Thank you all again for taking the time to fill out our surveys. As you can see, the results for November have improved. In fact, they are our best so far, with 3% of you reporting feeling ‘a bit’ during treatment. Most importantly, we didn’t get a report of any ‘ouches’.

However, we can still improve. And, to that end , we have invested in some exciting new technology to hopefully do just that.

Aqua Care

‘Aqua Care’ is the latest and most advanced air abrasion units. It can be used to clean cavities and teeth using a fine spray of water and powders. The advantages are:

No Drill

No Vibration, and

No Pain

Aqua Care uses powder called ‘Sylc’ which contains Novamin, the same ingredient found in the latest Sensodyne toothpastes. And it has been clinically proven to protect and soothe our teeth. Consequently, it can be used to effectively remove tooth sensitivity.

If you would like to know more, please ask us for details.

This Christmas, we are raffling a hamper worth £100 and all proceeds will go to this very worthy charity.

If you’re passing by, please pop in and help us support ‘Help for Heroes’.

Tickets are £1 each and the lucky winner will be announced on the 19th of December.

She’s done it again

Many thanks to Nikoletta, who has recently had 10 inches of her hair cut off to donate to The Little Princess Trust.

The Dental Mavericks and Health-Point Foundation

Jas has just returned from another trip with his charity, The Dental Mavericks. This time, though, he travelled to Thessaloniki in Greece. Specifically to treat the Syrian refugees in partnership with the Health-Point Foundation charity.

“Mention Greece and you immediately think ‘hot’. Or at least I did. I certainly wasn’t expecting snow, but that’s what we had”.

“It was freezing, and these are the conditions that these poor people are enduring. Mostly with very little clothing and barefoot”.

“We visited three camps, setting up our surgeries in each to treat as many people as we were able. So many were suffering from terrible toothache. And this, on top of all their other woes. It’s so unfair”.

“Entering the camps is a bit daunting at first, because of the high security. And, I was a little concerned. Not least because one of my daughters was with me. But, despite everything, that these people had been through, they were so friendly to us”.

 

“It was an incredible experience and one that I hope to repeat soon”.

 

 

 

 

Word of the month:

Our Christmas opening hours:

Saturday 24th December                9am to 12pm

Monday 26th December                 Closed

Tuesday 27th December                 Closed

Wednesday 28th December          8am – 5pm

Thursday 29th December               8am – 5pm

Friday 30th December                     8am – 5pm

Monday 2nd January                        Closed

 

Thanks for reading and we wish you all a very merry Christmas.

The latest results of our ‘pain-free’ survey show that the percentage of ‘ouches’ remains the same at 1% (which amounts to one patient last month). I know we can do better and I promise that we will keep trying.

 

 

 

 

Lindsey

Our best wishes go to Lindsey, our hygienist, who is presently recovering from a hip operation. Amongst her many talents, Lindsey is also a black belt in Karate so I expect her to be back with us soon.

 
 
 

At a recent practice meeting, Kate and Debbie arranged a Pilates session for our team. It’s much harder than it looks.

 

 

The Syrian Refugees

Next month will be another first for the Dental Mavericks. We have been allowed permission to travel to Greece in partnership with The Health – Point Foundation. You can read more about them here.

It is estimated that about 1000 refugees make their way to the shores of Greece every day. And that many of these people – children as well as adults are in need of urgent dental treatment.

 

Our destination is Thessaloniki, however, we have been forewarned that the Greek military may move the refugees to another area at short notice. So, there are just 3 dentists travelling together with one nurse – my daughter.

 

 

 

During last month’s visit to Morocco, we were able to treat adults as well as children. On previous occasions, we had only been given permission to treat children.

 

 

 

I can’t express how much of a relief this is as many of them travel for several hours on foot to come and see us. And, to turn them away has always been heart breaking. As news of this got out in the mountains, our make-shift clinic was often inundated with people to treat.

On several occasions, we were forced to lock the entrance gates to our clinics because of the rush to be seen.
 

 

 

 

At 96, this is my oldest patient so far At the week’s end, we had treated over 1000 people. Once again, thank you for all of your support.

