- British Dental Health Foundation

WordofMouth
ISSUE 07 / MAY 2013
National Smile
Month Profession Edition
NATIONALSMILEMONTH
May 20 - June 20
British Dental Health Foundation
WordofMouth
CONTENTS
DR NIGEL
CARTER
OBE
Chief Executive of the British
Dental Health Foundation
04
Lifetime Award for Charity Boss
Dr Nigel Carter at the Dental Awards
14-15
Making a Case for the Campaign
Your National Smile Month stories
05
16-17
Oxford Team Revved Up For Success Smile Success
The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Oral
Health Promotion Team
06-07
Major Organisations Back Campaign
National Smile Month 2013 sponsors
Jane Butterworth opens up the doors for NSM
18-19
The Oral Healthcare Programme
Louisa Rowntree discusses the Wrigley Oral
Heathcare Programme
20-21
08-09
Taking Part in National Smile Month Looking After Their Smiles
Getting involved in this year’s campaign
NUK and the importance of a baby’s health
10-11
National Smile Month in Schools
22-23
Special Smiles
12-13
National Smile Month: The W’s
24-25
Shop
Bring smiles into the classroom
A brief guide to National Smile Month
Dr Amber Qureshi and the Special Olympics
Resource offers for National Smile Month 2013
Over the last 37 years National
Smile Month has continued to
broadcast positive oral health
messages throughout the UK. In
2013, National Smile Month will
attempt to decrease the gap in the
levels of oral health that currently
exists between the socio-economic
groups of the UK, to once again try
and improve the nation’s health for
the better.
I have been delighted to see National
Smile Month growing consistently
as a campaign for many years now.
Its success has been down the
continued support, for both the
campaign and the Foundation itself,
from the profession – especially in
light of the NHS reforms and the
economic downturn, which we first
feared could have had a disastrous
impact on investment in oral health
education. To all these, I thank you.
National Smile Month events
organised by practices, hospitals and
oral health educators have made a
tremendous impact in increasing
the scale of the campaign but we
are constantly discovering that it is
having an impact in other areas as
well. Workplaces and in particular
schools are now embracing the
campaign with fun sponsored
events, which is fantastic, not only
for the campaign itself but for the
impact it’s messages have on those
who take part.
I am quite certain, and delighted
by the fact, that the impact of the
oral health campaign on the public
remains as strong as ever. For this,
we owe our greatest thanks to
the many dental practices up and
down the UK who took the time and
invested in resources to put hold
some spectacular events which not
only draw in the crowds, but more
importantly, manage to educate
people of all ages and backgrounds
on the importance and value of
maintaining good oral health.
And finally, I would also like to thank
our corporate sponsors for National
Smile Month; Platinum sponsors
Oral-B, Wrigley Extra and Listerine,
together with Philips, Lloyds
Pharmacy, Bupa, Invisalign, NUK and
Denplan who all heavily contribute
and invest in the campaign, their
efforts are very much appreciated
by all here at the Foundation.
I hope you enjoy this special edition
of Word of Mouth and have fun in
National Smile Month in 2013 – I
wish the best of luck to all those who
get involved.
David Westgarth
davidw@dentalhealth.org
WordofMouth
Editor
David Westgarth
Art Director
Doychin Sakutov
Guest Writers
David Arnold
Jane Butterworth
Louisa Rowntree
Dr Amber Qureshi
NUK
Educational Resources
Amanda Oakey
Becky Sollis
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health
Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, has been
awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at
this year’s Dental Awards.
Nigel has been Chief Executive of the Foundation
since 1997 and was previously Chairman and trustee
within the organisation. The charity, which he helped
to found, continues to go from strength to strength.
The Foundation’s accreditation scheme now operates
in over 60 countries worldwide where its standards
and specialist services are as valued in the protection
of public dental health as they are in the UK.
The success did not stop there, as Nigel has also been
entered onto the British Dental Association’s Roll of
Distinction to be presented at the BDA Awards Dinner
in November.
The awards cap a remarkable 12 months for Nigel, who
was also awarded an OBE for his services to dentistry in
the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last year.
Nigel said: “I am truly honoured to have received
these accolades. They reflect tremendously well on
the standing the Foundation has within the industry
that I was even discussed as a nominee, let alone the
recipient.
“It gives me great delight to know our work has not
gone un-noticed. There is still a great deal more we can
do collectively, yet with the support of the profession
4
and industry I am confident levels of oral health will
continue to improve.”
Nigel trained as a dentist at Birmingham University, and
as well as having his own practices in Birmingham he
also ran a company training dental nurses and dental
technicians.
