At Sparkle Dental Boutique, we are pleased to announce the arrival of the KODAK 8000C Digital Panoramic and Cephalometric System.

The 8000c enables us to take panoramic x-rays that will show the whole mouth, including all the teeth and the bone structure that support the teeth. The 8000C System delivers clear, properly exposed panoramic and cephalometric images in the blink of an eye.

Sunita Verma, Principal at Sparkle Dental Boutique says “The 8000C System makes fast, accurate diagnoses and helps improve communication with patients. Until now, digital systems had to scan a patient’s head for up to 8 to 18 seconds. But Kodak’s innovative one shot technology captures the image in just over a second, drastically reducing the risk of blurred images and significantly improving comfort levels for patients”.

Sunita goes on to say “The panoramic x-rays are fantastic and are particularly useful for our orthodontist when treating children with orthodontic problems. These x-rays are used to view all of the teeth on one film as well as the upper and lower jaws and the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) as well as the sinuses above your upper teeth. Panorex x-rays do not require a film to be put in the child’s mouth and therefore this is particularly helpful for children who gag easily or who have small mouths.”

“This machine also shows the head from the side and is used to evaluate growth of the jaws and the relationship of bones in the skull. It really helps us make an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.”

 Kavita painting classrooms in Jaipur, India

Have you seen this movie with Kevin Spacey? The theme was about doing something that really helps people. Something that they cannot do by themselves and something that you do for them that they in turn do for other people.

After crying buckets in the movie, I thought what a simple, yet amazing idea in that if someone does something for you no matter how big or small, you don’t pay it back…you pay it forward.

I’ve been very fortunate in my life in that I have been the recipient of many pay it forwards, and life has given me so much to be grateful for. Having done some hands on voluntary work in India in December 2006, and also reading with children for the charity Voluntary Reading Help locally, I wanted to do something again. I didn’t want to just give a monthly donation to a charity where the money would be swallowed up administration, I wanted to get involved.  

India has always held a special place in my heart, a place where my parents are from. It’s  cultural diversity, the coexistence of a number of religions, the mixture of traditional and modern and a place of extreme poverty and wealth. I came across the UK based Charity Children Walking Tall, which is dedicated to helping slum and street children in India.  What most impressed me about this charity was that it was a small charity, which was making a huge impact on the lives of children at grass root level, giving them a springboard out of poverty and a childhood worthwhile remembering.

I got in touch with the charity, checked their accounts and decided that this was a charity that I would like to get involved with. In February 2009, I announced to my team at Sparkle Dental Boutique that I would be away for three months.  After an initial “what will we do without you”, the team rallied around and have been incredibly supportive. All agreed to take their leave by September so that I could make this trip. We also took part in a team sponsored walk over the Bridges of London and raised about £1,900.00.

Sparkle Dental Boutique runs like clockwork with tried and tested systems in place..so am I nervous about leaving the practice? No, not at all. The team are fully trained and I know they will give it their all whilst I am away. It’s just a little crazy that three new people are joining  Sparkle the week that I leave!!! 

What will I be doing? I will be based in Mapusa, North Goa. Providing an informal education for the children is part of the work, as well as producing a huge range of activities for the children. Outreach work is done in two local slums where I will be involved in providing access to education and health care and nutrition.

Festivals in India are an integral part of people’s lives and whilst in India, celebrating two of the biggest festivals, Diwali and Christmas will be a real treat! I am also looking forward to time out from my daily routine. 

My time away is self funded, so sorting out my mortgage payments, bills etc has been a chore. Getting jabs, visa’s, suitcases, anti malaria tablets and arts and crafts for the children is what I’ve been doing in the run up to my departure. I‘ve bought stencils, glitter, beads, buttons and giant jigsaw puzzles to take with me. Blue Peter eat your heart out!  I am also taking toothbrushes, toothpastes and tooth related activities so that I can help motivate the children to look after their teeth.

With just a few days to go before I leave…I am feeling very excited but also a little anxious. Last night I dreamt that I had nits in my hair!!!

Having told friends, family and patients that I am going away, I have been surprised by people’s generosity and support. I have also been amazed by how many people pay it forwards, quietly without any fuss, bother or thanks. They just do it!  Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference and I’m thankful of this opportunity to pay it forward!  

Kavita Verma, Boutique Manager

Bubbling over with even more excitement, Sparkle Dental Boutique has been selected as a finalist in the Customer Service Award category at the North and West London Business Awards 2009, sponsored by HSBC.  

The Awards Ceremony was held on Friday 25^th September 2009 at Wembley Stadium. This year’s guest host, Environmental Campaigner and Motivational Speaker, Lewis Gordon Pugh was on hand to announce the winners at the official awards ceremony. Lewis has pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history, and is most famous for being the first person to complete a long distance swim at the North Pole. 

