Our dentist in Cabinteely making a real impression
Dental Care Ireland is committed to providing an outstanding, personal community dental experience. Our dentist in Cabinteely puts that plan into practice
Dental Care Ireland Cabinteely, formerly known as Park Clinic Dental, is our dentist in Cabinteely. Park Clinic Dental was previously owned by Dr Vincent McDonagh, who still works at the practice today as principal dentist. Dental Care Ireland took over the running of this practice in June 2015, and offers a range of dental treatments, including orthodontics and root canal procedures.
Dr Brendan O’Connor is a dentist in Cabinteely Dental Care Ireland, and also works with VHI and the Beacon Hospital. He particularly enjoys the community aspect of the work in Cabinteely. “It’s great to meet so many people from different walks of life in Cabinteely. It’s really rewarding in particular to work with small children, young adults and older patients,” he says.
“Of course, helping people get rid of aches and pains is one of the best parts of the role, and it’s also interesting to work in a relatively small team here in the practice.”
Working as a dentist in Cabinteely is clearly very rewarding in terms of getting to know the community, and it’s a part of the job that Brendan relishes. “Honestly, no two days are ever the same in Cabinteely. I just love the variety of the work here,” he says.
“As I mentioned earlier, there’s a broad demographic that comes to this practice – from older patients to teenagers – which means our team get to know the whole spectrum of the community.
“In the time I’ve been here, I’ve built up a great rapport with our clients. Part of that is also down to the fact that we have a personal, dedicated service and we’re in a strong community setting.”
If you want to book an appointment with our dentist in Cabinteely, please call our practice on 01-2853666 or click this link to book an appointment online. Our dentist in Cabinteely is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9-6; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9-7; on Thursdays from 9-7.30; on Saturdays from 9-1; and every lunchtime.
Practice Profile: Brand-new Ashbourne practice off to a strong start
Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne practice manager Audrey O’Brien talks about life in the practice, and working in Ashbourne itself
Dental Care Ireland’s practice in Ashbourne, Co Meath, located on the town’s High Street, was officially opened in May 2017, and features best-in-class fittings and features. Audrey O’Brien, practice manager in Ashbourne, says that it’s an exciting time for the practice now that it has been open to the public for a sustained spell of time.
Great experience “Even though we officially opened in May, we’ve been operating for a year now, and it’s been a great experience. The people are so brilliant here, and it’s a pleasure to come into work every day. I’ve worked in Ashbourne before, and I run the day-to-day management of the practice for Dental Care Ireland, making sure that patients and staff are where they need to be at all times.”
The practice employs seven people, and the make-up of the staff reflects a theme in dentistry today. “We’re a young group, and we’re all women!” says Audrey. “We have a hygienist, receptionist, two dentists, two nurses, and myself. What we have here in terms of our staff make-up really does mirror what’s happening in dentistry in general – a significant majority of dentistry graduates are female, which I think is fantastic.”
Always bright But what about the treatments on offer in the Ashbourne practice?
“We offer the standard dental treatments here, along with whitening treatments. It’s a really nice place to work – we’re on the ground floor here; we have a great aspect and it’s always bright, even if it’s raining outside. It’s the kind of place that would cheer you up once you step inside. Our patients say it doesn’t really feel like a traditional dentist’s office, and we like to hear that!” says Audrey.
“We even have a virtual tour of the practice that patients can have a look at before they come in so they know where they’re going!”
Positive impression It’s clear that the staff have made a really positive impression on the community in Ashbourne. “We always try to be nice and friendly so that our patients can have the very best experience possible. Just the other day we heard back from a woman who had brought her mother to us to get dentures. They were both over the moon at how she was treated. We love to hear that kind of feedback – it means a lot to know that you’re making people feel comfortable and secure.”
Ashbourne is a fast-growing, vibrant town, so what does the future hold for Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne? “We’ve got a number of plans in the works,” says Audrey. “We are planning to introduce orthodontic treatments soon, as there is a large market for them in the area.