Overseeing the Foundation’s work including National
Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month, Nigel
works with health departments, representatives of
major health, cancer, dental and medical organisations.
Nigel is also Trustee and treasurer of the Royal Society
for Public Health and takes a strong interest in Public
Health, the current NHS reorganisation and the social
determinants of health.
Commenting on the Outstanding Achievement award,
John Siebert, President of the British Dental Health
Foundation, said: “I am sure I speak on behalf of the
profession when I say congratulations to Nigel on such
a prestigious recognition. It is very well deserved and is
a testament to the hard work, time and passion that he
has dedicated to the Foundation.
“Nigel is a great advocate for the dental health
profession, and he has helped to shape and challenge
the way we think about oral health in this country.
Thanks to his work with the Foundation, thousands
of dental professionals past, present and future have
been inspired to help their patients improve their oral
health.”
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LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD FOR
CHARITY BOSS
OXFORD TEAM REVVED
UP FOR SUCCESS
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Oral Health
Promotion Team has scooped the ‘Best National
Smile Month Event’ at this year’s Dental Awards.
Held at the Lancaster London Hotel on Friday night
19 April, the Dental Awards recognise and reward the
highest standards in UK dentistry and oral healthcare.
The Oxford team won the award for their contribution
to the campaign, eclipsing their ‘highly commended’
recognition from last year.
Using the Cherwell District Council NHS health bus, the
‘Smile Month 2012 Roadshow’ rolled into Abingdon,
Banbury and Oxford to dish out oral health information
and some fun oral health treats too.
Heather Duignan, Health Improvement Practitioner/
Manager from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust,
said: “We are delighted to have won this year’s award
for ‘Best National Smile Month Event’. We are a small
but dedicated team and feel privileged that our efforts
have been recognised by the judging panel amongst
what we are sure was very stiff competition.
Making the finals was a huge achievement for our team
and winning the award has given us a huge sense of
accomplishment, not only for ourselves but also for the
dental service and our Trust. We take pride in all our
work, and a sense of satisfaction in making a positive
difference to our patients and the wider public. As with
many public sector roles, we don’t expect accolades for
what we do. Maybe that is why when a pat on the back
does come along makes it all the more appreciated
and meaningful.”
Simon Howell, Director of Campaigns at the British
Dental Health Foundation, and one of the judges of
the award said: “It is testament to the team at Oxford
NHS Foundation Trust that after narrowly missing out
on this award last year they went back and improved
the event this year.
“The standard of this year’s entries was particularly
impressive. National Smile Month in 2012 took on a
new dimension with the introduction of the ‘Smiley’.
It’s back for 2013, and I look forward to an even better
standard next year.”
The Oxford team weren’t the only ones to scoop a
prize during the evening. Sponsored by Colgate with
proceeds going to Mouth Cancer Action Month, three
lucky raffle winners also had a night to remember.
Presented by John Siebert President of the Foundation,
the top prize was a trip to New York, followed by a
12-bottle case of champagne and a 12-bottle case of
wine.
The Foundation wishes to thank Colgate for their
continuing support and generosity and welcomes
other commercial sponsors to help raise awareness of
this ever-growing disease.
For information on sponsorship, National Smile Month
or Mouth Cancer Action Month, please contact the
Foundation on 01788 539792.
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SUPPORTERS OF
MAJOR ORGANISATIONS NATIONAL SMILE
BRING A SMILE TO
MONTH
ORAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN
The UK’s largest oral health campaign is
being backed by some of the nation’s bestknown brands.
Despite major improvements since National Smile
Month launched in 1977, millions of people in the UK
are still affected by poor oral health. Two in every three
adults have visible dental plaque, and three in every ten
suffer from regular dental pain.
It is estimated that a quarter of adults don’t brush their
teeth twice a day, including a third of men. Only half of
the population visit their dentist every six months, while
around a quarter of all adults have not visited a dentist
in the past two years.
National Smile Month, which runs from 20 May to 20
June 2013, is organised by UK charity the British Dental
Health Foundation and encourages everyone to follow
three basic rules for great oral health throughout life:
•
Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with
a fluoride toothpaste,
•
Cut down on how often you have sugary foods
and drinks,
•
Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they
recommend.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation,
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “I would like to thank all
sponsors and supporters for their backing during
National Smile Month. Their involvement means millions
6
of people in the UK will be encouraged to improve their
oral health and the many benefits this brings.
The British Dental Health Foundation would like to thank the following
sponsors who are helping to make everyone smile in 2013 with their
educational grants and generous charitable support.
