Dental Tribune UK No. 3, 2023

Digital dental pioneer and ‘The Smiling Dentist’ Dr Alif Moosajee shares his dental life lessons / MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice: Comprehensive support to pass the ORE, plus a deep-dive into clinical governance / How to increase your Google reviews: The new technology driving next-generation personalised patient engagement / MiSmile founder shares the central role philanthropy plays in the business / Perspectives for oral regeneration / Evolving business systems into 2023 and beyond / The new power duo guiding Sinclair through its next phase of growth2023 / Effects of menopause on women's oral health

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The World‘s Dental Newspaper
Published in London

uk.dental-tribune.com

Vol. 13, No. 3

UK NEWS

EVENT

A new study on AI and ChatGPT outlines its role in shaping the future of
dentistry.

New research shows a link between periodontal disease and
the formation of amyloid plaque,
a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Bredent's pioneer in Immediate3 tour
lands in Rome on 22-23 September
2023.

Page 3

Page 5

Page 6

Growing patients and changing expectations:
Meeting the challenge with digital transformation
Dr Guy Deeming and Dr Simonetta
Meuli detail how they approach
younger patients, the technology
they rely on and why treating them is
entirely different from treating
adults.
Setting the scene for his view on the
importance of a digital workflow,
Dr Deeming explains there’s now a
big gap between teenagers and
middle-aged adults. He stresses that
Generation Z – those born between
1997 and mid-2000s and Generation Alpha – youngsters born after
2012 are a “visual demographic”,
adding: “They want everything
on-demand and they want it to

adapt to their needs in a very dynamic fashion, and we, as orthodontists and as service providers must
try to find a way to embed that visual,
on-demand element into their experiences. Being a digitally adept and
dynamic organisation that can
evolve and recognise the need to
change is absolutely essential if we
are going to future-proof ourselves
for the needs of Generation Alpha
and beyond.”
This includes using social media to
reach younger patients, because
they look to their contemporaries on
social platforms for advice and reviews.

“Half of Gen Z use YouTube to search
for opinions and information before
they make a purchasing decision.
And 40% use TikTok and Instagram
in a similar way. Our practices are
now on TikTok. 90% of traffic is coming from mobile phones, with a massive skew towards that younger generation. So, if your services are not
accessible via a mobile device in an
instant – in that on-demand fashion,
you are going to be missing all the
opportunities to serve that younger
and growing community,” says
Dr Deeming.
Technology, he points out, not only
offers treatment in a form that suits

younger patients, it also offers them
the all-important customer experience. “That’s about virtual care. It’s
about using the different technologies to engage the patients throughout the treatment, monitor their
progress with you so they can see
how their teeth are moving, so they
feel involved and feel like their treatment will be more successful.”
In terms of specific technologies,
Dr Deeming highlights Invisalign
Smile View which allows patients to
generate their own virtual smile improvements via a selfie. “A tool that
builds that hope, excitement and engagement with the process so that

the patient can then take that next
step.”
“Using technology in front of our patients helps them to feel like we’re
part of their world. The next part of
that is the Invisalign Outcome Simulator Pro. Once we have our scans,
we can then demonstrate how our
skills come into play by modifying
that simulation in real time on the
iTero scanner to show them the
tweaks and the artistry of orthodontic tooth movement, to create that
excitement.”

▶ Page 2

Digital dental pioneer and ‘The Smiling Dentist’
Dr Alif Moosajee shares his dental life lessons
Alif Moosajee is the award-winning
Principal Dentist of Oakdale Dental
and the author of the book The
Smiling Dentist. Being at the forefront of technological advancement
in dentistry, Alif has become a
sought-after speaker both nationally
and internationally in the disciplines
of Digital and Implant Dentistry. With
a mission to give back and to also
help improve the standards in dentistry, Alif created his Smiling Dentist
YouTube Channel and runs his study
clubs in Leicester both with the aim
to disseminate knowledge to his
peers in all facets of professional and
personal excellence.
Dr Moosajee shares his dental story.
Who inspired you to become a
dentist, and who continues to
inspire and influence you?
I did work experience in year 10 in
preparation for my GCSEs. At that
point, I thought I either wanted to be
a doctor or a lawyer so I had one
week at a magistrate’s court, but un-

fortunately school couldn’t organise
a week GP practice so they ended up
putting me in a dental practice. I believe they thought that I might not
even notice! It ended up being the
best thing that ever happened to me
because I absolutely loved shadowing the dentist who was there. Her
name was Dr Sabrina Khan at Wexham Road dental surgery in Slough,
which is where I grew up.

day every day. What I didn’t realise,
was just how many opportunities
there are for dentists to have such an
amazing variety within their career.

I actually had the opportunity to visit
the practice again recently and they
were absolutely wonderful and welcomed me so nicely. I can certainly
say that I owe my decision to becoming a dentist in a large part to her.

I’m also a lecturer, a published author, and also a presenter of my
Smiling Dentist YouTube channel. In
my young, limited way, I thought my
rewards would be financial for joining this profession, but I realise now
that the rewards are myriad and
that’s a wonderful thing to have discovered.

What were your career expectations, and have these been exceeded?
Yes! I was expecting to have a nice
steady job that I felt good about
doing, and also financially rewarded
me well enough that I would be
comfortable. I expected that I would
sit in my surgery and treat patients all

I now work three days a week clinically, I run a business looking after
staff and finding opportunities to
look after patients and their experience in even more fun and interesting ways.

What challenges have you
faced?
Challenges are there and the struggle is real, but in order to overcome
all of the challenges, I feel I have to

be my best self and bring my ‘Agame’ every day.
I know some people might think
that’s daunting and arduous, but
without the motivation to be my best
self, it’s very seductive and easy for
me not to be. Getting comfortable in
that way is a sure-fire way to shortchange myself out of leading the
best life that I can. With respect to
managing specific challenges, one
must always understand and acknowledge when things have not
gone the best way that they could
and try to reflect and find a way to
ensure that things go better the next
time
What have you learnt?
There is no shortcut when making
sure that patients experience the
best dentistry you can offer them.
Make sure that the clinical work you
do is excellent. However, what I have
really noticed transforms success in
the business of dentistry is focusing
on the experience of the patient. If

you can obsess about giving patients
the best possible experience, you will
always do well.
What you would do differently
if you could start again?
I had a very mediocre career for my
first ten years. I wasn’t confident
about my abilities and skills and languished for too long. If I had improved my mind-set and realised
that, even if you are not naturally
gifted, then through application and
dedication and hard work you can
get better, then I would have been
able to achieve more in the early part
of my career.

▶ Page 3

[2] =>

UK NEWS

2

▶ Page 1 - Growing patients and
changing expectations: Meeting the challenge with digital transformation

And Invisalign Virtual Care allows for
effective,
efficient
interaction
throughout the treatment journey:
“Because teenagers don’t want to be
inconvenienced", Dr Deeming says.
"We can give them that always-on
feeling through the app, and we can
give our younger patients control
over their treatment, through the
ability to share and communicate
and have interaction directly with
your team without always having to
go through their parents. Align is
now making it so much easier for us
to engage our patients in the way
they want to be engaged.”

Interceptive orthodontics
with Invisalign First
Dr Simonetta Meuli, explains that she
relies heavily on digital tools to support her consultancy work, particularly the iTero Element 5D Plus Mo-

bile imaging system, whose Cloud
capabilities allows her to work in a
more flexible way, even when travelling. Even more important for
younger children, a scan is pain-free.
She favours using interceptive orthodontics incorporating Invisalign
First, which she says has advantages,
such as reducing the incidence of
pre-molar extractions, orthognathic
surgery and root reabsorption, while
also increasing the long-term stability of the alignment of the lower incisors. She also stresses that interceptive orthodontics made it unnecessary to solve every issue immediately, but instead recommended a
concise focus using the digital planning workflow, to plan simple procedures, beginning with the upper
arch.
Dr Meuli uses iTero NIRI technology
to detect interproximal cavities and
the iTero scanner’s SnapShot feature
to help patient communication and
acceptance of treatment. Echoing

© Shutterstock / Vink Fan

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

Dr Deeming’s views on how teens
are the ‘visual’ generation, she adds:
“Communication through images
has become an important language
that can influence people’s minds –
transmitting strong emotions. They
are also one of the most powerful
means of virtual story-telling.”

Dr Meuli also highlights the importance of planning using ClinCheck
Pro when embarking on an Invisalign
First treatment to enable informed
decisions, which she says is particularly relevant for early orthodontic
treatment in mixed dentition.

She is also an advocate of monitoring patient progress and underlined
what she sees as a responsibility to
keep track of young patients’ cases
over extended periods as they grow.
In conclusion, she said that all patients respond positively to the digital environment, and children in particular, who accept it as “the norm”.

