Dec 10, 2024
Sorry to add more to your inbox but I want to get this blog out before Christmas so you know about our closure and emergency protocols.
I’m going to start with the exciting news……we have another dentist who joined the practice at the end of November. As you know Karenn, our dental therapist, left in June and Shilpa. a hygienist, took over 1 day. We decided to take the time to work out what will work best for clients and the practice rather than knee jerk reaction to filling Karenn’s role.
A dental therapist as you may be aware does hygienist work AND can also do fillings. So, another therapist or a dentist? Then Laura came on the scene and the decision was made - dentist. She will start working two days per week, Wednesday and Thursday and will build her days up over time.
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Laura started her career with a degree in Zoology but there were not many positions for this around so she went to work in a bank. She felt she wanted a bit more contact with people and applied to do dentistry. While waiting for this to happen she started working as a dental nurse in a practice in Winchester. After qualifying she returned to this practice and has been working there as a dentist since.
Laura qualified from Aberdeen Dental School in 2017 and has continued to train and learn so that she can progress her skills. She has just completed a 'Cosmetic Dentistry and Aesthetic Restorative dentistry’ year long course which she feels has really enhanced all areas of her dentistry. She undertook this course as she has a particular interest in providing minimally invasive aesthetic dentistry which basically means, a bit like Rob, if you don't have to remove a bit of tooth, don't remove it. She has a very calm and caring nature and is especially good at making nervous clients feel at ease. This ethos and nature fits incredibly well with the team at Gentle Dental.
Laura is returning to work post maternity leave and has two daughters, Olivia age 3 and Sophie 9 months old. When not at work she enjoys being ‘Mummy’ to her two wonderful little girls and spending time walking outdoors in the beautiful countryside or baking. The latter does not bode well for the waistlines of the Gentle Dental team!
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We also welcome Kensie to the reception team. It has taken a bit of time to find a replacement for Laura (now back from her travels) and Patricia, who is enjoying retirement. Kensie has worked as part of a reception team in a dental practice in Andover and last summer qualified as a dental nurse, so she brings a lot of experience to the team and has fitted right in at Gentle Dental.
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Taryn got married to the wonderful Tom in November and boy has she given him an out! They got engaged on her birthday so she chose that date to get married. One date, double celebration. A lot of pressure for him in the future! Taryn hides her love of heavy metal/goth style while at work but she really let her inner goth out on her wedding day. As expected, she looked beautiful.
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Rob and I completed our charity walks in aid of Wilton Riding for the Disabled. I did 100km (approx. 62 miles) on the South Coast in September and made it to the finish in just under 22 hours. My feet were wrecked!
Rob did 50 km (31 miles) in the Chilterns in an amazing 9 hours. If you work this out, he walked a faster pace than me - not that I am competitive or anything! No longer can he claim that he slows me down.
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We continue to offer the Oral B vouchers for reductions on iO toothbrushes. However, the offers on the high street in the run up to Christmas are often unbeatable. If you need advice on which one to get and what is good value just ping in a text or email (or call) and I am happy to give you an idea of where to start. It can be a bit daunting when you walk in to a shop and are faced with several shelves of electric toothbrushes.
In a nutshell, Pro3 is the old technology and a basic brush, as in no bells or whistles, but it does a good job.
The new iO technology does give an amazingly good clean feeling. The difference is the old technology allows the brush head to ossilate and vibrate while the iO technology (magnets) also allows the bristle ends to move and vibrate, thus the really clean feeling.
iO 3 is the basic model, again no real bells or whistles, and charges on the old style charger. iO 4 upwards work with an app and each one has an increasing number of modes and gimmicks. The choice comes down to how much gadgetry you want and the price you are happy to pay. iO 4 upwards works on a newer style charger. Hopefully this gives a starting point but as I say, just give a call.
I would like to thank you all for your patience while we have been figuring out how best to move forward with staffing. With my diary full 8 months in advance and Karenns’ full for six months after her leaving date, it has been a juggle, to say the least! The reception team have been; and continue to work incredibly hard to bring appointment forwards a soon as the diary changes. It is beginning to even out and should improve massively from January when Shilpa (hygienist) takes on a second clinical day at Gentle Dental. She will now be able to offer appointment on Thursday as well as Tuesday.
Finally please make note of our Christmas closure. We will close at 2pm on Monday Dec 23rd and reopen at 8am on Thursday 2nd January. As always, emergency advice for registered clients is available during this period. Simply call the practice in the normal way and follow the instructions.
A reminder that if you are a member of the practice you have worldwide emergency cover away from home. SImply arrange to see a dentist, (Practice Plan can sometimes help with this in this country), keep your receipt and contact us on your return so we can assist with the claim process. The email you received when you joined will give details of how much you can claim back.
It now simply remains for me to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Niamh, Rob and the Gentle Dental team