Newsletter- April 2010
Our patient Angela Lancaster (an angel sent from above!) regularly travels to the impoverished area of Zimbabwe, funded by herself, to help the local community as a volunteer. She has taken with her such things as seeds, clothing, books, pens and medical supplies. When Angela informed us that she was intending to travel over again, Smiles Better Dental Care donated some pink medical gloves for Angela to take which she took to Victoria Falls Hospital. In many parts of Africa people live in poor conditions, especially in rural settlements. Millions of people experience deprivation of the most basic rights to water, shelter and food. The medical infrastructure in Zimbabwe is very low and often people need to walk long distances to receive aid. The hospitals and medical centres are desperately short of drugs, medical equipment and even health care professionals so as you can imagine the gloves became very useful to help prevent the spreading of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other common diseases. Angela tells us that up until recently soap was not even used in the hospitals and the tiles on the floors were cracked and un-level, that’s if there were any tiles at all, and the medical equipment as all so out-dated and basic.
Angela has been to Zimbabwe 3 times and is arranging for a container to be delivered to Smiles Better soon to start collecting for her next trip over there. So, if you wish to donate any items - especially light weight clothing and books - please contact Mandy at Smiles Better (mandy@Smilesbetter.co.uk) or bring them to the practice and we will pass them on for you.
We want to carry on supporting Angela because what she does is just amazing and we will help as much as we can.
Implant launch at Smiles Better
After more than 10 years restoring implants Kerry has just completed a year's training course in placing implants herself, prior to restoring them. This involved a trip to Sweden and monthly training modules in Birmingham with Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, Dr Dominic Hassall. We are in the process of modifying the front "Specialist Surgery" for implant placements.
Kerry will be placing her first implants at Smiles Better on Friday 14th May 2010.
Smiles Better welcomes back Mummy Seward
Laura came back from maternity leave in Feb 2010. She started back doing just one day a week in Feb to ease herself back into working and getting used to leaving the little one and will start doing 2.5 days per week in May.
Amelia Jane was born at the end of August 2009. Laura and Dan are so proud of their little angel and are loving every minute of parenthood.
We are happy to have you back Laura! Xxxxx
Laura and Amelia
Amelia
Slim-a-thon Success
As shown in Novembers newsletter Mandy, Xyanthe and Kerry all took part in a Slim-a-thon to raise money for the Nicole Wilson trust.
Nicole is a beautiful 17 year old girl from Sutton near Ely in Cambridgeshire. Nicole was a talented dancer with lots of ambitions and last June aged just 16 she contracted Meningitis & Septicaemia (Meningococcal).
As a result of her illness Nicole had to have both of her legs amputated below the knee and amputations on parts of all of her fingers.
Nicole is attending Adenbrookes Hospital for Kidney dialysis as her kidneys were damaged beyond repair, and she is now awaiting a kidney transplant.
We started the Slim-a-thon on the 28th September and finished the day of our xmas party which was the 11th December 2009. Kerry definitely came up tops losing 1stone and 2pounds, Mandy came 2nd losing 11 pounds and Xyanthe lost 9 pounds. We managed to raise £350 towards the trust.
Your help with ours will aid Nicole in getting specialist treatment at the top prosthetic limb clinic in Dorset that is unfortunately not available on the NHS. Nicole is hoping to have special legs which are suitable for a teenager and digits for her fingers but these come with great expense. Hopefully, this will help her to raise the £50, 000 she needs.
Thank you all so much for your help and support, every little bit helps and a little goes such a long way in making a difference, THANKYOU!!!!
Welcome Zainab
Zainab Malaki who started with us in November 2009, working as our Periodontist (Gum specialist), is getting on well. She started doing just one Tuesday a month and is already busy enough to have been able to increase to 2 Tuesdays per month. She has proven to be very popular with staff and patients. We are enjoying working with her.
Staff Training and Spa Day at Dunston Hall
On the 19th February 2010 Xyanthe, Gabby, Mandy and Laura attended a training conference at Dunston Hall, Norwich with Kerry and her husband Andrew who takes care of the business side of the practice. In the morning we had a conference together on the subject of marketing in which we discussed lots of ideas and made lots of plans to try to improve the business.
After our meeting we stopped for lunch which was a 2 course carvery and in the afternoon Kerry treated us to an afternoon of treatments in the Lilac room- beauty Spa to say thank you to us for our continued support and hard work. We relaxed the afternoon away having facials and being massaged, it was total bliss.
We shall be attending another Spa day near the end of the year complementary of Denplan as a follow up to this meeting to see how we have progressed and to see how are plans have worked.
The team 
Gabby
Andrew
Smiles Better Dental Care Open Day-Wednesday 19th May 2010 1PM-7PM
“Smiles Better” is holding an open day on Wednesday 19th May 1pm - 7pm. In addition to our routine, cosmetic and specialist care we can now offer new treatments such as Clearstep Invisible Orthodontics and Dental Implants. The open day is our chance to tell you all about our new services which we are so excited about. All members of the team will attend on the day to answer any queries you may have and will be enthusiastically educating you in all of our great news in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Light refreshments will also be available on the day.
New patients are also welcome to come and meet us and have a look around. We can discuss any questions, or treatment needs that you may have and you are welcome to register with us on the day.
We really hope you will join us on the day as we look forward to seeing you!
Recent Testimonials from our patients
Hello Mandy.
What a change has been made to my life by you all over at Smiles better.
I still hide behind my hand sometimes but because I have been doing it for so long now and have not got used to not doing it yet, But I am sure that my hand is getting lower everyday.
I HAVE got my smile back and it’s thanks to you ALL.
A big thank you again to you all and thanks for the personal attention you all have given me.
Please say thank you to Kerry too, she has been fantastic since that first meet back in August.
Hope 2010 goes well for all and I will see you again in July.
Best wishes and regards,
Mick Clarkson
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Dear Kerry and the entire Smiles Better team,
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Dear Kerry and all at Smiles Better,
I know that my friends Anne and Fred Williamson are writing to express their appreciation of the super treatment we are all receiving at Smiles better and although I haven't seen their email, I know I can endorse all their comments as we have often agreed how glad we are to have found you!
As a wheelchair user, I would just like to add that it is such a pleasure to find that premises which are said to be accessible really are! There are no difficulties with access anywhere at Smiles Better, with plenty of space and easy transfer to the dental chairs - and even occasionally treatment in my wheelchair.
Finally I would like to say what a difference the warmth and friendliness of everyone there makes to a patient and especially a nervous one like myself. I would never have believed that visits to a dentist could be a pleasant experience!
With my thanks and best wishes to you all,
Merion Burt
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Clearstep- Invisible Orthodontics