Practice News

A very Happy New Year from all of the team, we are open and here to help.  The New Year has started with a bang and we are already incredibly busy and getting very booked up.

Lots has happened since our last post so let’s get cracking with all the details…

Liz has sadly decided to leave us in favour of partial retirement, she has been integral to the practice for a number of years and we are very sad to see her go, she will be greatly missed.  We wish you all the very Best Liz!

Jon has decided to reduce his working days and will now only be here on a Friday.  Please do not fear though as we still have our “Wonderful Sian” and a Brilliant new dentist called Maria – Welcome to the team Maria!!

We still have restricted protocols to adhere to and still require you to call us upon your arrival in the carpark, although the patient waiting room is now in use, we are only able to have a maximum of 2 patients in here at a time, this is to help the reception team manage the flow of patients in and out of the building, the extra duties of cleaning everything down between patients means that the team are having to do far more than ever before…they are certainly getting their steps in each day.  Every cloud eh!

With this in mind we have introduced some new digital forms for patients to complete before they attend their appointments with us. We will now send you a reminder by either TXT or email for your upcoming appointment and you just need to reply “yes” to confirm your attendance, contained within this message will be our new digital forms that we will need you to complete prior to your appointment, the good news is that you will be able to do this in the comfort of your own home!  The forms include Medical History, Covid protocol and personal detail questions, if you need any help with this, we are always here for you!!   We have introduced these to help reduce the workload on our wonderful reception team, which I’m sure you will all agree are doing a fantastic job!

In other exciting news we have a brand new Intra Oral Scanner, this means that we now have the capability to take patient impressions digitally, which will greatly reduce the timing between impression and fitting appointments.  We will actually be able to show you the before and after images of your teeth…the wonders of modern-day technology!

As always Thank you so much for all your continued support and loyalty, all the team are working exceptionally hard to ensure the safe and smooth running of the practice as we continue to navigate “Our new normal”

I hope that this notice finds you well and that you have been happy, healthy and Covid free over the past 6 months. It has been a challenging time for us at the practice as we have adapted to the new normal. We have made many changes, adjusting the way that the practice runs to keep our staff and our patients safe. We have risen to the challenge as a team and have become stronger as a result.

Due to the constant change in circumstances we have tried to keep our patients updated via our website and our Facebook page. As we have moved through the various stages of Covid restrictions (often with very little notice), it has been the quickest way to relay information in this digital age. News updates will continue to be posted on these platforms but please contact us at any time if you have any questions with regards your dental care.

Although we may not have seen you over the last few months we have been busy with emergency appointments and treatment. Our staff have worked non stop throughout the lock down to ensure that the provision of safe and appropriate care has been possible.

Good News! The time has come and we are now finally able to see our patients for routine care! This means that dental examinations and hygiene appointments are now possible. However, we are working under very different conditions to pre-Covid times so this is presenting it’s own challenges. In order to try and provide ‘DPAS plan’ appointments to all of our patients we are extending our opening hours. Liz is our dedicated plan administrator and will be contacting you in due course. She will working through our patient list, with those that have been waiting the longest being the first to be contacted. As you can appreciate, we have many people to contact but we will be in touch as soon as we can.

Your plan will continue as normal with all other aspects unchanged. Emergency appointments will continue to be available and as a plan patient you will be prioritised for these slots if needed. Treatment as necessary will continue to be provided.

The way in which the practice runs on a day to day basis will remain the same for the foreseeable future. All administration will continue to be conducted via phone calls and our waiting room will remain closed for now. Our staff will remain split into ‘bubbles’ and attending appointments will run slightly differently to pre-Covid times. We will of course explain this in more detail when we contact you to make your appointments.

Finally, thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate through these exceptional times. As a team, we are all looking forward to welcoming you to the practice soon!

Dear patients,

As I sit in my garden writing this, basking in the glorious sunshine , it has made me reflect on the last two months, the good times and the bad. I should, and wish that I could be in work right now. Both Jon and I feel as though our ‘hands have been cut off’ and the frustration of not being able to help people is immense. It took a while for us, but I think that every one of us has accepted that this is just totally out of our control.

