I think the words ‘private dentistry’ conjures up in peoples minds huge amounts of money.
Of course, this can be true especially in the realms of makeover cosmetic and implant dentistry.
However for routine care it can cost as little as 59 pence a day with one of our practice dental plans. They include checkups, hygienist appointments, X-rays and emergency appointments.
That’s cheaper than a bag of crisps a day for great routine dental care.
However, if people are looking for cosmetic work, even small changes can give great results.
Changing a little front filling from brown and discoloured to a colour that matches your teeth beautifully. Did you realize we have lots of different filling shades, so we can accurately achieve a match, that way the filling virtually disappears. Some old metal fillings can be replaced by white fillings too giving a great result.
Cosmetic whitening is another way to achieve a brighter smile, that won’t break the bank. One of the things to consider is the shade you want to achieve, 18 year old white teeth often don’t look good in 50+ year old faces! But we take care to achieve the best result that’s good for you.
A lady who we whitened recently said
“I wanted white teeth, but after Ali’s good advice, we monitored the shade until it was exactly right for me. I’ve had so many compliments that I look really good, but no one can work out why. Even my old dad kept asking me if I’d changed my hair!”
Another forgotten about cosmetic treatment is a clean by the hygienist.
At the practice, because we are owned by a hygienist, we really focus on helping patients to keep their mouths clean and healthy. Our hygienists keep you out of the dentists’ chair as much as possible and it’s something that they’re very good at. Recently a lovely lady who hasn’t had any dentist treatment, only checkups, for a few years said
“I can’t believe I’ve escaped another checkup without anything done. I wished someone had shown me how to clean my teeth properly years ago! Going to the Hygienist regularly is keeping things so clean.”
Regular hygienist appointments can help keep stains away and breath fresh.
Did you know that you can come to see our hygienists at the practice under something called Direct access. This means that you can book in with the hygienist without seeing our dentists for a one off or regular cleans.
All these small cosmetic changes could work for you too, it’s never too late to start looking after your teeth and gums and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
To book an appointment with a hygienist, please call us on 01323 325397.
Clifton Farm Camberlot Road, Upper Dicker
Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3QG
It’s All About The People!
/in Dental News /by Kev ReillySo here I am sitting in the hairdressers waiting for my grey to be turned back to ginger!
It’s expensive to come here, but I pay willingly and return every 6 weeks to my trusted stylist Jenny.
It’s got me thinking. Why do I like it here? Firstly, I like the people.
I can book ahead for a time to suit me, which is great as I’m a busy person.
So, a while ago they put their prices up, but I still wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else. You see I value what they do for me, the hair stuff and the personal service. It’s one less thing I have to stress about as the quality is consistent.
The weirdest thing of all is that I’ve realised sitting here is that these are the very same reasons why patients continue to love and return to The Dental Barn.
Our patients get great treatment, personal service and above all it makes them feel good to visit us.
Hair or teeth it’s all about the people!
To book an appointment or become a patient give us a call on 01323 325397.
We’re going green, well almost!
/in Dental News /by Caitlin MurphyOver the last few months we have been making changes to make our practice ‘greener’. Unfortunately, the Care Quality Commission who we must bow down to, have a real thing for single use plastics!
So here is our A-Z of green changes
Amalgam
We use amalgam (metal fillings) very rarely, but we do of course take them out of people’s mouths. We have an amalgam separator on our dental chairs, which removes the bits from the water, and we collect the bits in special containers. The container is then professionally disposed of safely.
Colgate Terracycle box
Unfortunately, we can’t put tepes in because of the metal.
Dappens dishes
We use literally 20 of these little plastic dishes a day! So, we have changed back to sterilizable glass dishes. This is going to make a big difference.
Digital X-rays
As we have moved away from film X-rays, we don’t produce lead waste or have to use developing chemicals. Digital also only produce about 10% of the radiation of old film X-rays so reducing the amount of radiation into the environment.
Paper Goods
We are in the process of changing our tissues, towels and toilet rolls for either sustainably produced or recycled variations.
We have changed our tray liners to remove the plastic from them.
We are not a paper free practice (I wish), but all of our documents are shredded and recycled by Haulaway.
Recycling
All our plastic bottles and cans are recycled
We have a weekly ‘red’ box from Haulaway in Hailsham that recycles all our paper, cardboard, shredded paper, newspapers, leaflets and magazines. They give the recycling money to St.Wilfrid’s hospice. It has raised over £10,000 in two years.
