bite magazine february 2011

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Bite BETTER BUSINESS FOR DENTISTS ISSUE 63, FEBRUARY 2011, $5.95 INC. GST PRINT POST APPROVED NO: 255003/07512 Race to the bush Brad Race has found the future of dental laboratories in outback New South Wales Joining forces The pros and cons of joining a multi-discipline super clinic, page 22 Location, location What’s the best spot for a dental practice? Find out on page 26 $100 million What Dental Corporation got for Christmas (plus other news, page 8) Tools of the trade The tool that makes you almost as good as your therapist, and more … Stroke! Stroke! How rowing helps make Dr David Houston a better dentist

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Bite magazine is a business and current affairs magazine for the dental industry. Content is of interest to dentists, hygienists, assistants, practice managers and anyone with an interest in the dental health industry.

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Page 1: Bite Magazine February 2011

BiteBETTER BUSINESS FOR DENTISTS

ISSUE 63, FEBRUARY 2011, $5.95 INC. GST

PR

INT

PO

ST

AP

PR

OV

ED

NO

: 255

003/

0751

2

Race to the bushBrad Race has found the future of dental laboratories in outback New South Wales

Joining forces The pros and cons of joining a multi-discipline super clinic, page 22

Location, location What’s the best spot for a dental practice? Find out on page 26

$100 millionWhat Dental Corporation got for Christmas (plus other news, page 8)

Tools of the tradeThe tool that makes you almost as good as your therapist, and more …

Stroke! Stroke! How rowing helps make Dr David Houston a better dentist

Page 2: Bite Magazine February 2011

LED’s be independent

120 Years W

&H.

Help us support SOS Child

ren’s Villages!

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Regardless of which unit or drive you are using, new Alegra LED turbines lightyour way with their very own light supply. The secret? A built-in generator. Thelight? Neutral, white and pleasing. The downside? No other device comes close bycomparison. The Alegra LED series: now available from your specialist retailer.

©2010 A-dec® Inc. All rights reserved.AA487_Inkredible1442-25

ChairsDelivery SystemsLightsMonitor MountsCabinetsHandpiecesMaintenanceSterilisationImaging

For more information Email: [email protected]: 1800 225 010 Visit: www.wh.com

1442-25_AA_Adv Bite "led's be independent"_1A.indd 1 2/06/10 4:10 PM

Page 3: Bite Magazine February 2011

News & events05. States in disarrayDental Corporation’s $100 million Christmas present from Fortis Global Health Care Holdings. ALSO THIS MONTH: The US Dept of Heath and Human Services are revising their advice about safe levels of fluoride; the Dental Board issues interim policies on botox and bleaching; and much, much more…

Saving WoodstockThe Race brothers of Race Dental Labs have built the future of dentistry in a historic town in NSW

18Cover story

Features

Your world14. Oral wealth

A new report has confirmed that if you’re

poor, you’ve probably also got poor oral health

Your business22. At your service

Is the future of dental practices to be part of a

multi-disciplined team—a kind of one-stop shop for health? And if so, is this a

good thing for dentists?

27. Sense of placeFinding the best location for

your dental practice takes more than a flick through

the real estate pages. Here’s where to start...

Your tools10. New products

ART by Riskontrol; the InSafe Dental syringe; the

new Quaz Printer; the W&H Lisa 500; the Alegra HS LED EDT 205 and the

Owandy-RX are all covered

31. Tools of the tradeThe long lasting Orascoptic Zeon Apollo light; the quick and easy Einstein intraoral

camera; the easy-to-use and powerful Orthophos XG3; and the Hu-Friedy

EXD 11/12 calculus detection probe are all

reviewed this month

Your life34. Passions

Dentist and rowing coach Dr David Houston, of John

Street Dental, Redcliffe, Queensland, talks about

his glory days of university rowing, and how the sport prepared him for dentistry

Contents03

Issue 63 / February 2011

14

Bite 3

Editorial Director Rob Johnson

Sub-editor Lucy Robertson

Contributors Sharon Aris, Nicole Azzopardi, Kerryn Ramsey, Lucy Robertson, Maureen Shelley, Gary Smith

Creative Director Tim Donnellan

Commercial Director Mark Brown

For all editorial or advertisingenquiries:Phone (02) 9660 6995 Fax (02) 9518 5600

[email protected] 4.08, The Cooperage 56 Bowman Street Pyrmont NSW 2009

Bite magazine is published 11 times a year by Engage Media, ABN 50 115 977 421. Views expressed in Bite magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Engage Media.

Printing by Superfine Printing.

7,624 - CAB Audited as at September 30, 2010

34

10

31

27

This month

05

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Page 4: Bite Magazine February 2011

CareDent Pty LtdUnit 2, 27-29 Salisbury Rd Hornsby NSW 2077P: (02) 9987 4891 F: (02) 9476 6629 Toll Free: 1800 800 303E: [email protected] W: www.caredent.com.au

Soft and flexible wire-free InterBrush made from TPE gently removes plaque and food particles

Ideal for cleaning crowns, bridges, implants and all interproximal areas

free InterBrushsample enclosed

Now available in Woolworths, Coles, Franklins, Priceline, Caltex and leading pharmacies

The Wire-Free Interdental Brush

Retail Pack - 7100

Box 6 (20 brushes) $35.75

Professional Pack - 7115

Box 36 (10 brushes) $99.00

Professional Pack Customised - C7115

Min 144 (10 brushes) $2.75ea

Buy 2 Get 1 Free

*Same type - Offer valid until 28th Feb 2011

*

Page 5: Bite Magazine February 2011

Bite 5

A large Singapore-based private healthcare group has bought a minority stake in Dental Corporation

Just before Christmas, Dental Corporation Holdings Limited announced a strategic partner-ship with Singapore based Fortis Global Healthcare Hold-

ings Pte Ltd. Fortis Global Healthcare will invest A$100 million to acquire a minority interest in Dental Corporation. The funds will be used by Dental Corporation to continue to expand its network of pre-mium dental practices across Australia and New Zealand.

Since partnering with its first practice in October 2007, Dental Corporation has grown to now own and operate 139 dental practices across Australia and New Zealand with annualised revenue in excess of A$250million.

Fortis Global Healthcare Holdings Pte Ltd is owned by Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh. They also own a majority stake in the Indian-listed Fortis Healthcare Limited, a leading private hospital chain in India.

Fortis Global Healthcare is focused on the creation of an international healthcare business and in October 2010 became the largest primary healthcare provider in Hong Kong. Mr Mark Evans, execu-tive chairman and co-founder of Dental Corporation, said, “The investment by Fortis is a fantastic outcome for our busi-ness and follows an extensive process to introduce the best strategic partner with the vision and financial strength to assist us deliver our long term growth plans.”

“The Fortis investment will allow us to continue to expand in Australia and New Zealand and should present opportuni-ties in Asia through the Fortis network.”

Dr Ray Khouri (B.D.S.), executive di-rector and co-founder of Dental Corpora-tion, adds, “It is a tremendous opportu-nity to partner with an organisation with

core values and vision so closely aligned with our own. This will inevitably result in a further enrichment of positive health-care outcomes to our patients.”