Jas Sandhu
 
 
 
To dare is to lose ones footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.

Soren Kierkegaard

Thanks for reading

TOP SPORTS STARS ENCOURAGED TO BRUSH UP AHEAD OF RIO OLYMPICS

Who’s not been inspired by the Olympians? They certainly are endorsing the Olympic motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which is Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger.”

But, after the London 2012 Olympics, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine discovered that 55 percent of the athletes had tooth decay. And that over 75 percent

of athletes had gum disease. 15 per cent of which was advanced and therefore irreversible.

These figures are surprisingly high.

The cause was found to be their high carbohydrate consumption in the form of energy drinks,

bars and gels. Yes, they do help to maintain their energy levels, however, they are full of sugar

which reduces the mouth’s pH to below 5.5. In other words, our mouths become more acidic.

And it is at this level that the enamel on our teeth starts to dissolve.

Taking these energy supplements occasionally is okay because our saliva quickly dilutes them.

But their sustained use is the cause of tooth decay.

 

So, with the Rio Olympics well underway, sports men and women are now being reminded to

take extra care of their oral health. The advice, which also applies to all of us who exercise regularly, is:

Try to limit the amount of times you have anything sugary.

Ok, I admit that this isn’t going to be practical for our Olympians.

However, using a straw helps drinks go to the back of the mouth more quickly, limiting the amount of time the sugar will be in contact with teeth.

And, of course, drink lots of water.

 

 

DID IT HURT?

For the second consecutive month, out of the 162 surveys that we received, there were no

‘ouches’ in July. And that’s a positive. Still not good enough I admit and I promise that we will continue to aim for 100 per cent ‘pain free’.

And, in an effort to achieve that, we are discussing these results weekly within our team to see exactly how we can improve.

One intriguing question: why were there only 162 surveys for the whole month? One obvious answer is that perhaps not everyone had a chance to fill out a survey.

However I have also noticed that, with the exception of check-ups and seeing our hygienists, far fewer of you are in need of any treatment.

The credit here goes to you and our superstar hygienists: Jules, Lindsey and Alex.

Many thanks,

Jas Sandhu

 

Nikoletta brought her beautiful daughter, Evi, into the practice recently for a bit of ‘work experience’.

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, I received this email:

“Hello Jaspal,

You continue to thrill us with your giving — it’s just wonderful to see. And it’s so

inspiring.

Many congratulations for making it all happen. We are delighted not just to have

you here in B1G1 but to see you creating such a positive impact.

With much gratitude,

The B1G1 Team”

B1G1 is a non-profit organisation with a mission to create a world that’s full of giving. And with their support, our practice makes monthly donations to several charities around the world.

Our practice became a business member of B1G1 in 2011. In fact, we were the first dental practice in the UK to do so.

The graphic on the right shows exactly where our donations have gone.

To date, the total contributions our practice has made are 95,381.

So far, we have:

• Given 86,775 days of access to life-saving clean water to families in Ethiopia.
• Provided 1,001 days of access to personal hygiene to girls in need.
• Given 677 days of access to life-saving clean water to people in Africa.
• Given 520 nourishing meals to families in need.
• Provided 106 days of access to dental hygiene to people in need.
• Provided 93 square meters of rainforest protection.
• Given 14 days of medical support to children in need.

We could not have done this without your support. And, for that, we are so grateful.

Thank you.

Word of the month:

 

Thanks for reading.

Thank you so much for all your good wishes on our practice reaching its 45 year milestone. Here are some of the lovely messages we received:

“I have been a patient there since 1987 and what has never changed is the quality of the front of house staff. We are always met with a smile a friendly word and patience when I confuse my appointments. Yes new technology is great and Decor certainly improved but it’s that greeting which is so important !”

“Having been a patient of “Malcolm Valentin”, who was great, I was worried when he retired who the replacement was going to be, and the type of dentist they would be, as I had never been worried about going to the dentist during Malcolm’s time. So I was a little nervous on my first check-up with Jas all those years ago when he took over the mantle. I really needn’t have worried, he is an exceptional dentist and if anything he is even gentler than Malcolm was on the odd time I have needed any work doing.