Suction tips
We now use reusable suction tips that go through our sterilizing system along with our instruments.
We are looking to replace our plastic mouthwash cups and some Eco-friendly interdental brushes and more. So we’ll keep you informed.
That is all the ways we are making the Dental Barn and environmentally friendly dentist. To book an appointment or become a patient give us a call on 01323 325397.
Are you a Dental Stalker?
/in Dental News /by Alison ThompsonWe had a lady in last week for a ‘coffee and chat’ who said she had been stalking me for 6 months! After being a bit taken a back, I asked her what she meant.
“You see I’ve been looking at all your Facebook posts for a long time, trying to pluck up the courage to ring. I wanted to be sure that you were the right practice for me to go to.”
I hadn’t realised that we had stalkers, but when I started to think about it, choosing a dentist is not an impulse decision! You have to make sure that they are going to look after you, that they are going to be honest and fair and most of all they are not going to hurt you!
I think stalking is a great idea, you can get a real feel for a practice and the people by what they post, as posts should reflect the values and personalities of the people. I hope that our social media says we care about people and that we will never make them feel silly or embarrassed. But also shows that we are a family and have fun together (don’t ask about the bright pink tutu’s)
So, I hope if you are reading this and you have been plucking up the courage to contact us, now maybe just the time to ‘go for it’. To start your journey with a free coffee and chat and see how we can help you become part of our dental family, call Karen on 01323 325397 and we’ll make some time just for you.
And if you are not quite ready yet keep following and liking our posts, because one day it will be your time to give us a call. Why not read our reviews and recommendation as they also tell patients stories.
Most of all you will always be welcome at The Dental Barn, whether it’s next week or in six months’ time!
Six Ways a Smile Can Help Your Business
/in Dental News /by Alison ThompsonSmiling is a powerful tool and a good smile can contribute to success in relationships, businesses and helps boost self-confidence. More than 30% of people smile more than 30 times a day and children can smile up to 400 times a day. Being embarrassed to smile can make such a negative impact on people’s lives.
1.Smiling makes you feel good
Smiling releases the hormone serotonin, which produces the feeling of happiness and well-being. British researchers have discovered that one smile can produce the same happiness in our brains as eating 2,000 chocolate bars. If you’re in a good mood you generally become a nicer person to everyone around you, to staff, clients or customers. Smiling is contagious and that in turn makes people’s experience of you a much more positive and productive one.
2.Smiling improves your health
Smiling has lots of health benefits from possibly helping fight off infections, by increasing your immune system, to lowering blood pressure. Smiling also can improve stress levels by tricking our brains into feel calmer. In recent years there have been many links to heart disease, diabetes and recently Alzheimer’s for patients with gum disease. If you smile you are probably better at looking after your teeth and gums, keeping your whole body healthier.
3.Smiling changes your attitude
Regular smiling helps to program our brains to be more positive. It leads to more tasks being done and being done to a higher standard. Most successful entrepreneurs have very positive, smiley personas and that enables them to focus, get things done and lead a happy team. A great example of this is Richard Branson who just seems to enjoy life!
4.Smiling helps business and personal relationships
That first meeting with someone, if started with a welcoming smile, sets the tone for the rest of the time you spend with them. It encourages people to have a conversation and feel that you are a genuine person. If you smile it indicates to staff, clients and customers that you are approachable and friendly which often creates better communication paths. But beware, most people can spot a fake smile a mile off and won’t trust you or your business.
5.Smiling at work
Getting your staff to smile readily at customers, makes a great and welcoming first impression. It makes people feel that they are important and that you care about them. Even if you are on the telephone smiling comes across the phone, as it changes the tone of your voice, so people can actually hear the smile. People are able to pick up on a happy work place and will be more likely to return for future business.
6.Smiling is free
With never ending costs it’s nice to have something you don’t have to pay for!
Changing your smile doesn’t always cost a fortune, just changing a discoloured filling or having your teeth professionally cleaned can make a big impact. Get in touch with us today on 01323 325397 to book an appointment find out how we can improve your smile.
Why an ‘Out Of Town’ Dental Practice Makes Sense
/in Dental News /by Alison ThompsonYou’re in a rush to get to the dentist, you can’t find a parking space and you’ve got no change for the machines, sound familiar. The worst thing is that you arrive for your appointment and you’re already stressed and soaking wet as you forgot your umbrella!
So maybe it’s time to think about an ‘out of town’ practice like The Dental Barn in Upper Dicker near Hailsham.
