Author: Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist

The ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry is the ideal way to get the best start in a career in implant dentistry

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment
The Revu

Dr Andrew Farr talks to The Revu about his recent experience of undertaking the ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry (FID) course and why, along with the guidance of his mentor, he is now more than ready to place his first implants.

 What first motivated you to attend the FID course?

We were already offering implant treatment at our practice, but I was keen to learn for myself how to place and restore implants. I qualified over 10 years ago and received no implant training at all at undergraduate level, so it was a question of looking at the introductory courses out there that could get me confidently started in implant dentistry and the FID course was definitely the one that suited me best.

How did you find the course content?

Because it’s a Foundation course it’s designed to give you a solid theoretical understanding of how and when to use implants and to guide you in implant selection. I believe that the theory is very important when you are starting out in implant dentistry and the FID course definitely gets you off on the right foot.

I was very impressed at the quality of the teaching from some of the most experienced implant dentists in the UK, including Dr Shakeel Shahdad, Prof Nikos Donos and Dr Nikos Mardas. Between them they have a vast amount of experience, and I found them to be very open and honest about real life situations in practice, both good, and occasionally not so good. It would be easy for the experts to just say how good they are at placing implants, but that’s not what the delegates need, nor what they did. It’s just as important to learn about the things that can go wrong as well as the vast majority of cases with highly successful outcomes.

The FID modular course is spread over six months and you successfully completed the course in September. What has been happening in that time?

The most significant thing I’ve done is to partner with my mentor, Michael Betteridge. Michael is a specialist oral surgeon who is very experienced in providing not just oral surgery care in the primary care environment, but also a highly-regarded dental implant service, and is therefore ideally suited to being a mentor.

Are you looking to now move on to an MSc course or similar in implant dentistry or is mentoring giving you everything you currently need?

For the time being, with the help of Michael, my plan is to first get the basics right in practice before considering moving onto further education and I’m already in the process of planning my first implant cases. It can be a bit daunting when you first start out, but it’s probably more a fear of the unknown and that’s why a mentor is such a good idea to guide you over those first hurdles until you find your feet.

How have you found the support from Straumann – do you plan to place Straumann implants?

Yes, that’s my plan. Straumann are market leaders and when you are starting out you want to place the implant that offers the best chance of long-term success and is backed by a huge amount of research.

The support they offer is terrific and our local Straumann representative Hayley has been a great help in terms of my surgery set-up and making sure I have everything I need to get me started. Everyone at Straumann really knows what they are doing and if I have any problems I know they are there to help. It’s about the whole support package – not just the implant.

What are your plans now going forward?

I want to be doing a lot more than just placing the occasional implant. My aim is to eventually place something in the region of 100 implants a year and be in a position to accept referrals from local colleagues.

Finally, would you recommend the FID course to other GDPs?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this course – it’s ideal for any clinician looking to get the best start in a career in implant dentistry.

surgical guide

In association with Straumann, the next ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course begins in February 2018. For further information or to reserve your place, please call the Straumann Education Department on +44 (0) 1293 651270 or visit iti.org/uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

broadstreetdentalsurgery.com

Broad Street Dental Surgery, Broadway House, 32-35 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AR

Andrew Farr BDS(Hons), MJDF RCS Eng 

Andrew joined Broad Street Dental Surgery, Hereford in October 2014. Born and raised in Caerphilly, South Wales he studied dentistry at the University of Cardiff, graduating with honours. He completed his vocational training in Plymouth, then spent a year as a Maxillofacial Senior House Officer at Derriford Hospital where his duties included emergencies in A&E, head and neck surgery and wisdom tooth removal. He has developed an interest in orthodontics and is qualified to offer Quick Straight Teeth short-term orthodontics.

@DentistHereford

 

Dental Tips to Start the School Year with a Smile

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment

With the new school year fast approaching the following back-to-school dental tips for parents are sure to help your child start the school year with a healthy smile, and keep it that way all year long.

Preventing decay starts at home, so the more child-friendly your dental supplies, the more your child will love keeping up with their oral hygiene routine.

Establish a Back-to-School Dental Routine (and Make it Fun!)

Children (and adults!) should brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes to maintain good oral hygiene. Children under the age of 8 should have their toothbrushing supervised. Children under the age of 8 lack fine motor skills needed to brush their teeth effectively, so it’s important for parents to help. Establish a fun morning and evening routine that allows you to help your younger child. It is recommended that children over the age of 3years, use toothpaste containing between 1,350-1,500 ppm fluoride and to not rinse after brushing.

