The Probe Dental Podcast

With just a week to go until the 2024 Dental Award winners are revealed (Thursday 23rd May at Midday), we caught up with the 2023 Dentist of the Year, Amit Jilka, to discuss his victory and what it meant, as well as his education in Rome, and love of mentoring.

Following news that the Department of Health and Social Care plans to streamline processes within dental settings by granting ‘new powers’ to dental hygienists and dental therapists, we caught up with BSDHT President Miranda Steeples to discuss what this means for the profession and patient access. Miranda also talks about how the decision to allow dental hygienists and therapists to supply and administer medicines, including pain relief and fluoride without sign-off from a dentist, came about, and how long we might have to wait for this to come into effect. This episode is sponsored by Oralieve: Dry mouth relief for dry and sensitive mouths. https://www.oralieve-direct.co.uk/

Which? recently revealed the results of a dental survey it had conducted, with approximately 90% of respondents saying they would recommend their dental practice. Linda Giles from Ross Brooke Dental discusses what practices can be doing with this data, as well as how it provides a more balanced perspective of UK dentistry services.

For more information, visit https://www.ross-brooke-dental.co.uk/

Janet Pickles, CEO of R A Medical, discusses what inspired the formation of the specialist company for the supply, installation, repair, and maintenance of inhalation sedation and associated equipment three decades ago. Janet also reflects on changes she has witnessed over the course of 30 years, and fills us in on what R A Medical provides today. https://ramedical.com/

In this latest Dentsply Sirona podcast, we talk to Dr Dave Edwards, Doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University, Speciality Trainee in Endodontics and Associate Dentist in endo-focussed private practice.

Dave uses ProTaper® Ultimate™ in his practice, the latest and most advanced ProTaper endodontic file system from Dentsply Sirona. He discusses its benefits and how it offers the best of both worlds in terms of simplicity and flexibility for more complex cases.

For more information about ProTaper Ultimate and Dentsply Sirona’s full range of endodontic file systems, visit: https://www.dentsplysirona.com/en-gb/discover-by-topic/choose-your-endo-solution.html

Autumn 2023 saw the launch of NSK’s new high performance dental turbines - the Ti-Max Z990L and Z890L - designed to bring more power to dentists’ fingertips along with improved access, comfort and safety.

The launch of a dental turbine is nothing new, so what makes the Z990L and Z890L more than ‘just another turbine’? The answers lie in a new NSK podcast where the turbines have been put through their paces by a group of highly accomplished clinicians who used the new turbines extensively in their practice for a number of weeks.

The discussion

In the podcast clinicians Moj Dehghanpour, Alex Jones, Andy Legg and Rustom Moopen speak openly and honestly about their experience of using the new turbines. 

The highlights include:

First impressions: the clinicians describe their individual initial reactions to the handpieces including the textured grip, improved speed and torque, better weight distribution and how comfortable the turbines are to use.

Power: the Ti-Max Z990L can deliver between 30 and 44 W of power with the air pressure at 3 to 4.2 bar. Hear what this increased power means in daily practice in terms of speed, cutting ability and safety, because as Rustom Moopen explains “you can have a lot of power but you need to have control as well”.

Feel: the exterior of the Z990L and Z890L is made of lightweight, high-strength titanium, with non-slip, non-scratch DURAGRIP coating. Did the clinicians notice any difference in feel or hand fatigue with the new turbines?

Access: the Z890L turbine has a smaller head designed for better access in hard-to-reach areas. Hear first-hand how effective the resultant extra space can be when working at the back of the mouth, on patients with limited opening, and when working with a microscope.

Quick-Stop: Patient safety is always paramount. Discover more about the benefits of the improved Quick-Stop function that halts the turbine’s high speed rotation in an instant and works to reduce suck-back to minimise cross infection.

Professional recommendation: Find out if the Z990L and Z890L turbines met the clinicians’ expectations and whether they would recommend them to their colleagues.

Steve Wright, CEO of Kent Brushes (G.B. Kent & Sons) introduces us to the company's royal history as it launches into the oral health market with the launch of its SONIK range of toothbrushes and range of oral health products. For more info, visit https://kentbrushes.com/collections/kent-oral-care or contact Steve at sw@kentbrushes.com

Dr Céline Higton BDS Hons (KCL), member of the Bio-Emulation Group, is an internationally recognised expert in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. In this recently released GC UK video interview, Céline talks in depth about her four-step methodology for the placement of high quality and durable posterior composite restorations, using only the best techniques and materials.

Céline explains how restorative dentistry has changed beyond recognition, especially in the last decade, in which there has been what she describes as a ‘seismic shift’ from mechanically retentive to chemically adhesive dentistry. For further information on GC’s full range of restorative products contact GC UK on 01908 218999, email info.uk@gc.dental or visit gc.dental/europe/en-GB

Christie & Co. Head of Dental, Paul Graham, returns to discuss the company's Dental Market Review 2023, which offers a panoramic view of the UK dental business sector, spotlighting important areas, including sector ownership structures, evolving market dynamics, current pricing patterns, an insightful operational review, and an assessment of the current appetite of banks to lend to the sector. Read the report at https://www.christie.com/news-resources/publications/dental-market-review-2023/