“More than 2,000 organisations and companies have
registered for this year’s campaign, while almost 300,000
of the National Simile Month ‘Smileys’ have been sent
out. With the support of our sponsors and dental
professionals across the country, together we can aid
improvements in oral health.”
James Fulton from Listerine said: “Listerine are proud to
partner with the Foundation to support National Smile
Month 2013. We are dedicated to improving the UK’s
oral health and think that National Smile Month is a great
way to get people thinking about the importance of a
good oral hygiene routine. We look forward to working
together to delivering another successful campaign this
year!”
Irafan Omerji, Oral-B Market Strategy & Planning Manager
added: “Oral-B are proud to be a platinum sponsor of
National Smile Month! Oral-B is dedicated to enabling
the dental profession to improve the oral health of their
patients with clinically proven innovations that serve the
nation in having healthy beautiful smiles.”
Katie Codd, Wrigley Extra Brand Manager, said: “Extra is
proud once again to be a Platinum Sponsor of National
Smile Month. We see National Smile Month is an
important and effective campaign for promoting better
oral health and we are excited to be supporting again in
2013.”
SPONSORSHIP IN 2014
If you would like to support or sponsor National Smile Month in 2014, please contact Simon Howell
at the British Dental Health Foundation at simon@dentalhealth.org for a sponsorship pack.
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TAKE PART IN NATIONAL
SMILE MONTH – IT’S NOT
TOO LATE!
The first steps are easy…. simply let us know that you’re
interested in the campaign and we’ll send you lots of
great National Smile Month material, information and
resources. These include a campaign guide, resources
catalogue, newsletters, logos and artwork and lots more
vital information!
Finally, we are giving away thousands of free smileys –
the symbol of this year’s campaign. They are great fun,
make anyone smile and also remind everyone how to
take care of their teeth with our three messages for great
oral health printed on the reverse. Each organisation
who registers will receive five free smileys.
If you’re reading this and not yet involved in
National Smile Month 2013, don’t worry, there’s
still plenty of time to get on board.
REGISTER
YOUR
EVENT
Tell us about your event for National Smile Month!
National Smile Month events can be all shapes and sizes,
from street parties and mass participation events to oral
health displays or educational talks in a nearby school.
But whether your celebration is big or small, please get
in touch and tell us about your National Smile Month
plans.
Please let us know what you are planning for your
organisation, school or community. Each year MPs,
members of the public as well as local, national and
trade media ask us what is happening in their area for
National Smile Month. We might be able to help you to
gain recognition and media coverage you are looking
for. And even if you may not need the extra publicity,
please still tell us about your event, as the more events
we know about, the more we can meet the needs of our
participants in future years.
Simply send us an email to pr@dentalhealth.org with
your name, organisation, address, telephone number
and your event details – it’s that easy!
Alternatively, just give us a call on 01788 539 792 and
express your interest in the campaign – we would love
to hear from you!
Dental Awards 2014
When registering your event with us, you will automatically be entered into the 2014 Dental Awards for
the ‘Best National Smile Month Event’ category. The awards recognise exceptional individuals, teams and
practices that are at the top of their profession and present a fantastic opportunity for them to show how
remarkable they are.
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MAKING A CLASSROOM
SMILE THEIR WAY THROUGH LIFE
BY DAVID ARNOLD
It is a staggering thought, but in Primary Schools
across the UK around eight or nine children in
every class will have already developed tooth
decay. That’s approaching a quarter of a million
children in each primary school year and around
3.3 million young people aged 0-14 years.
Yet poor oral health is one of the most preventable
common childhood diseases in the world. All that’s
required is education and a good daily oral health
routine. In most cases, it’s nothing more than doing the
following:
•
Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day
with a fluoride toothpaste
•
Cutting down on how often you have sugary foods
and drinks
•
Visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they
recommend
Schools, working with parents and health professionals,
have an important role to play in educating young
people about healthy lifestyles, including their oral
care. Introducing oral health into the school curriculum,
especially at Key Stage 1 and 2, can make a big
difference. Research has shown that people who learn
good habits as children are far more likely to carry them
into adulthood.
One of the best times to promote oral health in schools
is during National Smile Month - one of the UK’s longest
running health campaigns. Born in 1977, National Smile
Month has coincided with huge improvements in the
UK’s oral health over the past few decades. But there’s
still a lot more to do, especially with young people.
National Smile Month is a proven event and attracts
the support of many dentists and oral health educators.
Many dental professionals allocate time during National
Smile Month to work with schools and young people.
Schools contacting their local dentist are generally
pleasantly surprised how willing they are to give up
some of their time to visit the classroom. Often, they
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can have a profound effect on the attitude children will
have towards the dentist.