A new wellbeing platform is on a mission to
support everyone working in dental practice
Canny Dentists is a brand-new social
network for everyone working in
dental practice. Conceived and
founded by dentist Dr Jatinder Ubhi
and advertising and marketing professional Andrew Phillips, the closed
group aims to unite dental professionals, no matter how senior or junior their practice role, in a space
that supports their emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.
Says Ubhi, who has worked in both
the NHS and private practice, and
now owns his own clinics: “Being a
dentist can be quite an isolating profession and myself and my colleagues have been through various
struggles. We also have a kind of
bravado, which means if we need
help, we don’t ask or don’t know
where to ask. Post-COVID I thought
it would be great to create something that united the entire profession – not just dentists, but everyone
behind the mask.”
He adds that where other medical
professions have support networks,
nothing similar exists that unites everyone working in dentistry, or that
isn’t purely focused on the clinical
aspects of the profession. “That’s
why Canny Dentists aims to focus on
what people do in their personal
lives that make them feel and perform better at work: It’s saying, ‘forget you’re a dentist, a nurse or a
practice manager…How are you

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feeling, what support do you need?’
And then opening that up to peerto-peer support, alongside signposting to a directory of services and
resources where people can access
additional help if they need it.”
The platform, which is currently still
in its test phase, is designed to be intuitive to navigate, with many familiar features similar to those on other
social media sites - an infinite scroll
newsfeed, notifications, groups and
a chat function, but with content
uniquely tailored to each user.
Phillips explains new members are
asked a series of questions to ensure
their Canny Dentists experience is
bespoke to them: “One of the challenges with Facebook, for example,
is that it just bombards you with
tonnes of content, whether you want
it or not. We’re trying to create an
experience that only shows things
people are interested in; new members are put into groups with likeminded people who share their interests, so their newsfeed only includes those topics,” he says, stressing that it’s easy for to filter the site
according to interests, or the type of
advice someone might be seeking.
And to ensure Canny Dentists suits
members’ needs, the test phase sees
around 100 dentists, therapists, hygienists and practice managers
helping Ubhi and Phillips to hone
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content and the user experience.
“We’ve got a vision of how Canny
Dentists should be, but the test will
ensure it’s what the profession actually wants and needs and will benefit
from it,” says Ubhi.
Phillips adds that Canny Dentists also
features content, including podcasts,
from experts both inside the dental
profession and parallel markets. “For
example I’ve recently interviewed
the former head of performance at
Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club to talk
about performance, and how you
can get the best out of your day. The
site will also include things such as
how to spot if someone else is struggling and how to be supportive withwith the permission of Dental Tribune International
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All rights reserved. © 2023 Dental Tribune International GmbH. Reproduction in any manner in any language, in whole or in part, without the prior written
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out being intrusive. So, we’re offering learning from experts, but also
learning from each other, because
the peer-to-peer communication is
really, really important.” He adds that
as Canny Dentists evolves it will include webinars with experts, plus
online and in-person events and
meet-ups.
The initial aim is for around 15,000
members, and while Canny Dentists
is, for now, primarily aimed at people
working in dental practices based in
the UK, Ubhi and Phillips expect it to
attract professionals from other
countries. “Plus, in this increasingly
nomadic world we live in, people can

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work from anywhere, so we have potential to scale,” he adds.
Canny Dentists is the first ‘Canny’
branded platform under the wider
Canny Healthcare business created
by Ubhi and Phillips, which gives
them scope to expand into other
sectors. “If we can get the format
rights, we can roll out Canny Doctors, Canny Chiropractors, or Canny
Opticians,” Phillips concludes.
To find out more about Canny Dentists, visit the website https://cannydentists.com.

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Dental Tribune International GmbH makes every
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Pioneer Designs

[3] =>

UK NEWS

What are your proudest professional achievements?
I’m really happy that after a career of
being a general dental practitioner I
am now in the privileged position of
being able to limit my practice to implant dentistry as this is the facet of
dentistry that I like the most and feel
I can serve my patients best with.
I’m also really proud to have been
selected to be on the editorial board
of publications, and also now a judge
for the awards as this gives me the
opportunity to interact with the next
generation of dentists who want to
achieve the best that they can and
gives me an opportunity to shape
and influence that process. I also
love lecturing and being in a classroom and being able to teach other

dentists things that I hope will be
useful for them.
What products would you struggle without?
I found out my confidence in providing dentistry improved dramatically
when I adopted digital dentistry. I’ve
been a CEREC user for many years
now, and I’ve taught the CEREC new
user training for many years as well.
I use it for my implant planning and
for fabrication of guides, and this
again gives me huge confidence in
knowing that when I plan a particular
position for an implant, then I want
to make sure that it gets there, and
guided implant workflow and a digital workflow has allowed me to do
that.

difference between the health of patients who use manual and electric
brushes it’s clear to me that recommending electric brushes for all patients is a win-win. My particular
preference is for Sonicare, but I believe all electric brushes represent
step in the right direction for our patients.

▶ Page 1 - Digital dental pioneer and
‘The Smiling Dentist’ Dr Alif Moosajee
shares his dental life lessons

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

What have you got planned for
the future?
I am going to be lecturing for the implant MSc program in Manchester at
the ICE dental hospital on the topic
of Planning for surgical success. I will
also be lecturing at the Dentinal Tubules Student Congress, on the topic
of communication.

Other things that I have noticed from
a practice point of view to work well
are making sure that patients are
maintained well and having seen the

New study on AI and ChatGPT outlines its role in
shaping the future of dentistry

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence
(AI) powered language model, capable of generating human-like text
based on context and past conversations. A new study from researchers
in China investigates the future applications of AI, and ChatGPT, within
dentistry.
Artificial intelligence has promoted
recent progress in digital health for
many years. AI-equipped applications in dentistry have been found
useful in analysing medical imaging,
including diagnosing dental caries,
periodontitis, and implantitis, and

assisting oral and maxillofacial surgery with surgical planning. Besides
the imaging data, audio data analyses can also benefit from deep-learning applications, as speech is one of
the most important functions of the
oral structure. Dental education is
another
emerging
application.
ChatGPT stirred up lots of interest
among millions of scientists and engineers on account of its impressive
human conversational response as a
chatbot. However, its potential impact on revolutionising a series of
technologies is more significant. Research, published in the Interna-

tional Journal of Oral Science provides an insight into its potential use
in dentistry.
The study authors suggest that
ChatGPT has served as a valuable
tool to assist medical education for
more effective instruction and analysis of teacher-student interaction.
Medical writing can be assisted or
even accomplished by ChatGPT
which enables efficient documentation. Furthermore, language challenges in medical research or clinical
processes can be alleviated by
ChatGPT.

They continue to observe that AI
technology has promoted clinical
applications by improving patient
outcomes, streamlining processes,
and reducing costs. In clinical practice, AI has achieved striking success
in analysing patient data.
Equipped with a cross-modal encoder, a single large language model
can manage multi-source data and
conduct advanced natural language
reasoning to perform complex clinical operations. This has the potential
to revolutionise dental diagnosis and
treatment, which indicates a promis-

ing avenue for clinical application
and research in dentistry. However,
the researchers caution that challenges with AI in dentistry may include data privacy, data quality, and
model bias.
As technology continues to evolve,
we can expect to see even more innovative applications of AI in clinical
settings, ultimately leading to more
effective healthcare services tailored
to the needs of patients.

[4] =>

UK NEWS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice:
© CoMD

Comprehensive support to pass the ORE, plus a deep-dive into clinical governance

Egyptian dentist Dr Ahmed Wasfy
practises in the northeast coastal
town of Whitby following his completion of a Master’s in Advanced
General Dental Practice (AGDP) at
the College of Medicine and Dentistry (CoMD). Here he explains how
the College not only helped him prepare for part two of his Overseas
Registration Exam (ORE), but also
how it took him through the legislation and regulations essential to UK
practice.

a member of the Royal College of
Surgeons in the UK. It was then that
I thought it would be a good idea to
move my career to the UK.

I've now worked for a year as a private dentist and am currently waiting
for approval to practice under the
NHS. I originally graduated in 2003
so most of my experience was in
Egypt, until 2016 when I qualified as

Extensive preparation

In 2021, I joined the CoMD’s Master’s
in Advanced General Dental Practice. I had already passed part one of
the ORE, but at that point I couldn’t
sit part two because the pandemic
had put a stop to the exams… I eventually sat part two during my second
term at the College.

Aside from all the training covered
by the MSc, the College also helped
me to prepare for the exam in lots of
ways. Firstly there was a lot of prac-

tice on phantom heads, so I had prolonged training over several months.
The equipment in the college is almost the same as that used in the
ORE, so even during the exam it felt
like just another practical session in
the college – something particularly
helpful for me because I tend to get
very anxious. I also found the lectures given by Dr. Ziad Al-Ani very,
very beneficial to passing the ORE.
Another major benefit of the MSc
was the focus on clinical governance
and how dentists practising in the UK
must comply with the numerous
regulations imposed by the different
governing bodies, such as the NHS,
the GDC and CQC – it’s so important
to be aware of all those. I’ve found

there is no real difference in actual
dentistry techniques between the UK
and Egypt, but the legal and regulatory circumstances are significantly
different.

