the operator’s computer desktop and provide instant feedback.
This exciting new service is aimed at aiding dentists in areas such as: crown preparation choice of all-ceramic materials restorative and orthodontic treatment planning troubleshooting in all aspects of clinical dentistry implant placement aesthetic dentistrytechnical advice
regarding laboratory procedures
Dr David Penn, Head of Technical and Clinical Research, commented: “This use of modern day technology will enable every dentist to utilize the support of experi-enced clinicians in all as-pects of clinical dentistry, treatment planning and problem solving, fixed and removable prosth-odontics, orthodontic and Invisalign consultations and much more.
We are aware that many of our younger graduates lack experi-
ence and have nowhere to turn to when confronted by complex issues. The provision of an online real-time mentoring program will provide much needed support to all practitioners.
We are thrilled to offer this to our colleagues and further enhance the quality of our laboratory service.”
The online clinical support team of 6 dentists and a tech-nician will be headed by Dr Brenda Baker, who herself has more than 30 years of experience and a plethora of post-graduate training in fixed prosthodontics and periodon-tics. The enquiring practitioner can choose which area of support they require and is then connected online to the relevant person who is available.
Visit www.scdlab.com and open up the ‘Chat Now’ ser-vice to access this ground-breaking clinical support and mentoring facility.
SCDL are excited to introduce a new and unique live chat facility offering ‘online clinical support in real-time’ to dentists across Australia.
THE CLINICAL MENTORYOU ALWAYS WANTED
LIVE REAL-TIME SUPPORT
A new and UNIQUE service from SCDL:
a team of online real-time clinical advisors who will
guide you whilst you work.Log on to
www.scdlab.com
Race Dental abandons Woodstock lab plans
Last month Race Dental announced publicly what many in the Cowra Shire had long suspected: that it was abandoning plans to establish a laboratory at Woodstock. Announced with much fanfare back at the end of 2010, a statement issued from Cowra Shire Council said its efforts to help es-tablish a production-based dental laboratory at Woodstock were acknowledged in a letter from the production company but Council was now advised the project was doomed.
A mixture of factors, including an inability to attract spe-cialist staff, withdrawal of Federal Government funding, and power and internet issues, has seen the project terminated.
The managing director of Race Dental, Brad Race, told the ABC the company thought being located in the central west would be cheaper and offer a competitive advantage, but a lack of Federal Government regulation means it is unviable. “The dental prosthesis that we make come in from China unregulated,” he said.
“So where they’re manufacturing crowns in China for, you know, $7-$10 and selling into the Australian market for $20 odd, we can’t even buy the products we need to make these teeth at the cost they can import the finished device.
“When we looked at upgrading the power into Woodstock it left us with another $800,000 black hole in the budget,” Race added.
Choice takes on toothpaste
Choice magazine has turned its attention to toothpastes, and has concluded that some promoted ‘benefits’ of some brands are little more than marketing spin. The report, which investigated 17 different toothpaste brands, also found that toothpastes promoted for sensitive teeth do have different ingredients to standard brands, but that others—including some ‘whitening’ pastes—had the same ingredients as the regular brands.
“Terms like ‘advanced-whitening’, ‘multi-action’, ‘enamel-lock’, and ‘micro-cleaning crystals’ give the impression that the large range of toothpastes all do something different, with the expensive items doing something more than a basic product,” said Choice spokesperson Ingrid Just. “In reality, you’re paying extra for essentially the same product.”
Despite the dominance of teeth whitening products in the oral care market, none of the whitening toothpastes investi-gated contained a bleaching agent—an ingredient required to physically alter the colour of teeth. Experts told Choice that the fine print covers the lack of a bleaching agent by saying that the toothpaste will remove stains.
“Whitening toothpastes are not an overall whitening treat-ment. In fact, of the 13 adult toothpastes we looked at, there was very little difference in the active ingredients, regardless of how cheap or expensive they were,” said Just. To read the full report, visit www.choice.com.au/toothpaste.
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ED BITE 1-2 ADVERT AUGUST 2012.indd 1 3/08/2012 4:13:00 PM
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MAKERS OF PANADEINE® EXTRA IN THE INTEREST OF THE QUALITY USE OF MEDICINES. Panadeine® Extra contains paracetamol 500 mg and codeine phosphate 15 mg. Use: For the temporary relief from moderate to severe pain. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the product; children under 12 years. Dosage: Adults and children 12 years and over: 2 caplets every 4–6 hours orally with water; (maximum 8 caplets in 24 hours). Precautions: CNS, respiratory depression; high doses, prolonged use; renal, hepatic Impairment; poor CYP2D6 function; pregnancy, lactation. Adverse reactions: Dependence; Impairment of mental & physical abilities; nausea, vomiting, constipation; dizziness, drowsiness. Interactions: Anticoagulants; sedatives, tranquilisers; drugs affecting gastric emptying; chloramphenicol; hepatic enzyme inducers; CYP2D6 inhibitors. Please review full Product Information (PI) before recommending Panadeine Extra. The full PI is available from GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare on request (FREECALL 1800 028 533). Panadeine® and the Panadeine Vibration™ are trade marks of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare. 82 Hughes Avenue, Ermington, NSW 2115. 1800 028 533. GSK0164/BIT/UCReferences: 1. Hargreaves K, Abbott P. Aust Dent J 2005; 50(s2): S14–S22. 2. Beaver WT. Am J Med 1984; 77(3A): 38–53. 3. Oral and Dental Expert Group. Therapeutic Guidelines: Oral and Dental. Version 1. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2007. 4. Macleod G, et al. Aust Dent J 2002; 47: 147–51. 5. Comfort MB, et al. Aust Dent J 2002; 47: 327–330. 6. Bentley K, et al. Curr Ther Res 1991; 49: 147–54.
Media
n ch
ange
in p
ain in
tens
ity (c
m/h)
2.01.81.61.41.21.00.80.60.40.2
0Paracetamol
(500 mg tablet x 2)
1.81
Paracetamol/codeine(500 mg/15 mg tablet x 2)
0.45
Adapted from McCleod et al. 2002 4
Figure 1: Median change in pain intensity with paracetamol + codeine vs. paracetamol alone (n=82)4
Panadeine Extra is the strongest analgesic available
without a prescription based on codeine content per dose
Single-agent analgesia may not be sufficient to achieve adequate pain relief.1
Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen) can be used for the temporary relief of dental pain,2,3 however single-agent analgesic therapy may not always be sufficient to achieve adequate pain relief.1
A combination of analgesics that work in different ways – like paracetamol and codeine may be beneficial.This is because a combination of analgesics that have two different modes of action can enable an increase in analgesia whilst minimising side effects.3,4 In some patients it may be appropriate to offer a fixed-dose paracetamol/codeine combination rather than an NSAID or NSAID/codeine combination for the management of stronger pain, particularly for patients in whom NSAIDs are contraindicated.3
Strengthen your recommendation in dental pain relief with Panadeine ExtraPanadeine Extra has been specially formulated, by combining the strength of codeine phosphate (15 mg) with paracetamol (500 mg) per tablet to provide fast, effective temporary relief from strong pain. Panadeine Extra contains the highest OTC dose of codeine (15 mg of codeine phosphate), making it the strongest pain reliever available without a prescription.
Paracetamol/codeine combinations have been clinically proven in post-operative dental pain4–6
Several clinical studies have provided evidence of effective pain relief when paracetamol is combined with a low codeine dose.4–6
In a study of patients who had undergone surgical removal of impacted third molars, paracetamol + codeine phosphate (500 mg/15 mg tablet x 2) [e.g. Panadeine Extra] provided significant improvement in post-operative pain relief over paracetamol (500 mg tablet x 2) alone (p=0.03), with no significant difference in side effects over 12 hours.4
“...there is a significant improvement in postoperative pain relief following this combination [paracetamol 1000 mg plus codeine 30 mg]”4
Another study (n=139) compared the efficacy of a single tablet of either paracetamol/codeine phosphate (300 mg/15 mg), paracetamol/codeine phosphate (300 mg/30 mg), floctafenine (400 mg) or placebo for the relief of pain following dental surgery.6 All three treatments were significantly superior to placebo (p=0.0001).6
A later study of 232 patients who underwent impacted third molar surgery, received either paracetamol + codeine phosphate (500 mg/8 mg x 2 tablets) taken every 4–6 hours or the NSAIDs etodolac (200 mg x 2 tablets taken every 6–8 hours) or diflunisal (250 mg x2 tablets taken every 8–12 hours).5 All three drugs were found to be effective in the control of post-operative pain.5
So the next time a patient requires proven relief from dental pain4–6 – consider recommending Panadeine Extra
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFEYOuR TOOLS
Cosmetics for teeth: the product making dentists and consumers smileResponding to the global trend for whiter teeth and safe, non-abrasive products, prominent Swiss Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Vaclav Velkoborsky’s Swissdent products are finally hitting Australia in August. Distributed by White My Bite Pty Ltd, general manager Sandra La Scala says they are “thrilled to be bringing in such a distinguished brand that not only looks exquisite and is a pleasure to use, but is backed by the most cutting-edge dental technology available today”.