Pack Healthy Lunches (and a Water Bottle)

As you pack your child’s lunch, remember that sugar is added to many food products. Check food labels for added sugar and by swapping sugary foods with healthy, whole foods like crunchy vegetables, pieces of fruit and hard cheeses you can reduce the risk of decay developing in your children’s teeth. You will also want to skip crackers and chips since these foods contain simple starches that break down and get sticky, which can also cause decay. Replacing juices, sports drinks and fizzy drinks with plain water will reduce the risk of decay further and also the risk of erosion (which is a form of tooth wear caused by acid in the diet) which is dramatically on the increase in children.

 

Schedule a Back-to-School Dental Exam at Broad Street Dental Practice

Are you ready to start the school year with a smile? Our experienced dentists at Broad Street Dental Practice are experienced in paediatric dentistry, friendly, and welcoming to kids. contact us today to request back-to-school-dental exams for your toddler, child or teen.

Hereford

Broad Street Dental Surgery

 

Implant Surgical Guide

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment

A surgical guide as the name suggests serves as a guide to place implants accurately in 3 dimensions i.e. bucco-lingual, messiah-distal and apiece-coronal.

Here I am showing a simple surgical guide that has been produced from an initial wax up (there are more accurate guides available). It is constructed of hard acrylic and can also has barium sulphate incorporated into it so it can double as a radiographic stent.

With the guide in place, the long axis of the teeth are marked a small pilot hole is made in the centre of the tooth and old implant drills can then be used to enlarge the guide window. A window can also be made in the buccal aspect of the guide to aid vision and insertion of the drills in the mouth.

This can be worn by a pt during a CBCT to confirm the correct angulation and position of the final restoration.

surgical guide

http://www.broadstreetdentalsurgery.com

Andrew Farr

FDI – Implant Retained Dentures

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Managing the edentulous patient can be at times, very difficult. Following extraction of the dentition bone is remodelled and resorbed, muscles and ligament insertions become closer to residual ridges. This can in turn lead to an unstable and unretentive denture due to a lack of bony support.

When treatment planning for the edentulous patient, it is useful to classify the edentulous ridge. Ridge classification can aid both the dentist and patient in communicating any difficulties and the likelihood of a successful outcome.

3b. Adaption of Cawood & Howell classification with explanation (1).compressed

The optimum conventional dentures should be both aesthetic and functional with good fit and stability. The McGill consensus statement 2002 and York Consensus statement 2009 say that the “Minimum standard of care” in the edentulous mandible is two implant retained dentures. Working in both the private sector and primary care/community sector I find the both statement of little use. From my experience the patients who can afford two implants tend to be well educated and well informed regarding diet, oral hygiene and are regular dental attendees – they are less likely to be edentulous. Those in need are less likely to be able to afford two implants and the prosthesis.

For a mandibular implant retained denture – a minimum of two implants should be placed and four in the maxilla. The ideal position in the mandible would be the canine region and in the maxilla it would be the canine and second premolar region allowing for adequate bone and other anatomical features.

Locators, bars and milled bars can be used to improve retention, stability and support. These are a good option if an optimally made denture is still unretentive or is lacking support.

At Broad Street Dental Surgery we can provide dental implants to aid and improve the support of dentures as well as replacing single and multiple spaces.

implants1
Tissue level implants with locator attachments in situ

Dentist Andrew Farr 

Broad Street Dental Surgery

 

Foundation in Implant Dentistry Part-1

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment

February 2017.

This was the first part of the FID course held annual by the ITI (International Team for Implantology) and Straumann. The course is being held at Crawley (quite a journey from Hereford) and was easily accessible.

The first module focused on Assessment and Treatment planning in Implant Dentistry. By comparing implants to other restorative techniques, survival rates, cost and biological implications and mechanical factors. It was clear from the outset that although this is a course aimed at implant dentistry that it would be foolhardy to be solely focused on placing implants as many of our patients would not be prime candidates for the provision of implants. Indeed we spent a few hours looking at cases that were not suitable for implants due to medical history, age, current periodontal status, bone support available and more! As someone once said – “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”

The course looks at using ITI’s SAC classification, which is an assessment tool of the potential difficulty and risk of a case. It uses a traffic light system and serves as a guide in both case selection and treatment planning.

S – Straight forward – low difficulty and low risk

A – Advanced – moderate difficulty and moderate risk

C -Complex – high difficulty and high risk

As this is the beginning of the “Implant Journey” for myself I will be looking at placing implants in the “straight forward” patient. These cases are generally in the premolar/molar region where aesthetics are less of an issue and ideally situated in a bounded saddle so that stresses on the abutment are less. It is recommended that we use the tissue level implants as our starting point.