“This business alignment will add value to both our existing business operations and the dentists within the Dental Corpo-ration Group through the sharing of intel-lectual property and a cross pollination of ideas on an international platform.”

Mr Malvinder Mohan Singh, executive chairman of Fortis Global Healthcare, said: “Dental Corporation is a premier dental care brand in Australia within an industry which is highly fragmented and individualistic. We believe that there are tremendous opportunities for expansion in Dental Corporation, both in Australia, New Zealand and beyond, and we will support the management and profes-sionals in realising such growth.” £

Dental Corp. co-founder Dr Ray Khouri says the Fortis investment will add value.

Dental Corp gets $100m Christmas present

New scientific assessments and actions on fluoride

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced changes to their recommenda-tions about levels of fluoride in drinking water. HHS is proposing that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water can be set at the lowest end of the current optimal range to prevent tooth decay, and EPA is initiating a review of the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water.

In a joint press release, the agencies said these actions will maximise the health benefits of water fluoridation. HHS’ proposed recommendation of 0.7 mil-ligrams of fluoride per litre of water replaces the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. This updated recom-mendation is based on recent EPA and HHS scientific assessments to balance the benefits of prevent-ing tooth decay while limiting any unwanted health effects. These scientific assessments will also guide EPA in making a determina-tion of whether to lower the maxi-mum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water, which is set to prevent adverse health effects.

The new EPA assessments of fluoride were undertaken in re-sponse to findings of the National Academies of Science (NAS). At EPA’s request, in 2006 NAS re-viewed new data on fluoride and issued a report recommending that EPA update its health and ex-posure assessments to take into account bone and dental effects. In addition, HHS also considered current levels of tooth decay and dental fluorosis and fluid con-sumption across the US.£

05

News bites

Page 6: Bite Magazine February 2011

6 Bite

Australian dentists now have access to the latest advances in quality LED-equipped handpieces, which can be used on just about any dental unit without costly upgrades to the delivery system

New handpiece makes LED affordable

-dec this month launched the European-designed and manufactured ‘Alegra’ self-generating LED+ high speed handpiece from W&H. The Alegra joins the popular W&H ‘Synea’ LED, which pioneered the concept of LED-

equipped handpieces in 2007.W&H Product Manager at A-dec, Mr Shal Hafiz, said

feedback to date from dentists making the switch to W&H LED handpieces, was that they would never go back to a conventional halogen or non-illuminated handpiece.

Mr Hafiz said W&H was the first to incorporate LED technology into dental handpieces and despite the later advent of other forms of ‘LED’ type lighting systems, W&H’s new LED+ technology was clearly superior in the quality of light produced. The LED+ technology used in the new Alegra high speed represents yet another breakthrough from W&H as the handpiece generates its own power (through an internal dynamo) to produce energy for the inbuilt LED.

“This means dentists can have the absolute best daylight quality light-equipped handpiece without the need for spending additional money on fibre optic couplings or light-equipped motors. This can add up to a significant saving across an entire surgery.”

“W&H has patented its method of producing LED and has by far the best light output and highest colour rendering index of any dental light source available.

“The quality of light is especially invaluable to the examination of soft tissue and suspect lesions on acclusal surfaces and also for colour matching of composites and veneers as the light produced by the LED+ is the same colour as natural daylight.

“This feature, together with the optimal position of the LED light near the head and W&H’s extremely narrow head profile provides a much clearer view of the oral cavity than other handpieces. Not only that, but W&H handpieces, including the latest Alegra LED+, are the among the most powerful and quietest available, making them easier to use for the dentist and more comfortable for the patient.”

Mr Hafiz said W&H invented the modern handpiece in 1895 and had never stopped innovating. “W&H is the most

respected handpiece manufacturer in Europe and while its designs have often been emulated by others, they have never been matched in quality, features and reliability.

“W&H instruments are simply second to none in performance, which is why they are so widely used in private practice, hospitals and teaching institutions around the world.”

In recognition of this, A-dec has chosen W&H as the original equipment supplier of handpieces for A-dec dental units, which feature inbuilt electronic touchpads that can be automatically programmed to the individual handpieces attached to the dental unit.

“W&H also produced the first exclusive B-Type benchtop sterilizer for the dental market – the W&H Lisa, and A-dec has just released the newest version, the Lisa Automatic.

“In addition to its exclusive B-Type cycles, the Lisa Automatic automatically senses load size, resulting in quicker cycles for small loads and eliminates the potential for errors in manually determining the required cycle lengths for larger loads,” Mr Hafiz said.

More information is available from A-dec dealers. To find your nearest one, go to www.a-dec.com.au or phone A-dec toll free on 1800 225 010. £

06

News from our partners

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Find out more about EXACTVisit us at the 34th Australian Dental CongressBrisbane Convention & Exhibition CentreThursday 31 March – Sunday 3 April 2011Booths 22, 23, 33, 34

Australia Oasis National Support Centre, Suite 11–37 Heatherdale Road, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia Phone: 1300 889 668 Email: [email protected] Zealand Unit A3, 34 Triton Drive, Albany, North Shore 0632, New Zealand Phone: 0800 930 171 Email: [email protected]

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Page 7: Bite Magazine February 2011

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Find out more about EXACTVisit us at the 34th Australian Dental CongressBrisbane Convention & Exhibition CentreThursday 31 March – Sunday 3 April 2011Booths 22, 23, 33, 34

Australia Oasis National Support Centre, Suite 11–37 Heatherdale Road, Ringwood, Victoria 3134, Australia Phone: 1300 889 668 Email: [email protected] Zealand Unit A3, 34 Triton Drive, Albany, North Shore 0632, New Zealand Phone: 0800 930 171 Email: [email protected]

*Based on statistics from recent case studies

Page 8: Bite Magazine February 2011

Dental Board tackles Botox and BleachingThe Dental Board of Austra-lia issued two new interim policies, regarding use of Botox and teeth whitening or bleaching. Whilst advis-ing that it will continue to monitor both products, the board says the policies have been issued as an interim measure. The board’s Botox policy supports the use of botulism toxin (Botox) by registered dentists with education, training and com-petence for the treatment of Temporomandibular joint disorder/dysfunction.

“The issues surrounding the use of botulism toxin (Botox) and dermal fillers are

complex and the regulatory environment that existed across states and territories prior to the commencement of the national registration and accreditation scheme varied,” the board said in announcing the policy.

When announcing the policy on teeth bleaching, the board said, “Teeth whiten-ing/bleaching, is an irrevers-ible procedure on the human teeth and any tooth whiten-ing/bleaching products con-taining more than six per cent concentration of the active whitening/bleaching agent, should only be used by a registered dental practitioner with education, training and competence in teeth whiten-ing/bleaching.” £

FDA flip flops on amalgamAlthough it’s been about 18 months since they last pro-claimed it safe, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been hearing evi-dence about whether amal-gam fillings are safe. The new hearings have come about after four consumer advocacy organisations have mounted a challenge to the FDA’s March 2009 ruling. They cite a range of new studies that point to neurological conditions and even Alzheimer’s disease as consequences of some people’s dental work.