Swissdent dental cosmetics exploits a revolutionary technology. This technology incorporated in Swissdent’s Nanoxyd® (calcium peroxide in nanoparticle form for toothpastes), optimises the bleaching effects without increasing sensitivity or abrasiveness. Nanoxyd® penetrates even the finest cracks and gaps between teeth, ensuring effective bleaching minus the typical side effects of whitening products.
‘Power Enzymes’ extracted from pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain) remove stains from coffee and tobacco as well as red wine, in a very natural way. Fine silicates gently polish the surface of your teeth. With an RDA of 25 to 40, Swissdent toothpastes have a very low abrasiveness and can be used daily. There are three distinct toothpastes to choose from: Nanowhitening for cases of mild tooth discolouration and sensitive teeth, Extreme for severe tooth discolouration, and Pure which whitens and freshens the breath with small microcapsules filled with antibacterial eucalyptus oil. With the 50ml toothpastes retailing for $15 and 100ml for $25, this is no low-budget family toothpaste, but a smart purchase for those conscious of the colour and health of their teeth. Also available in the range is equally striking and effective toothbrushes, mouthsprays and mouthwashes. Swissdent will be stocked in dental clinics, dental spas, day spas and upmarket retailers. For all wholesale enquiries please call 1300 692 483 or email [email protected].
2% Xylocaine DENTAL with adrenaline 1:80,000 2% Xylocaine DENTAL with adrenaline 1:80,000 now available in 2.2 mL self-aspirating cartridges from DENTSPLY
Dentsply Australia is pleased to announce the availability of 2% Xylocaine DENTAL with adrenaline 1:80,000 (2% Lignocaine hydrochloride and adrenaline injection).
This product is now available to order exclusively from Dentsply in a box of 100 blister-packed 2.2 mL self-aspirating glass cartridges.
To place your order or for further information including the latest promotional offers, please contact your local Dentsply territory manager or our client services team on 1300 55 29 29 (Australia) or 0800 33 68 77 (New Zealand).
Australia: Please review the product information before prescribing which can be found at www.dentsplyestore.com.au. PBS information: This product is not listed on the PBS.
New Zealand: Before prescribing please review the data sheet at www.medsafe.govt.nz. This product is not funded in New Zealand.
New productsNew-release products from here and around the world
10
YOuR TOOLS
Position your practice to growDental professionals across Australia recognise that Invisalign
produces more than just outstanding clinical results – it also
presents new opportunities for business growth.
Invisalign can benefit your practice in a number of ways:
• Generates new business opportunities
• Requires less chair time, which means more patients through your doors
• Encourages patient regeneration by offering a new treatment modality. This enables you to reach out
to a new market of patients who are not willing to undergo treatment with traditional braces
• Results in healthier dentition and better periodontal health1
• Invisalign’s 96% patient satisfaction rating2 means dependable referrals from happy patients!
More opportunities. More rewards. Visit www.invisalign.com.au or call us on 1800 468 472
to find out how you can position your practice to grow with Invisalign today.
Science in every Smile
1 Ong et al., 1998Boyd and Baurind, 1992, Zachrisson and Zachrisson, 1972 2 US survey data 2009, Align Technology, Inc.
comfortable invisibleremovable
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFEYOUR WORLd
012 12
he 1939 drama flick, The Women, starring Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell and Norma Shearer, was unique in that it used an all-female cast. In Melbourne’s CBD, a dental practice has taken a similar ap-proach—with an all-female staff. But the similarities end here—while the film was full of catty, manipulative characters, Women in
Dentistry is the epitome of compassion and professionalism. While female patients, often with children, are filling the
surgery’s waiting room, it’s male patients who have also joined the ‘club’. “Men will say to us, ‘This is Women in Dentistry—can we come here?’,” says founder and dentist Dr Mary E. Miller. As she points out, the practice has a higher-than-normal percentage of male patients. “You would think our practice would have a high female content of patients but we actually have a 50/50 split.”
With a staff of 10—three dentists, a hygienist, patient care coordinator, practice manager and four dental assistants—the all-female component was a no-brainer for Dr Miller when she opened the practice in 1998.
She says a small number of patients come to them for reli-gious reasons, but since many female patients prefer female doctors, they follow the same philosophy when it’s time for a dental check-up. “Women seem to chose other women because they feel more comfortable,” says Dr Janet Daniels, who joined the practice a year ago.
She also notes that children often “feel more comfortable” with female dentists. “There are not many men teaching at schools anymore so the children are exposed to a lot more women.” And Dr Miller adds, “Some prefer to see women after having an unpleasant experiences with a male dentist.”
A practitioner with 36 years’ dental experience, Dr Miller
had a visionary approach—it first became apparent at the University of Melbourne when she obtained honours in every subject. “We had just nine women out of 50 students in the final year [1975],” she recalls. As she graduated, she also re-ceived the Top Student of the Year Award, the William Leslie Elvins Prize for Oral Surgery and the Francis Grey Prize for Conservative Dentistry.
After working in private practice in Geelong and an orth-odontic practice in Essendon, she joined a general practice on Collins Street, Melbourne, in 1977. “There was a feminist movement [in the ’70s] but there were very few female den-
tists in the city at that time,” recalls Dr Miller. She purchased the practice in 1981, and ran it for 17
years under the eponymous title, Dr Mary Miller, until she moved the surgery to a larger space in the same building on the sixth floor. Attuned to the latest marketing trends in the ’90s, she recognised the importance of a catchy moniker for the practice, and it was in 1998 that she opened the door to a new business, boasting a new fit-out, new uniforms, and a rebranded name—Women in Dentistry.
Now a three-chair surgery, it comprises Dr Jo-Anne Cherry, who’s worked with Dr Miller for the past 22 years, and hygienist Mandy Boyd, who’s been on board for 19 years. Dr
Women in uniform
A Melbourne practice has embraced the idea that young patients and female patients will often prefer to see a female dentist. Hence the creation of Women in Dentistry. By Kerryn Ramsey
“There is a big group who only want to see female practitioners—the practice has many male patients.”
Quote Dr Mary Miller, Women In Dentistry, Melbourne
Phot
ogra
phy
: Sam
Pen
ning
er
YOUR WORLd
13
Top and centre: the Women in Dentistry team (from left): Dr Janet Daniels, Mandy Boyd, Dr Mary E. Miller and Dr Jo-Anne Cherry. Left: The entire team.
14
Janet Daniels joined the practice in May last year, and the practice is topped off with practice manager Teresa Crawford and patient care coordinator Joanna Muir.
While an all-female dentistry firm is a rarity in Australia, more female dentists have entered the market in private practices over the past decade. A study released last June, Trends in the Australian Dental Labour Force, 2000 to 2009, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, revealed that in 2009, 29.8 per cent of dentists working solely in the private sector were female—up from 19.9 per cent in 2000.
According to Dr Miller, patients are attracted to the female sensibility. “We try to create a dental home so people feel comfortable,” she explains. “Patients often say it’s like coming home to their
lounge room. We try to create that feeling of care with the way we operate and the way our staff are trained in their communication and consideration of people. Most of it is in-house training, as well as some courses.”
The caring-sharing philosophy has also had a long-term ef-fect. As Dr Miller points out, many of her patients were three when they arrived for their first check-ups. Now they’re in their forties, and bringing their own toddlers in for check-ups.
To give the waiting room and surgeries a soothing ambi-ence, an interior designer specialising in dental fit-outs was enlisted before the practice opened. A colour palette of cap-puccino and beige, particularly in the furniture and artworks, was selected, and is offset by the corporate logo in sky-blue.
“It’s not like a big glossy over-the-top place,” explains Dr Miller. “It’s modern but quite compact.”
When it comes to the staff, flexibility is paramount in this practice as it gives the three dentists a good work-life bal-ance. Dr Miller works four days a week, while Dr Cherry and Dr Daniels work between three and four days a week. For Dr Daniels, she has time to look after her two young sons, while Dr Cherry spends time after work as a member of the Victo-rian branch of the Australian Dental Association.
For Dr Miller, the extra hands on board allows her more time on the managerial side of the practice. “I’ve done manage-ment and business training and when I moved into this prac-tice, I took on a business coach specialising in running a small business and learning how to deal with the staff. I’m managing all the time when I’m working, as well as spending time with patients. I also do two hours work at night or on weekends.”
Both Dr Miller and Dr Daniels concur that male dentists can be just as capable at creating a friendly, caring environ-ment in a practice. But is there anything that men can’t do? Dr Daniels admits there is a physical attribute that most men don’t have—slender fingers for intricate dental work.
“I often think I’m glad that I’m a woman because if I was a big man, it would be very difficult to do certain things,” she says. “In the instances when I take teeth out, patients often say, ‘Are you sure you’ve had your Weet-Bix?’ I have to tell them it’s not really strength in dentistry—it’s our technique.”
And there’s no doubt that Women in Dentistry has it all— a gentle manner, business prowess and dental finesse.
YOUR WORLd
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NEWS & EVENTS YOUR BUSINESS YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFECOVER STORY
ust 10 years ago, the Federal Govern-ment agency Skills Australia identified dentistry as an industry facing wide-spread shortages of skilled personnel.