The big advantage of the ITI/Straumann FID course is the mentorship scheme. Each student is provided with a mentor who has a vast amount of experience and will guide me through the treatment planning phases, consent through to placing implants and maintenance. This will also allow me to develop at my own speed and gives time to select appropriate patients to continue my training.

The next part of the course focuses on single tooth implant placement.

Andrew Farr

http://www.broadstreetdentalsurgery.com

Image result for iti implant

 

 

 

 

 

Straumann Foundation in Imlantology Course

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment

This year I have made the decision to start down the long journey of Implantology. I’ve always had a keen interest in oral surgery and restorative dentistry having spent a year working at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in the Maxillo-Facial department and now I want to expand and use those skills that I was taught there.

Looking for the right course wasn’t the easiest  by any means, there are so many options! Do I go back to University and study for an MSc or approach the Implant companies and use their training pathways? There are even pathways with privately set up academies to consider.

What I didn’t want to do was just go on a simple “Mickey-Mouse” weekend course and start placing implants like some i know!

Currently at Broad Street Dental Practice we use the Straumann implant system, we have an excellent rep that visits us and I am used to the components used so this seemed like a good place to start. Stramann provide a year long Foundation course partnered with the ITI  (Internal Team for Implantology) and a mentor system where I can be guided through the initial steps of placing implants. There is also a continued learning pathway that i can pursue and treat more advanced cases.

I will be starting this journey in February 2017 and will be regularly updating the blog so that other Dentists can see if this is the right course for them. I will also be looking to provide implants for patients and if you are interested then please contact the surgery as there may be discounts available initially.

Andrew Farr

 

 

 

 

Thinking of a White Christmas?

~ Andrew Farr - Hereford Dentist ~ Leave a comment

At Broad Street Dental Surgery we are currently offering a great discount in our tooth whitening. We only use UK based recognised laboratories to produce accurately fitting whitening trays and industry leading whitening gels containing 16% Carbide Peroxide.

After
Before

These are the seven things you need to know about Teeth Whitening, listed by the British Dental Association.

1. Whitening is safe

If carried out by a trained professional, whitening is perfectly safe. Based on their knowledge of your oral health your dentist will discuss with you the options available, decide if tooth whitening is appropriate for you and develop an overall treatment plan that gives the desired result.

2. Only trained dental professionals can whiten teeth

It is illegal for anyone other than dental care professional to carry out teeth whitening. Anyone else offering teeth whitening (e.g. beauticians, hairdressers and salon staff) won’t have the right training or knowledge. They could permanently damage your teeth and gums, and cannot help if things go wrong.

3. The preferred option

Whitening won’t remove the surface of your teeth or change their shape. It’s often a better option than alternatives such as veneers, because it doesn’t involve permanently altering the tooth’s structure and is easy to look after. It can be used together with other cosmetic treatments such as tooth straightening or replacing amalgam fillings.

4. Selecting the right product for you

Your dentist is trained to know what whitening products will be safe for your teeth and gums. Products provided by non-dentists often do not have enough safety data and evidence to support their use; this can result in burned gums and or blistered lips or even more serious consequences. Using products that are not appropriate for you will result in poor outcomes.

5. How it works

A carefully-controlled concentration of bleach is applied to your teeth using specially-made trays that fit your mouth. Your Dentist will be able to discuss with you the level of whitening you want and give you an idea of how many treatments you may need to achieve the shade you are after.

6. What to expect

You may experience some sensitivity for short time during your treatment but this is normal and will soon fade away after completion.

7. Over the counter kits may not be safe

The products you buy online or from high street shops often fail to declare the precise chemicals used so it’s very difficult to assess their safety. Because of this they should not be considered safe. These products won’t produce the same good results that you can expect by visiting your dentist.

What do we offer?
We offer a home tooth whitening kit. This gives you a fast whiter smile which can help boost your self image and confidence.

How does it work?
The treatment is a take home kit to be applied to your teeth in the comfort of your own home as directed by your dentist.

An impression of your teeth is taken by your dentist.
A custom made tray is made for you to take home with your own kit of whitening agent.
Brush and floss teeth. Take a syringe out of the kit. Remove the cap and insert a dispensing tip by twisting it securely onto the syringe.
Place a small drop of gel into every compartment of the tray for the teeth undergoing treatment.
Seat the tray with the gel around your teeth.
Wipe away any excess gel on the gums with your finger, a tissue or a dry soft tooth brush . Your dentist will supply you with carbamide peroxide gel. Wear the trays in your mouth as directed by your dentist.
After treatment, remove tray. Rinse tray and mouth with lukewarm water to avoid thermal sensitivity.
Brush teeth. Repeat the procedure as instructed by your dentist.
Please be aware that in a small number of cases the change may be minimal.

Dentist Andrew Farr

Broad Street Dental surgery

 

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