Lovely vibe “Ashbourne is a young town, but there’s a lovely vibe about the place. There are some really good restaurants and new businesses alongside us on the High Street, and it really seems like the place is feeling the positive effects of the recovery.”
So what sets the Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne practice apart from the competition? “As I said before, it’s all about the way you treat customers, as well as the professional expertise you have,” says Audrey. “Patient care is absolutely paramount, and that’s something that starts from the moment someone walks through the door to when they leave. Our staff are nice and gentle, and that’s what our patients want. That will never change.”
Dental Care Ireland Ashbourne is currently offering 20% of all whitening treatments until the end of August. Get in touch with the team today to book an appointment. See https://www.dentalcareireland.ie/practices/dentist-ashbourne/ or call 01-8350344
Dental Q&A – Cabinteely dentist Dr Mary Crossling
In this article, DCI Cabinteely dentist Dr Mary Crossling talks about how she became a dentist, what she loves about the job, and what the future holds for the sector.
Q: What made you decide to go into dentistry when you were younger?
A: I decided early on that I wanted to be a dentist; I think I was 11! I’ve always enjoyed people’s company, and as I grew older I really developed a love of science and chemistry which obviously helped. After doing dental-related work experience in school, I knew it was the right career choice for me. I briefly considered veterinary studies, but interacting with people on a day-to-day basis was important to me, so dentistry it was!
Q: What do you really enjoy about your job?
A: It’s great to meet so many people from different walks of life in our Cabinteely dentist. It’s really rewarding in particular to work with small children, young adults and older patients. Of course, helping people get rid of aches and pains is one of the best parts of the role, and it’s also interesting to work in a relatively small team here in the practice. That kind of exposure creates a very personal, dynamic environment where we all feel like we’re making a real difference in the community.
Q: Would you recommend dentistry as a career choice?
A: I would say that if you love science, you enjoy the company of people but you’re also not afraid of working independently in a problem-solving environment, then dentistry would be a fantastic career choice. One of the things I’ve been particularly happy to see has been the emergence of so many women in what has traditionally been quite a male-dominated sector. I’m originally from Newcastle in England, and studied there too. In my university class, for example, we only had 11 male graduates out of a class of 70!
Another positive about dentistry is the flexibility in terms of your working hours and week, as well as the ability to practise abroad. I went to Australia and worked with Aboriginal communities, which was fantastic. There’s also lots of sub-specialities such as orthodontics, paediatrics, periodontology, and much more. Dentistry is a great sector in which to work, and advances in technology are making it better all the time.
Q: What advice can you give people about looking after their teeth?
A: It depends on the age of the patient. For example, we would always tell parents to bring their baby to see the dentist once they get their first teeth, so that we can examine them and make sure that any potential issues don’t turn into problems.
For young adults, obviously we would recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, but it’s also important to watch your diet. Sweets and fizzy drinks have been highlighted as being bad for teeth, but juices and smoothies can also be very acidic and, although they may be good for your body, they may not be doing your teeth any favours if you consume too many of them. Most of all, people should see their dentist regularly. Don’t wait until your teeth start to hurt before you see us!
Q: What’s it like to work in Cabinteely?
A: Honestly, no two days are ever the same in our Cabinteely dentist. I just love the variety of the work here. As I mentioned earlier, there’s a broad demographic that comes to this practice – from older patients to teenagers – which means our team get to know the whole spectrum of the community. I’ve been working in Cabinteely since October, but even in that time I’ve built up a great rapport with our clients. Part of that is also down to the fact that we have a personal, dedicated service and we’re in a strong community setting. I’ve been in Ireland for six years now, having lived in the UK beforehand, and I just love it here. The people are so friendly!
Q: Having lived in both the UK and Ireland, how do the two countries compare in terms of dentistry?
Obviously the NHS makes a huge difference in the UK, and our public sector has a long way to go to catch up to that level of treatment and care. I think that particular emphasis has to be placed on treating children, older people and those with special needs in the public healthcare system in Ireland. It is promising to see specific dental policies being discussed and planned for the years to come, and we have to hope that they come to pass sooner rather than later. And don’t forget, private patients here on the whole receive excellent care and benefit from the time spent on their tailored prevention and treatment plans.