The organisations are ask-ing the FDA’s dental-prod-ucts panel to, at the very

least, reclassify the amalgam to bar its use in pregnant women and children. The organisations, however, have stated publicly they would prefer to see the amalgam banned. While no new specific new evidence has emerged about the fillings’ safety or risks, FDA officials are seeking input on how the agency assessed the data and drew its conclusions for its 2009 ruling.

Whatever the case, last year The World Health Organisation published a report—Future Use of Materials for Dental Resto-ration—saying that “dental amalgam remains a den-tal restorative material of choice, in the absence of an

8 Bite

08

News bites

Free site consultations. Complete solutions for healthcare professionals.

Access our expertiseDentec offers a free site consultation service to dental and medical professionals across Australiasia. Access our expertise on complete fit-outs, modern renovation ideas or sourcing the right location for your new venture.

About DentecDentec has serviced the unique needs of dental and medical professionals for over 20 years. As a family owned business, we have developed into one of Australasia’s leading equipment supply and installation companies.

FREECALL 1800 243 234dentecaus.com.au

Page 9: Bite Magazine February 2011

ideal alternative and the lack of evidence of alternatives as a better practice”. The report added: “It may be prudent to consider ‘phasing down’ instead of ‘phasing out’. £

New school of dentistry in FNQJames Cook University’s Smithfield campus’ $22 mil-lion training facility for dental students opened this week, two years after the school started running in a tempo-rary facility.

A clinical simulation lab, which includes 80 lifelike synthetic “patients” and complete dentist-chair fit outs, will be the centrepiece of the hands-on training complex.“One of the differ-

ences between our dental program and the others in the country is that students, very early, get into clinical training, and this is quite critical,” JCU vice-chancellor Prof Sandra Harding said.

The university secured a $52.5 million grant to establish a dentistry program in the Far North after lob-bying the Howard govern-ment in 2006. It is the first dentistry school in northern Australia and the only one in Queensland outside the southeast corner.

“We need to train people in the north in order for them to stay in the north,” Prof Harding said. “We know this works. It works in our medi-cal program, and we also

know it works in our dental program, and we’re confi-dent about that.” £

New device to remove dental drill noiseAn innovative device which cancels out the noise of the dental drill could spell the end of people’s anxiety about trips to the dentist, according to experts at King’s College London, Brunel University and Lon-don South Bank University, who pioneered the inven-tion. Although the product is not yet available to dental practitioners, King’s is calling for an investor to help bring it to market.

The device was initially

the brainchild of Professor Brian Millar at King’s College London’s Dental Institute who was inspired initially by carmaker Lotus’ efforts to develop a system that removed unpleasant road noise, while still allowing drivers to hear emergency sirens. Then with over a decade of collaboration with engineering research-ers at Brunel University and London South Bank Univer-sity, a prototype has been designed, built and success-fully evaluated.

The prototype device works in a similar way to noise-cancelling head-phones but is designed to deal with the very high pitch of the dental drill. £

09

News bites

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Specialising in Income Protection, Business Expenses, Life, Total & Permanent Disability, Trauma, Key Person and Ownership (Buy/Sell) Insurances

…remain financially secure.Without appropriate Risk Advice, the Financial flow on effect of being unable to work due to injury or illness can be significant.

Will your current cover protect you when you need it most?With access to the entire insurance market, our advisors will be able to recommend the most appropriate insurance products for your individual circumstances, ensuring your short term, midterm and long term financial goals are protected.

Your Practice Your Staff Your Family Your Lifestyle

Looking after youso you can look after them.Your continued good health means that…

Bite 9

Page 10: Bite Magazine February 2011

10 New Products

10 Bite

New-release products from here and around the world

New W&H Alegra High Speed LEDThe new W&H Alegra LED turbines and contra angles enable dentists everywhere to enjoy the best daylight quality LED light irrespec-tive of which motor, tubing or coupling is used.

W&H’s self-generating ‘Alegra’ LED means sur-geries can easily upgrade to the best quality LED light with no additional investments in fibre-optic equipped tubing or special couplings. The built-in mini generator in the turbine enables LED illumination irrespective of whether the turbines are used with couplings, with or without inbuilt light sources in electric or air motors and tubing, or with fixed connections. The self-generated LED light is neutrally-coloured and many times brighter than a conventional halogen light. It also has a larger illumination field than the conventional halogen light and is located close to the bur. The turbines are thermo-washer disinfectable, sterilizable and have a data matrix code that makes it easier to identify handpieces and trace hygiene and maintenance processes. For more information contact A-dec Australia on 1800 225 010. £

W&H Lisa 500 Since its introduc-tion, the W&H Lisa 500 has continued to evolve, delivering the highest levels of sterilisation and the confidence of the utmost in infec-tion control.

Well known for its exclusive Type B cycles, its ease of use and state-of-the art technology, the latest Lisa 500 has a new appearance and new features, which take the guesswork out of the sterilisation process.

The new Lisa 500 Automatic features exclusive “made-to-measure” cycles, that automatically adapt the cycle duration to the mass of the load. This saves time for small loads, while ensuring large loads are properly sterilised. It also shortens drying thanks to the patented ECO-Dry system. By reducing the cycle duration according to the load requirements, dental instruments are less exposed to heat, which increases their lifespan. In addition to gaining time, it also saves energy, mak-ing Lisa the green sterilisation solution. For more information contact A-dec Australia on 1800 225 010. £

ART by Riskontrol®ART by Riskontrol® from Acteon Pierre Rolland is an addition to the current Riskontrol® air water syringe tip range. It is entirely made out of recyclable food-quality plastic. The material is envi-ronmentally friendly and non polluting. ART by Riskon-trol® comes in four colors with pleasant aromas—Purple-Blackcurrent, Green-Aniseed, Silver-Liquorice and Orange-Mandarin. The syringe tip has a patented design that features two completely separate chambers that guide air and water from the syringe to the extremity of the tip. The entire Riskontrol® range includes over 70 different adaptors able to equip 145 different dental chairs. ART by Riskontrol® being a single-use syringe tip eliminates the risk of direct cross contamination. For more info contact Acteon Australia/ New Zealand on 02 9662 4400 or www.acteongroup.com. £

Owandy-RX X-ray SystemThe Owandy-RX intraoral x-ray system is equipped with high frequency technology offering consis-tent exposure parameters and high quality x-ray emissions. Ergonomically designed with the entire dental care team in mind this x-ray unit is extremely user-friendly, flexible and robust. The controls are simplified as all the parameters are set using three very intuitive buttons. The exposure times are accurate to one hundredth of a second and optimum con-trol is guaranteed by the use of a microprocessor in the timer. The high frequency technology ensures the safety of your patients and allows a significant reduction in the x-ray doses. Irrespective of the layout of your office, the x-ray unit is simple to install and the three lengths of the extension arm (short, standard and long) offer maximum adaptability to your work area. For more information please contact INLINE Medical & Dental on FREE CALL 1300 033 723 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, further information can also be found at www.inline.com.au. £

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Become a Southern Cross Dental Laboratories Rewards Program member today.