Support into work
I’d certainly recommend the CoMD
to other dentists looking to practice
in the UK, for all the reasons I’ve
cited; the fantastic preparation towards the ORE, which is more extensive and extended than compared to
other courses, while the parts of the
curriculum focused on dentistry and
medical legal issues are very beneficial to anyone starting their career in
the UK.

The College is also helpful in helping
dentists looking for work in the UK
too. It offered me lots of support immediately following my registration,
but I didn’t really need it because I
was offered work quickly, but the
College was very ready to help me.
Looking to the future, I’m now considering joining another CoMD Master’s, this time in Clinical Implantology. I did some implants in Egypt,
but only straightforward cases, but
now I’d like to develop expertise
here, and the MSc will give me additional training before taking my career in that direction.
To find out more, visit https://comd.
org.uk /course/msc-in-advanced-general-dental-practice.

European dental qualifications will continue to
be recognised in the UK for the next five years

The General Dental Council (GDC)
has welcomed the announcement
from the Department of Health and
Social Care (DHSC) that standstill
provisions providing for automatic
recognition of European dentists’
qualifications will be retained for a
further period of five years.
Around 17% of all dentists on the UK
register have European qualifications
and made up 37% of all dentists who
joined the registered in 2022. They

make an invaluable contribution to
the UK dental workforce.

for the assessment of European
qualifications is needed.

tion will be recognised in the UK
when they return.

Legislative reforms providing the
GDC with the powers to amend rules
for the registration of those who
qualify outside the UK were provided
just three months ago. The additional time provided by the extension of standstill arrangements will
allow for modernisation and meaningful improvements to regulatory
processes before additional capacity

The continuation of the automatic
recognition of European dentists’ diplomas means that the process for
those dentists to join the UK register
will remain, including checks on language, health and character. The announcement will also reassure those
who have left the UK to study dentistry in Europe that their qualifica-

While this latest extension is welcome, there are concerns about ongoing uncertainty for professionals
and regulators, as the extension of
arrangements is again temporary,
the need for a further review yet to
be determined, and the timetable
for full-scale reform of the GDC’s
legislation remains unclear.

Stefan Czerniawski, executive director of strategy, said, “We are pleased
that the government has agreed
with our arguments that the current
arrangements for recognising European dental qualifications should
continue for the time being. Although in the longer term we believe
there is a strong argument for a single approach to international registration, now is not the time to disrupt
the flow of new entrants to the UK
dental workforce.”

[5] =>

UK NEWS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

How to increase your Google reviews:
The new technology driving next-generation personalised patient engagement

Google reviews provide a huge opportunity to generate more patients.
Pioneering new technology from
Follow.App Care helps dental practices create a seamless patient follow-up experience – stimulating
valuable Google reviews.

provides post-procedural recommendations, invites rebooking for
future treatment and prompts feedback on their experience – and invites patients to post a Google review, adding value to the practice’s
online presence.

“Follow.App Care can help you increase your Google ranking”, promises founder Dr David Holmes. “The
top 10% of UK dental practices have
a near perfect rating and over 150
reviews, which helps actively generate new patients. But for most practices in the UK, Google isn’t helping
– or is actively hurting – your business”, Dr Holmes explains.

“We’ve only had five star reviews
since we’ve used Follow.App Care”,
says Dr Mark Hughes. “Rather than
having to chase the patient manually
and to ask over and over again, the
system prompts them to do it and
guides them to leave a review in an
automated fashion, which is a huge
help for the team. What we have noticed is that we're consistently getting reviews without having to ask.
We're still asking in person and following up those that have left a
lovely comment but haven't written
a review. But the automated ones
are pretty steady and quite reflective
of the number of patients that we
see. It means that we're guaranteed
to get reviews even if we do nothing.”

Where you do rank?

Do you know how your practice
ranks against dental groups that use
Follow.App Care? Clinics using FollowApp achieve four times more
Google reviews.
The FollowApp.Care system delivers
automated notifications to patients
post-appointment. The pre-emptive
technology, based on each dental
experience, checks in on patients,

This chart outlines how the impact
Follow.App Care can have on a practice’s Google reviews. Negative re-

views, in red, reduce, whilst positive
reviews, in green, can double.

year, we’re now rolling it out to all
group practices.”

Recent data from FollowApp.Care
shows that it takes five months on
average to improve Google ratings,
while 70% of practices achieve this in
less than four months – with the help
of FollowApp.Care.

How it works

“FollowApp.Care is the only way
we’ve managed to achieve significant traction with Google reviews.”,
says John Townend, Marketing Director at Real Good Dental Group.

1. Integration: Integrates with your
practice management system to automatically extract the data needed
to ensure appointment notifications
trigger patient communications.
2. Communication: Makes patients
feel cared for, while checking up on
post procedural health, requesting
feedback, rebooking their next appointment and prompting reviews.

3. Results: Results are analysed and
collated in the FollowApp.Care web
application where clinics can resolve
flagged issues or sit back and watch
FollowApp.Care work for them by
garnering improved Google reviews.
More than 5,000 dentists have already used FollowApp.Care - predominantly in the UK and Australia,
and millions of patients have connected with them through the app.
For more information please visit
https://www.followapp.care.

“During the twomonth pilot, we
saw a 9.9 times increase in monthly
Google reviews.
One
practice
went from 3.2 to
4.2 stars, another
from 3.8 to 4.5
stars,
another
from 3.9 to 4.5
stars.
Because
we’re now maintaining this level
of good reviews
throughout the

Gum disease linked to buildup of Alzheimer's
plaque formation

In their paper, Microglial cell response to experimental periodontal
disease, published in the Journal of
Neuroinflammation, Forsyth scientists and their collaborators at Boston University demonstrate that gum
disease can lead to changes in brain
cells called microglial cells, which are
responsible for defending the brain
from amyloid plaque. This plaque is
a type of protein that is associated
with cell death, and cognitive decline
in people with Alzheimer's. The
study provides important insight into
how oral bacteria makes its way to
the brain, and the role of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
"We knew from one of our previous
studies that inflammation associated
with gum disease activates an inflammatory response in the brain,"
said Dr Alpdogan Kantarci, senior
member of staff at Forsyth and a se-

strategies," said Dr Kantarci. "This
study suggests that in order to prevent neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, it will be critical to
control the oral inflammation associated with periodontal disease. The
mouth is part of the body and if you
don't take care of oral inflammation
and infection, you cannot really prevent systemic diseases, like Alzheimer's, in a reproducible way."

While many patients don't associate
oral disease with serious health
problems,
increasing
evidence
shows that oral bacteria play a significant role in systemic diseases like
colon cancer and heart disease.
Now, new research shows a link between periodontal disease and the
formation of amyloid plaque, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Oral
bacteria traveling to the brain causes
brain cells to become dysfunctional,
promoting neuroinflammation.

This study is the first time that scientists caused periodontal disease with
mouse-specific bacteria and could
study the effects of same-species
oral microbiome on the brain. Having same-species bacteria and cells
brings the test closer to replicating
what the process looks like in humans.
nior author of the study. "In this
study, we were asking the question,
can oral bacteria cause a change in
the brain cells?"
The microglial cells the researchers
studied are a type of white blood cell
responsible for digesting amyloid
plaque. Forsyth scientists found that
when exposed to oral bacteria the
microglial cells became overstimulated and ate too much. "They basically became obese" Dr Kantarci
said. "They no longer could digest
plaque formations."

The finding is significant for showing
the impact of gum disease on systemic health. Gum disease causes lesions to develop between the gums
and teeth. The area of this lesion is
the size of your palm. Dr Kantarci explained, "It's an open wound that allows the bacteria in your mouth to
enter your bloodstream and circulate to other parts of your body."
These bacteria can pass through the
blood/brain barrier and stimulate
the microglial cells in your brain.
Using mouse oral bacteria to cause
gum disease in lab mice, the scien-

tists were able to track periodontal
disease progression in mice and
confirm that the bacteria had travelled to the brain.
They then isolated the brain microglial cells and exposed them to the
oral bacteria. This exposure stimulated the microglial cells, activated
neuroinflammation and changed
how microglial cells dealt with amyloid plaques.
"Recognising how oral bacteria
causes neuroinflammation will help
us to develop much more targeted

The research team consisted of
Rawan Almarhoumi, Carla Alvarez,
Theodore Harris, Bruce J. Paster, and
Alpdogan Kantarci of Forsyth, and
Christina M. Tognoni, Isabel Carreras, and Alpaslan Dedeoglu of Boston University. This study was supported by a grant from the NIH/NIA
(R01AG062496) awarded to
Drs Dedeoglu and Kantarci).

