MEDIA

PERFECT TEETH

7perth.springcms.com.au

REPORTER: DAVID RICHARDSON

No drilling, no pain, and you can have that smile you’ve always dreamed of, quick, easy and no pain — it sounds too good to be true; a painless dental visit. But now you can get a celebrity smile, thanks to a revolutionary new treatment that is changing lives. “Many people don’t have the teeth they want they’re very embarrassed with their smile, so they train themselves not to smile with their teeth. It’s very common and it’s something we’d like to change.” says Dentist, Dr. Saade Saade.

“Before I didn’t even show my teeth. I would smile like this in photos but now I show my teeth and it’s made a huge difference to my life.” says Lisa, one of the first in the country to undergo this 21st century dental innovation. It’s called “snap-on smile” — “It’s a two appointment process. We take a mould at the first appointment, we send that away and a month later you come back and you get your snap on smile. It is really as simple as that”, said Dr. Saade Saade.

Dr. Saade is using the snap on smile to fix any number of problems, from missing teeth to covering unsightly gaps — or worse. “We had this lady who through many years of neglect had a lot of fillings, a lot of dental work. She was unhappy with her smile. Not surprising really — discoloured teeth, missing teeth, and with a snap on smile for top and bottom jaw we gave her a very beautiful smile in two appointments”, he said.

The snap on smile is made from a tough new resin devised in the United States. They don’t fade or discolour, and are shatter proof. In 3 weeks Lisa had a new Hollywood smile, thanks to her cosmetic dentist Dr. Timothy Goh. “What we’ve done is we’ve extended her teeth by about 3-millimetres and brought out her lower lip a little bit more. It sounds like a lot but it looks really, really nice.” Dr Goh said. “A snap on smile will start at $2,200, this is a fraction of the cost of getting porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Not only do we change the patients’ teeth, we change their self esteem. They become more confident and a lot happier”, Dr. Saade said.

Even people with pretty good teeth like Helen, are keen for a new look.”It’s just showing too much gum when I smile, so I’m not exactly happy with that”, Helen said. In three weeks, Helen will have a new set of snap on teeth. “The snap on smile is going to be revolutionary because it’s removable, it’s quick to put on, and it’s very comfortable for the patients to wear”, said Dr Jason Pang.

“You can decide what kind of smile you like. Whether you want the Julia Roberts type wide smile and you can choose the shape and the size of the teeth. Of course the colour as well — the possibilities are almost limitless”, Dr Pang said. If zoom 3 revolutionised tooth whitening in the dental surgery, now the same effect can be had at home, a whitening kit like no other. “In the past the home kits that were available the patient would have to wear a bleaching tray for about 10 to 14 nights for about 2 to 4 hours a night. and sometimes overnight.” says Dr Sophia Petta.

Dr. Petta can make a special mouthguard for the at home kit in less than 30 minutes. The rest is done in the comfort of your home. “Two applications a day of 15 minutes each, for 7 days. It’s a lot stronger than the other home kits that are available — currently as far as I am aware, it is the strongest on the market at 38% carbamide peroxide. They can get up to 14 shades lighter depending on the original colour of their teeth”, she added.

These two latest cosmetic innovations are now within reach of more and more everyday Australians. And with a new Zoom 4 whitening system on the way to our shores late this year, it’s set to cut treatment time down to less than a lunch break.Whatever the system, patients can’t be happier.

Why are women everywhere brushing their teeth with charcoal?

www.theglow.com.au

I’m no stranger to bizarre health and beauty treatments popping up on my Instagram feed. Girls slathered in coffee bean scrub? Sure. Fitness models sipping detox tea? Yawn. But there’s a new health trend that’ll stop you in your Instagram-trawling tracks: women, mouth dripping black, brushing their teeth with charcoal.

Legions of women and health and beauty bloggers are posting selfies of their teeth coated in jet-black charcoal, all in pursuit of a natural, pearly white smile. Apparently.

RELATED:The coffee scrub that’s an Instagram sensation

But before you head out to the BBQ for some DIY tooth whitening, not all charcoal is created equal. When charcoal is exposed to certain gases, it becomes activated (yes, like almonds).