Reach GOLD or PLATINUM status and you could be heading to�������in September for

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Page 11: Bite Magazine February 2011

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World Class Speakers � World Class Program � 9 hours of CPD points

Page 12: Bite Magazine February 2011

12 New Products

12 Bite

New-release products from here and around the world

New Quaz Label PrinterFollowing the increasing demand of traceability in the dental practice, Acteon Satelec® has introduced the Quaz Label Printer in addition to the well known Quaz Print Printer. The new Quaz Label Printer is able to print labels automatically at the end of each cycle. The advanced thermal transfer printing technol-ogy lets the sticker remain visible over time. The Quaz Label Printer is equipped with a sensor that detects the label’s size so there is no offset in the printing information and is always perfectly centred. The labels come in rolls of 2,000 and contains all the essential information such as the Quaz serial number and name, cycle number with date and time of cycle, the program type and the pre-set expiry date. All information can also be found in the bar code which is stored on the SD card. For more, please contact Acteon Australia / New Zealand 02 9662 4400 or www.acteongroup.com £

InSafe Dental SyringeThe inSafe Dental Syringe is now available in Australia. It protects against needlestick injury without imposing any restrictions on how the dentist operates.

The inSafe syringe handles like a traditional syringe, uses standard dental needles and cartridges and doesn’t require any change of technique. It features a regular syringe unit with a pop-up sleeve that locks around the needle after an injection, so reloading the unit with a new anaesthetic cartridge or dismounting the needle won’t expose the needle tip. The inSafe syringe also includes a spe-cially designed sharps container that disconnects the needle from the rest of the syringe in a single twisting movement, without needing to be manually handled by staff. It can also be dismantled for sterilisation. For more info please call W9 on 02 9987 4224 or email [email protected]. £

www.industrychairs.com.auPhone: 1300 79 80 50 Email: [email protected]

With over a decade of experience delivering effective, ergonomic and economical solutions to specialized workplaces Industry Chairs is delighted to announce our new range of dental stools.

Because selecting the right tools for the job doesn’t stop with the patient . . .

Ergonomic. Economical.Effective.

Apollo, the new range of dental practitioner seating – Effective, Ergonomic, Economical

With over a decade of experience deliv-ering effective, ergonomic and economi-cal solutions to specialised workplaces Industry Chairs are delighted to an-nounce our new range of dental stools.

The Apollo range, including Apollo Doctor, Apollo Assistant and Apollo Stool, is designed specifically to meet the requirements of different functions performed within dental environments al-lowing users to work comfortably, safely and ergonomically.

Finished in a hardwearing vinyl, with seamless upholstery and rounded sur-face geometries, the lack of sharp edges or crevices to catch dirt allows quick and thorough cleaning. An adjustable stroke chrome gas lift is supported by a 580mm diameter five-spoke star base, designed to be streamlined for use in restricted environments.

In addition each model in the Apollo range boasts comfort-able asepsis seat cushions and a clean clinical appearance that inspires confidence amongst both patients and practitioners.

For more information on the new Apollo range contact Industry Chairs on 1300 79 80 50 or visit www.industrychairs.com.au. £

Ergonomic Product Guide

Page 13: Bite Magazine February 2011

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Page 14: Bite Magazine February 2011

14Your world Access & equity

new report by the Australian Insti-tute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows most Australians rate their oral health as good, but socioeco-nomic factors play a big role. The NSW Oral Health Alliance has said the report proves the state govern-ment needs to do more to help the disadvantaged, while the ADA has come out and said that these

results should not be taken too lightly. “Self-assessment of oral health is very unreliable,” said ADA President Dr Shane Fryer. “The statistics may well be worse if the assessment was made by a dental professional.”

Nearly 80 per cent Australian adults rated their oral health as good, very good or excellent in 2008, according to the report, en-titled Self-rated oral health of adults. However just over one in five Australian adults rated their oral health as poor or fair, and many of these fell into categories of low socioeconomic status.

The report identifies associations between self-rated oral health and socioeconomic factors, such as education, private dental insurance, health care card status, home ownership and difficulty paying a $150 dental bill.

When asked ‘How do you rate your oral health?’ over 65 per cent responded ‘good’ or ‘very good’ and 11 per cent as ‘excel-lent’, but 21 per cent rated their oral health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.

“About 30 per cent of those aged 25 to 64 years without dental insurance and almost 40 per cent of those aged 45 to 65 years who were renting their home rated their oral health as fair or poor,” said Dr Jane Harford of the AIHW’s Dental Statistics and Research Unit.

“Poor self-reported oral health is associated with lower levels

of education, not having any dental insurance, renting your own home and reporting having difficulty paying a $150 dental bill, which is about the cost of a checkup and a scale and clean and x-rays,” she said.

Lower levels of education were also associated with poorer self-rated oral health in all age groups.

“The largest difference was in the 25 to 44 year age group, in which 25 per cent of those without tertiary education rated their oral health as poor, compared with 14 per cent of those with at least some tertiary education,” Dr Harford said.

Among people aged 25 to 44, those who reported difficulty in paying a $150 dental bill were more likely to report fair or poor

oral health than those who reported no difficulty in paying a $150 dental bill. The NSW Oral Health Alliance spokesperson, Alison Peters said: “All the evidence clearly indicates that the more dis-advantaged a person is, the more likely they are to have poor oral health. However the majority of oral health problems are prevent-able. With the forthcoming State election, the NSW Oral Health Alliance is calling on the major political parties to develop policies to specifically address the oral health needs of low income and disadvantaged groups in the community.

“NSW has the lowest per capita funding for public dental ser-vices of any other state or territory. Yet there are around 120,000

A new report has confirmed that if you’re poor, you’ve probably also got poor oral health

Oral wealth

14 Bite

Article Rob JohnsonPhotography Stockxpert

Just over one in five Australian adults rated their oral health as poor or fair, and many of these Australians fell into categories of low socioeconomic status.

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Something only wealthy people get to see, according

to a new report by the Australian Institute of Health

and Welfare.

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people on the waiting list for oral health care—more than on the waiting lists for public hospitals,” she said.

Untreated oral health problems can cause extreme pain and difficulty eating or sleeping. They are also linked to other health problems, such as increased risk of chronic disease. In the long term they can affect self-esteem, social inclusion, and employ-ment opportunities. Dr Shane Fryer, Federal President of the Australian Dental Association Inc. (ADA) said, “While the report is not conclusive, what is evident is that the more disadvantaged a person is, the more likely they will not seek dental treatment or even a check-up. The good news is that with regular care from a dentist, the majority of oral health problems are preventable”.

“Oral health is an important part of quality of life. Lower income and education levels are tied to poor dental health. The lower a person’s income and education level, the more likely that person would suffer from severe periodontitis, or advanced gum disease that can lead to tooth loss,” said Dr Fryer.

Dr Fryer pointed out that the ADA’s DentalAccess proposal would provide services to the 30 per cent of Australians who are somehow disadvantaged. While the Federal government has been presented with the report, little appears to have happened subsequently.

“There is much more work that needs to be done to ad-dress the oral health concerns of all Australians”, said Dr Fryer. “The Teen Dental Plan results released recently also fall short of

expectations. The inclusion of some treatment options focussed to the financially disadvantaged under this Plan would also assist in addressing the ‘one in five’ issue.”