Throughout National Smile Month a series of fun
classroom activities can keep children engaged and
interested. The campaign is supported by hundreds
of educational materials produced by the Foundation.
There’s also a range of free resources available to
download from this website to use in lessons. Even our
very own ‘Happy the Hippo’ is on hand to promote the
importance of healthy mouths.
In the classroom, using photographs and puzzles to
sequence the events of the visit to the dental practice,
identifying and labelling the components of a dental
surgery using healthcare jigsaws and role-play will
provide confidence and encourage the children to go to
the dentist when outside the group.
For 2013, the symbol of National Smile Month is our
‘Smiley’. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s
face from the youngest pupil to the Chair of School
Governors. It’s a lot of fun, as well as encouraging
everyone to adopt a great daily oral health routine. The
‘smile on a stick’ is ideal to run a ‘Smileathon’ throughout
the school and will help to make oral health education a
fun and memorable event.
If you don’t fancy a ‘Smileathon there’s lots of other
things to do. A ‘best smile’ competition often works very
well, as does a ‘Brushathon’. Other alternatives include
holding a themed day during the campaign where the
children can dress up and play the different roles of a
dental practice, or create a colourful and eye-catching
display made in the classroom.
By working together in National Smile Month local
practices, oral health teams and teachers can share
their knowledge and experiences to make a positive
difference for thousands of children in the UK,
particularly in more deprived areas where inequalities
in health are more apparent.
For more information about National Smile Month and
how to get involved, head to www.smilemonth.org.
In 2012, nearly 500 children could barely contain their smiles at St Marie’s Catholic
Primary School and Nursery, in Rugby, as they held a whole day dedicated to sinking
their teeth into some oral health facts and fun as part of National Smile Month.
Using Dental Buddy in National Smile Month
Last month, the British Dental Health Foundation launched Dental Buddy – a site which is
dedicated to improving the oral health of young children in the UK.
Dental Buddy hosts a series of educational resources for Early Years Education, Key Stage One
and Key Stage Two, including activity sheets, lesson plans and interactive presentations. All of
which are freely downloadable from this site, to take into the classroom.
The aim of Dental Buddy is to increase children’s knowledge of oral health and encourage
health oral hygiene practices from an early age. Please go over to the site and use the resources
available to supplement your National Smile Month activity and help us in achieving our goals.
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NATIONAL SMILE MONTH:
DO YOU KNOW THE W’S?
WHEN
National Smile Month starts on 20 May and finishes on
20 June. Every year the month-long focus on oral health
grabs the attention of thousands of organisations. This
year more than 2,000 have told us they will be taking
part, and it’s not too late to register your interest. Visit
www.smilemonth.org and fill out the online registration
form to get hold of your five FREE smileys, your campaign
guide and resource catalogue.
WHY
As the countdown to National Smile Month continues, we take a look at some of the basics behind
the UK’s largest oral health campaign.
WHAT
WHO
In 1977, an oral health campaign was launched. National
Smile Week proved to be so successful; we decided a
month wasn’t long enough. So in 2006 National Smile
Month was born, and it was soon clear that the campaign
had already helped to change the levels of oral health in
the UK.
The campaign is run by the British Dental Health
Foundation, the UK’s leading oral health charity. With
the backing of platinum sponsors Listerine, Oral-B and
Extra and the support of Philips, Lloyds Pharmacy, Argos,
Invisalign, Bupa, NUK and Denplan, this year’s campaign
is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
FACT! The proportion of the population with no natural
teeth in England, Northern Ireland and Wales has fallen to
just six per cent in 2009. In 1978, the figure was as high as
37 per cent in Wales.
FACT! The majority of adults (71 per cent) in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland are now free of visible dental
decay on the surfaces of their teeth.
FACT! In 2009, two thirds (66.6 per cent) of children aged
12 were found to be free of visible dental decay. In 1973,
this figure was less than 10 per cent.
Of course there is still more to do, and that is what this
year’s campaign will strive to achieve.
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The best thing about the campaign is this; everyone
can get involved. Even if your budgets are smaller than
the proverbial shoestring, it’s really easy to pass key oral
health messages on. The three you need to remember are:
•
Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a
fluoride toothpaste.
•
Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and
drinks.
•
Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.
From dental practices, poker companies and lawyers to
education centres & sports teams , anyone and everyone
has the chance to smile behind our Smiley – the icon of
the campaign.
There are a number of reasons you should get involved
with National Smile Month, but instead of listening to us
drone on, here are a few suggestions from the people
who matter most – event organisers.
“It highlighted to parents the importance of taking their
children to the dentist from an earlier age than they
thought they should. Working with the local dentist has
also improved referral rates.”
