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New guidance from NICE (3.4.2008)
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued new guidance on the use of antibiotics in dentistry for people at risk of infective endocarditis. You can read this new guidance on the NICE website (search for "CG64" or "antibiotic prophylaxis"). We're pleased to say that at hygeia we're already complying with these new rules.
Debbie returns (28.2.2008)
We're delighted to announce that Debbie the hygienist is returning from maternity leave. She will be starting on Friday 7th March 2008 and will be working on Fridays and Saturdays. She's looking forward to seeing you all again!
Hogs! (6.9.2007)
It's official - there are hedgehogs in our garden. One was spotted running into the log pile just this week.
Actual hedgehog may not match photograph!
No need for needles (28.7.2007)
Some people find that their teeth and gums are sensitive or uncomfortable during routine hygiene treatment. In the past, the only way to soothe this was to administer local anaesthetic - but that means an injection, and some patients aren't keen on that idea either. Now there's another choice - Oraqix topical periodontal anaesthetic from Dentsply allows your dentist or hygienist to anaesthetise your gums without the need for an injection. It's quick, effective and gentle and can be used as part of your routine hygiene treatments. If you'd like the hygienist to use Oraqix at your next appointment, just ask - and if you'd like to learn more about this simple procedure, please visit the Oraqix website for more information.
You may have heard or read in the press that dentists have been issued with new guidance from the Department of Health requiring them to dispose of, rather than sterilise, the files used for root canal treatments. Hygeia already complies with this new guidance. All files and reamers used in endodontic treatment are treated as single-use and are discarded. Indeed, disposable items are used wherever possible during treatment and re-usable items are sterilised in accordance with our rigorous cross infection control policy and procedures.
Now when you visit the practice you will be able to use our broadband wireless internet connection for free. Just ask at reception for information on how to access the network.
Bloomin' marvelous! (1.3.2007)
The garden seems to look better every year: and this year we're enjoying a very early display of colour. Normally you'd struggle to find a daffodil for St David's Day but this year we're festooned! Keep an eye out for further improvements this spring - including a new entrance to the practice, plus more trees, new fences, hedging and turfing.
Small actions can make a big difference to the environment. Hygeia takes environmental issues and climate change seriously and over the years we have introduced more and more measures to reduce our environmental impact. We started by replacing nearly all the practice lighting with energy-saving lamps, recycling all our paper and cardboard waste (this alone reduces the quantity of waste we send to landfill by over two thirds) and using a composter and a wormery. We even recycle practice furniture when we replace it - plus we now use rechargeable batteries and recycled printer toner cartridges. Also, the building is fitted with double-glazing and loft insulation. We installed special amalgam separation centrifuges to virtually eliminate amalgam particles from our waste water. Our new digital x-ray system eliminates waste fixer and developer chemicals and lead foil from traditional x-ray film wrappers. We've been reducing our travel by using local suppliers where we can and Dr Giddy is doing more of her training using "Webinars". These are live seminars that take place online, often with the lecturer in London while the delegates (all over the UK and sometimes even overseas) participate through video and audio feeds. It means she doesn't have to travel hundreds of miles to see top-quality lecturers. Now we have taken matters a step further by switching to a green electricity supply. By signing up to a green tariff we ensure that our energy supplier purchases our electricity from renewable sources.
A report published by the Resuscitation Council (UK) in 2006 (and endorsed by the General Dental Council) recommended that all dental practices should obtain an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for use in case of medical emergencies. We are fully compliant with the new guidance - having purchased an AED and undergone the necessary training. Medical emergencies in dental practice are extremely rare (indeed, we have never had one) but it is important that we have and maintain the equipment and training to deal with them.
The Defibtech AED
New technology gets us in the press (23.1.2007)
As a result of our decision to pursue a paperless practice, we were invited to write a series or articles for the journal "Dental Nursing". Published in the December/January and February editions of the journal, these articles cover the technical, practical and legal aspects of "paperless practice" . Copies are available on request from the practice.
Our IT strategy has now been fully implemented and we are officially "paperless". The new computer system "went live" nearly two and a half years ago and our digital imaging system has been running for almost six months. Throughout this time, we have been recording and transferring all your notes and x-rays onto the computer database. As a result, the old cardboard record cards have finally become redundant and we have archived them. Putting all our records on computer allows us to access all your information rapidly, improving the service you receive.
There has been another improvement at reception - coffee!
A coffee machine has been installed, so if you fancy a cup, just help yourself.
Our website traffic has grown by over 50% in just a year! We now have over 5,000 visitors per month or more than 60,000 a year (equivalent to just under 1,000,000 hits per annum). We will continue to add to and improve the website, making it an increasingly useful resource for patients and dental professionals. We have added all our health and safety information to the website, including our health and safety policy, our general risk assessment and radiography risk assessment. We've also revised our cross infection control policy and have added all the cross infection checklists that nurses use in the surgeries: see checklist 1, checklist 2, checklist 3 and checklist 4. We'll keep on making improvements to our content - but if you have any questions that you can't find the answer to, please email us. Dental professionals - if you want to use information or copy policies, procedures or checklists from this website we're happy for you to do so provided that you let us know and credit hygeia as the source.
The practice has just installed a new digital x-ray system which will help to further improve the service we provide to you. Traditionally, dental x-rays are taken and processed with a "wet film" system - just like old camera film. But just as wet film systems are falling out of favour in general photography, digital x-ray systems are beginning to replace wet film in dental radiography, too. The new digital system has a number of major advantages:
If you want to find out more about digital radiography, visit the Gendex website for further information. Images courtesy of Gendex Dental Systems
Overall, 90% of the teeth on which Dr Giddy performs root canal treatment last more than 6 years without needing further treatment: according to an audit completed today. The study included difficult cases, such as teeth with severely curved roots, those with large areas of infection on the end of the roots and repeat root canal treatments; so we weren't just looking at the easy treatments to boost the results. Even so, we haven't been resting on our laurels: our program of improvements continues in order to further enhance our performance and we will be re-auditing to check the outcome. Visit our root canal treatment page to learn more.
Our most recent clinical audit (completed today) examines the longevity of restorations (fillings). The data shows that the composites (often called "white" fillings) we place in people's mouths are even more durable than we thought. Overall, 99% of composite fillings last more than 1 year and 90% last for more than 5 years. Composite fillings placed on anterior (front) teeth last even longer - with 96% lasting upwards of 5 years. The results are even more impressive when you know that, although these factors do have an impact on filling longevity, we did not exclude patients with poor oral hygiene or those who have an irregular attendance record. This tends to show that the composites we place last a long time even if they aren't looked after properly. We are very pleased with the results (it is reassuring to know that you're doing a good job!) and will be repeating the audit in future to see how the success rate changes over time. Visit our composite fillings page to learn more.
A composite filling on an anterior (front) tooth
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(9.5.2007)
