The Orthodontic Centre is proud to announce that Kirsty Richardson has passed her final exam and joined Sara Calder as an Orthodontic Therapist. Kirsty, like Sara, studied at Leeds University Dental School and completed her clinical training here at the Centre as part of a joint programme. On the same course was Michelle Giles from the Orthodontic unit at Montagu Hospital. Michelle studied one day a week with us and Kirsty spent one day a week at the hospital as part of a co-operative project. Michelle passed as well and is now working between The Orthodontic Centre and The Orthodontic unit at The Montagu Hospital in Mexborough.

We have been at the forefront of the introduction of OT’s in the UK. Damian has lectured to various groups and has been asked to host a study session at The British Orthodontic Conference in Edinburgh later this month. OT’s will give us much more flexibility in treatment delivery and allow the Orthodontists more time to plan and supervise cases. We are also happy to announce that Becky Carney started her Orthodontic Therapist Course last month at Warwick University.

We are now entering the final phase of our practice refurbishment with extension of the reception and waiting area. The refurbishment has allowed us to fully embrace the new working patterns; we have adopted the North American style of practice with imported equipment and a larger open plan clinic. The change has been difficult, but we are getting there all thanks to our excellent staff, wonderful patients and you guys.

We will be adding the NHS number onto our referral pads from dentists at the next reprint and have asked them to provide us with that information where it is available. We will also be capturing this information from you the patient. This is to come in line with the recent request to use this information as a further means of identifying the correct person within the NHS.

Please help us if asked for this information in the future. It will become an important number as you will be asked for it during any treatment or check up within the Health Service.

We started  the final phase of our refurbishment here at Chequer Road when we knocked down part of the wall between No.1 and No.3. This will give us a larger reception and put an end to those days when it seems like a coach party has turned up and everyone is trying to get in to be seen. The journey will have taken us a year but we will have achieved a complete transformation without any patient days lost.

Over the last 12 months I have been privileged to work with a group of very successful dentists who are forward thinkers and you can easily describe them as Entrepreneurs. Along with myself, we are running a full day’s workshop at 3M Head Office on June 12th 2009. Here is a small taster of what you can expect to hear on the day.

Develop Techniques to get what you want from the PCT

 
Associate & Assistant jobs – the bottom line
 

 
How to create a world class team in a world class Orthodontic/Dental practice
 

Help more of your patients say YES and increase your uptake
of private treatment ethically
 

 
The Business of Orthodontics – what they didn’t teach you at dental school
 

The group that are presenting include myself, Viren Patel, Murtuza Hasnaini, Darren Hills and Damian Bourke.

Tickets are only £395 for dentist/orthodontist and £95 for team members. I have seen the information you are going to get and this is an absolute bargain. The calibre of people and the information they are sharing is incredible and I can promise an awesome day. Every penny raised will be split between two charities and I mean every penny. For tickets please call Kelly Downs 01509 613257 at 3M.

With only a day to go before Damian sets off on his big biking adventure he has tried on his team gear. Were not sure about the clothes but the buff’s great. Hope he doesn’t run into the real spiderman!