His reference to Teen Dental came from a recent government announcement that over one million dental checks have left Aus-sie teens with brighter smiles as a result of the Gillard Govern-ment’s Medicare Teen Dental Program. But critics pointed out that the program, when introduced, identified around 1.3 million teenagers aged 12-17 years who met the program’s means test. Despite each of those teens being sent a voucher for a preventa-tive dental check, it has taken two and a half years to reach that target, suggesting the vouchers weren’t being used.

A second AIHW report released recently, Socioeconomic varia-tion in periodontitis among Australian adults 2004-06, examines how periodontitis varies by socioeconomic status.

“The report shows that moderate and severe periodontitis was found in nearly one-quarter of Australian adults aged 18 years and older. Periodontitis is strongly related to age and also house-hold income. After adjusting for age and sex, the prevalence of periodontitis is almost twice as great in lower income than higher income households,” Dr Harford said. Findings that oral health is still closely linked to socio-economic indicators make it essential that the major parties in NSW commit to an oral health policy and increased funding for public dental services, the NSW Oral Health Alliance said. £

Your world Access and equity

16 Bite

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Page 17: Bite Magazine February 2011

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ehind the Royal Hotel in the town of Woodstock (population 300), in the NSW Central West, sits the digital future of dentistry in Australia. But while Woodstock, around 20 km from Cowra, has its attractions— with a butcher, general store, pretty (if defunct) railway station and picturesque (albeit mothballed) grain silos—it’s not exactly the kind of

place that you would expect to be a leading hub in any kind of revolution. But it is. By the end of the year in Woodstock, digitally mastered and cut teeth for implants and dentures will be ground out by a big million-dollar robot, that will revolutionise dental lab work in Australia.

Woodstock is at the centre of this because of three very important assets: it’s at the end of Telstra’s fibre optic cable; the Race brothers, of RACE Dental Laboratories, found it; and it’s not Sydney.

Race Dental Laboratories, a family company operating since 1937, is owned by the three Race brothers, grandsons of the founders: Brad, the CEO, is oldest and came into the family business some years after starting his own (unrelated) business; Anthony, the Laboratory Director, started working in the business in school holidays when he was eight and is a qualified prosthetist; and Matt, the Technical Director, joined

up straight from school. For 74 years it’s been a good, solid business producing the dentures, crowns and orthodontics needed by generations of Australians. With the technology changing little in that time, until recently the production methods have changed little too: dentists place a mould in a patient’s mouth then send this off to the lab where a painstaking process of casting, modelling, firing, finishing and painting all by hand generates a replacement tooth or set of teeth.

But around seven years ago, Brad Race took a look at where the industry was going and where the competition was coming from and realised the way they’d always done business was going to have to change, fast. Until then the

competitors they’d worried about were the labs down the road—chances are they’d even trained the technicians running them—but all of a sudden the big competition was coming from China. And it was coming from the manufacturers that traditionally Race had bought from. Brad realised if they didn’t

change their model soon they’d be gone.Two things were happening. Lower labour costs were

seeing manufacturing moving off-shore. Brad estimates around half of dentures and implant teeth now used in Australia are made overseas, most frequently in China, though he adds, “Now even China is becoming relatively pricey and labs are springing up in places like the Phillipines and India.”

The Race brothers have built the future of dentistry in a historic town in central western NSW

18 Bite

Your world Profile

18

Article Sharon ArisPhotography Richard Birch

“Now even China is becoming relatively pricey and labs are springing up in places like the Phillipines and India.”Brad Race, CEO, Race Dental Laboratorties

Saving

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The Race brothers (left to right): Anthony, Brad and Matt, are

moving to the country.

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Profile

Secondly, digitisation was coming and it had the potential to radically change the industry.

RACE Laboratories considered a move to China, but in the end they decided they wanted to stick with Australian-made. This meant going digital. But digital doesn’t come cheap. “The technology is very expensive but its also really good and it changes the industry from an art into a science,” explains Brad of the process that sees nearly all of the tooth generation done by highly accurate machines.

Affordability remains an issue. “With dentists looking for value, it’s a matter of rolling with the punches.” The problem of affordability was part-solved by forming international partnerships that allowed the development costs of the technology to be shared. The end result is a million-dollar machine, the size of half a boardroom, that can manufacture a dental crown in 40 minutes, working from digital plans scanned from patients all across Australia. The only thing left for a technician to do now is paint the colour. And with this technology making what used to take five days in only a few hours, pricing is much more competitive.

But still there was the issue of on-shore affordability. Sydney, where there head office is located, was looking

less and less viable as a location. For a start, traffic is a nightmare. “It can take 45 minutes to get out to the set of lights at the top of the road,” observes Brad. “People don’t want to work in that environment”. Staff routinely phone in late as they got stuck in yet another snarl. Secondly, he adds, “you can’t afford to pay people what they need to earn

to live in Sydney in our game and compete against China.” So they drew up a list of what they needed. First, they

wanted to be within an hours flight of Sydney. So they drew a big circle on a map of the state that gave them the flight range. Then the started looking north, south and the coast, eventually concluding things didn’t really become cheaper until you cross the Blue Mountains. The central West it would be.

Then, because digital technology meant vast amounts of data were coming down the line, they needed to be next to a fibre optic cable hub. Not the least because laying down any extra lines of fibre optic from the node themselves would cost

tens of thousands of dollars. So they had to figure out how to find it. Telstra, due to

security concerns, wasn’t exactly forthcoming.“We spoke to Telstra who said ‘give us the address of

where you’re looking at’,” recounts Brad. “I said ‘I haven’t looked at anywhere yet as I don’t know where to look’. It was a Catch 22. ‘We’re not going to tell you where it is because of terrorism threats’.” In the end Telstra gave them some ballparks and the brothers started driving around trying to spot any tell-tale signs. With a family property not far from Cowra, they already knew the area and after a while they figured out a certain kind of pit with a yellow flag that told them where the cable was. They started following the line.

This led them straight out behind the Royal Hotel in

20 Bite

Race Laboratory’s Sydney office: overseas competition and local costs made a move to the country attractive to owners and staff.

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Woodstock. With decent infrastructure in the area, a very helpful Council soon on board and a handy empty silo ripe for industrial redevelopment into a lab nearby, they had their site. For good measure they bought the pub too, so they’d have somewhere to stay, entertain and eat.

Now a half-million dollar investment has already got a pilot lab up and running while they sort out the bigger issues like power. “We turn on the machine and it blacks out Woodstock,” says Brad. “So we bought a generator.” Now they’re looking at different options including wind, solar and biofuels. By the end of this year the main lab should be up and running too.

Woodstock has embraced them too. “Owning the local pub helps,” chuckles Anthony, saying it gives them the opportunity to meet the community socially. They’ve used local builders, plumbers and architects. They also show up for working bees, spring for sausage sizzles, sponsor the local sports teams and have got involved in the local progress association. “The freight guys love us now,” smiles Brad. With the promise of dozens of local jobs being generated by the lab, the love is spreading.

