Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Making us Smile
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
A date for your diary
Between 12pm and 2pm there will be a variety of local beauty and healthcare providers in the Town Hall for you to meet and chat with. Many have special offers and all will be able to help you with your queries, whether it is about orthodontics, dentistry, hairdressing, fashion, beauty or cosmetic surgery.
Megan and Carly will be there to discuss all aspects of orthodontic treatment and will be especially featuring the invisible options of Invisalign and Incognito, plus an exclusive discount on Invisalign treatment.
Best of all, the whole event is free! See you there!
You can visit the website for more information
You can follow the event on Twitter
Find it on Facebook
And on YouTube
Monday, 5 July 2010
Six Month Smiles?
I've noticed a recent trend in new treatments that promise straight teeth in less time than traditional braces, in six months or even as little as six weeks. These treatments are being promoted to general dentists as a simple way of helping their patients. They are also being promoted as a brand, direct to patients. They are not marketing to specialist orthodontists, who you might think would be the ideal market.
I have a few concerns over whether branded short treatments (such as Inman or Six Month Smile) are the right thing for patients in the long term.
The appearance of the braces is often not very aesthetic, can be quite bulky and difficult to wear, and one make used a type of clear bracket material that is considered outdated and inferior (composite rather than ceramic). In a short space of time a tooth position can be dramatically improved, but for most cases it would still not be ideally positioned in such a short space of time.
There is natural limit on how fast a tooth can move, and I would like to see reasearch as to whether faster movement is detrimental to the tooth, and whether the teeth are more likely to relapse.
My main concern is that dentists who are inexperienced in orthodontics are being told this is an ideal solution for their patients, that it is easy to do and their patients don't need traditional orthodontics. There's a reason that I did three years dedicated orthodontic training and making orthodontics seem easy devalues the many orthodontic specialists. Yes, fitting braces, changing wires, instructing patients is fairly easy to learn, but seeing the whole picture, understanding possible side effects and being able to correct errors is something that takes training and experience. I know from using Invisalign that there is a learning curve with every new appliance and now I understand its limitations I can recommend it with confidence to the right patients.
So if you are considering orthodontic treatment to improve your smile be sure your dentist or orthodontist explains the pros and cons of the treatment, and find out what the alternatives are. I offer a wide range of brace types, varying in speed, cost and aesthetics so for most patients there is an option to suit them.
Can I provide straight teeth in six months? In a few cases, probably.
Can I promise straight teeth in six weeks? No, not to the standard that I would be happy with.
Can I offer the best treatment type for you? Yes!
I have a few concerns over whether branded short treatments (such as Inman or Six Month Smile) are the right thing for patients in the long term.
The appearance of the braces is often not very aesthetic, can be quite bulky and difficult to wear, and one make used a type of clear bracket material that is considered outdated and inferior (composite rather than ceramic). In a short space of time a tooth position can be dramatically improved, but for most cases it would still not be ideally positioned in such a short space of time.
There is natural limit on how fast a tooth can move, and I would like to see reasearch as to whether faster movement is detrimental to the tooth, and whether the teeth are more likely to relapse.
My main concern is that dentists who are inexperienced in orthodontics are being told this is an ideal solution for their patients, that it is easy to do and their patients don't need traditional orthodontics. There's a reason that I did three years dedicated orthodontic training and making orthodontics seem easy devalues the many orthodontic specialists. Yes, fitting braces, changing wires, instructing patients is fairly easy to learn, but seeing the whole picture, understanding possible side effects and being able to correct errors is something that takes training and experience. I know from using Invisalign that there is a learning curve with every new appliance and now I understand its limitations I can recommend it with confidence to the right patients.
So if you are considering orthodontic treatment to improve your smile be sure your dentist or orthodontist explains the pros and cons of the treatment, and find out what the alternatives are. I offer a wide range of brace types, varying in speed, cost and aesthetics so for most patients there is an option to suit them.
Can I provide straight teeth in six months? In a few cases, probably.
Can I promise straight teeth in six weeks? No, not to the standard that I would be happy with.
Can I offer the best treatment type for you? Yes!
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Apple iPad
We've got a new gadget to use in the surgery (I have to confess to being a gadget-lover).The Apple iPad.
Its very lovely and is drawing lots of admiring glances from patients (as well as from my friends and colleagues)
You might wonder how we use it. I am putting my demo photographs and treated cases on it so I can show new patients a wider variety of pictures than the ones I currently have in my photo folder. The photos look fab on the big screen and using an app called 'Photo-Sort' I can organise them into folders and sub-folders with custom labels and in the order I want them (the Apple photo app won't do this). Of course we always ask our patients permission to use their photos inside or outside the surgery.
I also like 'Pocket Pond' and 'Colorful Aquarium' to put on the screen to display the iPad when I'm not using it. Plus I'm using 'Numbers' to easily calculate payment plans.
I can think of several improvements Apple need to make, but generally a lot of them can be achieved using the appropriate app, I'm sure we will find more in-surgery uses for the iPad as time goes on. If you'd like to see it when you visit please ask!
Monday, 14 June 2010
Come on England!
How do you show your support for your World Cup football team? How about wearing the colours on your braces like this young patient?
Monday, 7 June 2010
Beautiful!
These sisters have both had orthodontic treatment here at Wetherby Orthodontics. Aren't they beautiful?
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
FREE CONSULTATIONS
FREE CONSULTATIONS *LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE*
To celebrate our latest advertisement in Excelle magazine (the full page ad at the front) we are offering a FREE initial consultation to anyone (adults of children) who brings the advert with them over the next two weeks.
Perhaps you've always fancied improving your teeth but have no idea what it would involve? Perhaps you'd like to find out more about Invisalign invisible braces? Perhaps you'd like us to assess your child's suitability for braces?
We have a limited number of slots available to fill from Monday 24th May to Wednesday 2nd June, so that includes half term. Once we're full that's it! Call us today on 01937 580510 to book an appointment.
To celebrate our latest advertisement in Excelle magazine (the full page ad at the front) we are offering a FREE initial consultation to anyone (adults of children) who brings the advert with them over the next two weeks.
Perhaps you've always fancied improving your teeth but have no idea what it would involve? Perhaps you'd like to find out more about Invisalign invisible braces? Perhaps you'd like us to assess your child's suitability for braces?
We have a limited number of slots available to fill from Monday 24th May to Wednesday 2nd June, so that includes half term. Once we're full that's it! Call us today on 01937 580510 to book an appointment.
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