[6] =>

EVENTS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

Bredent’s Pioneer in Immediate tour lands in
Rome on 22-23 September 2023
3

Bredent has announced that it has
partnered with Sirio Roma to provide
professionals with a new Pioneer in
Immediate3 event which will present
‘implant solutions tailored to the patient’. The event will be hosted at The
Sheraton Parco De’Medici, Viale S.
Rebecchini, Roma over two days on
22 (2:00 pm to 5:45 pm) and 23 September (9:00 am to 4:30 pm).

at the A.B.C.i. Protocol, biotechnical
approach to immediate loading and
ANCi protocol, egotechnical approach to immediate loading, with
Drs Ricardo Ciolli and Nazzareno
Cappelli. Delegates will be pre-

one time" technique, which encompasses the integration and tissue response with hybrid abutment in
BioHPP, presented by Dr Fabio De
Pascalis.

The event will end with a second live
surgery session entitled ‘Simplified
approach to the rehabilitation of
edentulous arches’ with Drs Giovanni
Ghirlanda and Carlo Baroncini.

Bredent medical offers augmentation-preventing therapies in the field
of implantology (SKY implant systems) and antimicrobial photodynamics (HELBO). The company is a
pioneer in the field of immediate
loading implantology – including
SKY fast & fixed implant therapy.
During the two-day event delegates
will be immersed in an array of lectures and live surgeries from a
line-up of renowned experts in the
implant sector. The first day will look

The lectures will also cover the applications of photodynamic techniques
in the surgical and non-surgical therapies of peri-implantitis, by Dr Gianpaolo Poli, and the prevention of
peri-implantitis: medical history and
therapies by Professor Luca Viganò.

sented details of a radiological evaluation of cases for implant purposes
by Dr Luigi Rubino and will also be
introduced to the "One abutment

On Saturday, delegates will be privy
to a live surgery session showcasing
bredent’s whiteSKY zirconia implants with Dr Andrea Borgonovo.

Throughout these Pioneer in Immediate3 lectures, bredent medical will
highlight its philosophy of holistic
patient management which embraces an interdisciplinary approach
among the specialists in the dental
practice and laboratory during an
era of fast-paced digitalisation.
Tissue-related implant management
is the optimal combination of HELBO

therapy to ensure safe osseointegration, SKY and copaSKY implant systems for excellent bone preservation
and prosthetic components/materials which ensure a hermetic soft tissue seal, while respecting biomechanical principles, backed by complete digital workflows with the company’s ALL-in-One concept as a
complete solution provider.
For more information about this
event, please visit and register at
https://www.sirioroma.org.

MiSmile founder shares the central role
philanthropy plays in the business

MiSmile founder Dr Sandeep Kumar
is passionate about helping patients
achieve their dream smile. After witnessing the essential support Operation Smile provides for people with
cleft lip and cleft palate, Dr Kumar
put his organisation’s substantial
support behind the charity with an
innovative initiative – sharing a donation for every Invisalign treatment
performed. He shares the role corporate responsibility plays within his
business.
The MiSmile Network is an umbrella
organisation, comprising independent dental practices located across
the UK. Their founder Dr Kumar
shares: “By 2014, I was the biggest
provider of Invisalign outside London in the country”, says Dr Kumar.
“I wanted to help other dentists in
the UK grow their businesses too,
and teamed up with Align Technology to develop MiSmile. Now we are

Dr Kumar outlines why he wanted to
support a charity. “In 2016, my business was doing very well and my
team was getting bigger and bigger.
I felt a sense of responsibility to give
part of what I was doing to those
who needed it, as I felt I was in a very
privileged position. I can’t do anything half hearted, and went to Madagascar with Operation Smile to see
in person how the charity helps people with cleft conditions. What I saw
blew me away. They were changing
the lives of the patients, as well as the
whole families. The moment of joy of
the patient and parents’ faces was
very touching.”
“Operation Smile is helping people
to smile who wouldn’t be able to
without support”, continues
Dr Kumar. “I feel very connected with
their work, because we’re also making people smile. The charity is at the
heart of our philanthropic support.”
MiSmile started to contribute to Operation Smile in 2018, and aims to
raise £1million for the charity. “Last
year, we raised £70,000, with a total
of £200,000 in the years we have
been supporting them. We all feel
like we’re part of something bigger
than ourselves.”
If not treated, infants born with cleft
conditions have nine times the risk of
dying within the first year of life. They
may be rejected by their families or
communities. They may be unable to

feed or have problems speaking due
to the palatal perforation. Operation
Smile provides treatment for people
with cleft conditions, on medical
missions or in cleft centres Operation
Smile has set up and trained local
medical professionals to run in developing countries around the world.
MiSmile raises money for Operation
Smile in two ways: “We contribute £7
per case to the charity. £3 comes
from the MiSmile community members, and £4 is donated by me and
my team. As our community is getting bigger, the more we raise for
Operation Smile, so it’s a real win
win. Once a year we hold a conference and gala dinner, with a focus of
raising money for Operation Smile
through an auction and raffle.”
Dr Kumar outlines the role dentists
can play in philanthropy. “As dentists,
we are in a very privileged position.
We work very hard and have had to
make a lot of sacrifices to get to
where we are, but dentistry is a very
privileged and good profession. I
believe you owe it to the world to
share whatever you have. There are
people who don’t have the same advantages we have.”
As MiSmile grows, so does the support for Operation Smile. “We are
planning to launch MiSmile in UAE,
and then will be announcing a collaboration with orthodontists. And
every case we work on helps Operation Smile. That will never change.”
Dentists play an essential role on
Operation Smile medical missions,

including restoring or removing
teeth with infections and decay, creating a healthy environment for
treatment and giving essential preventative advice. There are a number of ways UK dentists can help
support Operation Smile including
fundraising, raising awareness in
your practice or on social media.
Operation Smile carries out hundreds of medical missions to help
people with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Just £150 provides one child with
cleft lip or cleft palate with a
life-changing operation.

a strong community of 350 practices
across the country. The business is
doing phenomenally.”

MiSmile Network is the fastest growing network of Invisalign-focused
GDPs in the UK
The MiSmile Network provides a
unique opportunity to be part of a
successful dental brand with a
unique support business growth
support model, whilst allowing dentists to lead, control and drive their
clinical practice.
For more information, visit www.operationsmile.org.uk/fundraise.

[7] =>

UK NEWS

7

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

Perspectives for oral regeneration
Botiss introduces new biomaterials

The international driver of innovation
in the field of dental biomaterials,
botiss biomaterials GmbH, is
enriching the dental market with
three groundbreaking new solutions,
which the company presented at a
press conference during IDS.
NOVAMag membranes and screws
made of resorbable magnesium
enable new regenerative measures
while avoiding the need for
secondary surgeries. cerabone plus,
the exclusive mix of bovine bone and
hyaluronate directly out of box, is
captivating the field of dental bone
regeneration with its excellent
handling properties. BotissCARE
provides a simple and fast point-ofcare solution to optimise vitamin D
levels and thereby improve oral
regeneration.

Innovations for optimal
solutions in every situation
In the holistic treatment of bones,
soft tissues, and aesthetics, suitable
and coordinated biomaterials make
an essential contribution to the construction and regeneration of oral
tissues as well as support in surgical
procedures. Dr Svenja Rogge, head
of new developments and techniques at botiss, explains: "We work
closely with scientists and clinicians
to continuously develop new solutions that meet the requirements in
practice." Since its founding in 2009,
the Germany-based company has
been expanding its portfolio, with a

recent focus on biological factors
and their influence on wound healing. Now botiss impressed the dental community at the IDS and most
recently at the German ITI Congress
with the two new products NOVAMag and cerabone plus, which
support tissue regeneration with
their special physical properties. Additionally, a product line for testing,
analysis and supplementation of vi-

material properties and the
combinability
of
individual
NOVAMag products with other
biomaterials open up new treatment
options for a variety of indications.
Dr Akiva Elad (Israel) presents the
"Magnesium Membrane Shield
Technique" as an alternative to the
invasive and time-consuming gold
standard for this treatment. In his
recent publication1, the technique

© Shutterstock / Makstorm

Botiss biomaterials impresses with
innovations in bone regeneration,
treatment comfort, and optimization
of systemic factors for therapy success.

uronate directly from the blister, it
forms a "sticky bone" after hydration,
offering unique application comfort.
Dr Rafael Block Veras (Germany) explains: "The product is very comfortable to use and apply intraoperatively."
For Prof. Anton Sculean (Switzerland), the biopolymer as an important component of connective tissue
is interesting for regenerative dentistry for one more reason: "Hyaluronic acid has been shown to enhance the proliferative, migratory
and wound healing properties of cell
types involved in soft tissue wound
healing, thus pointing to its potential
indication in oral reconstructive procedures.” Dr Koray Feran (United
Kingdom), who uses cerabone plus
in many clinical situations, adds: "soft
tissue healing over it has been excellent.”