Although I have seen some changes in the team over time it is still, dare I say it, a “pleasure” to go the dentist, even as a start to my working week this week for my checkup.

Congratulations and keep up the good work!”

“Happy Birthday to you. I have been with your practice since about 1988 when we moved down here from Beckenham and it has improved very much indeed. The main difference is the nice friendly atmosphere between all the staff I meet when I’m there. It is an almost pleasant occasion coming to the dentist now and Jas always has time to discuss things and I don’t feel rushed out to make way for the next patient. Well done Jas and the team. I can’t think of any way you could improve at the moment.”

“Many congratulations on reaching the 45th birthday of the practice. I can absolutely say that the treatment and service received today is substantially better than those early years. I have been a patient of the practice for 41 years without a break. I started in 1975 when Malcolm Valentin was my dentist.

I would be interested to know if anybody who still uses the practice at least twice a year has been a patient for longer ? If you can tell me that would be great. Anyway the service received now is very good in my opinion and any visit holds no fear at all !

Congratulations and keep up the good work.”

Again, thank you all for your comments and messages of support. And, if any of you have been  with us since we first opened our doors, please do get in touch.

DID IT HURT?

Firstly, thank you to all of you who completed our survey. As you can see, the results for the month of June have improved, with 1% of you reporting feeling an ‘ouch’ during treatment.

However, it’s still too much.

One of our core values is ‘Kaizen’. Or, constant continuous improvement in everything we do.

So, in that spirit, I am still aiming for 100% ‘pain-free’. I know we can keep improving.

Thank you all for your patience and faith in us.

Jas Sandhu

‘SPIT DON’T RINSE’

Following several research studies, this is the advice that we have been giving our patients for  the last few years. And it’s nice that the Oral Health Foundation have decided to endorse it.

“Spit don’t rinse” is the message from the Oral Health Foundation.

Says Mhari Coxon, dental hygienist and Trustee of the Oral Health Foundation:

“Rinsing our mouth with water is bad for our teeth as it washes away the protective Fluoride left behind by brushing.

“Fluoride is the most important ingredient in toothpaste.

“It greatly helps oral health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay.

“By spitting toothpaste out then not rinsing with water it ensures that the fluoride will remain on the teeth and continue to be effective.”

“It may also be surprising to some but using mouthwash directly after brushing is also bad for our teeth as it also rinses away fluoride,” added Ms Coxon.

“If you do like to use mouthwash, try to use it at a separate time to brushing to ensure that you get the full benefit of the fluoride in your toothpaste.”

It’s also important to remember not to eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after toothbrushing.

Our advice is to use a mouth rinse after lunch. That way, it will be absorbed by the plaque on our teeth and remain for longer in the areas that it’s needed the most.

THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACE

The Oral Health Foundation have gone on a mission to find out what is most likely to put a  smile on the faces of the great British public; and what they have found has revealed that what brings us most happiness does not have to cost us anything at all.

Here is a countdown of the top 10 things that bring a smile to our faces:

10. Eating Food

9. Finding money in the street

8. The thought of a lie-in

7. A night out with friends

6. A stroll on the beach

5. Being welcomed home by a pet

4. Hearing our favourite song

3. Looking at family photos

2. Giving or receiving a good hug

1. Hearing our children or grandchildren laugh

 

Honourable mentions have to go to some of the more unusual answers. Such as getting a ‘like’ on social media and even watching somebody fall over.

The message here is that we can all find a reason to smile at any moment of the day, and being happy doesn’t have to cost us a penny.

A smile is hugely contagious. It often makes others around us smile and improves our mood.

According to research carried out by the University of Technology in Munich, our brain’s circuitry of emotion and happiness is activated when we smile.

Researchers in the UK discovered that one smile can be as pleasurable and stimulating as up to 2000 bars of chocolate. And, that it takes receiving up to £16,000 in cash to generate the same level of brain stimulation as one smile.