Firstly a big thank you to every one of you! I have been overwhelmed with the loyalty that you have shown and the patience and understanding that you have demonstrated when we have had to postpone appointments. It has made a difficult time tolerable knowing that you are such a great bunch of people. I also wanted to say that we will ensure that your dental health hasn’t suffered by working as hard as we can when this over to catch up on treatment, examination and hygiene appointments that we have been unable fulfil over the last 2 months. To our plan patients – a huge thank you for continuing to pay your fees as it is allowing me to keep the practice open and staffed at the moment, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

When the chips are down, you really see what humankind is capable of. I just want to give a big ‘shout out’ to my team. They really are incredible. The way that we have pulled together over the last 2 months makes me so proud. We are using skeleton staff, so some members aren’t in work at all, but the communication has been fantastic! We have a weekly “zoom” meeting (I didn’t even know what this was pre-covid!). Plans and ideas are abundant as we all eagerly await the announcement that we can fully get back to work. PPE, Hepa air filters, new routines, shift working, the list goes on. We are all determined to keep the staff and and you safe and get back to a semblance of practice life as soon as we can.

If you don’t follow our Facebook page – I urge you to! The team have all helped in preparing posts, some funny, some serious, but it shows the commitment and the passion that they have and again, I couldn’t be more proud!

On a personal level I’m grateful that the last 2 months seemed to have flown by. I think that we could all agree that the weather has been a huge help (although my farmer husband doing the rain dance as we speak, may not agree!). I have spent lots of weekend time being a ‘farmer’s wife’ and the boys have had to tag along too, but when would they ever have had an expanse of time to learn so much from their Dad? They have really enjoyed herding cattle and celebrate every successful movement with such enthusiasm, it really is a joy to watch. My Mum was a primary school teacher in St Fagans (back in the day), and she recently told me that the reason that the school summer holidays are so long is because historically in the 6 weeks we now have as holidays, there would be very few children in school – they were expected to help at home on the farms. From their school log they could see that the numbers were massively depleted during July and August.

Home schooling for me has been the biggest “covid” challenge, I take my hat off to all you teachers out there, I really look forward to my working days for respite and half term has been a welcome relief!! English has been the hardest! I use science and maths every day but I cam’t remember the last time I heard ‘onomatopoeia’.

In summary, we are all looking forward to finding our new ‘normal’ and I really hope that we can see you all soon- Stay safe.

Sian
xxxx

Sometimes disaster strikes and you need to see a dentist as soon as possible. This can be for a number of reasons.

• You might have had an accident and knocked out a tooth.
• You might have lost a filling.
• You might have cracked or chipped a tooth.
• You might be experiencing severe pain due to an abscess or infection.

Whatever the reason, we understand that sometimes you need to see a dentist right away. Your first port of call should always be to phone your usual dentist to see how quickly they can see you.

At Chepstow Dental Care, if you are a registered patient with us, we have emergency cover 352 days of the year. In case of an emergency during practice hours, please contact the practice immediately on 01291 622 450. We will always endeavour to see a patient in pain on the same day, or within 24 houurs.

If you require emergency treatment outside surgery hours, please phone 07729 803 791. If you are in the UK, but away from the practice, please phone 0800 525631. If you are abroad, please phone +44 1747 820 841 and the dental helpline will endeavour to find an English-speaking dentist to help you with your problem.

Merry Christmas From Chepstow Dental Care And 2019 it’s a Wrap!!!

We’d like to wish you a magical Christmas week from the whole Chepstow Dental team. However you’re spending the festive period, we hope you get some time to relax and recharge ready for the start of a brand new year.  It’s been a busy year for us and we are all looking forward to a great 2020.  Jon is jetting off to Australia (lucky boy!), but you will find the rest of us around over the Christmas period.

We have had a bit of fun with the Christmas decorations this year, can you spot the dental influences?!?

Christmas Treats

On the 23^rd December we will be serving mulled wine and mince pies, so if you are in town doing some last minute Christmas shopping, please call in and see us!