Activated charcoal is highly absorbent and removes toxins it comes into contact with. It’s used in mainstream medicine to expel unwanted chemicals from the body, such as after someone swallows poison and has their stomach pumped.

Admittedly, water filters also use activated charcoal to remove impurities so it’s not a far stretch. So far, so good.

New Australian brand Warpaint is leading the forefront of activated charcoal for tooth whitening. Founded in by paramedical aesthetician (aka skincare expert) Petra Konig, Warpaint has amassed a cult social media following and ships to 40 countries around the world. Not bad for a brand that hasn’t even turned one. (Post continues after gallery.)

Armed with war paint on Instagram

“Warpaint was created out of my own frustrations,” explains Konig.

“We have too many chemical-based teeth whitening products on the market. I wanted a natural product to clean, polish and whiten teeth.”

RELATED:THE FIND: The natural deodorant that actually works

Like a handful of activated charcoal products on Etsy and Amazon, Warpaint claims to remove stains, kill bacteria and naturally whiten teeth without chemicals and added nasties. All by simply dipping a wet toothbrush into the fine, odorless and tasteless black dust and brushing it onto teeth in small, gentle circles for two minutes. Spit it out, rinse and you’re done. Apparently.

So does this weird alternative whitening treatment actually work?

“It’s possible the trend has validity but there is no conclusive scientific evidence,” says Dr John Hagiliassis, dental lecturer at University of Melbourne and principal dentist at Freedom Dental.

RELATED:Want a whiter, brighter smile? Here are your options

At most, he believes the dust could wick away surface stains, but it won’t go any deeper.

“Activated charcoal is attracted to tannins which are often found in many stain-inducing drinks like wine, coffee and herbal teas,” he explains. “Theoretically this may be why activated charcoal also works as a stain remover… but there’s really no research to back up the claim.”

As for the belief that charcoal might be a safer, natural whitening option, Dr Ramesh Sivabalan of My Dental Team isn’t convinced.

“Being natural doesn’t mean it will do what it claims to do and it doesn’t mean it’s good for you either,” he says.

What’s really concerning about the rise of natural DIY dental products is the potential for misuse. Warpaint advises their product can be used for oil pulling or as a daily toothpaste. “You can even mix with coconut oil into a paste,” the website beams.

“These type of remedies are not a replacement for proper dental health practices like flossing, brushing and regular check-ups,” says Dr Hagiliassis, who was also concerned about the abrasive nature of some charcoal products. “It could even cause irreversible damage to your tooth enamel if used every day.”

Instead, Principal Dentist at Cosmic Smile Dental Jason Pang says to skip the DIY tooth trends and opt for proven methods.

“There has been over 20 years of research to show that the kinds of oxidising agents [found in clinical whitening treatments] are safe. Peroxide breaks down to oxygen and water so it is completely safe.”

RELATED:The 4 fancy dental products that aren’t worth the money – and 3 that are

If scrubbing your pearly whites with charcoal isn’t quite your thing, Pang says there’s a simple at-home alternative. “You would likely achieve the same result using smoker’s toothpaste which is more abrasive than normal toothpaste and it would be a lot cleaner than charcoal.”

“In the end, you get what you pay for,” he says. “True whitening relies on removing the internal or intrinsic stains which are deeper in the teeth.” And while activated charcoal is having its moment in the social media spotlight, it’s yet to be given any real scrutiny by those in the know.

I think I’ll stick with a good ‘ol fashioned brush and Oral-B 3D White Brilliant Mint toothpaste, thanks!

Have you ever tried to whiten your teeth with activated charcoal?

Dr. Jason Pang Of Cosmic Smile Dental: Excellent Helpful Hints On How To Find A Good Dentist

Dr. Jason Pang Of Cosmic Smile Dental Neutral Bay New South Wales (02) 9904 2880: Discusses the subject and gives Tremendous Tips and Hints On How To Obtain A First-class Service In Neutral Bay New South Wales

A Digital Imaging Seminar

www.gunz.com.au

Digital Imaging Seminar

Dental travel

bitemagazine.com.au

The Australian dental profession is beginning to ask serious questions about itself as the brave new world of dental travel, highlighted by the recently announced nib Options business, becomes a reality. Chris Sheedy reports

When nib launched its nib Options business in March this year, there was little celebration within the Australian dental profession. A package that assisted Australian dental patients in seeking treatment overseas was seen as a threat, as something that would stimulate the growth of the already increasing numbers of patients seeking cheaper dental work in other territories.