Word of the month:

Thanks for reading.

 

 

On the 14th of June 1971, a new dental practice was opened in East Grinstead. It was, and still is, called ‘The High Street Dental Practice’.

45 years later and we are still here. Helping to serve an ever-increasing number of patients as well as our local community.

For us, so much has changed. The faces, the technology, as well as the treatments that we are able to offer.

Many of you have stayed with us for so many of these years so you will have noticed these changes. We think that we’ve managed to change for the better, but what do you think?

Are we any better? Or just the same? And how could we continue to improve?

Please do let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

And, if you’re passing through town on the 14th of June, please pop in. We’ll be having a little celebration. Drinks and nibbles on us.

We do hope to see you then.

Jas Sandhu

ps We really would love to hear your comments. You can reply to this email or post directly onto our Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/High.Sreet.Dental.Practice/

Did It Hurt?

Our end of month survey for May showed the following results. Although nobody re
ported an ‘ouch’, they are still not good enough. I promise that we will continue to try to improve. In the meantime, please accept my apologies and thanks for taking the time to complete our surveys.

Jas Sandhu

 

 

 

Last month, we were invited to treat children in Essaouira, a port city on the west coast of Morocco. The invitation came from the local officials: the headmaster, directors, teachers and parents of children in the local schools.

Their feedback – including that of the children – was
overwhelmingly positive. The headmaster said that, on the day following our visit, all of the children attended school – despite some of them having to undergo extensive dental treatment. Most importantly though was the fact that he and the teachers noticed a marked improvement in the childrens’ ability to focus in the classrooms. Purely because they were no longer in pain.

As always, thank you for your support.

Jas Sandhu

 

How Powerful Is A Child’s Smile?

New research has revealed that adults smile 13% more frequently when with children than when in
the presence of adults or being alone. This has been named the ‘Smile Back’ effect and it is particularly strong among adults who do not tend to smile much in photographs – showing even this group are powerless against the effects of a child’s smile.

The University of Cambridge, supported by The Wrigley Company, analysed the largest record of smiles and matching psychological data in history in order to explore the impact of children’s smile on others.

The Smile Back Study also shows how the condition of our teeth can make a big difference to how often we smile. It found a significant correlation between healthy teeth and higher intensity of smiling; study participants who reported better oral health also reported higher levels of self- esteem and life satisfaction.

 

Word of the month: 

 

Here’s a review left today on our Facebook page:

“Well no one can really say they love going to the dentist and for me I’m a complete wimp when it comes to going. I had to have a filling today and the staff were great especially Kate who put me at ease and reassured me and it was pain free! Thank you.”

Kate ‘Incredible’ Cash

 

 

Here’s a note from Corsica‘s assessor:

“Well done Corsica, you have worked really hard to get this qualification completed.

It has been lovely to see you progress throughout the qualification, you built up some good friendships within the class and were willing to share your knowledge with others. You were a pleasure to assess.”

Very well done Corsica.”

 

 

Thanks for reading.

In last month’s newsletter, I posted the results of our ‘did it hurt?’ survey. And they were, frankly, poor.

So, for March, I’m very pleased to say that we have improved. 94% of all of you who
completed the survey reported feeling no pain at all. That’s a step in the right direction.
As is the fact that we didn’t receive a single ‘ouch’.

I still think we can do better though. And I will continue to keep you updated.

So, thank you to all of you who completed the survey. The only way we can improve is to
continue to measure your feedback.

Jas Sandhu

It’s Arrived!

After about a year and a half, we finally
received permission for installing a
stairlift. It may look a little bit
confusing to operate, so please ask any
of us for a hand.

Sue giving
the stairlift
a test drive

 

“I like working at the High Street Dental Practice because it is a very friendly and happy
place. We work as a team and always go that bit further to
make it a warm and welcoming place for staff and patients
alike. We laugh a lot, enjoy spending time together and help
each other out.

We have fantastic patients who make it a pleasure to treat
them and do our best for them.

I used to dread coming to work but no longer because I know
that once I walk up the stairs I will be greeted with a smile which means more than
anything.”