Sunita Verma, Principal at Sparkle Dental Boutique says, ”Although we didn’t win an award this time, it is a great achievement to have been recognised for our high level of customer service within our practice. The awards not only recognise the systems that we have in place to deliver 100% customer satisfaction, but also how we go that extra mile. To be acknowledged for our continued hard work and unwavering determination to give our patients the `Sparkle Experience’ is a great honour”.

Scientists believe they have found a way to grow teeth in the laboratory, a discovery that could put an end to fillings and dentures.  

The US team from Oregon have located the gene responsible for the growth of enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth which cannot grow back naturally.  

Other scientists are already growing the inner parts of teeth in animals - but they have no hard enamel coatings.  The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences work may plug this gap. 

 Experiments in mice have shown that the gene, a “transcription factor” called Ctip2, has several functions involving immune responses and the development of skin and nerves.

The work at Oregon State University made the link with enamel by studying mice bred to lack Ctip2.  Lead researcher Dr Chrissa Kioussi said: “It’s not unusual for a gene to have multiple functions, but before this we didn’t know what regulated the production of tooth enamel.” The scientists found that Ctip2 was crucial for the enamel-producing cells, called ameloblasts, to form and work properly.  

Dr Kioussi said: “This is the first transcription factor ever found to control the formation and maturation of ameloblasts, which are the cells that secrete enamel.”Controlling the gene in conjunction with stem-cell technology could make the artificial creation of functional teeth a real possibility.

Alternatively, the knowledge could be used to strengthen existing enamel and repair damaged enamel, cutting decay and the need for fillings. Dr Kioussi said: “A lot of work would still be needed to bring this to human applications, but it should work. It could be really cool, a whole new approach to dental health.”  

Paul Sharpe, an expert on tooth development at the Dental Institute at King’s College London, said: “If you could find some way of growing ameloblasts that make enamel, you could find a way to repair teeth.  “Any gene like this is worth understanding. The more we learn about it the more we can use the information to make biological models of tooth repair.” 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7907192.stm

Are you one of those patients who fear needles and injections? Yes…well read on as at Sparkle Dental Boutique we are proud to introduce the “Magic Wand” – a computer controlled dental injection, which is slow, stead and extremely comfortable.  

Most people who have had a bad experience with injections think that needles sting because the skin is pierced, but this is usually not so!  Most often, the sting has been caused because the anaesthetic was administered too quickly.

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique says, “As dentists, we can control the speed of anaesthetic flow with a standard syringe, but with the pen like Wand device, the precise control of flow rate and pressure produces a comfortable injection even in potentially more “difficult” areas like the palate.”

“The other fantastic thing with the Wand is that for extensive cosmetic or general dental procedures all I need to do is administer one injection, which means more dental treatment can be completed in one visit resulting in fewer appointments and greater comfort for my patients.”  

These boots are made for walking…. and that’s just what they did on Sunday 26^th July 2009 when the Sparkle team completed an 11 mile sponsored walk across the bridges of London in aid of the UK based charity Children Walking Tall (www.childrenwalkingtall.com).

Children Walking Tall is a charity dedicated to helping slum and street children in India. They provide food, shelter, medical care and education for some of the poorest children in India. In a safe, playful environment, they receive a fun and creative education, and also have plenty of time to do what children the world over should do, which is PLAY!

There are thousands of children living in slums and on the streets of Goa alone. Some are orphans, others are runaways escaping poverty or abuse. These children originate from all over India and often come with their families looking for work. They build basic homes from bamboo, plastic, cardboard or corrugated iron, forming slum communities on any spare land they can find. 

Kavita Verma says “We all decided early on in the year that we wanted to do something to give back in some way and we chose this particular charity as after some research we found that the most of the monies collected were actually getting to the children that needed it most and making a difference at grass root level.  The walk across the bridges was an idea the team came up with, being holders of Best Practice London two  years in a row.” 

The walk took us past some of the most beautiful landmarks in London including the Peace Pagoda at Battersea Park, Big Ben, the Sphinx at Embankment, finishing at Tower Bridge. 

Sunita Verma, Principal at Sparkle says `It was a great day out. So many people gave us money as we were walking and were extremely generous, We saw so many beautiful sights that you tend to miss when you are in a car. It really feels good knowing that we all did something to help Children Walking Tall.  Doing this walk has certainly inspired us to do something again…but next time we may try something a little more adventurous like abseiling or jumping out of a plane!”. 

A very BIG thank you to all friends, family, patients and suppliers who have sponsored us. We hope to have raised  £1500.00.   