But in the few months since that launch, as the loudest voices of dissent have died down, a more balanced point of view appears to have settled over dentistry in Australia. Change is being recognised as opportunity, including the opportunity for positive change within the local industry in order to stem the flow of patients to foreign shores. And as dentistry becomes globalised, the patients from other territories such as China, Indonesia and India could well see Australia as a place to which they would like to travel for best-in-class treatment.

“I have no doubt that medical and dental treatment can become Australia’s greatest export,” says Mark Fitzgibbon, chief executive officer and managing director of nib and spokesperson for the nib Options business. Having briefly been the target of the various voices speaking out against medical travel packages, Fitzgibbon is developing a reputation as a straight-shooting visionary.

“Most people think patients travel across borders to seek cheaper medical work, but it is not only about cost,” he says. “Cost is a factor, but it is also about privacy, quality, reliability and safety. Our value proposition is not just around cost, but also around quality of care and increased choice.

“The industry was originally sceptical of our offering. But part of our mantra is that you’re either on the train that is rolling through the industry, or you’re under it. This trend is not going to slow down and now is a good time to decide whether you’re going to be a part of the borderless medical model or whether you’ll compete against it. A value chain in dentistry is being created and within that chain there are great opportunities for Australian dentists.”

John Gibbs is chief executive officer and managing director of Pacific Smiles Group, a network of 42 clinics, seven of which carry the ‘nib Dental Care Centre’ title. In visible partnership with the nib brand, Gibbs and his team have well and truly boarded the train. “A group like ours could perceive overseas dental services as a threat,” Gibbs says. “After all, it’s competition for services which might otherwise have been provided in our country. But it also may offer opportunities for dental services providers in Australia.

“Patients who return to Australia following services overseas may be more inclined to want to develop good oral health habits, including regular visits to the dentist. No-one knows for sure whether it will play out this way, but there’s certainly no stopping the globalisation of services like dentistry,” says Gibbs.

Fitzgibbon says there are various dollar figures being used to describe the value of the dental travel industry. “Some say the worldwide figure currently stands at $US4 billion,” he says. “In Australia, some say, it’s worth $A300 million. But it’s early days right now. The burgeoning demand for cross-border dental work is not unique to Australia and we plan to sell travel packages within several territories globally.”

This will include the massive Chinese and Indian markets whose middle and upper classes could be attracted to having work done in a medical environment as admired and respected as our own.

“Part of our mantra is that you’re either on the train that is rolling through the industry, or you’re under it. This trend is not going to slow down. A value chain in dentistry is being created and within that chain there are great opportunities for Australian dentists.” Mark Fitzgibbon, CEO and managing director of nib

Fitzgibbon says he has been observing and analysing the medical travel trend (he doesn’t call it ‘medical tourism’ as that denotes a holiday, and people travelling for medical reasons are usually not combining it with a holiday) for several years. Once a decision was made within nib to develop a package to satisfy the increasing demand, the company spent two to three years bringing an offering together. The nib Options business includes the cost of treatment in Australia or overseas, all medical facility and post-op care costs, airfares, transfers, accommodation and a ‘12-Month After Care Promise’.

At the time of this interview, the ‘Overseas Dental’ package only offered treatment in Phuket, Thailand. But Fitzgibbon says nib Options will continue to expand, including soon-to-be-introduced services in Malaysia and Indonesia. International medical facilities go through a stringent process of analysis by nib, including the clinic’s standards, practices and patient case studies, site inspections, document reviews, third-party audits and a clinical audit of the practice including its equipment, processes, policies and people.