With our own car park on a farm your experience couldn’t be more different. As you’re often going the other way to the rest of the traffic, you can be at The Dental Barn in less time than it takes you to negotiate central Eastbourne. Easy parking and a quiet look at our ducks, on the duck pond, is just the calm start you need for your appointment. This is especially important for those patients that find a visit to the dentist hard because of nerves or past dental history.
Then once in our building the calmness and quiet, along with a good cup of coffee, sets the intention for your whole experience. Relax in our chairs watching the clouds roll by from our skylight windows, listening to the ducks quacking. Never worrying if your parking ticket is about to expire and you’re going to get a ticket.
After your appointment, no more hikes to the car, just jump in and drive back to home or work, faster and easier than ever before.
If you would like to have an easier, calmer and more relaxed experience going to the dentist why not pop in, give us a call on 01323 325397 or go to our website www.thedentalbarn.co.uk to see how we can make your journey a smoother one.
Replacing Missing Teeth with Implants
/in Dental Implants /by Alison ThompsonPeople often live with a tooth gap even though when they see themselves in photos, it’s the one thing that they hate about themselves.
Smiles and teeth have rocketed up the ‘what’s the first thing people notice about you’ list. It is in the top 2 now where as even just 15 years ago a smile and teeth came after boobs and bottoms!
So how hard is it to fill a tooth gap? This mainly depends on how many teeth are missing. One or two gaps next to each other are the easiest to fill with permanent (no taking out) solutions.
Implants have had a lot of publicity in the last 10 years and are probably going to be around for many more until stem cell (growing a new tooth) becomes a science fiction possibility.
Implants involve placing a metal post (like a tooth root) into your jaw bone, under the gum. The bone then grows in and around the implant, fusing it to your bone. Once stable a crown/bridge can be fitted to the top of the implant.
Implants are just like having your own tooth back, although some people find the sensation on biting is different.
Healthy gums and enough bone to support an implant are very important criteria. Implants are still susceptible to gum disease, so a high standard of oral hygiene, regular check ups and Hygienist maintenance visits are essential for long term success.
The advantages are:
– They are permanent
– They look very natural
– No adjacent teeth need to be prepared
– They can help prevent future bone loss and support the face.
– They can last for many years and with great care may last a lifetime
– You can eat what you like, and they are more comfortable than dentures
The disadvantages are:
– They are expensive (between 2-4 thousand pounds depending on the complexity)
– They require a big maintenance commitment
– They can take up to 9 months to place, heal and finish
– They require surgery
– They can sometimes be rejected or fail, due to gum disease or other risk factors like smoking or diabetes
If you have no teeth on the top/bottom jaws, implants can be placed (normally 4 or 6) and a small metal scaffolding can be placed on top of them. Then dentures are made that actually click on to the top of the frame to provide very firm and stable dentures.
If you would like to come and see if you are suitable for implants, why not book an appointment for a check up at The Dental Barn at 01323 325397
Children’s Dental Care in Hailsham
/in Dental Health /by Alison ThompsonSometimes you come across a small person that needs all the confidence boosting you can muster. These are patients that need lots of extra care because already in their short life they have been ‘put off’ going to the dentist.
There can be all sorts of reasons for this they maybe autistic, have learning difficulties, be shy, have medical problems or that they have already had a horrible experience at the dentist.
We have sat on the floor drawing pictures, looked at teeth whist a lovely lad did a headstand in the chair and talked about everything from Dr. Who to Manchester United football club!
It’s about knowing what makes these children tick, what we can do to engage with them so that they feel we understand them.
At The Dental Barn we have time, patience and bags of enthusiasm to try to help these youngsters. Unfortunately, we don’t always succeed, due to the severity of the circumstances, but we always try!
With frightened children we have had great success and would like to tell you a couple of stories.
A mum contacted me on Facebook and asked about her daughter who refused to go to the dentist because of past harsh treatment and I invited them to come in for a chat.
They bought some bread to feed our ducks and we sat and talked about why and what she didn’t like about going to the dentist. We set goals for treatment which she completed easily and she continues to come to the practice completely fear free. My loveliest memory was when she came rushing into the surgery saying “do you like my new sparkly leggings Ali” with not a thought about treatment.
A mum rang and explained that her daughter was 9 and that she had a huge fear of going to the dentist and of her wobbly teeth.