“Hold a Brushathon and/or Smileathon, as you then
have a captive audience. Easy access to online resources
helped.”
“The resources really helped to support the message
between school and home without being making me
sound like a dictator – a serious message delivered in a
fun way.”
“Smileys were a great idea for engaging children. In one
of our sessions children had the opportunity to make
their own smiley to take home with them.”
“The three key messages were simple enough for
patients to understand and good for us to elaborate on.”
“I work for an organisation that works with the Job Centre
helping the long-term unemployed back into work. For
some people, the barrier to employment is personal
hygiene, so highlighting this issue could potentially help
people return back to work.”
WHERE
To help you as much as possible, here are a few key
resources to make planning and holding an event easy
peasy!
www.smilemonth.org – it’s the hub of activity
throughout the campaign!
If you’re going to be working with schools, get the
help of Buddy. He’s here to teach children how to look
after their teeth and mouth and www.dentalbuddy.org
has a number of free downloadable lesson plans and
activities designed to make your job easier.
To help as many people as possible get involved,
National Smile Month organisers have made a
number of fun activities and resources. To see what’s
available and to get your hands on a press release
template to tell the world what you’re up to, visit
www.smilemonth.org/page/downloads.
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MAKING A CASE FOR NATIONAL SMILE MONTH
With less than three weeks to go until National Smile Month 2013 starts, thousands of
organisations across the country and putting the finishing touches to this year’s events.
For those who haven’t quite made their mind up yet, here are two examples for last
year’s campaign to give you some ideas.
Spicer Road Dental Practice
National Smile Month in Oxfordshire
Hygienist Corinne Mcelligott spoke to care home staff about a series of oral health issues relating to older
To give you a flavour of what can make a successful campaign, look no further than the Oxford Health NHS
Foundation Trust. They supported National Smile Month by running three events out in the community on
the Health Bus and recently scooped the ‘Best National Smile Month Event’ at the Dental Awards.
Free samples of denture brushes were given out as well as information on spotting mouth cancer. Barmans
The Oral Health Promotion team and colleagues from Oxfordshire Salaried Primary Care Dental Service were
talking to members of the public outside the bus, giving out oral health information and advice. A dentist
from the service gave free oral health checks to members of the public on board the bus. Representatives
from local dental practices also attended, ready to offer NHS dental care at their surgeries to those looking
for a dentist.
Their team gave away various National Smile Month resources including Smileys, stickers and sugar-free
lollies. They also gave away other resources such as fuzzy bugs, toothbrushes, toothpaste samples, and
health information leaflets.
As part of the campaign, the team ran a joke competition from the health bus. The person with the best
joke won a hamper of exciting oral health treats – including an electric toothbrush. Over the three health
bus events, a total of 61 members of the public received free dental checks, and approximately 250 people
received oral health information.
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National Smile Month means a lot to Spicer Road Dental Practice. Participating in the campaign is a way for
them to reach out to people and help them. Being able to visit schools is a chance for them to get young
children to participate and introduce them to dentistry in a friendly way.
people. Staff members at the care home were shown a series of magnified pictures of plaque on a denture.
Superbrush was recommended for residents who had dementia and dry mouth solutions and erosion were
also discussed. Xylitol was looked at as a possible substitute for sugar consumed in all those afternoon biscuits.
National Smile Month smileys and stickers were distributed among 300 children at a local school. All children
participated in a ‘Brushathon’ and were taught about good toothbrushing technique and learned about the
value of good diet.
Four care homes were visited by the team, including the Strand Nursing Home, Starcross. Staff members and
residents learned about cleaning their dentures and were also educated about plaque, sore mouth, mouth
cancer and diet. Children at the schools are embracing these messages and eager to learn about their oral
health. These children are just a few from around the UK that are learning the value of looking after their
teeth, through National Smile Month, which will undoubtedly have a positive effect on their health in the
future.
If you’ve planned an event for this year’s campaign and want to tell the world about it, please email pr@
dentalhealth.org and we’ll put the details on our dedicated website!
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SMILE SUCCESS
Jane Butterworth opens up the doors on her practice's plans for National Smile Month.
We work as a close team priding ourselves in providing
the highest standard of dental care. We maintain a
strong preventative ethos, enabling patients to avoid
future dental problems through a range of measures
such as early detection, oral health education
combined with product advice and other treatment
modalities.
During National Smile Month, we are offering special
discounts on examinations and products such as Oral-B
toothbrushes. We are also holding our Invisalign open
day this month to raise awareness of teeth straightening
in relation to good oral health and maintenance and
systemic disease. We will be offering substantial
discounted fees in a bid to raised awareness of the
importance of good oral health for all-round health.