A call went out for an increase in training of new dentists, development programs, the opening of new schools and an acceptance of international dentists for immigration.
It would seem that call has been heard and addressed, and possibly too much so. No longer facing a shortage, the industry is now grappling with the prospect of an oversupply of dentists.
According to the Australian Dental Association’s National Dental Update 2011, the number of registered dentists is 13,750, indicating an
average of over 300 new entrants to the workforce annually since 2006.
For the anticipated 2013 figure, however, the story changes direction dramatically. The number of graduates from Austra-lian university dental programs is expected to be around 450 per annum. Figures for overseas-qualified dentists entering the country suggest an additional 200 applicants are meeting Australian registration requirements each year.
When combined, these figures culminate into approximately 650 potential new dentists entering the workforce in 2013—a significant, more-than-double increase in new entrants into the workforce since the 2006 figures.
In response to the attention-grabbing claim that Australia is facing an ‘oversupply’ of dental staff, ADA president Dr Shane Fryer is clear.
“Yes, we do,” he states. “You could go one step further
and say we have a significant oversupply coming as early as next year.
“To put all of that into further perspective, there is also an-other 250 allied dental personnel coming into the marketplace, so you are almost starting to push 1000 new dental practitio-ners coming into the marketplace.
“But I would preface that by saying the ADA has always thought there has been a sufficient dental workforce, but there has been a misdistribution in the supply of that workforce.
“The trend of the dental workforce—dental practitioners moving from the rural and remote areas into the city—has not actually just stopped. It has actually reversed and that is why you’re seeing an improvement in dental practitioners out in remote areas.
“So you will be seeing a greater distribution of dental practi-tioners and thus a greater availability to the community.”
The result of this shift in workforce numbers is that new graduates are finding and securing work in metropolitan mar-kets more difficult than ever, and need to look further afield to secure permanent placements.
The Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency has even listed dental hygienists, technicians and therapists under a ‘Flag’ review on the Skills Occupations List.
“Basically, what flagged means is that it now requires con-tinual monitoring of the labour market conditions due to signs that graduate outcomes may be filing as supply increases,” Fryer explains. “Graduate outcomes is the percentage of graduates achieving full-time work.
“Further information showed there were widespread shortages of dentists between 2003 and 2009, but over the latter part of 2009 and 2010, shortages were only evident in regional locations.
“By May 2011, shortages were no longer evident with employers in both metropolitan and regional areas attracting
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While the data suggests the Australian dental workforce is almost full to bursting point, other factors reveal a concerning and less balanced side of the issue. By John Burfitt
COVER STORY
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Professor Chris Peck, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Sydney, says: “I don’t think there is a simple yes or no reply to the question of ‘do we have an oversupply?’”
multiple suitable applications and experiencing little difficulties in filling their vacancies.”
That may be what the data in the official reports indicate, but it is not what dental consultant Dr Phillip Palmer of Prime Practice claims he is seeing in the workforce. Palmer, also a director of recruitment company Dentist Job Search, says there still exists a dramatic difference in the response to job vacancies between metro markets and those in rural and remote towns.
As for the official reports, Palmer says, “I still don’t think they paint the overall picture, as in some parts of Australia, there is no question there is an oversupply of dentists and there has been for the past 10 years.
“In my opinion, there is a balance of dentists in the cities and a definite undersupply as you go further away from the metropolitan centres. If there is an oversupply, it is geographi-cally dependent.
“And this is now becoming a bigger problem in the metro areas where there are multiple applicants for every job. But if we put out an advertisement for anywhere that is a couple of hundred kilometres from a major city, there are either no ap-plicants or very few. The fact is, most dentists are not willing to go outside the cities.”
Palmer is not a sole voice on the view that Australia has enough dentists, but they are not evenly distributed across the population.
Professor Chris Peck, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry at the
University of Sydney, agrees there are more than a number of complicating facets to the issue.
“I don’t think there is a simple yes or no reply to the ques-tion of do we have an oversupply, but I do believe we have a misdistribution problem in Australia,” he says.
Peck points to the results of the University of Adelaide’s Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia 2011 report and wonders how can an oversupply be considered when large sections of the community still fail to even consider regular dental visits an important part of annual health care.
“In some of the studies, over 40 per cent of the population has untreated dental decay and that is particularly in remote and socially disadvantaged areas,” Peck says. “And only half the population say they visit the dentist, so that means we are only treating half the population at the moment.
“Those figures are worrying and need to be factored into the area of workforce type and distribution. There is also the figure of the projected population increase in Australia.
“I argue that we are not meeting the oral health needs of the
Large sections of the community, including the social-ly disadvantaged and people in remote communities, still have problems accessing dental care.
18
“Only half the population say they visit the dentist, so that means we are only treating half the population at the moment.”
QuoteProfessor Chris Peck, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney
community, and armed with that information, I think we need to have a coordinated approach to see how we best do that.”
Among the initiatives Phillip Palmer suggests that to directly deal with this misdistribution and to also engage new talents in the industry would be to encourage graduates to embark on a fixed period of career placement outside major cities in the initial phase of their careers.
“It could be a case of making them do a year residency upon graduation in a rural location, or even a HECS forgive-ness deal if they were willing to agree to spend a few years in the country,” Palmer suggests.
“There is a bunch of things they [the government] could do, but I guess they are waiting to see if the market will do it for them.”
The result of such plans and government initiatives to deal with an excess of skilled professionals could be a dramatic growth of public dentistry—something Chris Peck believes would not be a bad thing for the state of the industry.
“This could be good for public and regional, but also for academic dentistry,” Peck says. “The academic workforce is ageing and there is no succession plans.
“We need to look at training and the research areas so the academic workforce meets the needs of the increase in dental schools. But I don’t think it will be bad for private practice, as the Federal Government has already signaled dental health is integral to general health over the past few years.
“As long as the government and dental community work together, I think there could be substantial gains for the entire community. It is an exciting time for all the stakeholders, work-ing together to address the burden of disease and improve the general dental health of the population.”
Shane Fryer agrees that both public and private sector stand to win with an expansion in the number of dentists and through the better placement of personnel, but stresses the needs of a changing community needs to be paramount in deciding how people are engaged in the workforce.
“It would mean the areas where they need the workforce will now be able to get it,” Fryer says.
“The market forces will lead to a broader distribution of the workforce, so provided it is managed appropriately and cor-rectly and we don’t continue to have this drive for the opening of new schools and we instead go into a consolidation phase and invest in academic staff, it should be okay for everyone.
“But we certainly wouldn’t want to see the numbers to con-tinue to explode the way they have. We need to stop now.”
The academic future of dentistry needs considerable atten-tion, Fryer says, for the sake of current students and those in years to come.
“The calibre of students doing dentistry in Australia is second to none, but the drive for opening new schools should stop,” he says. “If we can now say the shortage of dentist numbers has been reversed, what we need now is a phase of consolidation so that they [the government] should not be investing in the creation of further student placements but redirecting that investment back into university facilities and aiming to increase the academic staff.
“There is certainly not an oversupply of academic staff, but with the increase in the number of students, you need appropriate increases in the teaching staff to continue to train world-class, first-class dentists, as we do in Australia.”
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NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFEYOUR BUSINESS
020 20
r Geraldine Moses is a con-sultant clinical pharmacist at Mater Health Services in Brisbane and has more than 20 years’ experience providing expert drug information.
“The pharmaceutical world is constantly, rapidly changing and dentists can’t sit on their laurels and rely on information
they learnt at uni or books they read ages ago as they’ll be out of date or simply incorrect,” she says.
Dr Moses suggests many dentists don’t think they need to know much about drugs and “cleverly limit” their practice to a narrow range of antibiotics, local anaesthetics and analgesics. “But whether they like it or not, their patients are going to be on a range of medicines, including herbal remedies they may never have heard of, yet they’re ex-pected to know what these drugs do and what their dental implications are,” she says.
Dr Moses offers a drug information advisory service to members of the Australian Dental Association (Qld branch) called ‘Ask the Expert’ which she encourages other state branches to adopt.
“My role is to keep drug information for dentists relevant, up to date and be there to help with the next patient who arrives at their surgery with a medication list a mile long,” she says. “Ignorance is not bliss and I implore dentists to check things they think are set in stone, read all they can or consult an authoratative source.”
Breakthrough anticoagulant drugs with implications for the dental profession include Dabigatran (branded as Pradaxa) which was launched in 2010 and marketed as a replacement for the widely prescribed Warfarin.
Dabigatran is used to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) which is an increasingly common heart disorder affecting approximately one in 10 people aged over 65. An ever-growing number of dental clients fall into this age bracket.
“The most serious complication of AF is not the palpita-tions but the high incidence of strokes…AF causes up to half of all strokes due to blood clots forming in the heart when the atria are fibrillating,” Dr Moses says.
“Warfarin may not be a popular drug but can reduce the chance of stroke by 60 to 70 per cent—this is a level of
efficacy drug companies dream about.“The problem with Warfarin is that it’s a difficult drug to
manage because the dose has to be individualised for every patient and requires constant blood tests.”