“There’s a bunch of people out there—loyal, skilled people that are looking for work,” says Brad, “and we thought we may as well train these people,”. Not that they think they’ll have trouble staffing the place, having taken more than half their existing workforce out there for a look. “When they go up and have a look—dams, waterskiing, fishing—we’ve got a bunch that want to move up there. You show them a four

bedroom house for tennis court and five acres for $450K—in Sydney you’d pay a million bucks for that. It’s an affordable lifestyle you can live on.”

Indeed, training in these technologies both for technicians, but also dentists, is a priority for Race Laboratories, who have been involved with the new dental course at Charles Sturt University ‘from day one.’

The next step is getting the word out to dentists about what this means. Right now, says Brad, only 10 per cent of dentists are digitised, but “this is coming very quickly, much quicker than most people realise. In the next three to five it will be a very different marketplace.”

Matt points to an oral scanner in the boardroom. “These machines are $35,000 so it’s not expensive. The

savings on impression material will see that paid off in one year for a busy practice, not to mention the reduction in patient discomfort.”

The future is already on their doorstep. When the dental school at Charles Sturt University had their end of year party last year, Race sponsored it at Woodford’s Royal Hotel, hiring a bus to take everyone up there. Taking the students around the pilot facility set-up, they didn’t get the reaction they expected. “If you take a dentist, one of the old-school guys, he goes ‘wow’,” says Brad. “But the young guys were ‘sure, but how else do you do this?’ It was a bit of a let down. But when I thought about about it, I thought that is exactly what I want. When they go out they’ll be saying ‘you really still make it by hand?’.”£

The town of Woodstock has embraced the company and the jobs it’s bringing. It helps, Anthony adds, that they own the pub.

Page 22: Bite Magazine February 2011

22Your businessThe multi-discipline practice

s the population of Australia not only grows but spreads further throughout the country, we see the development of more amenities.

It has been calculated that with every new Australian, we need an extra two metres of retail space. That means if we grow by 14 mil-lion people by 2050, as predicted by the 2010 Intergenerational

Report, we will need an extra 28 million square metres of retail space. Of course, with more retail space comes more shops, and with more shops (particularly fast food) comes more health problems. In fact, it may become the norm for medical profes-sionals, such as dentists and doctors to work together in the same practice, and to be even located within retail outlets.

The Federal Government is keen to build superclinics around Australia hosting all sorts of medical experts and slowly but surely the trend is starting to happen.

“For seven years I have been working with doctors here at the Holdsworth House,” Dr Trevor Morris, principal dentist said.

The Holdsworth House is located in Sydney and in Byron Bay offering medical and dental treatment, along with psychology, counseling, psychotherapy and natural therapy treatment.

“I think the set-up really works because with such a diverse

range of professionals you can discuss different aspects of a patient’s health.

“Not only do you have the benefits of a range of medical ex-pert advice but also there are cost savings too especially in the area of basic medical supplies. Economy of scale prevails here.”

Dr Morris was invited to set-up his practice within the Hold-sworth House by the doctors, and says it has been very helpful in retrospect. “We have established this business differently in that we have issued shares and pay ourselves a profit dividend annually,” he said.

“It works well for us this way but that might not suit all multi-discipline practices. It very much depends on the relationship you have with your partners.

“We only meet formally twice a year, but we talk in corridors and in-between patients if need be. I don’t think this would be a

Is the future of dental practices to be part of a multi-disciplined team—a kind of one-stop shop for health? And if so, is this a good thing for dentists?

All in this together

22 Bite

Article Louis White

“I think the set up works really work because with such a diverse range of professionals you can discuss different aspects of a patient’s health.”Dr Trevor Morris, Holdsworth House, Sydney

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The Holdsworth House dental team (from left

to right): Dr Trevor Mor-ris, Dr David Lee, and

Dr Christine May.

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template structure for the future but it certainly works for us.”The Holdsworth House has expanded since its inception and

Dr Morris said the biggest challenge was the front reception. “At most singular dental or doctor clinics it is pretty simple

but when you have a myriad of professionals working in the one practice you need the receptionists to have a certain amount of knowledge and have excellent people-management skills.

“It is important that the receptionists know what is going on and can alleviate the concerns of the patients.”

While Holdsworth House has a steady stream of clientele, Dr Morris says that a multi-professional practice can miss out on patients who feel more comfortable seeing one professional in the one place, especially in their local area.

“Multi-professional practices are still somewhat in their infancy and can take a while for patients to feel comfortable in,” he said.

“We still get referrals from other dentists and doctors but there is no doubt we miss out on some too.

“Patients, especially older ones, are probably more comfort-able with seeing their local GP or dentist, but once a patient is comfortable in your clinic and can see the range of services on offer, they are more likely to stay.

“We have three dentists here and a full-time hygienist and we are always busy.

“In a solo practice you don’t get to speak to other profession-als as much but you also know every patient walking in the door

is coming to see you. There are many facets to consider when weighing up whether to join a multi-professional practice.

“For me, it has been a good experience.”It seems more likely that multi-professional practices will be

established in rural communities. Creating a one-stop shop along with the main retail outlets will be easier to do in the country because of the extra space compared to city centres.

Dr Andrew Hu accepted an invitation from his brother to set up his dentistry business at the Picton Family Medical Centre, where his sibling worked. “He had a spare room and I could work there part-time while working at another prac-

tice,” Dr Hu said. “I was keen to establish my own practice and I thought mov-

ing into a mixed medical centre would be good, as other pro-fessionals were on site and there were already patients regularly visiting the clinic.”

Dr Hu can see both the advantages and disadvantages of working in an established medical practice.

“A lot of patients have built up a rapport with their family den-tist and unless they move out of the area are probably unlikely to change,” he said. “However, Australia’s population is growing and is somewhat transit therefore for a person or family to move into a new city or town, to find all the main medical practitioners

Multi-discipline practice

24 Bite

in the one place, is a big advantage. “I don’t think you get the referrals you would necessarily get being out on your own, but at the same time the bigger the medical centre grows the more likelihood other professionals in the practice will refer you and as the trust grows between doctor and patient, then naturally they will follow advice.

“Because of the mandatory continuing education required in dentistry I see fellow dentists all the time and I don’t feel I miss out on much not working beside a dentist everyday.”

For some dentists the idea doesn’t appeal but they do see merit in the practice of multi-professionals working together.

“I see it as the way ahead for the future,” Dr Ron Georgiou said. “I think you will see governments and the private sector get involved to get it moving forward.”

Dr Georgiou, who has a practice in Bowral, believes that sharing information between medical professionals can only benefit a patient.

“Because of the nature of my work I talk a lot to other medical practitioners,” he said.

“Obviously, this is done with the patient’s knowledge with the outcome to provide the ideal solution. If a variety of medical practitioners are already in the one clinic it will speed things up.

“The main issue about setting up these superclinics is that people already have a relationship with their doctor, chiropractor, dentist and so on. It will be hard to convince them to move. People are very loyal and they don’t like to move.

“The key will be new communities starting and people mov-ing. That is where a superclinic will have an advantage.”