Measurement and optimisation of vitamin D — A
success factor for oral regeneration
tamin D is offered from now on.

Stable and absorbable
magnesium for GBR
The NOVAMag product line includes
membranes and screws that are
completely resorbed within a few
months. This eliminates the need for
secondary interventions for removal
and increases comfort for patients
and practitioners. Dr Giorgio
Tabanella (Italy) explains, "Compared
to titanium meshes and titaniumreinforced membranes, the handling
is definitely easier." The unique

demonstrates the straightforward
use of this novel material and
enables
an
uncomplicated
introduction to the novel material.

The plus for handling and
performance — bovine
bone with hyaluronate
Hydrating, shaping and applying with the combination of long-term
stable granules and biopolymer,
cerabone plus is captivating the field
of dental bone regeneration for
some time. As the only xenogeneic
bone substitute material with hyal-

The importance of vitamin D for the
health of oral soft and hard tissues
has been widely recognized. Dr Miguel Stanley (Portugal) emphasizes
that vitamin D is essential for the
normal functioning of cells involved
in wound healing and regeneration
and may reduce the risk of complications after oral procedures and accelerate the healing process. Dr
Stanley has been regularly measuring his patients' vitamin D levels for
the past four years and urges his colleagues at the botiss press conference to do the same. He states: "As
doctors of the oral cavity, when performing complex surgery, we should

measure vitamin D, supplement it,
and provide this additional support
to our patients."

Dr Miguel Stanley

Instead of a blood draw by a general
practitioner and time-consuming
laboratory diagnostics, botissCARE
offers a simple and reliable
vitamin D testing system that provides results in just 15 minutes directly in the clinic using a drop of
blood from the fingertip. If a vitamin
D deficiency is detected, which is the
case for over 50% of the European
population, the high-quality vitamin
D3+K2 spray allows convenient supplementation, creating an optimal
foundation for subsequent treatments. Dr Jochen Tunkel (Germany)
agrees, stating: "In my practice, the
botissCARE system represents a
valuable new component in my implantological and periodontological
treatment concepts."
1. Elad, A., Rider, P., Rogge, S.,
Witte, F., Tadić, D., Kačarević, Ž.P.
and Steigmann, L. Application of
Biodegradable Magnesium Membrane Shield Technique for Immediate Dentoalveolar Bone Regeneration. Biomedicines 2023, 11, 744.

Aligner Dental Academy announces accreditation
pathway

Membership of the newly formed
Aligner Dental Academy is being
heralded as a badge of excellence
and commitment to best practice GP
Aligner Therapy, through gold standard continued education, mentoring and career support, as well as
conferring a recognised accreditation pathway.

When a dentist becomes a member of the
Aligner Dental Academy they are demonstrating their commitment to continually developing their knowledge and skills in order
to offer patients optimum care and results. It
also gives them an opportunity to immerse
themselves in an environment with peers and
experienced mentors,
as well as always-on access to support and guidance to ensure clinical excellence with every
patient they treat. By doing so they
will be able to ensure they are bestequipped to catapult their careers.
Not only does membership of the
Aligner Dental Academy confer access to all the education, support,
events and mentors, but dentists can

elevate their status within the profession to peers as well as patients as
they have the option to apply to become ‘Accredited’ and ultimately become a ’Fellow’ of the Academy.

Growing status
To achieve this, members are required to complete an application as
well as submit clinical cases for review by The Academy’s Clinical
Board. If the requirements are met
and the dentist achieves the minimum 85% pass mark, they will receive Accredited Member status. In
order to become an Aligner Dental
Academy Fellow, members need to
first have become Accredited. They
are then required to have been ‘published’ in a recognised clinical publication and will then be required to
complete a case presentation session and viva with the Clinical Board.

Membership levels
Members who dedicate the time and
energy to their learning journey can
then attain accredited member status with the Academy, providing patients with an invaluable measure of
their treating GDP’s knowledge and
expertise.
According to Aligner Dental Academy Co-Founder Dr Barry Buckley:
“The longer a dentist spends with the
Academy – attending educational
events and sharing peer-reviewed
cases with the group – the more their
status within the Academy can improve, from a Registered Member to
an Accredited Member, right up to
becoming a Fellow of the Academy.”
All Accredited and Fellows of the
Academy also receive the following
benefits:

• An official certificate for Accredited members and a plaque for Fellows.
• A digital collateral pack including
badges for social media and websites, profile banners and marketing material to showcase your
achievement.
• Patient facing collateral pack explaining the value being an Accredited Aligner Dental Academy
Member or a Fellow confers on patients
• Patient facing blog and social
media posts pack to further illustrate the dentist’s achievement.

[8] =>

UK NEWS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

Evolving business systems into 2023 and beyond
An article series on five basic systems to improve practice management—Part 4: Leadership and Management

By Chris Barrow, UK

You as delegator

In previous articles of this series, I
have referenced the seminal work
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael
Gerber. I looked at financial systems
in Part 1, practice marketing in Part 2
and the patient experience in Part 3.
In Part 4, I would like to address the
topics of leadership and management—terms which are often misunderstood, transposed and confusing.
In this article, I want to focus not so
much on the performance of people
but on their behaviour and highlight
the behavioural habits that characterise great leaders and managers in
dental practice.

You delegate everything that does
not involve your unique abilities and
invest 80% of your time in your
unique abilities, leading the team the
other 20%—because your team
members are the managers of your
business (and your life). To do so, you
explain what you want in clear terms,
describe the outcome you are looking for and agree on a deadline for
completion. You then back off and
do not micromanage, but neither do
you back off too far—into abdication. In delegating, you accept that
the best team players will get it right
90% of the time and mess up 10%—
that will be how they learn.

Leadership is about your relationship
with people. Management is about
the deployment of systems. You
cannot lead systems. You cannot
manage people. You can lead people. You can manage systems. As a
practice owner, you must be a good
leader of good managers. As a practice manager, you must be a good
leader of your team and in charge of
systems.
Leadership
Let me give you my own definition of
good leadership:
• you are the custodian of the vision;
• you are the example of on-brand
performance and behaviour;
• you are brilliant at effective delegation.
You as custodian
You have a three-year vision, a 12month plan, 90-day goals, monthly
management objectives, a weekly
focus and daily tasks. You share the
vision, plan and goals with all your
team on a regular basis—and they
understand and accept that the vision, plan and goals evolve all the
time. You imbue every aspect of the
business and every member of your
team with the passion and excitement you feel.

Management
Everything you ever needed to know
about business is embodied in the
fundamental systems originally
identified by Michael Gerber and
about which I have said much in my
series of articles so far:
1. financial systems (discussed in
Part 1);
2. lead generation systems (marketing, discussed in Part 2);
3. lead conversion systems (treatment plan presentation and conversion, discussed in Part 3);
4. customer relationship management systems (the patient experience, also discussed in Part 3);
5. operational systems (clinical
governance and compliance); and
6. people systems (creating, leading and managing the team, discussed in this article).

• Opportunities—where do you
see your greatest chances of success, both personally and professionally?
• Threats—what can stop you,
drag you down, block you, damage you?

The
controversial
subject of
tolerations
and how
to
remove
them

How often does your life seem like
the plate spinner’s act? We have a
habit of making our lives too complicated: too many relationships, too
many patients or clients, too many
apps on our devices, too many appointments in the calendar, too
many decisions to make, too many
emails to reply to. Too many times,
we poke our noses into things we
should not bother with (bright shiny
objects—I am terribly guilty of this)
or we micromanage people who do
not need or appreciate it.

C l i e n t s
understand
that personal and
professional
evolution is about deciding
what you want more and less of in
life—and doing something about it.
If you want more money, more time,
greater fitness, more clients, more
qualifications, and if you want less
travel,
less
paperwork,
less
procrastination, less stress, less
having to do everything, then take
action!

We have too many plates to keep
spinning. Plate spinners know their
limits. Do you know yours? Think
about the plates you have spinning—and ask yourself:
• Do you have enough?
• Do you have too many?
• What can you do to simplify your
life?

If only it were that easy. Ask yourself
what you must remove from your life
before you can move forward.
We all tolerate things that do not
work properly, situations that are not
right and relationships that do not
work, in our personal and professional lives. Those tolerations slow us
down, eat into our self-confidence
and prevent us from moving for-

Chris Barrow
has more than 50 years of work
experience and has been active as
a consultant, trainer and coach to
the UK dental profession for over
25 years. His main professional
focus is through his Extreme
Business company, providing
coaching and mentorship to
independent dentistry
around the world via
virtual consultancy,
practice visits, a
workshop programme
and an online
learning platform. His
blog, Thinking
Business, enjoys a
strong following.
During the COVID-19
pandemic, Barrow
created the Regeneration
Coaching Programme to
help practices to survive
lockdowns and to bounce back
higher after their return to work.
More information on his work can

When I first conducted this exercise
for myself, many years ago, I decided
that what I wanted to do more of was
public speaking, writing, coaching
and content development and that I
would focus all my efforts and finances on creating an environment
in which I could spend 80% of my
time on my unique abilities and 20%
of my time doing “everything else”.
Take a sheet of paper. Draw a line
down the middle. Head the lefthand column “My unique abilities”.
Head the right-hand column “Everything else”. Start writing and determine what your unique abilities are.