Dr Moses says the pharmaceutical industry identified a need for a drug as effective as Warfarin but without the need for regular blood tests—and that’s Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
“It can be prescribed in a standard dose for everybody, has low risk for drug interactions and little risk of cerebral bleeds,” she says.
“The market for these new drugs is so big and there are two other new drugs waiting in the wings for approval for use in AF … Rivaroxaban and Apixaban.
Drugs of choiceDental patients taking a cocktail of medications pose a serious challenge to practitioners who fail to keep up with the latest pharmaceutical advances. By Kylie Fleming
“Ignorance is not bliss and I implore dentists to check things they think are set in stone.”
Quote Dr Geraldine Moses, Mater Health Services, Brisbane
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22 “Already doctors are excited about the ease of these drugs but, and there’s a big ‘but’ with Pradaxa, they’ve been sneak-ily introducing it to the market with community familiarisa-tion programs and drug companies giving stock to general practitioners for free.”
Dr Moses says up to three months’ supply is dispensed directly to the patient with practitioners given the impression it is a “set and forget” drug.
“Problem is, it’s not set and forget [and] there have been hundreds of case reports of massive bleeds associated with
Dabigatran, some of them fatal,” she says. “Most of these have been in people aged over 75 years
and now we’ve learnt that these people required a lower dose due to the effect of renal decline on drug elimination.
“It appears also that drug interactions may have contrib-uted and we’re finding out that drugs like Verapamil and Amiodarone can increase Dabigatran levels up to 250 per cent…this interaction may be avoided if the Dabigatran dose is lowered.”
Other problems include the fact there is no antidote or
validated monitoring test for Dabigatran. “Vitamin K has long been available as an antidote for Warfarin in cases of over-dose or bleeds but if a dental procedure is carried out on someone taking Dabigatran and they bleed, there’s no drug to give as a reversal agent,” Dr Moses says.
“Also with Warfarin it’s simple to order an INR (interna-tional normalised ratio) test before a procedure and protocols are in place to determine whether it’s safe to go ahead. With Dabigatran there’s no such test.
“These drugs may be marketed as safe and drug interac-tion free but this is clearly an exaggeration and, regardless of hyperbole, the patient is fully anticoagulated and has every chance of bleeding.”
The same awareness is needed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories which dentists routinely use as a form of pain relief. “They’re very effective and usually well tolerated but we all know there are potential adverse effects,” she says.
“We’re finding that you can’t treat all anti-inflammatories as if they are the same in terms of safety…they are all equally effective but, in terms of risk, some are more dangerous than others. This is becoming really obvious now and dentists need to finesse which anti-inflammatories will offer maximum safety.”
Two big risks for dental patients taking these drugs are gas-trointestinal (causing ulcers and GI bleeds) and cardiovascular (causing high blood pressure and risk for myocardial infarc-tion). Dr Moses suggests the safest anti-inflammatories on the gut are Diclofenac (or Voltaren) and low-dose Ibuprofen while the riskiest are Piroxicam, Indomethacin and Ketoralac.
“A number of studies ranked them in terms of this risk and it’s amazing how they keep coming up with the same result,” she says.
The tables turn when considering cardiovascular ill-ness with the safest drug as low-dose Ibuprofen and the riskiest being Diclofenac.
“Diclofenac carries the most cardiac risk and it may have the same risk of Vioxx which went off the market for this very reason,” she says.
“Yet you can buy Diclofenac over the counter and it has the same risk of a heart attack as Vioxx…regulatory authori-ties are grappling with the implications of this.”
A well-known painkiller also causing concern is Di-Gesic which has two active ingredients—Paracetamol and Dextrop-ropoxyphene Hydrochloride (Dex).
“Dex has been identified as being dangerous for years as it can cause dysphoria, hallucinations and suicidal ideation and in older people it’s renally excreted, so if the kidneys are in decline then the drug can accumulate and cause heart arrhythmias,” Dr Moses says.
“People have died using this drug and it’s off the market in the US, UK, Europe and New Zealand but in Australia, for some bizarre reason, health professionals complained when a proposal came up to take if off the market.” It was an-nounced recently that Di-Gesic will stay on the market.
“Oral and maxillofacial surgeons like using Di-Gesic as it doesn’t cause as much constipation for patients as codeine but I fear they don’t know about the psychotic episodes or suicidal tendencies,” she says.
“They need to remain very vigilant as Di-Gesic is going to be staying around.”
YOUR BUSINESS
“Dex has been identified as being dangerous for years as it can cause dysphoria, hallucinations and suicidal ideation.”
Quote Dr Geraldine Moses, Mater Health Services, Brisbane
Whether dentists want to acknowledge it or not, their pa-tients are going to be on a range of medicines and dentists need to know what they are and their side effects.
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NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFEYOUR bUSINESS
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ntil recently, online reputation management probably didn’t seem like something that dental professionals would need to worry about—after all, they deliver necessary health services; they’re not celebrities or politicians. But these days, consumers want to have their say about every service experi-
ence they have—and they know which forums to use to air their grievances, or offer congratulations.
An online presence is unavoidable—in fact, it is funda-mental to the way your business interacts with patients and potential patients. “A dentist’s online presence creates both an advertising and customer service opportunity where they can either impress or disappoint depending on how they are found and how the information about their practice is pre-sented,” says Carl Burroughs, Integrated Dental Marketing’s marketing planning adviser.
And don’t be fooled, just because you haven’t actively courted an online audience doesn’t mean you don’t have one. Consumers use the internet not only to search for services, but to write reviews and share what they know about a business with their own networks. Patients—or service users—are increasingly web-literate and, thanks to smartphones and tablets, they can make their views known within minutes of leaving your surgery. As ludicrous or unfair as it seems, your online presence is vital to your professional reputation.
Some in the dental profession might be described as late adopters of social media and the web, preferring to do business the old-fashioned way. For these practitioners, the news that they even have an online presence can be a shock. “I’m not convinced that many dentists are aware they have
an online reputation to uphold,” says Wellsites founder and CEO Carolyn Dean. “All they have to do is Google themselves to find that the reality is quite different.” Your business will have, at the very least, an online listing, and probably much more of a presence than you may have bargained for.
Burroughs agrees: “A dentist’s reputation was once con-fined to word of mouth—those days have long gone. Word of mouth is still vital to every good dental practice, but it is now augmented by the dentist’s online reputation. A friend may recommend a dentist at the school gates, but the referred
potential patient will still Google the dentist as part of the process, even if it is simply to find the telephone number. If, when they do this, they find a bunch of negative reviews on Google Reviews, it’s not a good start to the transaction. Equal-ly, if they read a few positive reviews, this will consolidate the original recommendation.” Of course, both of these web experts emphasise the old sales adage that bad news travels further and faster than good news.
There are two main ways the public can make its feelings about service providers—and this includes everyone from teachers and musicians to plumbers and politicians—clear to
Screen saversIs it possible to manage your reputation online? Yes, say the web experts, and you should do so because you probably already have a larger web presence than you know. By Susanna Nelson
“A dentist’s reputation was once confined to word of mouth—those days have long gone, it is now augmented by the dentist’s online reputation.”
Quote Carl Burroughs, Integrated Dental Marketing
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a waiting audience of thousands of potential customers. “The first way is on social media, via platforms like Facebook and Twitter,” says Dean.
“These complaints are relatively easily dealt with because these are public forums and you have the right of reply—you can apologise, explain or refute the claims made on these sites.” Additionally, if you have created a ‘fan’ page on Face-book, you have the ability to build up a base of supporters and defenders who ‘like’ your page. These people can go into bat for you if a negative comment thread appears, and ‘shout it down’. As the curator of your own page, you also have a certain level of control. You can change the direction of the conversation to introduce positive discussion, or remove of-fensive or unreasonable content.
A more nebulous and less well-handled platform for complaint (or encouragement) is the plethora of review sites. Many of these are simply online listings or directories that allow anyone to rate the
establishment, be it a gallery, a shop, a school or a dentist’s practice. They include the aforementioned Google Reviews; True Local, another listing site with the option for the public to provide star ratings, and newer sites like WoMo, based on the word-of-mouth principle amplified by the web and Yelp, which Carolyn says is a cross between ‘yelling’ and ‘helping’.
Angry consumers are generally the most vocal of the online reviewers, so a self-search on these sites can be a dispiriting experience. But it is crucial that you know what is out in
the public domain in order to combat it. Don’t discount the possibility of negative online commentary emanating from competitors, either.
Burroughs recounts the case of a client whose practice suddenly received a suspiciously nasty review. His firm tracked the IP address of the complainant and found that the source of the ill will was a competitor practice around the cor-ner. Viral advertising had its genesis online, and it in turn has created a type of attrition marketing that requires businesses to take stock of their attitude towards the internet.
A third potential threat to some health professionals’ reputations is the new transparency of the records held by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AH-PRA). The online register of practitioners can be searched by anyone, and indicates any past reprimands by the Dental Board, even if these concern small breaches. The only way for dentists to deal with this is to have a social media page, so they have the ability to explain the nature of the repri-mand and assure patients that it is, for instance, trivial or long-resolved. So how can dentists keep pace with the court of public opinion on the internet? Should review sites be viewed as opportunities to make an impression, or threats to your business?