Multi-professional practices may not be common now but come 2050 with a population of 36 million, they may be as common as your local food and vegetable store. £

“I see it as the way ahead. I think you will see governments and the private sector get involved to get it moving forward.”Dr Ron Georgiou, Bowral

The role of reception staff is harder in a multi-discipline practice.

anzdental

runout_bite.indd 1 2/02/11 11:22 AM

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The role of reception staff is harder in a multi-discipline practice.

anzdental

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Page 27: Bite Magazine February 2011

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ocation, location, location. It’s one of the top considerations for any business owner—from restaurateurs, to real estate agents—and if you’re the new kid in town, jostling for position is even more impor-tant. And while it might seem unnecessary for healthcare practitioners to be holed up in a prime position with street frontage or impressive visibility (considering that many of their patients find them on an as-need-

ed basis), experts argue the same basic principles apply. Doctors or dentists are doing themselves a disservice if they

settle for a practice location in the back blocks, they say. “Street frontage really is a huge advantage,” says Michael

Sernik, a qualified dentist and practice management consultant with Sydney-based Prime Practice.

“The way I think about it is, any signage you have on your shop-front, or in your windows looking onto a busy street, is

essentially free advertising. It’s a very useful and potentially economical way of getting your name out there — especially in suburban situations.”

Inner-city practices can apply the same principles to any street-facing windows they have in the practice, by installing prominent and visible signage that’s visible from outside.

“For the cost of a flat screen, your practice window essentially becomes a permanent advertising medium that’s easy to up-date and very cheap to run, so I recommend suburban dentists have some kind of signage displayed in their windows wherever possible,” Dr Sernik says.

But of course, visibility isn’t the only consideration to be made in the hunt for the perfect location.

In many cases, Sernik says, dentists looking to establish their practice start out with a much bigger picture in mind.

“Socio-economic factors can make a difference in the work you get, and the kind of procedures you do,” he says cau-tiously, agreeing that this is the first thing that comes to mind

Finding the best location for your dental practice takes more than a flick through the real estate pages. Here’s where to start...

Sense of place

Your business Practice locationArticle Lucy Robertson

A prerequisite for success in any practice is being

seen by everyone walking past.

27

Page 28: Bite Magazine February 2011

Practice location

for many dentists in establishment-mode. “There’s a perception that if you set up in a highly mobile, high-earning neighbour-hood, you’ll get lots of top-end work because everyone has the money to spend.

“But it’s not always the case, and in fact, there are so many exceptions to this idea that they almost make the rule.”

With the exception of pediatric dentistry, which is more con-venient near a school, preschool or daycare facility, Sernik says dentists shouldn’t chase high incomes when they’re looking for a place to call work.

“You really can’t expect that you’re going to get high-class work just because you’re in a high-class area,” he says. “Much more important is the way you run your practice, the way you market yourself, and the communication skills of your team.”

Sernik cites the case of one dentist he knows to illustrate his case: “He was a great dentist and decided to set up a new practice in one of Sydney’s most affluent suburbs. Because of the area’s wealth, he spent a lot of time and money decorating the front of his practice with a plush waiting room, complete with chandeliers and antique arm chairs. It was absolutely beautiful to walk past, but unfortunately it was always empty.”

The problem was, Sernik claims, that none of the dentist’s potential customers had seen or heard of him before, and an empty waiting room is not a good advertisement for a new practice.

“Like many retailers, dentists often think that because people living nearby have wealth, they’re more likely to spend more, and some of that will inevitably fall into their hands just from being there.

“But rich people aren’t stupid people, and they still need certain assurances that you’ve got a good business and skills. It’s not enough to look nice,” he says.

Sernik says his friend would have had more success if he’d used his chandelier money on some targeted marketing and better communications skills, reiterating that location alone won’t overcome the fact that people need to know who you are and whether you’re a good dentist before they commit to an appointment. Conversely, he points out that the same principles apply in low socio-economic areas.

“I have another dentist friend who runs a practice called Leading Edge Dental in Penshurst, which is generally consid-ered a medium to low socio-economic area. However, he runs

a very successful, very busy, high-end dental practice that’s in a prominent position on the corner of a busy intersection, and it’s bursting at the seams with customers. “That’s all because he’s paid attention to some good business principles and good dentistry,” Sernik says. “Patients seek him out.”

Visibility and clientele aside, once you’ve decided on an area and are happy with the visibility and accessibility of your prac-tice, it’s time to consider the lease arrangements.

“This might seem a little off topic for some dentists, but it can be an absolute deal killer,” Sernik says.

“Choosing the wrong type of lease can be devastating to a dentist down the track, regardless of how good their location is, and even how good they are at running the practice,” he warns.

“Always go for a long lease, and find out exactly what the landlord’s intentions are for the property in the long-term. If they’re not planning to be there for as long as you, you risk being kicked out and potentially losing all your patients in a costly move.”

Sniffing out the competition in a new neighbourhood is a good idea for dentists looking to establish a practice, most ex-perts agree. But Sernik warns against being too sneaky in this research phase, claiming that a failure to be upfront about the information you’re after can result in misleading data.

“Some dentists will try and gauge the demand for dentistry or specialist services in a particular neighbourhood by calling up some existing practices and trying to make an appointment,” he explains. “They then get a reading on how much demand there is for a competing practice, based on how far ahead new patients need to book.”

“The trouble is, well-managed practices should really be keeping a couple of hours per day free for new patients, and I actually recommend this approach to appointment planning.

“So for this reason, an ability to get a dental appointment within a day or so might not necessarily indicate that the practice is not busy—it might just mean they’re using advanced scheduling techniques.” £

28 Bite

Doing your research in an honest manner will help you determine whether your location is right for you.

A place in the sunTo find your own sunny spot in which to establish a new dental practice or relocate an old one, remember these golden rules... Line of sight: Aim for your practice to be visible from the street, whether it’s with full street frontage, prominent signage, or eye-catching window advertising.Love thy neighbours: Don’t assume wealthy suburbs automatically mean more patients. You still need to run a good practice and market yourself before they’ll walk through the door.Research: Talk to other dentists or specialists in the area, but be upfront about seeking the information if you want to be able to rely on it.Tight lease: If you’re leasing the premises, make sure you’ll be able to stay for a while, and negotiate some watertight notice clauses. Having to suddenly move your practice can be a crippling blow for a dentist and their patients. £

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Page 29: Bite Magazine February 2011

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Page 30: Bite Magazine February 2011

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or visit www.australianimaging.com.au

Australian Imaging offers its deepest compassion for all those affected by the ongoing flood crisis in various regions throughout Australia. As part of our commitment to the community we have already contributed to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal to help the broader Queensland community rebuild during this difficult time.

To make our contribution go even further, we have committed 10% OF PROCEEDS FROM ALL NEW EQUIPMENT SALES in January, February and March 2011 to the relevant Flood Relief Appeals in the affected states.

Australian Imaging will also offer flexible and extended terms for existing customers with current accounts, directly affected by the flood crisis. These clients should contact our head office on 1300 60 28 58 for further information.

As a truly local company, it is our intention to play a part in the rebuilding process. We will continue to monitor the crisis and find opportunities to lend our support.