Getting there
Excellent communication is key to patients taking care
of their teeth and our patient care pathway begins
the minute anyone calls and speaks with the practice.
Advice is available on the phone even before the patient
walks through the door. Knowledge is paramount to the
patient to enable them to make an informed decision
on treatment options. Patients are encouraged to visit
our fabulous dental therapist on a regular basis (at least
every three months) for hygiene maintenance and to
ensure patients stay motivated. We also offer advice on
diet, smoking cessation – all free of charge!
All staff members are trained to offer this advice to
ensure that there is plenty of time available to for
patients to ask questions and understand.
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Regular team meetings and lots of lunchtime updates
keep staff abreast on new products and techniques.
Staff training ensures everyone is singing from the
same hymn sheet. The team is encouraged to attend
meetings such as the ADI and these are funded by the
practice.
We are a small practice with lovely patients who are
often recommended by existing patients and, because
it is small it is like a close family, we support each other
and encourage all staff to participate in all areas of the
practice and treat patients as part of that family. Regular
visits and a comfortable and warm atmosphere ensure
compliance from patients, too. We never leave patients
feeling unable to ask advice and we demonstrate huge
encouragement and praise for when patients show
improvement.
Selling points
Our main seller is the Oral-B professional toothbrush
range and the Pro-Expert toothpaste. We do stock a
variety of products depending on what is required for
the patients needs.
Our practice provides implants, orthodontics all of
which rely on good oral health for the long-term
success of the treatment. We plan to keep our patients
for life so we’ve a vested interest in keeping them
healthy! Recommending products that you know work
can be highly motivating – patients can see and feel
the difference when using these products – particularly
in stain reduction which leads to increased oral health
awareness and personal confidence.
Dr Jane Butterworth has been practising dentistry for almost 30 years, after gaining her qualifications in 1984.
Jane has been placing and restoring implants since 1990 and has 20-plus years of experience. Her implant treatments range
from single tooth replacement to full mouth rehabilitation
including All on 4 and same day teeth. She also offers
the simple mini implant system for patients requiring
Make them smile
dentures and has a keen interest in orthodontics. She is
able to provide both removable, fixed braces and Invisalign
National Smile Month is the UK’s largest oral
aligners. She has been Invisalign certified since 2004 and
health campaign. This year it kicks off on 20
has held Platinum status accreditation with Invisalign for
May and finishes on 20 June. Right at the heart
the past seven years. Her practice – Higher Lane Dental
of it you’ll find three key messages that can go
Practice – is situated in the heart of Cheshire in the village
a long way to improving oral health. They are:
High five!
1. Never offer a patient less than they
deserve and always aim to provide the
highest standard possible
2. Listen to the patient’s needs, treating
each one as an individual and considering
the patient as a ‘whole’
3. Work closely with your practice team
encouraging continual professional
development
4. Establishing
mutual
respect
and
appreciation within the team – they are
ALL essential ingredients or cogs in the
machine
5. Accept that you are not perfect and, if
mistakes do occur, always be honest.
Refer when you need to. 1. Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a
day using a fluoride toothpaste
2. Cut down on how often you have sugary
foods and drinks.
3. Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they
recommend
Sounds simple? You’d think so, but there’s
evidence to suggest not everyone keeps to
these three most basic of messages. National
Smile Month is a great opportunity for those
who don’t to take stock of their oral health
habits, and a great opportunity for those who
do to pass the message onto others.
Organised by the British Dental Health
Foundation, National Smile Month was
established in 1976. Now into its 37th year,
the campaign has helped to change the oral
health landscape of the UK.
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IMPROVING OUR
ORAL HEALTH:
THE ORAL
HEALTHCARE
PROGRAMME
By Louisa Rowntree, Wrigley Oral Heathcare Programme Manager
Wrigley’s Extra is proud to, once again, be a Platinum
sponsor of National Smile Month in 2013. Wrigley
is committed to improving oral care understanding
across the UK through its Oral Healthcare Programme
which is why we work together with organisations like
the BDHF to promote better oral health.
It’s Wrigley’s mission to help patients to improve their
oral healthcare routine through adding one simple and
enjoyable step between twice-a-day brushing. And that
is chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking,
a convenient way for patients to look after their teeth
whether in the car, in the office or ‘on the go’. Our
message is supported by powerful independent research
that proves that chewing sugarfree gum after eating and
drinking increases the production of saliva and that this
increased saliva flow helps the neutralisation of plaque
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acids, helps maintain tooth mineralisation and helps
reduce oral dryness.