“Business processes are fundamental—dentists should be vigilant about what is said about them online,” says Dean. “This information is gold to the savvy practitioner. Smart busi-nesses survive by listening to feedback and responding to it.”
As a start, ensure your practice manager monitors your online listings once a month. Set up an account on Google Alert to allow you to view the sorts of web traffic your busi-ness receives; good and bad.
“Flood the internet with your name and positive informa-tion about your business and respond to negative reviews in a positive customer-focused way,” says Burroughs. This might include providing a free service as a good will gesture or some sort of encouragement to retract the negative review.
“Do not ignore the review and hope it goes away or start an online argument with the customer, claim the review is fake or similar. This will inflame the situation.”
Finally, don’t be afraid of social media. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter give you some control over your own press—and they’re free. Facebook ‘fans’ are invaluable when you need some community support. It takes a little effort to build them up, but they can help spread the word about you, and they can mitigate any negativity from fractious consumers or competitors.
YOUR bUSINESS
Carolyn Dean of Wellsites says step one is to get a presence on social media, so you have a platform to respond to critics.
“Information about what is said about you online is gold to the savvy practitioner. Smart businesses survive by listening to feedback and responding to it.”
Quote Carolyn Dean, CEO, Wellsites
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NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOUR TOOLS YOUR LIFEYOUR bUSINESS
028 28
hese days, people are willing to travel to a good dentist or special-ist. With increasing pressure on dental practices to stand out from the crowd, modern minimalist design is fast being overtaken by a more personal touch.
Natasha Connor of Ego Squared Design Consultants is glad to see the clean lines and gloss white of
the past decade be replaced by splashes of colour and deco-rative items. “When I first started, everything was minimalist and we’ve been stuck in minimalism for the last 10 years. Now, the luxurious feel is becoming more acceptable in the commercial field, which is really exciting for us because it’s far more interesting to work with,” says Connor. “The whole vintage thing is becoming more acceptable as well. People want their space to be about them.”
Whereas 10 years ago it would have been unthinkable to introduce a rug into a commercial space, Connor says tex-tured elements are becoming a popular non-permanent way of introducing colour to a space. Function, however, remains the primary focus, and elements such as replaceable carpet tiles, antimicrobial fabrics and heavy-duty commercial furni-ture are being judiciously used to shift clinical spaces away from the sterile look without compromising cleanliness.
The push towards luxurious, personal style has allowed
Connor and her team to introduce feature pendants, lamps and even chandeliers into commercial spaces. Artwork, too, is playing a huge role in the new generation of style. “There are huge numbers of artworks available, from digital prints
and photos to expensive art,” says Connor. “It’s accessible to everybody—even people just starting out—and you don’t have to spend millions of dollars to make an impact.”
Technology is being used in new and exciting ways to complement unique designs. In one practice in the city, Con-nor designed a magazine rack to house iPads linked to the
Less isn’t moreAfter a couple of decades of sleek, white, minimalist designs, new practices are adopting design flourishes that reveal the character of the practitioner. By Amanda Lohan
“When I first started, everything was minimalist and we’ve been stuck in minimalism for the last 10 years.”
Perth Prosthodondics is one practice which has embraced a more luxurious, textured commercial space, as opposed to the stark minimalism of the past.
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network. “Because it was in the city and most people came in on their lunch breaks, it meant people could check their emails while sitting in the waiting room.” Similarly, the old TV in the ceiling corner is being replaced by inexpensive and unobtrusive flat screens that make you feel like you’re in your lounge room at home.
When it comes to creating a harmonious, personalised space, Connor says it’s got a lot to do with gut instinct and what feels right. “You’ve got to have a sense of style, but you need to be able to visualise the whole space as well.”
Case study: Perth ProsthodonticsHusband and wife team Sharin de Silva and Janice Kan of Perth Prosthodontics knew what they wanted when they be-gan designing their practice in South Perth. They also knew what they didn’t want. “I guess it’s a bit ironic,” says de Silva, “but we didn’t want the patients to feel like they were walking into a CSI-like, sterile environment.”
Kan and de Silva’s preference was a more inviting and welcoming atmosphere that would put patients at ease. Their hope was that this would translate into reduced stress in the chair. “We asked ourselves, ‘Where are you most comfort-able?’ You’re usually most comfortable in the lounge room of your own home,” says de Silva. “So, we thought, ‘We’ll make the waiting room feel like a comfortable lounge.”
And that’s exactly what they did.With a fresh Hamptons-style colour palette and French pro-vincial touches, the practice has a timeless feel that will allow it to age well—and this translates into lower ongoing invest-ment. In addition, the classic choices give the impression of a long-standing, established practice that serves to offset their professionalism. The worn leather sofa looks like it has been there for a while and the use of natural light and tactile fibres, from the fabric chairs to the jute-style rug, choice of wallpaper and solid wood reception desk contribute to the warm feeling of a home office.
The use of natural light and warm fibres in the rooms at Perth Prosthodontics give the practice a timeless feel.
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They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so it’s no surprise that Perth Prosthodontics’ neighbours on both sides have now decided to renovate in a similar style, ap-propriating design elements such as paint colours and sheer privacy curtains. However, de Silva says that in most cases the design has been copied unsuccessfully. “The practice is an extension of my wife’s style and taste. You can’t just use parts of it and hope it works.” Indeed, the couple sourced elements from all over the world to achieve their cohesive classic style.
The project timeline posed its own challenges. The process commenced in mid to late June, with the location sourced by July and design kicking off in September. Construction began in October and, luckily, the 100 square-metres practice, encompassing three surgeries, a sterilisation room, waiting room and laboratory, was finished by the start of December.
If he could have his time again, de Silva says the only thing he would change is to allow more time for council approval, which took longer than expected. To those embarking on a new design of their own, de Silva highly recommends using a project manager with experience in the dental field but also, if possible, experience in that building or type of building. “If you are converting a house, look for a project manager who has converted houses before,” he says.
Nevertheless, the real lesson for de Silva has hit far closer to home. “In future, I would question my wife less—It has worked far better than we could have imagined.”
From greenfield sites and ground-ups to redesigns of exisiting surgeries, Medifit creates original dental practices that are state of the art in both form and function. Since 2002, Medifit has consistently delivered excellent results for dentists and specialists throughout Australia.
Working within clients’ timeframes and budgets, our design and construction team is unrivalled in producing the finest outcomes. It’s been the backbone of our success and the standard our competitors aspire to.
To experience the Medifit difference, contact us today for a no obligation consultation.
Your patients won’t be the only ones smiling.
SITE ASSESSMENT SPACE PLANNING INTERIOR DESIGN & FITOUT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION CORPORATE BRANDING
How to personalise your workspaceNatasha Connor offers top tips for personalising your practice:
Experiment with colour: A splash of paint or strategically placed wallpaper can make all the difference in creating a unique, personal space. Experiment with lighting: While workspaces may require bright lighting for colour matching and detail work, the reception and waiting areas need not be so harshly lit. Look for feature light fittings, but make sure they fit your overall design and the needs of the space. Remember that even compact fluorescents come in a range of fitting shapes and finishes. Introduce some art: Carefully chosen art pieces in a corresponding style can really personalise a space and help to communicate your concept. Not only that, if you know what to look for they can also be a solid investment that can offset your super in the long term. Remember your audience: While you may want to introduce your own personal flair, remember you are working with a public space and the rule ‘everything in moderation’ applies. Your design needs to appeal to a wide range of people.
Subscribe at www.bitemagazine.com.auSee the subscribe box on the right hand side of our home page and see our news page to comment on the latest dental news.
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Visit www.bitemagazine.com.au and enter your email address in the ‘subscribe’ box.
If you have any feedback or enquiries, just give us a call on
(02) 9660 6995
NewsBiteFP.indd 1 6/12/11 10:22 AM
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFEpROduCT guidE
Handpieces product guide
The most comprehensive guide to the best handpieces available on the market today.
33
Subscribe at www.bitemagazine.com.auSee the subscribe box on the right hand side of our home page and see our news page to comment on the latest dental news.
Free weekly news from BiteStay in touch...and join in the conversationReceive a free weekly email bringing the latest dental news and product reviews straight to your inbox. Then add your input through our comments section.
News Bites brings you the same high-quality content you’ve come to expect from Bite magazine via our weekly email newsletter.
Visit www.bitemagazine.com.au and enter your email address in the ‘subscribe’ box.
If you have any feedback or enquiries, just give us a call on
(02) 9660 6995
NewsBiteFP.indd 1 6/12/11 10:22 AM
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFE
adVERTORiaL
pROduCT guidE
Handpieces product guide
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The best choice in dental handpiecesThe dental handpiece is the most critical instrument in the field of restoration and prosthetics, yet many dentists lack detailed knowledge of the best choices available to them.
More surprisingly a number of dentists buy handpieces based on price, when they should be focusing on the features of the most suitable handpiece type for their situ-
ation. According to W&H Product Manger at A-dec, Shal Hafiz, a better quality handpiece will mean less time performing procedures, greater versatility, less fatigue and better patient outcomes.
