Most of you have probably noticed the new face at Boldmere. I’m Maddy, a Dental Therapist I have just moved to the area from Leeds. I qualified from the University of Manchester in 2014, graduating with an honours BSc in Oral health Science. I really love my job and I am passionate about helping people achieve oral health. I want to work with patients to create a positive dental experience.
It all began as early as the first world war. It was difficult to recruit dentists and there was a growing need for dental care for children. The introduction of ‘Dental Dressers’ was piloted in a few local authorities, who could clean, fill and extract children’s teeth under the direct supervision of a dentist. However, this role met opposition from the government and in 1923 the practice was dropped.
By the end of the second world war there was a noted increase in dental need again. The UK then took inspiration from New Zealand who had developed a similar role to Dental Dressers and by the 1950’s this role was introduced in the UK. This practice was developed in addition to Dental Hygienists who were first trained by the Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1943.
The Dental Therapy role was only applicable in a hospital or community setting until 2002 when they were permitted to work within general dental and private practice. Since 2002, the role has developed with direct access; meaning you can see a Dental Hygienist or Therapist without having to see a dentist first, improving access to care. Now many of the training programmes for Dental Hygienists and Therapists are combined. There are a growing number of courses available to increase our skill set. Currently the British Dental Hygiene and Therapy associations are campaigning for the right to prescribe things such as local anaesthetic and fluoride without a dentist.
We can provide a range of treatments as part of your care, such as:
As part of your patient journey you may be asked to attend an appointment with myself which could be for any of the treatments mentioned above. This sharing of the workload can be likened to seeing a practice nurse for some appointments instead of your GP. It can help reduce waiting times and increase the level of care that we can give you.
I look forward to seeing you at your next visit.
Our dental hygiene service forms an essential part of our practice ethos as we aim to prevent dental decay and gum disease. Our highly skilled dental hygienists have been successfully cleaning and maintaining healthy mouths for many years.
Some people are concerned with the facial ageing process with common concerns being wrinkling as well as a loss of structure and volume from their face.
If you have a broken tooth or are suffering from toothache our team will work extremely hard on your behalf to prioritise your emergency.
There are many ways to repair teeth but the most commonly used techniques are fillings and crowns. There are also different materials that can be used such as metallic, resin and ceramic based materials.
For some having missing teeth can be an aesthetic concern affecting confidence. For others it can be a functional problem as it can impact upon your ability to chew your favourite foods.
If you lack confidence in the appearance of your teeth than a smile maker may be the solution. Smile makeovers involve a combination of treatments such as teeth whitening, white fillings, veneers, crowns, braces and dental implants.
If you would like to straighten your teeth for a natural and beautiful smile then orthodontic treatment may be for you. Our orthodontic journey is aimed to bring you a smile that you are proud of.
The Enlighten whitening system that we use is specifically designed to brighten and rejuvenate your smile. We have been using this system for many years as the results are exceptional.
Gum health is important for your smile, comfort, confidence and quality of life. A great deal of research has looked into the affects of gum disease on your general health.