Christmas and new year opening hours

We hope that you have a Christmas and new year free from dental troubles but if you need us we are working as follows:

Monday 23^rd              7.45-16.30

Tuesday 24^th              7.45-12.30

Wednesday 25^th       Closed

Thursday 26^th           Closed

Friday 27^th                 9.00-12.30

Monday 30^th                9.00-12.30

Tuesday 31^st                9.00-12.30

Wednesday 1^st         Closed

Lastly,  if you have a dental emergency over the festive period, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We have emergency cover every day including the bank holidays. Simply call the practice and if it is when we are not open, instructions on how to get hold of us are on our answer phone message.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sian and the team

September is over and the summer is well and truly finished with.  The view from the surgery has been a wet one!  Chepstow has come to a stand still at rush hour with the gas works on St Anne’s Street and we have been mesmerised by the traffic build up over the old bridge as we have a great view from the surgery.  The work is set to go on for 6 more weeks, so if you are travelling from Lydney direction, beware, it may take longer than usual.

We had so many enquiries last month about our ‘Mini-makeover’ that we have decided to extend the offer until the end of October.

Whitening plus bonding and contouring
of up to 6 teeth – only £499!!!

Our clinicians have been busy this month on courses further developing their skills.  Sian has been keeping up to date with the new age of digital dentistry and its application to implant practice.   Jon spent a very interesting day learning about direct veneers, and we are now pleased to be offering Eidelweiss veneers at the practice.  Take a look below and if you are interested give us a call – 01291 622450, and we can talk you through the process and assess whether they are right for you.  We think that they provide a cost effective solution to enhance your smile.

DIRECT VENEERs from edelweiss is state of the art for modern and minimally invasive esthetic dentistry. For the first time in the history of dental, it is now possible to work with prefabricated veneers made from nano-hybrid composite using modern laser technology. Never before has it been feasible to directly create the natural shape and youthful luminance of a tooth, so easily and perfectly in only one appointment. Its versatile area of application together with its time and cost saving procedure make edelweiss DIRECT VENEERs a sound investment in the future with the best interest of the patient in mind. Convince yourself.

Clinical Cases
Deciduous Incisal Teeth
Before & After / Step By Step

Wow, August was a busy month for us at the practice and it flew by. We are welcoming September and I am personally welcoming the return to school and with it a return to routine! We have been busy making lots of gum shields for the imminent start of the new sporting seasons. This month’s offer is for a ‘mini makeover’. Confused? No, we haven’t all retrained in the art of applying make up, it’s a smile makeover, so applies to you ‘fella’s’ out there too. I have noticed that there is a lot of chat about ‘bonding’ all over Instagram and even had a patient message and ask what it was – thinking it is a new, revolutionary treatment. I explained that she had in fact had it done years ago (by me!) but the search for a beautiful smile is so much more main stream now that we are seeing things all over social media. Try searching #compositebonding and see how much content is out there!

So, what is a ’Mini makeover’. It’s quite simply, an at home whitening treatment followed by an appointment with the dentist to shape and contour uneven teeth to improve your smile. The second part of it is done using carefully selected white filling material (so that it matches the colour of your existing teeth) and uneven teeth are filer down or built up depending on what you need. The changes that are made are subtle but can have a big effect on the overall appearance of your smile. It’s ideal before a big event such as a wedding, or you don’t want to dive straight in to extensive treatment. Take a look at some of the cases that we have completed below.

Mini makeover only £499!

Upgrade your smile with our ultimate mini-makeover -Offer includes:

Teeth Whitening
Bonding and contouring of up to 6 teeth
Call us today for more information on 01291 622450, PM us, or email info@chepstow dental.co.uk

So if you’re interested, why not come and see what we can do for you!!!

Practice News

Last month saw a very busy and productive month at the practice. We welcomed lots of new patients through our doors and provided lots of quality dentistry! We also had lots of in-house training and it was delightful to have Vic back in the building to join us, taking a break from her maternity leave. Jon celebrated another birthday and some of us had some much needed ‘R and R’ and are now re-charged and raring to go again!