Mr Hafiz said the first decision facing the dentist was whether to buy air or electric drive instruments – each of which had advantages in different situations.
TurbinesTurbines are simple and lightweight and are inexpen-sive, making them one of the most popular instruments. They are also popular among dentists who trained on turbines and are familiar with their operation and feel. Turbine speed is controlled through the foot pedal on the dental unit.
Air motorsThe air motor attaches to the base of the instrument and achieves a speed of around 25,000 rpm. It drives the bur indirectly via a geared transmission inside a contra-angle or straight handpiece. This allows the final speed to be altered with either a ‘speed increasing’ or speed reducing handpiece (or 1:1 direct drive).
Electric motorsElectric motors are favoured because of their immense torque, which makes them much faster when cutting and able to cope with today’s hardest restorative materi-als. The electric motor can achieve a speed of up to 40,000 rpm, with constant torque of approx 3Newton centimetres (3Ncm) and more than 60 watts maximum power. This is three to four times higher than a typical turbine.
Electrically-driven handpieces do not slow when the bur contacts different tooth structures or prosthetic materials as the controller compensates by automati-cally increasing the electrical current. The A-dec EA52 LED electric motors can be controlled by the A-dec 500 deluxe touchpad with inbuilt ‘endodontic’ function including auto-stop and auto-reverse.
The electric motor is much quieter than a turbine and the bur vibrates considerably less, offering greater cutting precision and a smoother finish. While heavier
than a turbine, it is well balanced in the hand and is regarded as the ‘Rolls Royce’ drive system.
LED lightingAlthough various forms of ‘LED’ (Light Emitting Diode) lighting are replacing halogen systems, it is important to note there are big differences to the way LED technology is used in dental handpieces. ‘LED+’ – the latest generation of LEDW&H pioneered LED lighting in dental handpieces in 2007 and is the innovator and undisputed leader in the field. W&H’s latest patented colour-balanced ‘LED+’ unit is located just below the head of the instrument and provides the most powerful and broadest beam of natural coloured light - right at the work surface where it is needed.
W&H Synea LED+ handpieces provide powerful natural coloured light where it’s most needed.
For more information, contact your local authorised A-dec Australia dealer visit www. .com or freecall 1800 225 010wh
The leading light
PEOPLE HAVE PRIORITY
Operate by daylight quality light – and with a self-contained light source. The new W&H surgical instruments with LEDproduce a pure white light autonomously and are therefore compatible with all motors with ISO coupling. This isthrough the integrated generator, which supplies energy to the LEDs in the SI-11 LED G and WI-75 LED G handpieces.You will be amazed by how much you can see at a brightness of up to 31,000 Lux.
Surgical instruments with self-generating LED
071220_WH_CHIRURGIE_A4_AEN_RZ.qxd 21.12.2007 12:51 Uhr Seite 1
What are the key factors for instrument maintenance? Correct cleaning and regular lubrication and your instrument will operate perfectly and give a good working life.
The Assistina 301 plus is an air-driven maintenance unit for straight and contra-angle handpieces, turbines, air motors and air driven scalers from all major instrument manufacturers. The Assistina operates on the principle of rotational lubrication. The result: minimal friction, low wear and long working life.
Other systems relying on glass rods cause a ‘spotlight’ effect and cannot provide the intensity of light or match the extremely high Colouring Rendering Index (CRI) of the latest W&H LED+ system. LED+ gives superior colour rendering (importantly of red shades) and bright, high contrast illumination of hard and soft tissue in and around the treatment area – especially important to help see through the cooling spray.
Handpiece head The smaller the head, the better the access and visibility of the site. When making a decision to purchase, the working height (head + bur) should be considered in addition to the diameter and height of the head (front to back).
Normally, the smaller the diameter of the turbine head, the less performance. However, the W&H ‘Synea’ range provides both high power and an extremely narrow head, which coupled with a superior lighting system provides the best access and visibility at the treatment site.
For general dentistry, the W&H Synea TA-97C LED provides optimum performance in the smallest head. For heavy crown reductions and excavations, the TA-98C LED provides the ultimate in power and performance and accepts burs of up to 25 mm.
Coolant sprayHigh heat is created through friction of the rotating bur on the tooth surface. A ‘spray mist’ cools the site (im-portant for cavity preparations close to the pulp) and the irrigation also helps remove the debris. European studies have shown the correlation between spray flow rate and the number of spray ports with the increase in tempera-ture of the tooth substance during preparation.
The study found instruments with several spray chan-nels offer greater efficiency, improved visibility, less risk of malfunction and greater safety if one channel be-comes blocked. Multiple spray ports ensure that even if the adjacent tooth is in the way, the remaining channels will still provide sufficient cooling. The W&H Synea ‘penta spray’ uses five ports for effective cooling of the bur and tooth surface and effective irrigation of the treatment area. W&H’s Alegra triple spray handpieces also feature high water volumes for effective cooling.
The W&H range of high quality, precision handpieces provides added comfort for patients and maximum bal-ance and performance for the dental professional.
More information on W&H handpieces including excellent value bundled package offers is available from A-dec. Visit www.a-dec.com.au or phone A-dec toll free on 1800 225 010 for your nearest A-dec dealer.
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFE
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Handpieces product guide
For a perfect performance and good results the right instrument plays an important part in your dental treatment. Precise results can only be achieved if your instruments are lightweight in
the hand and can be handled without effort. Sirona hand-piece are consistently pursuing this claim to bring you excellence and ergonomics to everyday working.
Developing for dentist’s needs “Our straight and contra-angle hand pieces which fit well in the hand and can be easily guided ensure precise op-erating results. This was is our main focus when it comes to product development,” says Sirona product manager Frank Peichl.
Sirona handpieces are the lightest in their class Fatigue-free working can be greatly improved with the use of lightweight instruments. As the only manufacturer in the dental field worldwide, Sirona uses super-plastic titanium forming technology in our instruments’ manufac-turing process. With this unique combination of process and material, we succeeded in producing instruments resulting to be amongst the lightest in their class.
In addition, titanium accepts the temperature of the hand quicker than steel and will feel warm to the touch, it cools quickly after sterilising and provokes no allergic reactions.
Ceramic ball bearings: for reliable treatment Sirona handpieces guarantee reliability and long life. The instruments are equipped with ceramic ball bearings. Premium products also feature a “diamond-like carbon” (DLC) coating, making them extremely resistant and durable. All Sirona premium handpieces are guaranteed to last with a full 3 year warranty.
In house handpiece repair centre Any maintenance can be taken care of through our own handpiece repair centre. Competitive pricing using only genuine parts will keep your handpieces in supreme work-ing order.
More torque less stressSirona Highspeeds offer outstanding torque with unique speed control system and up to 22 watts of power. Avail-able in both a standard and mini head.
Sironas range of highspeed, contra angle straight hand-pieces will provide a perfect fit for all applications.
To find out more about Sirona handpieces, go online to www.sirona.com.au or call 1300 747 662.
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Sirona Instruments – we only put the best into your hands
1. SIROBoost-S2. T1 mini3. T1 line C40L4. T1 line C200L mini
5. T1 Line prophy6. T1 line Eva 1.1 L7. T1 classic KML 1.6L
PROPHYFor prophylaxisThis contra-angle handpieceenables brilliant polishing of teeth and material surfaces in connection with brushes and caps.
EVA 04 L/11 LFor micropreparationsDue to the great fl exibilityof the fi le adjustment, thiscontra-angle handpiece isespecially good for polishingand removing compositeresidues and for smoothingroot surfaces.
KM 1.6 LFor surgeryThe Kirschner/Meyer prin-ciple, in which the rinsing liquid/ coolant is discharged directly in the milling area at the burr tip, enables atraumatic preparation and optimally supports surgical interventions.
Sirona August full page ad.indd 1 3/08/12 1:25 PM
NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFE
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Handpieces product guide
It is impossible to imagine practicing dentistry without a range of high performance, quality dental handpieces. Like everything, the evolution of dental handpieces and micromotors continues, resulting in the wide
available choice of handpiece types and applications. At the top end of handpieces are the solid Titanium series: lightweight, durable and tactile. In the mid range is stain-less steel and the economy ranges are still generally pro-duced from coated brass. There are also a wide variety of handpiece applications including Restorative, Endodontic, Implant, Surgical, Oral Hygiene, and more.
As factory production technology has advanced so has the capability of a serious handpiece manufacturer to further refine their precision production capability. For several years NSK Nakanishi has produced fine engineer-ing tolerances below 1 micron, allowing absolute precision rotation from 1rpm to 450,000rpm. This produces quality handpieces and micromotors that allow modern era dental procedures to be accomplished quickly and precisely. Cli-nicians appreciate the speed and accuracy at which they can conclude treatment programs. Patients are impressed
by the quality treatment result and especially by how quickly the treatment is concluded. These two professional capabilities alone are a significant competitive advantage for dentists who have invested in quality handpieces.
Handpiece selection is a personal choice for every dentist. Firstly any handpiece needs to feel “right” in the hand. A good tactile transfer sense is a primary require-ment, along with power, precision, weight, flexibility, user friendliness and minimal noise level.