What is the difference between leadership and management?

member the circus act of a performer spinning plates on top of
sticks? We look on in amazement as
the artist adds more and more
plates—and great show is made of
letting plates lose momentum, wobble and almost fall—but just in time,
the artist reaches the stick and spins,
and the plate regains momentum.
As the artist does that, at the other
end of the line, another plate begins
to wobble. The audience loves the
“risk” that a plate will fall. We love to
watch others take risks like that—the
plate spinner, the trapeze artist, the
walker balancing on the high wire.

You as example
If you are late, everyone can be. If
you are untidy, everyone can be. If
you are miserable, everyone is!
You are on stage, in the spotlight,
24/7! You must be in first and out
last, must possess an eye for detail
and must be aware of everything
and everyone. You must be able to
read a 1,000-word newsletter after
everyone else—and spot the typo
they all missed. You must lead your
team, your clients, your suppliers,
your advisers, your strategic alliance
partners, your family, your friends
and (sometimes) yourself. There is
no time off!

In his fourth article on evolving practice business systems, dental consultant Chris Barrow explains that the secret to successful leadership is sustainability, maintaining a constant pace over
time.

First, read The E-Myth Revisited and
learn the principles. Second, read
The E-Myth Dentist and learn how
the principles apply in practice (declaration of interest—I am co-author
but receive no royalties).

Performing and behaving
like a leader or manager
How do you find the time to be a
great leader or manager? Do you re-

Are you any good as a
leader or manager?
It can be useful to conduct a SWOT
analysis on yourself before you start
to consider how you can lead others
and manage systems:
• Strengths—what do you consider
to be your strongest capabilities?
When do you feel in the zone?
• Weaknesses—how do you let
yourself down? When do you feel
outside of your comfort zone?

ward. The job you hate, the commute that wears you out, the computer that does not process data fast
enough, the team member who is
not on-brand, the patient or client
who drives you nuts.
Make a list of all the tolerations in
your life. Let me warn you—this is
scary stuff—it will move you outside
of your comfort zone—trust me and
be brave.

Learning
effectively

delegate

Delegation is an essential aspect of
time management. We are all doing
too much—some more than others.
How do we delegate well? The first
step you should have already completed by listing your unique abilities
in the left-hand column and everything else in the right-hand column.
The second step is to identify who

[9] =>

UK NEWS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

you are going to delegate “everything else” to.
For example, in my personal life, I
delegate:
• housekeeping to the cleaners;
• gardening to the gardener;
• holidays, social occasions and
special events to my wife;
• my work–life balance calendar to
my business manager, Phillippa
Goodwin.
In my professional life, I delegate:
• finance to my accountant, Doug
Murphy (hand-picked because he
is also a mentor);
• calendar, calls, meetings, travel,
accommodation, even lost property to Phillippa;
• branding and marketing to my
daughter, Rachel Barrow, who runs
her own marketing agency.
The third step is often problematic—
the act of delegation:
• Explain and agree on the task—
give a full and proper brief.
• Agree on the resources required.
• Agree on what the outcome will
look like.
• Agree on any cost implications.
• Agree on a deadline.
• Agree on the method of reporting back.
For simple tasks, this is far too complicated. In situations like that, you
can rely on the individual to whom
you have delegated the task to use
their common sense—if they do not
have any, they should not be work-

ing for you! For more complex
tasks—like building a website—you
must have these agreements in
place.
The secret of attractive leadership is
to then step back and leave your
team to get on with it. The reason I
am successful at delegation is that I
do not interfere when the task has
been agreed on—in any event, I am
busy with other things. My support
team love it that I trust them enough
to make their own decisions—it
gives them a sense of purpose in
their work that they do for me; they
own it. An empowered team, entrusted with responsibility, will increase your effectiveness by an
order of magnitude that far surpasses the investment you make in
them.

How leaders and managers
communicate
How often do you communicate
with your internal support team? Not
often enough. How do I know that?
Because part of my work is dealing
with the consequences. My all-time
number one saying is “All problems
exist in the absence of a good conversation.”
Those conversations can be one-onone or team meetings. Here is a
meeting schedule I devised some
years ago for “perfect practice” and
to minimise the risk of relationship
and communication problems in any
business:

Daily
A 15-minute daily huddle before the
curtain is raised, to review the good
and bad points of the previous day
and to preview the day ahead
Weekly
A 30-minute weekly reflection on the
best and worst bits of the previous
week and agreement on what we
can learn and how we can evolve
Monthly
A 3-hour (half-day) monthly review
of all key aspects of the business:
• financial performance;
• marketing results;
• customer relationship management highlights;
• pipeline and sales;
• operational issues;
• team well-being.
Quarterly
A full-day quarterly meeting that
covers the items in a monthly meeting in the morning and that involves
team training on any of these in the
afternoon
Annually
An annual getaway that includes an
overnight ideally in a location away
from the practice location, dedicated to:
• the same agenda as for the quarterly meeting but with the annual
review on the first morning;
• fun on the first afternoon;
• party and awards on the first evening;

• plans for the coming year on the
second morning;
• fun on the second afternoon.
Appraisals are yesterday’s leadership
tool. The concept of sitting down
with an employee once a year for
“judgement day” is Industrial Revolution stuff—not the connection revolution of today. I agree that individuals require personal progress interviews however. If you decide on
them, here is your meeting agenda:
Part 1—questions for the team
member to answer:
• What do you like best about
working here?
• What do you like least about
working here?
• What would you most like to
change about your work here?
• In what area would you appreciate some further training?
Part 2—feedback I would like to give
to you:
• What I like best about the work
you do is ...
• What I like least about the work
you do is ...
• What I would most like you to
change about the work you do
here is ...

having fun—in that order. It is not all
about the money.

Closing
Success is defined as “doing what
you love to do, with the people you
love doing it with, when you love
doing it”.1 The secret of long-term
success is sustainability—not short
sharp shocks on training courses but
the ability to maintain that 80% pace
for mile after mile, for month after
month, stretching into years. Great
leaders and managers are those who
follow these guidelines relentlessly
and consistently over long periods. I
love being a tortoise, and people
seem to enjoy my leadership and
management style.

Reference
1. Morris T. True success: a new philosophy of excellence. New York:
Berkeley Books; 1995. 294 p.

Just about every survey of employee
satisfaction ever undertaken has
come to the same conclusion: that
people stay in a job when they feel
genuinely appreciated, can see a career pathway for themselves, feel
well paid for what they do and are

The fundamentals of succeeding in dentistry
today
Dentistry is progressing at fast pace,
and dental practices need to adapt
or die, says Dr Simon Chard, speaking ahead of his presentation to delegates at the forthcoming Align
Technology UKI Forum Live, when
he will share his views on a dental
practice of the future.
He says digital technologies such as
3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI)
and robotics will change the shape
of dentistry in the next five to ten
years – more so than the combined
developments of the past 30 years.
He predicts: “I’ve been chairside milling my restorations for many, many
years, but I believe 3D printing will
eventually surpass milling. The beautiful thing about 3D printing is you
get the accuracy, you get the speed,
but it’s a much less significant capital
investment than with milling, so I
think the adoption from dentists will
be much faster as a result.”
“I think AI and having an AI assistant
to support you in your clinic with
note taking and radiographic diagnostics will be widespread, while advances in Smile Design and the capabilities of software such as exocad
CAD/CAM in smile visualisation is
going to be here much faster than
we think. Workflows will also be really, really streamlined.” And he adds:
“There’s also some really exciting ad-

vances in implant therapy – haptic-enhanced robotics to help improve the accuracy of implant placements.
To future-proof themselves, he
warns dentists they must adapt. “A
mindset of adaptability will be important for dentists in preparing for
the changes to come. To paraphrase
a saying … ‘it's not the fastest or the
strongest that succeeds, it's the one
that's most adaptable to change’. It’s
about having an open mindset and
not being restricted by dogmas of
previous years. But that doesn't
mean jumping into every different
technology that presents as soon as
it arrives, because obviously there's
lots of companies looking to benefit
financially from the technological
advancement and not all of these
technologies will succeed. However,
having that open mindset, doing
your research and adopting it pragmatically will reap multiple rewards
for all parties involved in dentistry.”