The dental practice I was at the time thought that she would be better to see me, as I was a mummy too. She came in for a chat and it was evident that she was terrified of everything! So, we started a plan that each time I would set her a little goal and she would get a sticker every time she achieved the goal. Goal 1 was to just get in my treatment chair, Goal 2 chair and open her mouth, Goal 3 chair, mouth and let me look at her teeth. Each goal only took 5-10 minutes and we never failed to reach them.
Fast forward 15 years and that lovely girl has turned into a dentally confident lady who told me last visit that she was off to Australia for a year and might not be back! It has been wonderful to see her grow up and for many years not bat an eyelid at coming to my practice for treatment. She’s coming in for one more visit before she goes and I may have to have a tissue in my pocket!
Time, patience and kindness are qualities that we have in abundance here at The Dental Barn.
For more information on children’s dentistry in Hailsham call us on 01323 325397.
There’s More to Private Dentistry Than Smile Makeovers & Dental Implants
/in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Hygiene /by Alison ThompsonI think the words ‘private dentistry’ conjures up in peoples minds huge amounts of money.
Of course, this can be true especially in the realms of makeover cosmetic and implant dentistry.
However for routine care it can cost as little as 59 pence a day with one of our practice dental plans. They include checkups, hygienist appointments, X-rays and emergency appointments.
That’s cheaper than a bag of crisps a day for great routine dental care.
However, if people are looking for cosmetic work, even small changes can give great results.
Cosmetic whitening is another way to achieve a brighter smile, that won’t break the bank. One of the things to consider is the shade you want to achieve, 18 year old white teeth often don’t look good in 50+ year old faces! But we take care to achieve the best result that’s good for you.
A lady who we whitened recently said
“I wanted white teeth, but after Ali’s good advice, we monitored the shade until it was exactly right for me. I’ve had so many compliments that I look really good, but no one can work out why. Even my old dad kept asking me if I’d changed my hair!”
Another forgotten about cosmetic treatment is a clean by the hygienist.
“I can’t believe I’ve escaped another checkup without anything done. I wished someone had shown me how to clean my teeth properly years ago! Going to the Hygienist regularly is keeping things so clean.”
Regular hygienist appointments can help keep stains away and breath fresh.
Did you know that you can come to see our hygienists at the practice under something called Direct access. This means that you can book in with the hygienist without seeing our dentists for a one off or regular cleans.
All these small cosmetic changes could work for you too, it’s never too late to start looking after your teeth and gums and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
To book an appointment with a hygienist, please call us on 01323 325397.
Treatment for Nervous Dental Patients in Hailsham
/in Dental Health /by Alison ThompsonIt never ceases to amaze me just how many people (including children) have had a dreadful experience at the dentist and how one experience can affect their whole life.
So, we started to offer a free no obligation coffee and a chat, to see how we could help people overcome their fears.
About a month ago a lovely lady came in for a chat. She had had some awful dental experiences and then suffered a personal tragedy, which lead to her not having any dentistry done for over 20 years.
After a good chat I suggested that we started with a Hygienist appointment to just get her teeth looking better and then she would feel better being able to smile, which in turn would make her feel happier.
Don’t get me wrong this is a normal lady (who isn’t made of money) but is happy to save up and book the next appointment. A check-up appointment been made, so we can get a proper plan of what needs to be done. We’ve agreed we are going to start with anything that has the potential to give her toothache and go from there. To finish the plan might even take over a year but there’s no hurry and we need to look after her.
That’s why I started the practice to help people who had a fear of going to the dentist and we work really hard at ‘not being like a dentist’. We don’t smell, look or feel like a dentist. There’s always fresh coffee on the go and we take time to get to know everyone and their likes and dislikes.
We have bluetooth headphones so you can listen to your music, squishy balls to hold, hands to hold (our nurses are brilliant at this) and air conditioning that stops you getting all hot and bothered.
So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call on 01323 325397 and book in for a free coffee and a chat and start your journey today!
Bonding: A Reason to Smile
/in Cosmetic Dentistry /by Alison ThompsonBonding is one of the simplest dental procedures and also one of the most popular solutions to many cosmetic dental problems. Our dentists use a pliable plastic tooth-coloured composite resin mixed to the same colour at your tooth and ten shape to match the contours of your teeth. Tooth bonding is quick, painless, permanent and relatively inexpensive cosmetic dental procedure.
Tooth bonding can be used to:
– Repair chips
– Fill in small gaps
– Cover cracks
Call the Dental Barn in Hailsham East Sussex for further information on 01323 325397 or to make an appointment with one of our cosmetic dentists.