It is also important to evaluate the serious nature of the handpiece manufacturer. NSK has been dedicated to precision handpiece production since 1930 and is today considered to be the largest dedicated quality handpiece manufacturer in the world.
High performance dental handpiece characteristics are dependant on regular and proper maintenance. High speed dental handpieces produce an RPM of around 28 times faster than Formula One racing car engines, and about 45 times the speed of a jet engine on take off. A strict main-tenance scenario is required to keep high precision dental handpieces at peek performance for long term reliability and durability. Quite simply the steps to remember for suc-cessful purchasing and maintenance of handpieces;1. Research is vital in purchasing the right handpiece. Re-cord the features and benefits of at least 3 different brands with a detailed checklist. Thus you ensure your handpiece is durable, reliable and is supported by the manufacturer Australia-wide. This will help you drive down your business costs and create ease-of-mind. 2. Drive down your repair cost through professional daily handpiece maintenance, and communicate these main-tenance procedures, through an easy to use wall-chart for example, to your staff.
Automatic and Manual Handpiece Maintenance To maintain NSK Handpieces in peak operating condition with the efficiency and accuracy required to perform ac-curate clinical procedures, it is recommended that all NSK Handpieces be serviced only by authorised NSK Techni-cians using authentic NSK components and spare parts.Dental practices should implement handpiece mainte-nances processes that involve the following 6 basic steps:Preparation; Cleaning; Disinfection; Lubrication; Sterilisa-tion; and Storage.
NSK has cleverly developed a maintenance chart avail-able free of charge for every dental practice in Australia and New Zealand. This chart quickly and easily explains correct handpiece maintenance for both automatic and manual cleaning methods. Request your free maintenance chart today by calling NSK on 1300 44 33 21.
Tip: Always have a backup plan in reserve in the event that a handpiece critical to your surgery should fail. To avoid downtime and patient inconvenience due to the pos-sible need to reschedule, a spare critical handpiece pro-vides insurance against surgery downtime. NSK’s Technical Centre repairs all NSK handpieces with authentic NSK components and spare parts. Call NSK on 1300 44 33 21 or email [email protected] for more information.
38
Dental handpiece selection & daily maintenance
NSK’s precision handpieces are marvelled at by den-tists and patients alike.
Prices Quoted are Aus Recommended Retail including GST. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Features• Quattro Water Spray• NSK DURACOAT• Silent Operation• Anti-heat System• Water Microfilter
Exceptionally Durable, Reliable and Precise
Introducing NSK Ti-Max Z – the most durable, high performance handpieceseries in its class ever offered by anyone, anywhere. Ti-Max Z contra-anglesfeature the smallest head and slimmest neck.
The precisiongives rise to performance
SOLID TITANIUM
Z95L Three year warranty
$2,178.00Recommended Retail
inc GST
13.913.4 15.0
8.9
8.0 9.3 8.4
10.3 9.6
NSK (Z95L) Competitor A Competitor B
0
100
200(h)
170h AverageLowest
100h
41h 35h 40h26h
Durability Evaluation test
The smallest and slimmest in the worldZ95L has the smallest head and slimmest neck dimensions among the all major competitors.
1:5 Speed increasing
$1,446.50inc GST
$2,051.50inc GST
Ti-Max Z25LOpticORDER CODE C1038
1:1 Direct Drive– Single Spray – For CA burs (ø2.35) – Max Speed: 40,000 min-1
Ti-Max Z15LOpticORDER CODE C1039
4:1 Reduction– Single Spray – For CA burs (ø2.35) – Max Speed: 10,000 min-1
Protect Your Investment with the ONLY ISO 13485 Certified Repair Centre in the Southern Hemisphere!
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KaVo. Dental Excellence in the 21st Century
• For over 100 years now, our employees have been developing, manufacturing and selling high-quality products that set new market standards. KaVo has made a significant contribution to progress in dentistry with its consistent innovations. This has made KaVo one of the international leaders in the dental branch and forms the basis for future growth.
• KaVo is continuously improving its processes to maintain the high quality that has been associated with the brand and the products of this well established company from the start.
• KaVo will continue to provide holistic, sustainable and comprehensive solutions for dental professionals and will work to prove itself as a reliable partner and expert consultant in all aspects of dentistry now and in the future.
Morita. Supporting Global Dental Healthcare with Innovative Technology and Education• Since our inception, in 1916 in the ancient capital of Kyoto,
MORITA has steadily grown in its core business as a specialist in dental health care, responding to the changing health care needs of our society. Having entered the 21st century, the health care industry is facing a wide variety of issues arising from an increasingly globalized, information-oriented and aging society.
• To address these issues, the MORITA Group collects and shares the most advanced technological information available via MORITA’s network. We will utilize such information to direct efforts in the development, manufacture and distribution of hardware and software useful for dental health care.
• As a group of specialized companies, the MORITA Corporation will also continue to focus on providing an improved dental health environment for the 21st century through a close partnership with dental schools and laboratories across the globe and by direct collaboration with clinical dentists.
B.A. International Handpiece Range• We have developed a wide range of new handpiece and
small equipment to meet your needs.
• These were introduced to offer a high quality, low price items which are great for items that are beyond economical repair. However, now with the support and satisfaction of our customers the brand has grown rapidly and become one of the favorite brand of handpiece in the market.
• To complete the handpiece portfolio HSH also offer Australia’s most popular and valued handpiece repair and maintenance centre, HANDPIECE HOTLINE, repairing more brands, more models and more handpieces than any other repairer.
Handpiece Hotline offers you the convenience of a single repair centre for all your handpieces, short turnaround times, skilled advice, FREE courier pickup and delivery, FREE quoting, 6 month warranties and many more benefits.When you utilise the benefit of one supplier to service your complete handpiece needs the greatest benefit is best quality and enhanced practice management efficiency which helps lead to profitability.
For more information or assistance in regard to handpieces please contact Helen Kesby 0449 901 679.
E [email protected] www.handpiecehotline.com.auP 1800 30 80 30 F 02 9697 6387
Henry Schein Halas offers the complete handpiece solution to the Australian Dental Market
ORDERS 1300 65 88 22 WWW.HENRYSCHEIN.COM.AU
Henry Schein Halas offers our customers the best handpiece quality and service. As trusted consultants we are committed to helping our customers by providing expert advice and the flexibility of choice of handpieces suitable for all needs.
Henry Schein Halas offers a selection of industry best brand handpieces with a broad variety of price points to suit everyone’s budget. Our partnerships with KaVo, Morita, BA and NSK enable us to offer superior service and choice for our customers which will lead to exciting marketing opportunities.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL HENRY SCHEIN HALAS SHOWROOM
Protect Your Investment with the ONLY ISO 13485 Certified Repair Centre in the Southern Hemisphere!
ONE STOP SHOP
KaVo. Dental Excellence in the 21st Century
• For over 100 years now, our employees have been developing, manufacturing and selling high-quality products that set new market standards. KaVo has made a significant contribution to progress in dentistry with its consistent innovations. This has made KaVo one of the international leaders in the dental branch and forms the basis for future growth.
• KaVo is continuously improving its processes to maintain the high quality that has been associated with the brand and the products of this well established company from the start.
• KaVo will continue to provide holistic, sustainable and comprehensive solutions for dental professionals and will work to prove itself as a reliable partner and expert consultant in all aspects of dentistry now and in the future.
Morita. Supporting Global Dental Healthcare with Innovative Technology and Education• Since our inception, in 1916 in the ancient capital of Kyoto,
MORITA has steadily grown in its core business as a specialist in dental health care, responding to the changing health care needs of our society. Having entered the 21st century, the health care industry is facing a wide variety of issues arising from an increasingly globalized, information-oriented and aging society.
• To address these issues, the MORITA Group collects and shares the most advanced technological information available via MORITA’s network. We will utilize such information to direct efforts in the development, manufacture and distribution of hardware and software useful for dental health care.
• As a group of specialized companies, the MORITA Corporation will also continue to focus on providing an improved dental health environment for the 21st century through a close partnership with dental schools and laboratories across the globe and by direct collaboration with clinical dentists.
B.A. International Handpiece Range• We have developed a wide range of new handpiece and
small equipment to meet your needs.
• These were introduced to offer a high quality, low price items which are great for items that are beyond economical repair. However, now with the support and satisfaction of our customers the brand has grown rapidly and become one of the favorite brand of handpiece in the market.
• To complete the handpiece portfolio HSH also offer Australia’s most popular and valued handpiece repair and maintenance centre, HANDPIECE HOTLINE, repairing more brands, more models and more handpieces than any other repairer.
Handpiece Hotline offers you the convenience of a single repair centre for all your handpieces, short turnaround times, skilled advice, FREE courier pickup and delivery, FREE quoting, 6 month warranties and many more benefits.When you utilise the benefit of one supplier to service your complete handpiece needs the greatest benefit is best quality and enhanced practice management efficiency which helps lead to profitability.
For more information or assistance in regard to handpieces please contact Helen Kesby 0449 901 679.