Debbie Topley

Helping children with toothache is one thing. But, our goal has always been to try and
prevent it in the first place. We all knew that this would be a difficult task given that we
only used to travel to Morocco a couple of times a year.

But, over the last two years, we seem to have reached the tipping point. The Dental
Mavericks are now being asked to visit lots of communities in both the Rif and Atlas
mountains.

One of these being The Eve Branson ( Richard’s mum ) Foundation.

With the aid of toothbrushes, toothpastes and simple infographs, some of the village
communities are now running oral hygiene workshops for their schools.

Team members from Virgin Unite are also flying out to help with our projects.

And, the Advisor to the King of Morocco is also supporting our efforts. It’s likely that he
will be there to watch us treating the children when I next travel in May. So, I will try to
be on my best behaviour.

I am sorry if this report sounds self-indulgent. But so many of you have supported this
cause and I just want you to know that your ever so generous donations are really making
a difference.

Thank you.

Jas Sandhu

 

4 Things You Should Know About
Your Toothbrush

1.    Don’t be afraid to change

Worn out brushes can’t clean our teeth properly and could damage the gums. So,
change your brush as soon the bristles start to splay. As a rule, about every 3
months. Also, signs of a worn toothbrush within about 3 months could mean that
you’re brushing your teeth too hard.

2.    How you store your toothbrush

Don’t use a cover for your toothbrush. The cover doesn’t allow the bristles to dry.
And this moist environment is where bacteria can thrive.
Don’t keep your toothbrushes together. If the brush heads come into contact, they
will spread germs.
Don’t store your tooth brush close to open sinks or toilets. The aerosol spray
produced by toilets particularly can contain airborne bacteria. As a rule, store your
toothbrush at least 2 metres away from sinks or toilets.

3.    Cleaning your toothbrush

Rinse your brush after using it and store in an upright position so that water can
drain away from the head

4.    What type of toothbrush?

Clinical tests have shown that electric toothbrushes are more effective at
removing plaque. Those with heads that rotate in both directions have been shown
to be most effective.

We mostly recommend the Oral B electric toothbrush.

However, if your brushing well with your existing toothbrush – whatever it may
be (and we’re not nagging you) – then don’t feel like you to change.

“Pick it, lick it, stick it”

Many thanks to Michaela, one of our patients, for sending us this very
informative article.

Word of the month:

Meraki

“The perfect moment; the fleeting
rightness of time and place that
creates the opportune atmosphere
for action, words or movement.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

 

Pain. It’s one of the biggest reasons why so many of us fear going to the dentist – me     included. And it’s a question that we ask in one of our surveys.

In fact, it’s one of the strongest markers that we judge ourselves by.

February’s results show that 79% of you felt no pain at all during any treatment.

And that’s not good enough.

We can do better. So, from now on, we will be monitoring our results every week and I will post them on future newsletters. For now, though, please accept my apologies and my promise that we will improve.

Jas Sandhu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Road To Morocco”

The Moroccans love their
football. And this shirt,
donated very kindly by
Richard Tramontin from
East Grinstead Football
C l u b , was v e r y w e l l
received.

Despite having travelled to Morocco for several years now, last month’s trip was unique in a couple of ways. Firstly, the Dental Mavericks visited a new village and secondly, I was joined by some of our team: From left to right above, Cilla, Debbie, Maggie and Sophie.

Our destination, Kilia, is a small village up in the Rif mountains.
The journey – in a 4 wheel drive jeep – wasn’t the most
comfortable. The roads are carved into the side of the mountain,
with a sheer drop on one side. No tarmac. No road signs. No
crash barriers.
Our ‘clinic’ was one of the classrooms in the village school. But,
because of the cramped conditions, we had to set up some of our
working spaces outside.

They were more concerned about the gifts that we handed out. Colouring pencils, paper and things like yo-yo’s. Nothing remotely special – but they were overjoyed. The weather conditions and their lack of adequate clothing, they’re used to. But gifts, even as simple as those that we gave, are a novelty. We worked in a very poorly lit class room with water dripping from the ceiling onto an electric light bulb! And it is at times like these that I have to remind myself that we aren’t in the UK now. What we all take for granted is so often considered a luxury by our hosts.