A.B.C.D
Dr Chard sums up what he believes
are the key fundamentals of dentistry today with his his AI and airways, biological, cosmetic and digital
(A.B.C.D) approach. These will form
the pillars of his Align Technology
UKI Live Forum presentation, as he
explains: “It is really important for all

of us as dentists, both for the protection of our own businesses, but also
for the better treatment of our patients, to stay abreast of the latest
advances in technology; with the advent of AI, those changes will happen even faster. Directly through
things such as radiographic diagnostic assistance, to software that can
design restorations, and indirectly in
the way that the hardware will advance much, much faster with this increased processing power,” he says,
adding that airways are another important consideration in dentistry:
According to some estimations one
billion people globally may have undiagnosed sleep apnoea1 and dentists are in a very unique position to
be able to diagnose those patients.
After the correct diagnosis, there are
also relatively simple treatment modalities that dentists can prescribe, or
we can refer them to the correct
sleep physician.
Dr Chard also stresses the biological
link between the mouth and the
whole body…both the mouth leading to issues in the body and issues
of the body being vitally important
to things going on in the mouth. “For
this we look at the microbiome and
the linkage of systemic illnesses with
periodontal disease and implant failure, and other issues of oral health.
So it's really not looking at the mouth

as a silo but looking at it as a part of
a living human being,” he
stresses.
He also points
to the advent
of technology and improved techniques, that
places even
more responsibility on dentists to be biologically responsible and
ethical with regards to cosmetic
dentistry provision: “How can we
practice cosmetic dentistry in the
most minimally invasive way possible? This includes things such as no
prep porcelain veneers following Invisalign treatment and a more conservative approach to full arch implant work.”
Last, but by no means least he underlines the importance of embracing digital technology. “As we've
seen in many industries, if you don't
adapt, then your business can very
quickly die… AI, robotics or technology to streamline workflows, make it
a really exciting time to be a dentist:
The next five years will show the biggest changes in dentistry that we've
seen in the past 30.”

Dr Simon Chard
practices cosmetic and implant
dentistry at Rothley Lodge
Dental just outside
London.
He sits on the board of
directors for the
British Academy of
Cosmetic Dentistry
and has a strong
focus towards
achieving optimal
aesthetic results using
minimally invasive
techniques.

Reference
Benjafield, A.V. et al. (2019) ‘Estimation of the global prevalence and
burden of obstructive sleep apnoea:
A literature-based analysis’, The
Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 7(8),
pp. 687–698. doi:10.1016/s22132600(19)30198-5.

[10] =>

UK NEWS

10

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

The new power duo guiding Sinclair through its
next phase of growth2023
Global aesthetics specialist Sinclair is
paving the way for a future of strategic innovation and expansion with
two key executive appointments initiated to help spearhead Sinclair
UKI’s ambition to be UK market
leader.

John Campbell’s career in medical
aesthetics spans 15 years, with companies such as Germany’s Merz
Pharma and Allergan Aesthetics, underpinned by 20 years of sales and
marketing expertise. His extensive
background gives him a deep understanding of the industry's complexities, which he believes will be instrumental to his role at Sinclair.
“What I bring is a really good understanding of the industry, both at a
national and global level. My experience working with some of the largest medical aesthetic companies in
the field has provided me with valuable insights and expertise that I can
readily apply to my current role,” he
says.
Similarly, Lauren boasts 16 years of
expertise in the international aesthetics market, which she explains
“Encompasses strategic sales and
marketing roles which demanded a
deep understanding of diverse consumer preferences, distributor dynamics, and manufacturer-to-provider engagements.” She adds: "My
most recent experience was as Director of Marketing for an aesthetic
clinic chain, however HydraFacial is
probably the notable company for
which I worked, where I led the experiential marketing focus for the EMEA
region.”

Mutual professional respect
Certainly both John and Lauren are
full of mutual professional admiration and respect for each other. Says
John of Lauren: “Lauren has a true
passion for medical aesthetics. With
a wealth of experience in the industry. One of her greatest qualities is
her innate ability to engage with
people. Whether it's customers, colleagues, or industry peers, she establishes meaningful connections
and builds strong relationships.”
Lauren adds of John: “I hold complete faith in John's strategic approach to decision-making, trusting

Forging
tions

Sinclair's marketing leaders: John Campbell, Country Head for the UK&I and Lauren Clarke, Head of Marketing UK&I.

that it will guide our company in a
well-planned and effective direction,
fostering success and growth
throughout the UK, Ireland, and for
all our customers. As we focus on
building strategic partnerships for
improvement and growth, John's
well-established network and reputation will undoubtedly be key assets.”
The two are also understandably impressed and excited by Sinclair’s
track record and the opportunities
for growth. Says John: “Beyond its
great product offerings, what truly
stands out to me is the emphasis Sinclair places on building and nurturing relationships. The company actively encourages connections and
communication among practitioners, professionals, and experts in
the field. This collaborative approach
creates a supportive and empowering ecosystem that benefits everyone involved, enhancing the overall
quality of care and services offered
within the industry.”
Lauren also underlines the quality
and efficacy of Sinclair’s “exceptional” product portfolio, which includes pioneering brands including
Maili, Lanluma, Silhouette Soft, Ellansé and a new portfolio of energy-based devices, which are new to
the market. This is couple with a
“Dedication to providing professional support and training for
healthcare professionals”, including
resources such as the Sinclair College
learning portal.

Planning for growth
Together John and Lauren have cohesive plans to build on the success
of the business so far. John highlights
his vision of creating a “Happy and
empowered team.” He adds "My
commitment to nurturing a positive
and motivating work environment
revolves around fostering empowerment and knowledge among team
members. I strongly believe that a

happy and fulfilled team translates
to better results and a greater experience for our customers.”
Beyond Sinclair’s internal team he
recognises the importance of addressing the professional development needs of aesthetic practitioners within the industry: “Ultimately, my goal is to create a symbiotic relationship where our team's
growth and dedication empowers
aesthetic practitioners to deliver
outstanding care and results to their
clients.”
Lauren has a comprehensive plan in
place focused on innovation, cus-

ing strategic alliances and collaborating with influencers, I aim to build
solid customer loyalty and bolster
Sinclair UKI’s brand trustworthiness.”
She also stresses that digital transformation, with an emphasis on better use of social media, will be fundamental to building Sinclair’s online
presence. At the same time Lauren
intends to strengthen Sinclair’s
brand positioning by more actively
engaging in industry functions and
thought leadership initiatives.
“Finally, I see immense value in providing networking opportunities for
our customers. Offering a compre-

new

collabora-

She has also announced Sinclair’s
collaboration with the UK's foremost
postgraduate training provider in
aesthetic medicine, Harley Academy, and the globally renowned
Prof. Sebastian Cotofona, an eminent anatomist for facial enhancement procedures and Professor in
the Department of Clinical Anatomy
at the prestigious Mayo Clinic of
Medicine and Science in Rochester,
Minnesota.
“This collaboration will make Sinclair
the exclusive collaborator for
Prof. Cotofona's inaugural event in
the UK, coinciding with his new role
as Harley Academy's Academic Director. This strategic alignment not
only underscores our core objectives but also paves the way for future growth, impact, and success,”
Lauren concludes.
Finally, John underline’s his ambition
for Sinclair under his stewardship.

© Shutterstock / popcorner

Medical aesthetics is in the career
DNA of both John Campbell, who
joins Sinclair as country head for the
UK and Ireland, and Lauren Clarke,
who comes on board as head of
marketing UK and Ireland - and is
leading the company’s marketing
and training functions. Together
they bring a wealth of industry experience, mutual respect and understanding which they plan to leverage
as they take Sinclair UKI into the next
phase of business expansion.

An early highlight were two exclusive
MaiLi My Power brunches designed
specifically for industry stakeholders
as well as professional and consumer
press, which revealed findings of a
global survey conducted with
women as part of the powerful MaiLi
My Power campaign. She adds: “I
am now committed to sustaining
and amplifying the momentum we
have gathered so far.”

tomers, collaboration, digital transformation, employee growth, brand
positioning, industry leadership, and
networking. “Together, these strategies form a roadmap for success,
guiding Sinclair UKI to new heights in
the aesthetics industry, in alignment
with both our business goals and
customers' needs,” she stresses,
adding: “I believe a customer-focused approach, combined with fostering collaboration and partnerships, is paramount. By putting customer satisfaction at the core, and
working closely with key players
within the aesthetics sector, includ-

hensive calendar of opportunities is
a priority, allowing them to connect
and engage with industry peers and
experts, fostering relationships, and
enhancing their overall experience
with Sinclair UKI and our brands.”
In fact, she has already begun to implement this strategy, launching
seven Maili networking events
across the UK and Ireland in July,
which successfully brought together
more than 100 medical professionals and partners.

“Sinclair has an impressive legacy
within the industry. I genuinely believe that it will be a market leader in
the UK. To achieve this, we must
focus on continuing to: offer great
products, develop an exceptional
team and create the finest customer
experience tailored to the demands
of the digital age.”
For more information about Sinclair,
please visit: www.sinclair.com/. To
arrange meetings with John or Lauren at CCR, please email enquiriesuk@sinclair.com.

