Enlighten Tooth Whitening

At Braden dental Care we always keep up with the latest techniques and materials to make sure we can provide the best treatment available.
Since introducing the Inman Aligner as an option for correcting crooked teeth it has proved really popular and the results are amazing.

Another popular treatment is tooth whitening, particularly the Zoom whitening which is done at the practice and ony takes an hour or so.

The Enlighten whitening system is a new and even more effective way to whiten teeth which works as a combination of at home trays and a visit to the practice for the final result.
Jim recently undertook an Enlighten training session to be able to use this new product and be an accredited Enlighten practitioner.

Of course, before offering a new treatment to our patients, it's good to have first hand experience of how it works and how it feels, so I am the first willing volunteer!

The whole system is customised to the patient, using special metal impression trays and
impression material supplied with the Enlighten package and a dental laboratory which specialises in making these very accurately fitting trays.

I've had my impressions taken and in two week's time I'll start the whitening process. In the mean time I'm using Enlighten desensitising toothpaste while I wait.

Once we see the results we'll be able to offer it as another service at Braden Dental Care and I too will take the training course so that I can use the same system.

Oh, and by the way, once I've Enlightened my teeth I'll be ready to start wearing my Inman Aligner which is sitting waiting for me to use, watch this space to see how it all goes!!

Membership benefits

Jim and I were on call last weekend. We share the rota with about twelve practices so our turn doesn't come round too often but we know that our patients are always in safe hands if there's an emergency at the weekend.
We usually see a few people and it's always good to be able to help, relieving pain and patching up until Monday when their own Dental Practice reopens for business.
There is a call out fee of course, but for members on our Quality Plan that's reimbursed in full straight to the dentist on call so no need to worry about payment on the day. That's one of the great benefits of being on the plan, peace of mind that if there's an emergency at the weekend, help is at hand and for no extra cost.

Stylish Dentists in Northern Ireland

Jim and I found out yesterday that we have each reached the final three in the most stylish businesswoman and businessman categories of the Magners Style Awards.

We're obviously flattered and excited about this. As dentists who help our clients to improve their self esteem and feel better about their appearance it's good to be recognised as people who take an interest in our own appearance too!

Braden Dental Care on Facebook

We are now on Facebook! This is a great way to keep up to date with what we are doing as a business and find out more about our ethos and principles.

Jim is trying to gather suggestions on how to make our practice greener, there's a video of the charity zipwire over the Lagan earlier in the year and more information on various treatments.

You can become a friend or just tick the "like" button to show support and keep in touch.

Healthy Gums mean Healthy Body

There are lots of good reasons to keep your teeth and mouth nice and clean.
The obvious reasons are a nice bright smile, fewer fillings, healthy gums and fresh breath.
Recently however, more and more links have been discovered between gum health and general health.

I've mentioned before that gum disease has a direct influence on heart disease. Gingivitis and periodontal disease resulting from poor oral cleanliness has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Recently a study has also found that there is a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease if the health of he gums is poor.

Also, people with other medical conditions need to take extra care to keep their teeth clean and their gums healthy.
One example is Diabetes. Another study has shown that reducing the inflammation of the gums in diabetics can reduce the risk of other conditions associated with Diabetes such as eye and heart problems.

As well as keeping up a good daily routine of brushing and flossing, a trip to the dentist and hygienist is vital as part of prevention and treatment of gum disease and potential related risks.

Braden Dental Care Charity Zipline in Belfast Northern Ireland

On Saturday 19th June we woke up to a beautiful day, blue skies and warm sunshine. Perfect weather for zipping across the River Lagan in Belfast suspended 140 feet above the water!

Jim and three of our staff, Michelle, Laura and Michelle took part in the challenge to raise money for the Marie Curie Cancer charity, raising more than six hundred pounds between them.

Needless to say, when the morning arrived a couple of the girls wondered why they had volunteered for the experience. They nervously stepped into the lift up to the take-off platform wishing they were at home in bed...

However, once they got to the other end of the zip-line, they were exhilarated and ready to do it again. Watch this space!

We plan to keep our feet more firmly on the ground next time with a mountain climbing challenge in September. I'll be joining in too next time, the more the merrier!

Belated Happy Birthday

Yesterday was our seventh birthday. Jim and I bought the practice on 28th April 2003.

Far from having a seven year itch, we are still striving to provide the best for our patients, both our loyal longstanding ones and the new people that come to us every day.

I can't believe it's a year since I wrote about our sixth birthday....

In the last year we have put new dental chairs in my surgery and Jim's, updated our website and made improvements to our recall system.

We have also taken on a new member of staff, Kara, who is Peter's new dental nurse.
Kara is studying for her nursing exam which she will take on Saturday 15th May, so we wish her luck for that!

New dental cairs

Last week Jim and I had new dental chairs installed in our surgeries.
It's really important to us that patients are as comfortable as possible when sitting in the dental chair and that the equipment we use is of a high standard.
The new chairs are fully equipped with intra oral cameras with a screen for patients to be able to see what we can see, should they wish. These will help us and the hygienists educate our patients and improve communication with them.
The first patient to sit in the chair last week was really impressed at how comfortable it was. She even wished she could have one at home!

Prize Draw

Today we had our first membership prize draw.
Michelle closed her eyes and picked at random the lucky winner. Of course I couldn't break patient confidentiality and give out the name of the winner but she will now be able to choose between M&S or Amazon vouchers or a Sonicare toothbrush.
We like to make our members feel valued and reward them for their loyalty, it's nice to get an unexpected treat now and then!