In all of my trips, I’ve never seen so many children with abscesses. I can’t imagine the pain that some of them must have been suffering. I still haven’t got used to that. And I hope I never will.
Jas Sandhu

Word of the month:

“The perfect moment; the fleeting rightness of time and place that creates the opportune atmosphere for action, words or movement.”

Colgate Total

In 2013, the Cochrane Oral Health Group completed a review of the most effective toothpastes. The review involved 30 studies carried out over a 22 year period and 14,835 participants.

Cochrane are a global network of researchers. Their work is free from sponsorship and is recognised as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Their evidence showed benefits in using a Triclosan/copolymer fluoride toothpaste when
compared with a fluoride-only toothpaste. Triclosan is an antibiotic ingredient and
copolymer is an ingredient that helps to keep the copolymer on the teeth and gums. The
toothpaste used was Colgate Total and the results, after six months of use, showed:

22% reduction in plaque
22% reduction in gingivitis
48% reduction in bleeding gums
5% reduction in tooth decay
Our practice has no affiliation with Colgate. But, we think that it is important to recommend it as the evidence is, so far, overwhelming.

Nikoletta’s News

Born on the 1st of January, and now 10 weeks later, here’s a picture
of Evi. According to her mother:

“She has a mind of her own. She is a Tottenham fan like her dad
and a Djokovic fan like her mum…no Federer or Murray!”

Poor child.

A glass of water can help tackle morning breath

New research suggests that drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning is an
effective way of reducing morning breath. The research, published in the International
Journal of Dental Hygiene, has shown that drinking or rinsing the mouth with a glass of
water helped remove up to 60 per cent of the substances which contribute to bad breath.

There is a simple test that you can do if you think you may be suffering from bad breath.
Just lick the inside of your wrist, wait for it to dry and sniff – if the smell is bad, it’s likely
that your breath is too.

If you do have bad breath, try keeping a diary of all the foods you eat and list any
medicines you are taking. Bring this diary to us, and we may be able to suggest ways to
solve the problem.

Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth could be a warning sign of gum disease. Other
conditions that cause bad breath include infections in the throat, nose or lungs.
The best way to beat bad breath is to ensure that you have an effective cleaning routine;
ideally, brushing your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day.
Don’t forget to clean your tongue as well to help remove more bacteria.

Thanks for reading.

Chewing sugar-free gum could save the NHS £8.2 million a year.

A study published this week in the British Dental Journal has revealed that up to £8.2 million of costs to the NHS could be saved if twelve year olds across the UK were to increase their chewing of sugar-free gum as part of a good oral health routine to help prevent tooth decay.

While brushing for two minutes, twice a day is still the best way to keep our teeth and gums healthy, clinical research has shown that chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating or drinking helps neutralise plaque acid and can reverse the early signs of tooth decay.

This research, conducted by the York Health Economics Consortium and Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth University, with support from The Wrigley Company Ltd, is the first of its kind in the UK.

I would like to add the following points:

This research had the support of the Wrigley company – a well known manufacturer of chewing gum – so, one could be forgiven for thinking that the results are biased. However, the benefits of chewing gum, particularly after meals and drinks, are proven.

Also, this survey was limited to 12 year olds. However, the benefits apply to us all.

We don’t generally recommend that children under the age of 7 chew gum although this is very much at the discretion of all parents.

Whilst I do agree with the report, it focusses only on the cost savings whilst omitting the distress that children with toothache suffer.

Something that I am all too aware of during my travels to Morocco.

Jas Sandhu

The diagram above shows how tooth enamel is at risk from acid after food and drink, and how long it takes the acid level in the mouth to return to the safe zone. The pH is the measure of acidity. Below 5.5 is acidic enough to soften tooth enamel. Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can quickly lower the Ph and, therefore, the amount of acid that attacks the teeth.

Congratulations to Sophie who, at the age of only 19, distinguished herself in her Radiology exam this month.