E [email protected] www.handpiecehotline.com.auP 1800 30 80 30 F 02 9697 6387
Henry Schein Halas offers the complete handpiece solution to the Australian Dental Market
ORDERS 1300 65 88 22 WWW.HENRYSCHEIN.COM.AU
Henry Schein Halas offers our customers the best handpiece quality and service. As trusted consultants we are committed to helping our customers by providing expert advice and the flexibility of choice of handpieces suitable for all needs.
Henry Schein Halas offers a selection of industry best brand handpieces with a broad variety of price points to suit everyone’s budget. Our partnerships with KaVo, Morita, BA and NSK enable us to offer superior service and choice for our customers which will lead to exciting marketing opportunities.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL HENRY SCHEIN HALAS SHOWROOM
Academyof General Dentistry
Program Approval forContinuing Education
PACEContinuing Education Recognition Program
C.E Hours apply to IAOTier Advancement
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NEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOuR buSiNESS YOuR LiFEYOuR TOOLS
43
Tools of the trade
(continued on page 44)
Logi Blocby Dr Roslyn Dick, Rochedale Dental Group, Rochedale, QLD
Logi Blocs are c-shaped and positioned on the opposite side of the mouth from where you are working. I prefer to refer to them as ‘jaw support’ as it’s a more patient-friendly description.
What’s good about itThe main advantage is that they are fairly compact compared to other models on the market. They are also designed with a space for the evacuator to fit between the upper and lower teeth. I find that a real benefit.
The green jaw support is slightly larger than the purple one. There may be other sizes available but in my experience these two are adequate for most people.
Most of my patients like the jaw support, and many ask for it to be used. By supporting the jaw, this simple device helps to relieve any muscle tension that is associated with holding your mouth wide open when visiting the dentist. I’ve also had them used when I was a patient, so I know they are comfortable.
Logi Bloc is not a new product—I’ve been using them for over 10 years—but they certainly make things easier and more comfortable for patients and dentists.
What’s not so goodOccasionally, if a patient is a gagger or has sensitive reflexes, then they are better off without it. The majority of my patients, however, prefer to have it in during a treatment appointment.
Where did you get itAmalgadent.
Mectron piezosurgeryby Dr Lincoln Harris, Harris Dental Boutique, Bargara, QLD
I like this ultrasonic bone cutter because even though it cuts bone quickly and efficiently, there is no risk of cutting soft tissue.
What’s good about itIt’s a great tool for surgical procedures, extractions and implant work. It’s particularly handy if you come across a tooth that’s ankylosed. Normally, you would be forced to cut a lot of bone away or cut the tooth up inside its own socket. By running the Mectron down the side of the tooth, you can cut a very fine 0.3mm channel all the way around and just pop the tooth out. Instead of a difficult extraction, it helps get the tooth out very quickly. It’s also very good when working near the sinus as it won’t easily cut the lining of the sinus. It’s also more gentle on the patient than rotary or reciprocated instruments as it doesn’t rattle their head as much.
What’s not so goodIt’s a very expensive piece of equipment. You don’t necessarily use it every day but when you need it, it saves you a lot of trouble, time and money.
Where did you get itHenry Schein Halas.
Finding the apex without the X-ray, using Blocs logically, and a ‘green’ way to achieve whitening are all in the spotlight this month
44
Tools of the trade (continued from page 43)
Natural+ teeth whiteningby Dr Harry Marget, East Bentleigh Dental, East Bentleigh, VIC
This is a teeth whitening system that works quickly with great results. I think Natural is an amazing product because, as far as I know, this is the first ‘green’ solution to whitening your teeth.
What’s good about itAll the ingredients are absolutely natural. There is no sensitivity afterwards and the whitening is dramatic. It’s very easy to apply and a good result is achieved in a short amount of time. The full treatment only takes an hour, including prep. It works with just one application of the bleaching gel whereas other systems require the patient to rinse and re-apply up to four times.
It’s also very cost effective compared to the commercial brands. The active ingredient is an aqueous compound with two types of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is stabilised, non-toxic, ecological and biodegradable. The gel has a neutral pH, contains no heavy metals and there is no tooth dehydration after use. Patients experience no after taste and no pain whatsoever. They are invariably impressed with the results as the degree of whitening is extreme.
What’s not so goodThe only downside is that it’s only available from one supplier that’s located in Sydney. However, they are very helpful and are able to supply countrywide.
Where do you get itGolden Medical (www.goldenmedical.com.au).
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Every issue we’re asking dentists to review their tools—telling us in a couple of paragraphs what they love about them and what they don’t like. Check out the reviews starting on page 43.
There’s only two rules—you have to be a practicing dentist, and it has to be something you use. The whole idea is to start a conversation between our readers. We don’t want to tell you what to buy. We want your peers—the people actually using the equipment—to guide you to what’s good and what isn’t.
If you’d like to write a review, email Rob Johnson at [email protected], and he’ll tell you what’s involved.
ReviewersMar2011.indd 4 8/3/11 3:30:10 PM
Tools of the trade (continued from page 43)
ProPex II apex locatorby Dr Tarek Rashdan, Hastings Dental Centre, Port Macquarie, NSW
I’ve been using this brand of apex locator for the past eight years and upgraded to the ProPex II a little more than a year ago. It’s a very reliable machine and I use it for every standard root canal therapy.
What’s good about itWhen I do a root canal treatment, I normally have to take a lot of X-rays to make sure I’m cleaning up to the apex of the root. The ProPex II locates the apex without the need for X-rays. I like to minimise the number of X-rays taken of patients whenever possible. The machine is hardy and very reliable with an accuracy of above 90 per cent. I have used another brand but this one is better, providing 0.1mm readings which are more accurate than the other machine. It comes with a separate monitor that displays how far you are away from the apex. It also makes an audible noise as you approach the apex. If the monitor is behind me or I can’t see it while I’m drilling or progressing the file, I can still hear it beeping, so I know when I’m getting close.
What’s not so goodThe only problem occurs when using it with an infected tooth. If there is pus or blood coming out of the canal, it doesn’t give an accurate result. It can only be used with a dry media so in that situation, the apex has to be found using X-rays.
Taught using a blended learning approach with face-to-face training at the ADA Training Centre in Sydney. A unique educational experience with access to world-leading experts from your home, office or practice.
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YOUR LIFENEWS & EVENTS COVER STORY YOUR BUSINESS YOUR TOOLS
46
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am
sey
Abraca-dentistDr Soo-Wee Ong of Dewhurst Dental, Armidale, NSW, has some tricks up his sleeves when he performs as a self-taught magician
I don’t think I have ever met anyone who wasn’t fascinated with magic as a young child.
However, my fascination never left me and I now work as a magician. I am 100 per cent self-taught, and spent many hours annoying my flatmates when at university. now, my wife has become my test audi-ence. If I can get a trick past her, I can get it past anyone! For me, this interest turned serious when I finished university in 2004.
“these days, I work as a close-up magician. I love this brand of magic as I commonly perform with borrowed items like rings, pens, coins, rubber bands and the magician’s best friend, playing cards. Performing up close to my audience and seeing the look on their faces is truly satis-fying and memorable.
“In november last year, I decided to get serious and turn my hobby into more of a business. I started my website (www.sooweemagic.com) and printed up busi-ness cards. I also recently hired a graphic
designer to create a corporate identity for me. almost im-mediately I started getting work at weddings, restau-rants, after-dinner presentations and cocktail hours. the amount of work has continued to
grow and I’m doing more gigs than ever. “Being a magician can’t be more dif-
ferent from being a dentist. I sometimes incorporate a bit of magic in my dental practice. when I first started, one of my dental nurses suggested I should make balloon animals for the kids. the kids always find it extremely funny when I blow up the balloons with a triplex. there are also a few adults who request a trick at the end of treatment, which is a nice way to finish their visit.
I have a set of 20 to 30 effects that I have mastered and perform on a regular basis.
YOUR LIFE
L-R: Paul Catanzariti, Michael Fazzolari, Jeff Miller, Simon Moore, Trevor Knowles,Sam Baxter, Debbie Kiely, James Thomas, Todd O’Reilly, Pat Salter,Michael Foley, Ryan Raymond, Stafford Hamilton, Amanda Abbott, Daniel Volker,Richard Curia, Nick Tagg, Alan Coughlan, Craig Spiegel, Debbie Stringer,Lynne Kelly, Di Stewart, Melinda Goddard, Angela Warren, Sandy Constanti, Michelle Gianferrari, Barry Lanesman, Jacqui Lombard, John EvansRicky Wong, Tony Kalmin, Kingsley Valladares, Kelly Gall, Paul Richardson,Andre Karney, Penny Murphy, Paul Hastings, Bill Dale, Luke Truscott.
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Out of the Ordinar y
Out of the Ordinar y
Specialist Bank
CLINICALLY
PROVEN
BLOCKSchannels to the nerve
NUMBthe nerve
Most SensitiveToothpastes†
WHY DOES IT WORK BETTER?
† Potassium variants which numb the nerve. * When directly applied to each sensitive tooth with a fingertip for one minute.** Vs. Potassium and strontium based sensitive toothpastes. 1 Nathoo S et al J Clin Dent 2009; 20 (Spec Iss): 123-130 .