The Cabinteely practice of Dental Care Ireland is a local, family dentist formerly known as Park Clinic Dental. To make an appointment with Mary or any of the team in Cabinteely, just click on this link. Alternatively, just call 01-2853666
An Introduction to Orthodontics: Why Do You Need the Treatment?
The treatment of orthodontics is becoming more and more popular as technology improves and people strive for that perfect smile.
In last month’s blog, Dental Care Ireland talked about the importance of regular visits to the dentist. Of course, many trips to your dentist will be for a scheduled check-up or to address an issue that’s causing discomfort. However, there is another factor which more and more people are considering when it comes to their dental health: orthodontics.
Orthodontics is defined as the treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaws. In the past, orthodontic treatments were largely confined to children from the ages of 12 to 16 or 17, with brackets used to realign teeth and jaws.
The general rule of thumb then was that, seeing as younger people’s jaws and teeth are generally softer than those of adults, treatment would be confined to those in their teens and below, as it was easier to manipulate teeth and bone structure in younger people.
However, the technology of orthodontics has improved hugely over recent years. The introduction of self-ligating brackets made from ceramic or even titanium has resulted in more controlled, faster, less forceful orthodontic movement of teeth and much more discreet treatment, which has in turn increased the popularity of orthodontic intervention in adults.
The introduction of clear-tray aligner systems has also increased awareness and uptake of orthodontics, though treatment times can vary depending on the amount of tooth movement required. In terms of the identification of dental issues, improved imaging systems (like the CT cone) make the visualisation of teeth and jaws much clearer, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment planning.
As this technology has improved, so naturally has the prominence of orthodontic treatment. We have even seen a number of celebrities invest in orthodontics over the past number of years, including Faith Hill, Tom Cruise and even Faye Dunaway at 61 years old.
However, orthodontics isn’t merely about cosmetics and looking well; there is a functional aspect to getting treatment. Certain people may find that, even if they have crooked teeth that aren’t visible, these teeth can still pose an issue as food can regularly get stuck and stay stuck, thus increasing the chances of gum disease. Orthodontics can straighten teeth and, by extension, make it easier to brush and floss.
Also, crooked teeth can lead to issues other than tooth decay, such as jaw pain, problems with chewing or even speaking, and facial pain issues.
Orthodontic treatment is measured and priced on a case-by-case basis, and treatment duration also depends on what is needed; however, the general treatment timeframe is roughly 12-18 months.
So, how do you know if you actually need orthodontics? A scientific paper from the January 2017 edition of The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dermofacial Orthopedics suggested that the perceived need for orthodontics versus the actual need for orthodontics was about equal. Simply put, this means that if you feel that you need orthodontics, then you probably do.
A scientific paper from the same journal in June 2015 said that many factors influence reasons for orthodontic uptake in adults – particularly marital status and concerns for better, more predictable, long-term oral health outcomes. In this case, health and self-esteem are both important factors.
Orthodontics, just like the rest of dentistry, is constantly evolving. The new methods and materials which continue to come to market mean that your local Dental Care Ireland practice is better placed than ever before to assess and provide orthodontic treatment for you.
Your first step to a straighter smile is a visit to your local dentist. By accurately assessing your current bite, they will be best informed of your baseline bite and general oral health. Where simple rotations or movement are possible, your dentist will advise you on the best course of treatment for your specific needs.
As we have already seen, teeth that are straighter and less crowded are easier to clean. The treatment benefits from straight teeth can help secure good oral health into the future and, of course, give you that perfect smile you’ve always wanted.
Orthodontic services are currently available in the Knocklyon, Cabinteely and Callan practices of Dental Care Ireland. Remember, if an existing Dental Care Ireland patient refers a friend to a Dental Care Ireland practice, the referred patient receives a €20 discount off their first visit and the referring/existing patient gets a €20 credit applied to their account at Dental Care Ireland. See www.dentalcareireland.ie for more terms and conditions, prices, and contact details for our practices.