“I have been very impressed with the level of care and treatment and the practice. Thank you so much. Also, to learn of your missionary-type trips to morrcco’s needy children. May God bless you and the team. Your travels. Your health and all that you do. You are giving more than just dental treatment.”

Thanks you so much

Nigel M

Thank you Nigel

Stairlift update

Planning for our long-awaited stairlift has finally been approved. However, only verbally. So, all
we are waiting on now is the approval in writing. Of all the stairlifts we’ve looked at – and that’s a
lot – we were most impressed by those supplied by Age UK. However, should any of you have any comments or recommendations, please do contact me.

Again, thank you for your patience.

Jas Sandhu

“The Road To Morocco”

Is it ironic that we, as a dental practice, are selling ‘sugar’ to help prevent its harmful effects? Probably, yes. But, all of the funds we raise will go towards helping the children in Morocco.

And, so far, the sale of our home-made cakes has raised a massive £316.66. As Jas is a trustee of The Dental Mavericks, he has set a fundraising target of £3000.

Our total funds raised so far are nearly £2000!

So, watch out for more cakes and other silly events in the next few weeks.

 

Thank you all so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Steph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our core values are those values that help to guide us. Our compass, if you like.

At our last meeting, we agreed that not all of us felt aligned with our old values. So, now, we

have updated them and agreed on the following:

• Integrity
• Play
• Ubuntu
• Kaizen

Please feel free to ask us about them. What they stand for? Why we chose them? And how they

can help you? For now, I think that the photo on the next page explains why we all agreed on

‘Play’.

You’ll find us in the front row.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks for reading.

A year that’s shaping to be a special one already:

Firstly, on New Year’s Day, (just as Jas predicted), Nikoletta gave birth to Evi. Both of them are doing very well although Nikoletta still won’t be returning to the practice until April for some strange reason.

And, secondly, we’re Moving! To Morocco!!

Now that we have your attention, we wish you all a Very Happy New Year.

 

 

 

Okay, we’re not actually moving. That would be silly. But, in February, Jas is taking some of us to Morocco.

Jas was recently made a trustee of The Dental Mavericks, a charity that he co-founded in 2010. And one that is going from strength to strength. To date, they have treated 3043 children in the Rif and Atlas mountains.

And now, he has arranged for some of us to travel with him to treat the Berber children in a village called ‘Kilea’. The demand for dental treatment is so high here that he thinks we may see around 500 children.

So, no, we’re not moving. But, for one weekend in February, The High Street Dental Practice will be travelling ‘en-masse’ to Morocco.

To help treat these gorgeous children. And, to help make a difference.

But, don’t worry. Kate and Lindsey will still be here manning the fort for you.

Did you know, 2016 is:

The 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth?

The 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter?

The 200th anniversary of Charlotte Bronte’s birth?

The 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London?

The 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death? And,

The 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings?

Thank you so much for entering our christmas raffle. You raised a total of 696 pounds. All of which went to ‘Crisis’. Here’s a letter we recently received from them…

For all your support, thank you. And once again, Happy New Year.

 

 

Many congratulations to our lucky winner

For all your support, thank you. And once again, Happy New
Year.

A major drawback of visiting us is having to negotiate our stairs. To all of you for whom walking is a difficulty, we do understand. Which is why we’ve been desperately trying to install a stairlift for the whole of this year. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?

The problem has been getting permission from the owners of our building – necessitating a structural survey. And, being a listed building, we also need permission from the council. Including, amongst other things, a detailed scaled drawing of the planned stairlift! So far, we have submitted the info required and are now waiting on a decision.

I am really sorry for the delay. Just don’t be surprised if you find me using it.

Jaspal Sandhu

“I was really impressed at my visit yesterday. The care, respect and kindness I was shown was wonderful not only by the dentist but reception staff too. Never have I experienced such treatment before and I will definitely be informing all my friends”

Thank you Mrs G

‘CRISIS’ at Christmas

This Christmas, our practice will be supporting Crisis as our chosen charity by means of a raffle.