For many years Wrigley has been working with dental
professionals in the UK to support the work they do with
their patients to advise and help them to improve their
oral health. We attend professional conferences and
exhibitions up and down the country meeting dentists,
hygienists, nurses and therapists providing them with
the scientific information and samples they need to
help them recommend chewing sugarfree gum to their
patients as part of their oral care routine.
This year Wrigley launched the first of a new series of
free web-based Continuing Professional Development
sessions as part of our on-going efforts to support
dental professionals in their role as oral care educators,
providing the knowledge they need about the benefits
of chewing sugarfree gum to pass onto their patients.
The new CPD series is based on the recently released
book, Saliva and Oral Health, Fourth Edition (by Michael
Edgar, Colin Dawes and Denis O’Mullane, December
2012) and it has been created in partnership with
Stephen Hancocks Ltd.
As part of our continued investment in oral care, 2013
has also seen the launch of a new 46-pellet bottle. It’s
convenient size and shape means that it can be carried
around in a handbag, placed in the car or simply placed
on a desk in the office, all those places where ‘grazers’ people who eat small meals and snacks throughout the
day – one of the groups most at risk of developing oral
health problems, are likely to be found.
In research* conducted by Wrigley 85% of consumers
surveyed agreed that it is a great idea to chew sugarfree
gum after eating and drinking which supports Wrigley’s
efforts to promote the idea of on-the-go oral healthcare
through its Eat, Drink, Chew, Extra campaign. That’s the
message we’re passionate about and we’re working
hand in hand with dental professionals to help spread
the word. For more information or to order free samples
of Extra sugar free gum for your patients visit our website
on www.wrigleyoralhealthcare.co.uk.
*1,000 UK adults (aged 16+) surveyed 11th December 2012 by
One Poll. OnePoll are members of ESOMAR and employ members
of the MRS. Office professionals included in this research refer to
respondents in full time work
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NUK. Understanding Life
NUK First Choice Bottles & Teats
For more than 60 years, NUK has been listening to the
trusted experts; midwives, doctors, nutritionists and
especially mothers and fathers, in order to learn about
the needs of mother and baby in those precious early
years. This knowledge and experience has helped
NUK develop into a global leader in the baby care
market, offering a range of bottles, teats and soothers
to both consumers and medical professionals. The
NUK orthodontic, asymmetric shape is designed to
optimally fit baby’s mouth, encouraging the healthy
development of the oral cavity. For this reason, NUK
are the only brand to have both teats and soothers
approved by the British Dental Health Foundation.
In 1956 NUK launched the first ever teat to be based
on medical research, and in 2003 revolutionised the
range by introducing NUK ‘First Choice’. These teats
became the new standard, offering an asymmetric
shape which provides the tongue and jaw enough
room for natural sucking movements. In just the
same way as at a mother’s breast whilst feeding, the
important muscles of the mouth are exercised when
drinking with a NUK First Choice Teat, while also
encouraging the interplay of the tongue, lips and jaw
- a later prerequisite for learning how to chew and
speak.
NU K p ro d uc t s a re n ow ava i l a b l e i n ove r 1 1 0 co unt r i e s
wo r l d w i d e !
NU K te at s a n d s o o t h e r s a re s t i l l d i s t r i b ute d i n h o s p i t a l s
wo r l d w i d e, w i t h ove r 3 m i l l i o n te at s d i s t r i b ute d i n U K
hospitals in 2012 alone!
NUK Genius Soothers
The NUK Genius Soother has been developed in partnership
with experts worldwide, and is the new generation of NUK
soother. Still based on the approved orthodontic NUK shape,
but improved with a softer and more flexible baglet, to further
reduce the pressure on baby’s jaw and teeth, as well as the
risk of teeth misalignment.
“The NUK Genius Soother
optimally promotes the
operational
interplay
of jaws, palate, tongue,
lips and teeth which
is a precondition for
ingestion, breathing and
speech development, thus
making it an important
contribution to healthy
overall development.”
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Looking
after their
smile right
from the very
start…
D i d You K now ?
The British Dental Health
Foundation Says…
What if a baby sucks their thumb or
needs a dummy?
If they can, ask parents to avoid using
a dummy and discourage thumb
sucking. These can both eventually
cause problems with how the teeth
grow and develop, which could
potentially result in orthodontic
treatment when the child gets older.
If a baby needs a dummy, there are
‘orthodontic’ soothers or dummies
that reduce the risk of these problems.
So if a baby does want to use a
dummy, make sure parents choose an
orthodontic one. Look for products
that carry the British Dental Health
Foundation approved logo.