Australian Imaging management

FLOOD RELIEF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Page 31: Bite Magazine February 2011

Bite 31

Tools of the tradeWhy the future of endo is lighting; a tool to make you as good at scaling as your hygienist; a smarter intraoral camera; and more are under review this month

Bite 31

Einstein intraoral cameraby Dr Scott Makiol, Moorooka, QLD

This intraoral camera is made by a Japanese company called RF System Lab. I already had a very expensive camera made by a leading company but wanted a cheaper back-up model for my second surgery. I have been pleasantly surprised.

What’s good about itI ordered the Einstein by phone direct from the company and it was delivered pretty quickly. It was cheap, about $2000 for the camera and the flat-screen to display the images. The handpiece is connected wirelessly to the screen and can hold 16 images at a time. This is more than enough for each patient. Those images are then stored on an SD card located in the side of the screen. The card can hold about 500 images which can then be transferred to a PC. The handpiece is light, battery operated and sits on a recharger when not in use. It holds a charge that will last an hour.I bought the Einstein purely as a cost-saving measure. I intended it to be a back up to my more expensive camera but it quickly became my preferred option.

What’s not so goodThe image quality could be better but it is more than adequate for general dentistry. The quality of my leading brand camera is superior, and I use it for more difficult cases, but the difference in price is huge. My main camera cost $13,000 while the Einstein was $2000 for the camera and screen. There is also a slightly more expensive model called an Einstein Stella that has a range of optional extras and connects wirelessly to your computer.

Where did you get itDirect from RF System Lab. £

Hu-Friedy EXD 11/12 calculus detection probeby Dr Rick Spencer, Spencer & Day Dental, Strathfield, NSW

Some people joke that dentists aren’t good at scaling so they hire hygienists. However, as many dentists don’t employ a hygienist, it’s important for them to be aware of this instrument.

A leading American hygienist, Anna Pattinson, came to Australia a few years ago and she recommended this probe. This instrument can help any dentist perform a higher level of scaling by increasing their detection skills.

What’s good about itWhenever I’m scaling and discover a bleeding area in a well-maintained patient that has good oral hygiene, it can indicate residual calculus below the gum. It’s also very difficult to detect calculus in between the back teeth when it’s below the gumline. This probe is placed under the gum and, with a very light touch, you run the probe up and down the root surface.

The instrument is very fine and it will detect small discrepancies, irregularities or roughness on the root surface. By holding the probe lightly with the fingertips, it gives a better tactile sense. Sometimes it actually works better if the dentist shuts their eyes to increase sensory acuity.

It’s very cheap to buy and quite hardy. Even if you drop it, it won’t break.

I think dentists should strive to reduce bleeding areas in their patients. Every piece of calculus can represent thousands of bacteria. The last piece of calculus you remove is the most important piece.

What’s not so goodIt takes some time to become proficient.

Where did you get itHenry Schein.£

31Your tools Reviews

Page 32: Bite Magazine February 2011

Your tools Reviews

32 Bite

Orthophos XG3by Dr Nathan Rosenbaum, Carnegie Dental Group, VIC

We renovated our practice six months ago and installed the Orthophos XG3 at the same time. It allows you to take on the spot OPGs, and is also a handy aid to general treatment planning. We have four surgeries so it is positioned in a common area that’s accessible by all. A technician came out and instructed us on its operation. It’s very easy to use.

What’s good about itPrior to purchasing this item, we referred patients to the local radiologist. They would visit the radiologist, have the x-ray taken and then have to wait a couple of days for the film to be processed. Now it’s an instantaneous process that can be completed in one visit. It only takes 14 seconds to scan the patient and by the time we’ve walked back to the surgery, the images are displayed on the monitor. Patients find it very impressive and it’s a great diagnostic tool. It’s also very good with patients who tend to gag. They only need to bite with their incisors on the edge of a small piece of plastic. For oral pathology, it aids in ruling things out, and highlights things that might need further investigation. We’re working with Oasis and the images from the scan are digitally filed in the patient records.

What’s not so goodWhen I perform implant work, the Orthophos is insufficient to work out a detailed treatment plan. It’s handy for a quick look but I still refer patients to the radiologist.

You also have to make sure that patients takes off all facial jewellery or artefacts pop up where they shouldn’t.

Where did you get itSirona.£

Orascoptic Zeon Apollo lightby Dr David Hogan, Brisbane, QLD

After nine years of having head-mounted lighting attached to a power source and light transmitted through a fibre optic cable, this year I converted to a battery-operated LED Zeon Apollo light. The improvement was fantastic. I tutor at the University of Queensland and insist that students use their second pay packet—they may as well blow the first one, they deserve it after four-to-five years of dental school—to invest in lighting. They will never want to head back to the dark recesses of the mouth without it again.

What’s good about itI attended a course on root-canal therapy and rotary endodontic instruments in 2000 and the presenter stated that the future of dentistry isn’t necessarily magnification but lighting. I thought he made a very good point. The LED light is so bright and white that the results are amazing. You can clearly see rubber GP filling when placed in upper front tooth root canals. Previously you only knew it was there because you put it there, but you couldn’t actually see it. Battery supported lights in the past struggled to hold a charge, but the Apollo lasts for 12 hours.

What’s not so goodThe replacement of the cable for the LED is costly—mind you, they guarantee these cables for four years. You also have to remember to flick across a yellow filter when doing composite resin work. Otherwise, the light will begin to set the composite. It took me a day or two to get used to the brightness.

Where did you get itHenry Schein Halas.£

Page 33: Bite Magazine February 2011
Page 34: Bite Magazine February 2011

34 Bite

Dr David Houston

34Your lifePassions

“The major focus of the club is the annual eight-man race against the University of Queensland (UQ) Boat Club.”

John Street Dental, Redcliffe, QLD

I think it’s fair to say that the University of Queensland Boat Club is the enemy of the Griffith Uni-versity Surfers Paradise Rowing Club! In 2004, I was

a member of the foundation class of Griffith University’s Dental School and moved to the Gold Coast. I was also a serious com-petitive rower. When I arrived, I knew this place had everything required for rowing—plenty of canals, a great climate, a large stu-dent body—but to my horror, no rowing club. This was completely unacceptable so every spare second, I wasn’t studying or in the clinic—I was worked on establishing the Griffith University Surfers Paradise Rowing Club [on the west bank of the Nerang River].

“The major focus of the club is the annual eight-man race against the University of Queensland (UQ) Boat Club. UQ has a 100-year head start on us but our aim is to develop an Oxford/Cambridge style rivalry between the two universities that captures the imagination of the public.

“In my heyday, I rowed the single skull for Queensland in the

President’s Cup and in 2004 was the first Australian to win the World University Rowing Championship. However, these days I leave the rowing to the students and concentrate more on the administration of the club. I also work as a coach, driving the speedboat alongside the crew while trying to teach them what I learnt during my rowing career. I get so much out of helping the ambitious students be the best they can possibly be.

“We recently appointed a full-time coach and since then we’ve had seven athletes qualify for Queensland teams. We are a com-munity club so we cater for more than just university students. Rowing is quite a late-developing sport and we have some 27- and 28-year-old guys who have national selection on their mind. It would not surprise me if we produced some Olympians in the near future. I still manage to paddle my single skull a couple of times a week. I focus very intensely in the clinic so it’s nice to switch gears and use a different type of focus when I’m out rowing.

Page 35: Bite Magazine February 2011

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