Tickets are just one pound and the lucky winner will receive this Christmas hamper from Marks and Spencer worth £100.

The lucky winner will be announced on Monday the 21st of December. And all proceeds will go directly to ‘Crisis’.

Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time of year for a person cut off from their family and home.

Crisis provide companionship and support to tackle loneliness and isolation, and help people take their first steps out of homelessness. To find out more about what they do, click here.

It’s our hope that, with your help, we can help them make a difference.

Murphy’s Law states that:

“Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong and at the worst possible moment.”

In the past, we’ve found that this is especially the case at Christmas. Hopefully, we won’t need to see you for the wrong reasons. But, just in case, we will be open on all non bank-holiday days as

shown below:

Thursday 24th December 8.00 – 1.00pm

Friday 25th December Closed

Monday 28th December Closed

Tuesday 29th December 8.00- 5.30pm

Wednesday 30th December 8.00 – 4.00pm

Thursday 31st December 8.00 – 1.00pm

Friday 1st January Closed

Saturday 2nd January 8.00 – 1.00pm

However, should you have any need to contact us out of hours, please make a note of our

emergency number: 07826 000465

You’ll get straight through to Maggie. However, I have allowed her to have some sleep this Christmas. So, if she can’t answer your call, please leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as she’s woken (sobered) up.

Our Christmas hamper,

proudly on display at

reception. It’s currently

under 24 hour surveillance

just in case any of the girls

get too tempted.

Speaking of Maggie. As many of you will know, she is our practice manager, receptionist and nurse amongst other things. Well, on the 7th of December, Maggie reached the ripe age of 50! So, please understand if she seems just a little bit less ebullient than her normal self. And, if you are visiting us soon, feel free to pass on your birthday wishes. She won’t mind being reminded.

Maggie receiving the ‘Working with Jas’ award. I can’t imagine why. Indian Head Massage with Lindsey Many of you will already know Lindsey, one of our hygienists. But did you know that she is also a qualified complimentary therapist? Lindsey has a special interest in treating migraines, headaches, sinus problems and a host of stress-related conditions. Our patients are now beginning to see the benefits of Indian Head Massage which combats stress by rhythmically massaging away the ever increasing tensions and strains of modern day living. It soothes, comforts and rebalances the energy flow to produce a feeling of peace and tranquillity. The therapy is particularly beneficial either before or after any dental treatment that you may require. Each session lasts 1 hour and costs £45. If you’d like any more info, please give us a call.

“I see Lindsey once a month for an Indian Head Massage. I do a lot of driving with my job and am a bit of a migraine sufferer. Lindsey’s treatment really helps with the stress and the knots in my neck and shoulders and the migraines are now virtually non-existent! Lindsey makes me feel very relaxed and the treatment is enjoyable especially the scalp massage ” Juliette. “I often arrive for an Indian Head Massage with Lindsey feeling tense and stressed following a hard week at work. I always leave feeling relaxed and lighter. I’d recommend Lindsey’s Indian Head massage to anyone ” Garry.

On a final note, at the end of every year, I ask all the team to nominate that one person who, in their opinion, is worthy of the Team Member of the Year Award. Well, the results are in and the winner was….. Debbie Topley.

Here are some of the comments I received:

She is kind, generous and consistent.

She makes a great friend & colleague.

She always makes time for us and is reliable.

She is marvellous with her patients, dedicated to giving gentle care, and showing great kindness and patience.

She always has time to help, listen and resolve any concerns the rest of the team have.

She is great fun and always appears happy and calm, taking everything in her stride.

Busy as she is, she still finds the time to think of her colleagues.

She’s so supportive as a colleague and friend.

She’s great fun especially after a few Mojito’s!

She is an excellent dentist.

And makes fantastic cake!!

For those of you who know Debbie, you’ll know exactly how true these comments are. Well deserved Debbie.

Lastly, we would like to thank you all for your continued support and faith in us and our practice. We really do appreciate it and we will do our best to make sure that we continue to earn it in 2016.

Merry Christmas and the very best of wishes for the New Year.

Thank you.