Never dip a baby’s dummy or teething
ring into fruit syrups, honey, fruit
juices or anything containing sugars,
particularly at bedtime. The harmful
sugars and acids can attack a baby’s
newly formed teeth and cause decay.
Dr.Med.dent.H.von Treuenfels
NUK Accreditations & Features
BDHF
NUK is the only brand to have both teats and soothers approved by the British Dental
Health Foundation. NUK is also proud to be an official sponsor of National Smile Month
in 2013.
NUK Air System
All NUK teats and soothers benefit from a special Air System which is designed to help
stop baby from swallowing air, and reduce the chance of infant colic.
NUK Orthodontic Shape
NUK teats and soothers are based on the shape of a
mother’s nipple during breastfeeding. This creates a
natural drinking action and optimal flow of milk, for as
natural a feeding experience as possible.
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BPA-free
All NUK teats and soothers are 100% BPA-free.
For more information on NUK products please visit nuk.co.uk or call 01905 450 300.
NUK is a registered trademark of Mapa GmbH/Germany.
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SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SPECIAL SMILES
By Dr Amber Qureshi
I first heard about Special Olympics International and
its British contingent, Special Olympics Great Britain
(SOGB) a couple of years ago through conversation
with a member of their Board; the eminent
humanitarian Mr Philip Nathan, MBE, Board member
of MedicAlert International and the chairman of The
MedicAlert Foundation (UK and Ireland), where I am a
trustee. At the time, SOGB were hosting their National
Games in Leicester in 2009.
Four years on and the next National Games are upon us
and as a special care dentist, I’m proud to be directing
both their Special Smiles programme and their Healthy
Athletes programme which, in addition to dentistry,
also houses several other health disciplines such as
Opening Eyes (eye tests and the provision of glasses)
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Healthy Hearing (audiology tests and hearing aids), Fit
Feet (podiatry) , Funfitness (physical therapy), Health
Promotion (better health and well-being) and MedFest
(sports physical exam).
Healthy Athletes is a global movement with roots in
the USA. In 1994, Dr. Steve Perlman, a Boston University
Goldman School of Dental Medicine professor and long
time advocate of people with intellectual disabilities,
founded the Special Smiles® initiative after working with
the Shriver family as they struggled to find adequate
dental care for Rosemary Kennedy – sister of Eunice
Kennedy Shriver (the founder of Special Olympics) and
John F. Kennedy. Dr. Perlman’s concerns about health
disparities for people with disabilities prompted the
Officially launched in 1997, Healthy Athletes organizes
its events in a welcoming, fun environment. Its
screenings educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices
and identify problems that may need additional followup.
across Great Britain. SOGB have proven that sport can
transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities,
helping them to develop the skills and confidence and
overcome the barriers and discrimination that they face
everyday life.
Miracles happen at every screening. A volunteer dentist
from California, USA saved an athletes life by finding his
mouth cancer. On another occasion, a female athlete in
Egypt, fitted with a hearing aid, heard her language and
her coach for the first time in her life. Stories like these
are inspiring nations like Egypt to expand their offerings
to athletes and all Special Olympics Egypt athletes now
receive medical examinations and follow-up care.
Right now SOGB has over 130 groups run by over 2,800
volunteers and provides coaching and competition
opportunities to 8,000 intellectually disabled athletes.
SOGB falls under the regulation of Special Olympics
International and is part of the Olympic family, but is
different to the general Olympic and Paralympic Games
in that it provides year-round sports training and
competition opportunities for children and adults with
intellectual disabilities (IQ 75 or below) of all abilities and
ages, rather than a single event for elite (professional)
athletes.
The charity, led by sterling CEO Karen Wallin and her
dedicated team is important in the lives of thousands
of people with learning disabilities and their families
This year SOGB has its National Summer Games (28th
August-1st September, 2013) in Bath (golf ), with a few
sports to be held in Bristol (swimming and bowling).
There are just under 1,600 athletes competing this year
and, as part of these games, there is a healthy athletes
programme which I am coordinating and directing.
I am looking for dental volunteers and dental supplies
for the Special Smiles screenings. It’s a great opportunity
and wonderfully heartwarming and inspiring
experience. Special Olympics Great Britain transforms
lives! Wouldn’t you like to be a part of that?! Please have
a look at our website: www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk.
Dr Amber Qureshi: Specialist in Special Care Dentistry / Clinical
Director, Special Smiles, Special Olympics Great Britain / Healthy
Athletes Program Director, Special Olympics Great Britain.
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For enquiries, to request a complete catalogue, or to order call: 01788 539 793 email: order@dentalhealth.org or visit www.dentalhealth.org/shop
OFFER MAY 2013
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