So, it’s August already!! Every year I say the same thing – where has this year gone.  As a Mum we are thinking about enjoying the rest of the summer holidays and the imminent back to school jobs to be done.  My eldest son goes into year 3 in September so we had to get him kitted out with all the school sports kit.  Along with this we were told to get him a new school bag and a sports mouth guard.  Obviously, that’s easy for me to arrange but it started a conversation between the Mum’s about the difference between the shop bought one and the professionally fitted ones.

So, here is everything you need to know about mouthguards – from what kinds there are to how to fit one properly – so that you can be sure that your child will be just as safe on the field as they are when off it.

SO, What are sports mouthguards?

Mouthguards are thick plastic protective devices shaped like a dental tray, which form to the shape of the teeth, gums, and mouth.

The mouthguard creates a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent them from crashing together during impact, as well as protecting the teeth from being hit by something outside of the mouth, such as a stick, or ball.

Fortunately, most sports teams recommend or require mouthguards to be used by athletes, but even in the cases where they are not required we still recommend them to be worn at all times – especially during high impact sports.

With the possibility of extensive dental treatment, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

One of the most common sports injuries, and the one with the biggest bill, is damaged teeth.

What types of mouthguards are there?

There are three main types of mouthguards designed specifically to wear while playing sports, ranging in price, comfort level, and level of protection, and leaving room for you to choose which is best for your needs.

Here is what you need to know about each type of mouthguard:

Stock mouthguards (off-the-shelf)

Stock mouthguards are the least expensive option but are also the least protective. These mouthguards come pre-formed and are intended to be ready to use straight from the package. These can be bought at most sporting good stores for anywhere from £4.50  to over £30 depending on the brand and whether or not it is flavoured.

The main issue with stock mouthguards, however, is that because they are not formed to each individual mouth, and are often ill-fitting. This means that they have to be constantly clenched in order to stay in place, which can result in difficulty breathing, as well as jaw and tooth pain, and even a disorder called TMJ which harms the jaw muscles.

Dentists in general do not recommend stock mouthguards because of this, and instead suggest a type of mouthguard that features a snugger fit, such as the types to follow.

Boil and bite mouthguards (also off-the-shelf)

Boil and bite mouthguards are the most popular type of mouthguard as they are also inexpensive and can be purchased at most sporting good stores for under £10, in addition to the fact that they allow a closer fit to the wearer’s mouth.

These mouthguards are to be placed in boiling water for a set amount of time until they are pliable, and are then put into place in the mouth and held there until cooled. The soft plastic forms to the teeth and mouth and hardens in place, creating a custom fit that should stay in place with little pressure needed from the jaw.

Issues that can arise from these types of mouthguards surround the moulding process. If the mouth guard is bitten down on too hard while it is moulding to the shape of teeth, the plastic can become too thin and will either not properly protect teeth upon impact, or may break. This is quite common with dental wear that is fitted by the wearer themselves and not by a professional.

These types of mouthguards generally only last a few seasons in any case as the plastic breaks down quickly due to its pliable nature.

Custom-fit mouthguards (professionally made in a dental practice)

These are the only kinds of mouthguards that dentists recommend using, without reservation. New custom-fitted mouthguards are the best option for optimal comfort, protection, and durability. These mouthguards are professionally fitted to each individual mouth by a dentist and, as a result, can range in price from £50 to £100.

To make these mouthguards your dentist will make a detailed mould of your teeth and then send the mould to a laboratory which specializes in creating dental wear. There, the mouthguard is constructed out of material specified by your dentist, in order to best suit your needs.

These mouthguards provide the best protection for your mouth by far as they will not lose their shape and will provide extra protection where it’s specifically needed. They are also the most durable and long-lasting option.

If you are considering a custom-fit mouthguard for your child, take into consideration their age. These devices aren’t considered investments since your child may grow quickly and require a replacement within a year or two.

So with the balance between safety and affordability on your mind, you might be hesitant to get one at all. And additionally, if your child is prone to, or has had concussions, a custom made mouthguard is vital to provide extra protection which may help to prevent further concussions.