Its till not too late..you can still donate at www.mycharitypage.com/kavita

 Sponsored Walk over the bridges of London, finishing at Tower Bridge

The team at Sparkle Dental Boutique will be hitting the streets of London on Sunday 26th July 2009, in aid of the UK Charity, Children Walking Tall (www.childrenwalkingtall.com) 

Walking the bridges of London from Battersea Bridge to London Bridge an 11 mile walk with the aim of raising monies to help slum and street children in Goa, India, with food, education, medical facilities and shelter. Dr Sarb Cholia, the resident Special Orthodontist also plans to sing at each bridge to raise monies from passer-by’s.

There are thousands of children living in slums and on the streets of Goa alone. Some are orphans, others are runaways escaping poverty or abuse. These children originate from all over India and often come with their families looking for work. They build basic homes from bamboo, plastic, cardboard or corrugated iron, forming slum communities on any spare land they can find. 

Any monies raised will be used to provide, milk, fruit, vegetables as well as educational equipment for children and will be delivered in person by Kavita Verma, Boutique Manager at Sparkle. Kavita is taking a sabbatical for 3 months at the end of this year to volunteer her time with these children. 

Kavita says `I am really looking forward to spending time with the children. It is something that I have wanted to do for ages. I have no doubt that it will be challenging but also very rewarding. I loved the work that Sunita and I did painting classrooms and playing with children over Christmas, in India two years ago. I am hoping that we manage to raise enough monies so that I can take some toys and possibly a lap top for educational purposes, when I go.”     

The team are already in training with some team members getting off a few stops earlier from their bus route and walking to the practice to serious walking practice over the weekends. The vocal chords are also being warmed up in preparation for singing!!  

Watch out Britain’s Got Talent because the team at Sparkle certainly have!!!   

You can make a donation at http://www.mycharitypage.com/Kavita/ 

On average per month 

Chicken & Eggs  £37

Dry Provisions    £55

Fish                    £17

Fruit                   £54

Milk                    £42

Rice                   £24

Vegetables         £36   

According to the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD), it appears that more and more men are opting for cosmetic dental treatment.  Men used to account for 28 per cent of all veneers, but now account for nearly a third of all procedures, according to an audit of cosmetic dental work undertaken by the BACD.

Similarly, men now account for 25 per cent of all orthodontic procedures as compared with 20 per cent previously.   

Women are still the key spenders on cosmetic dentistry, accounting for 61 per cent of all procedures and still account for the majority of whitening procedures.  

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique says, `The results show that men have become more accepting of having cosmetic dental treatments.  We certainly have seen this trend at Sparkle with many men having cosmetic dental treatment to enhance career prospects whilst others are just opting for such procedures to give them the confidence to look and feel good.’ 

Sunita goes on to say, `With the advent of new procedures such as the Inman Aligner, which we recently introduced at Sparkle, we have seen a growing number of adults wanting to correct uneven teeth with the help of this revolutionary removable appliance. Some may have worn braces when they were younger but their teeth have moved out of alignment whereas others can now see the benefit of the aligner in correcting their teeth within a space of weeks.’   

The top five dental procedures for 2007: 

• White fillings

• Crowns – Inlays – Onlays

• Veneers

• White fillings

• Teeth whitening

Does a visit with the hygienist for scaling and root planning fill you with dread? 

If you’ve ever felt reluctant to have scaling carried out because of your concerns about the discomfort caused by deep scaling…then at Sparkle Dental Boutique we may have the answer.  We now can use a gel called Oraqix to give you a more comfortable visit.  

Deep scaling or root planning is a procedure recommended by a hygienist or dentist when patients have gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. If plaque is not removed thorough daily brushing and cleaning between the teeth, the bacteria produce toxins that can irritate and inflame the gums. Left untreated, gum tissues can separate from the teeth and form spaces called pockets. The pockets provide a home for more bacteria and if left untreated the process can continue until the bone and other tooth supporting tissues are destroyed resulting in tooth loss.    

Hardip Dhillon, Hygienist at Sparkle Dental Boutique says “Oraqix is a gel which is placed into the pockets, resulting in anaesthesia of the area for about 20 minutes. This allows me to carry out treatment procedures such as probing, scaling and root planing.  Patients that I have used Oraqix on are extremely happy with the result commenting on the speed in which treatment can now be carried out and the increased comfort levels. Many have requested future procedures to be carried out using this miracle gel!”  

“The great news for my patients is that I have seen a fantastic response to this treatment as the procedure allows gum tissue to reattach to roots that are clean and smooth, allowing patients to hang on to their teeth longer, whilst preventing any sensitivity problems”. 

If your gums are bleeding, red, swollen or tender, if your teeth are loose or beginning to separate then a visit with Hardip, may be the best way to look after your gums and teeth!