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[12] =>

UK NEWS

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 03/2023

Effects of menopause on women's oral health
By Anna Middleton, UK
Menopause is a natural biological
process that marks the end of a
woman's reproductive years. It typically occurs in women between the
ages of 45 and 55, and during this
time, hormonal changes can have a
variety of effects on the body. One
area that is often overlooked but can
be significantly impacted is dental
and oral health.
During menopause, a woman's body
experiences a decrease in the production of oestrogen and progesterone, two essential hormones that
play a role in maintaining bone density and oral health. This hormonal
imbalance can lead to several oral
health issues, including:
1. Bone loss: Oestrogen helps protect bone density, and the decrease
in oestrogen levels during menopause can contribute to bone loss.
This can weaken the foundation that
supports teeth and increase the risk
of tooth loss especially in the presence of periodontal disease.
2. Dry mouth: Many women experience dry mouth during menopause,
which is a result of decreased saliva
production. Saliva is crucial for maintaining oral health as it helps cleanse
away food particles, neutralise acids,
and prevent the growth of bacteria.

Dry mouth can lead to a higher risk
of tooth decay, periodontal disease,
and oral infections, such as oral
thrush.
3. Gum problems: Hormonal
changes can make the gums more
sensitive and prone to inflammation
in the presence of biofilm. This can
lead to increased gum tenderness,
bleeding, and a higher risk of periodontal disease, such as gingivitis
and periodontitis.
4. Burning mouth syndrome: Some
women may experience a burning or
tingling sensation in the mouth,
known as burning mouth syndrome,
during menopause. This condition
can cause discomfort, alter taste
perception, and impact oral health.
5. Osteoporosis: Menopause is often
associated with an increased risk of
osteoporosis, a condition characterised by decreased bone density. Osteoporosis can affect the jawbone,
leading to tooth loss and other dental problems.

with fluoride toothpaste and interdental cleaning daily are essential
habits to prevent tooth decay and
gum disease. I recommend a Philips
Sonicare toothbrush and the new
PowerFlosser as an adjunct. Regular
dental exams and professional
cleanings should also be scheduled
to monitor and address any emerging issues.
2. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of
water can help combat dry mouth
and promote saliva production. Limiting caffeine and alcohol intake can
also help reduce dryness.
3. Use saliva substitutes: Over-thecounter saliva substitutes, such as artificial saliva, can provide temporary
relief for dry mouth symptoms along
with sugar-free mints/gum.
4. Practice a balanced diet: Consuming a nutritious diet rich in calcium,
vitamin D, and other essential nutrients can support bone health. Include dairy products, leafy greens,
and fortified foods in your diet.

To mitigate the effects of menopause on oral health, dental professionals should consider advising the
following measures for patients experiencing menopause:

5. Quit smoking: Menopause is a
good time to quit smoking if you haven't already. Smoking increases the
risk of gum disease, oral cancers, and
other oral health problems.

1. Maintain good oral hygiene:
Brushing teeth at least twice a day

6. Hormone replacement therapy
(HRT): In some cases, hormone re-

placement therapy may be recommended to alleviate menopause
symptoms, including those impacting oral health. Consult with a
healthcare professional to determine if HRT is a suitable option for
you.
In conclusion, menopause
brings
about horm o n a l
changes
that can
affect a
woman's
dental
and oral
health.
Maintaining
good oral hygiene practices, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet,
and seeking professional dental care
can help minimise the impact of
menopause on oral health and promote overall well-being during this
transitional phase of life.

Anna Middleton
Anna Middleton is an award-winning dental hygienist and therapist.
She started London Hygienist
website with the mission to change
the way oral health care is
delivered to patients and improve
access to dental services.
In 2020, Anna returned to
university to extend her
scope of practice by
completing her dental
therapist training at the
University of Essex,
obtaining a BSc Hons in
Oral Health Science in
2021. Anna is a KOL for
Philips, and an official
provider and Swiss Dental
Academy trainer of EMS
Guided Biofilm Therapy.
Anna regularly appears in the
Dentistry Top Most Influential
Dental Professionals in the UK
Anna recently introduced Thrive, a
course to help dental professionals
to achieve professional and
personal success. This is about to
be launched online.

Can we improve on the toothpaste
we use to maintain clean teeth, preventing medical issues that spiral
from poor dental health? Most
toothpastes use fluoride, a powerful
tool for oral hygiene. However, fluoride can pose health problems in
some cases, especially for children
who consume too much fluoride by
swallowing most of their toothpaste:
children normally use only a tiny
dose of toothpaste to avoid these
problems, but that reduces toothbrushing efficacy. In the search for
alternatives, a team of international
scientists and Polish clinicians have
identified a hydroxyapatite toothpaste that works just as well as fluoride toothpaste to protect against
cavities.
“Hydroxyapatite is a safe and effective alternative to fluoride in caries
prevention for daily use,” said Prof.
Elżbieta Paszyńska of the Poznań
University of Medical Sciences,
co-principal investigator and corresponding author of the study.

Minimally invasive dentistry
Hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate mineral found in the skeleton.
It’s known to be very safe for human

Toothpaste containing synthetic tooth minerals
can prevent cavities as effectively as fluoride

consumption and has previously
been shown to help with oral conditions like periodontitis. It can both inhibit the demineralisation of teeth, a
key step towards a cavity, and contribute to remineralisation, which reinforces damaged tooth surfaces.
“Currently, in dental care, the aim is
to use minimally invasive dentistry as
often as possible,” explained Prof.
Paszyńska. “This means trying to
preserve as much tooth tissue as
possible, including those altered by
initial caries that still show the ability
to remineralize. The use of remineralisation compounds is a boon, as it
may limit the need for invasive treatment of carious lesions with a drill.”

To see if it would help patients without specific dental conditions, the
clinicians recruited 189 adults aged
18-45 to take part in an 18-monthlong double blind randomised clinical trial. They aimed to see all patients through to the end of the
study without an increase in cavities.
A total of 171 patients completed the
trial, evenly split between the hydroxyapatite toothpaste group and
the control group with fluoridated
toothpaste. All patients had at least
ten teeth without cavities, were willing to use an electric toothbrush,
and had no pre-existing tooth problems in need of treatment. Patients

were provided with electric toothbrushes and replacement heads for
these brushes, as well as neutrally
packaged toothpaste that could
have contained either the hydroxyapatite toothpaste or a fluoride
toothpaste. Neither patients nor examiners knew which toothpaste a
given patient was using, and patients
used no other oral care products.
They were also asked to brush their
teeth at the same time every day—
twice a day, after meals, for three
minutes each time—but they were
not asked to change their diets.

stage of the trial was monitored for
consistency between patients, and
patient safety was monitored at
every appointment to make sure
there weren’t any unanticipated side
effects.

“We did not monitor the diet of each
subject as the aim was to test two
different toothpastes, not the influence of the diet on the caries progress,” said Prof. Paszyńska.

“Previously published clinical trials
also show the caries-preventing effect of hydroxyapatite in risk groups
such as children and patients undergoing orthodontic therapy,” said
Prof. Paszyńska. “With our new clinical trial, it has been shown that hydroxyapatite prevents dental caries
in adults. This is important from a
public health perspective.”

Hydroxyapatite equally effective
Throughout the trial, patients visited
the clinicians every six months for an
examination and to receive a fresh
supply of toothpaste. Their teeth
were visually examined and checked
for any shadows that might reveal an
early-stage cavity using a DIAGNOcam (KaVo) device. A plaque disclosing solution was also used to see
how clean their teeth were. Each

At the end of the trial, the scientists
found that nearly 90% of patients in
both groups had no new cavities.
There was no statistical difference in
efficacy between the patients using
a hydroxyapatite toothpaste and the
control group using a fluoride toothpaste: both worked equally well.

The study, titled “Caries-preventing
effect of a hydroxyapatite-toothpaste in adults: a 18-month double-blinded randomized clinical
trial”, was published on 18 July in
Frontiers in Public Health.

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[cover] => Dental Tribune UK No. 3, 2023

[toc] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [title] => Digital dental pioneer and ‘The Smiling Dentist’ Dr Alif Moosajee shares his dental life lessons [page] => 1 ) [1] => Array ( [title] => MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice: Comprehensive support to pass the ORE, plus a deep-dive into clinical governance [page] => 4 ) [2] => Array ( [title] => How to increase your Google reviews: The new technology driving next-generation personalised patient engagement [page] => 5 ) [3] => Array ( [title] => MiSmile founder shares the central role philanthropy plays in the business [page] => 6 ) [4] => Array ( [title] => Perspectives for oral regeneration [page] => 7 ) [5] => Array ( [title] => Evolving business systems into 2023 and beyond [page] => 8 ) [6] => Array ( [title] => The new power duo guiding Sinclair through its next phase of growth2023 [page] => 10 ) [7] => Array ( [title] => Effects of menopause on women's oral health [page] => 12 ) ) [toc_html] =>

Table of contents

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