Back to basics

One medical expert who is keen for the Australian dental industry to learn lessons from dental travel is Dr Markijan Hupalo from Sydney Prosthodontics, and president of the Academy of Australian and New Zealand Prosthodontists. Hupalo says the cost of dental treatment is a significant motivating factor for patients seeking treatment overseas but the trend is not unique to the Asia-Pacific region. Travel for dental treatment has also become big business in Europe, with patients crossing borders to eastern bloc countries.

“We cannot stop patients seeking care overseas but we can refocus our efforts in providing quality dental care and re-establishing our relationships with our patients. The challenge is clearly one for the Australian dental industry,” Dr Hupalo says. It is a matter of trust, he believes.

With increased corporatisation of dental practice, the business model for many in the dental industry in Australia has shifted away from being a dental care provider, Dr Hupalo says, towards a model in which the driver is profit.

“This is the reason so many corporates are entering the dental business. There’s money in it,” he says. “Issues such as patient number targets, sub-specialisation, generating ever-greater revenue targets and cutting costs are now all-important. Patient care is assumed but can be compromised by an unbalanced focus on these business factors.

“We have become a commodity provider, not a care provider. Australian dentists used to be number two or three on the trust scale in terms of professions trusted by the public. Now we’re at 14. Where have we lost that confidence and trust? It happened when we lost focus on patient care. We need to go back to developing a relationship of trust with our patients.”

Patients need to make informed decisions about their dental care, Dr Hupalo says. Information and advice can only come from somebody they trust and who bothers to spend time speaking with them from the perspective of a dental care expert.

“We’re trained to provide great dental health care but many dentists in Australia have forgotten this,” he says. “Comprehensive check-ups and cleaning have been delegated to auxiliaries and some patients rarely meet their dentists except fleetingly or when complex treatments are considered. That is not dental care. On the other hand, if you do it right and you gain the trust of the patient then they will never go anywhere else for their dental services, including overseas.”

Buyer beware

Dr Hupalo says patients need to be made aware of the risks of overseas treatment, including who is responsible and what it could cost should something go wrong. Many overseas dentists are very well trained and produce excellent work, he says, but there is also a greater opportunity in some territories for unscrupulous operators to thrive. One of the main concerns in relation to treatment provided overseas, he believes, is who assumes responsibility for the ongoing care and maintenance of the restorations, or repair of the restorations, in the event of a complication or failure.

Another concern of overseas treatment is what effect it may have on the patient’s rights within the public health system in Australia, says Dr Jason Pang, director of Cosmic Smile Dental in Sydney’s Neutral Bay. “It is possible that if a patient in the public system has work done overseas then they may no longer be eligible for work within the public health system,” he says. “If anything goes wrong, or if they require or want any follow-up work, they may find it suddenly costs a lot more to have that work done.”

Patients should also be wary of over-servicing in foreign markets, Pang says. If you’re travelling to have work done and it is considerably cheaper, then it is easier to be talked in to extra work that is not absolutely necessary.

“Avoid having a large amount of procedures in a short time,” Dr Pang  says. “This is one of the issues with work being done overseas—it is not about a long-term relationship. If you have implants done, that is the beginning of a long-term relationship with your dentist. They are not something you can just forget about.

“And be sure to check the underlying problems are fixed. I have seen patients that have had crowns done on several teeth but the underlying problems have not been fixed. Those problems have simply been covered up.”

Face the change

As globalisation increases the choices for patients, as the internet and other technologies offer greater opportunities to research overseas dentists, and as the number of patients travelling for dental surgery continues to rise, any service that makes the journey safer and more successful for those patients is a positive one. The nib Options offering could certainly be described as visionary, and we’ll likely see other providers scrambling to catch up with the health fund’s medical travel packages.

“We’re not creating the demand right now—we’re responding to it,” Fitzgibbon says. “But there’s no doubt crossing borders for various procedures will become the new normal. We currently have packages for dental and cosmetic work, but we intend to broaden our offerings to knee and hip replacements and beyond. We’ll utilise our supply chain as is necessary to cope with demand.

“The increasingly global environment for medical services will provide enormous opportunity for our world-class doctors and dentists, as long as they get on board with the change.”