Talk to your dentist

There are many factors to consider when choosing a mouthguard for your child, such as the level of impact involved in the sport your child plays, the expense, comfort and protection levels, and what material will work best for them.

It is always best to have a conversation with your dentist about your options as they can provide advice tailored to you and your specific needs.

So, here is our August offer!
Starting a New Season!

Protect Your Teeth with
a Professionally Fitted Mouthguard

August Special Offer

1 for £45 or 2 for £70

Call us on 01291 622450 to
make your appointment today!

So, here’s to a sunny august and enjoying the rest of the summer!!!

So, summer is well and truly under way, the children are looking forward to the end of term and lots of us are jetting away to sunnier climates in order to avoid the rain that we have experienced recently!!! If you are heading away and want to have a bright smile in your holiday snaps, why not have a look at what we can do for you!

We are really pleased to be offering a free Cosmetic Consultation this month (check out our Facebook and website for details). When we brainstorming ideas as a team we talked about what the general public class as ‘Cosmetic Dentistry’, and came to the conclusion that it conjured images of celebrities like Simon Cowell and Rylan Clark.

However, as professionals we can recognise that these mouths have had a lot of work done and although it can look great, this isn’t for everyone!!! As dentists we have an enormous wealth of techniques and treatments at our fingertips and improving our patients smiles doesn’t always have to cost the earth and involve lengthy treatments.

It’s all about working with the patient, understanding the concerns and evolving a treatment plan that will work for the patient and come within budget. (Although, if you want to look like Rylan, you will need a mouth full of veneers!!

Over the past year we have treated lots of cases of missing teeth, dark teeth, unsightly fillings, misaligned teeth and worn teeth just to name a few. It is such a pleasure as a clinician to help someone smile and restore their confidence by giving them a beautiful smile!

Here are a few mouths that we have treated recently:

This patient was unhappy with her smile and did not want to commit to veneers, we achieved a great result with a mini makeover that consisted of whitening, contouring and bonding.

This patient was getting married and came to see us to see if we could improve his smile. He was really happy with the result and treatment was complete in a week.

This lady wanted to change her smile totally and had her old crowns replaced and veneers on her broken teeth, combined with whitening.

This patient wanted straighter, whiter teeth so with a combination of orthodontics on the top teeth and some whitening, the results were great.

This lovely lady came to us with a broken crown. She didn’t like her front teeth as they were very worn. We replaced the broken tooth with an implant, whitened her teeth and restored her front teeth with crowns.

These are just a few cases that we have completed recently and as you can see there are lots of treatments at our fingertips. At Chepstow Dental Care we pride ourselves in taking our time to find out about our patients and providing exactly the right treatment plan for you. So, why not take advantage of this month’s offer and come and see our team to see how we can help improve your smile. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

The month of May saw our annual practice day at the Dentistry Show in the NEC.  We all had a fabulous time in lectures, keeping our knowledge up to date and had the chance to check out the latest in dental techniques and technology. As a practice we believe that it is really important to stay ahead of the game and it is equally important to enjoy our training as a team.  Can’t wait until next year!

In other news, our lovely Victoria had a baby by and both Mummy and baby (and of course Daddy!!) are healthy and happy.  We are all looking forward to meeting the little fella!

And, so to June! Another month gone and a few new things happening at the practice!

Our new television channel is up and running at the practice.  To keep people in our waiting room entertained we have a new channel.  It plays on a loop and consists of news feeds and sport news feeds with oral health education videos in between, and even a few of our monthly offers, so that our patients can make the most of them.  Check it out next time you are in, we hope you will find the content interesting.

This month it’s all about IMPLANTS!  We have our implant rep from Sweden and Martina coming in to do some staff training with our entire team so that we can all answer any questions that you may have.

Alongside this we have a great offer running of a FREE Implant Consultation.  If you have gaps in your mouth and are wondering if implants are the right solution for you, why not take advantage of this great offer!

Finally, adding another string to our bow is we can now send you leaflets and videos about our treatments via email.  So if you would like any information about any of the treatments that we offer, just drop us a line, with what you would like information on and we will send it straight out to you.