Sebastian Evans

Custody of children aside, when divorce looms the most acrimonious disputes tend to centre on how to share the family assets and also the future income of the higher earning partner. In the past, the main breadwinner was often awarded the bulk of both the assets and anticipated future income on the basis that he…

We have previously discussed the difference between healing abutments and restorative abutments on implants. Here I will go through the variety of restorative abutments available; they are generally made from titanium, designed for different types of restorations and different positions within the mouth. Abutments for single teeth These can be: 1. Standard abutments, with limited…

It’s time to start applying ourselves to some serious marketing, not just for the autumn sales campaign but also to create the momentum that will see us into 2007. I’m involved heavily in thinking about marketing, firstly because my own autumn workshops focus on ‘marketing in dental practice’ and secondly because I have businesses to…

Dentistry, as with much in this world, is all about communication. Successful periodontal treatment outcomes are about patients taking on board jointly developed treatment plans and then following our instructions for home care. Practice success and profit is determined by communication. Selling is the art of telling your patients the benefits they will derive from…

In our experience at Samera Ltd, we have found that the majority of dentists focus only on the clinical aspects and day-to-day operations of their practice, with little or no awareness of the bigger picture. By that I mean the practice’s overall performance, of which financial status plays a major role. In light of the…

There are a number of key issues that the buyer and seller need to be aware of in the exasperating but satisfying area of practice sales. I have found that if both parties act in an honest manner and build a sensible stream of communication throughout, numerous obstacles can be overcome. Generating trust can trim…

It is with regret that the British Dental Receptionist Association (BDRA) has announced it will be discontinued from 31 December. We feel it is a pity that, for whatever reasons, receptionists have not been able to form a durable association to give them a voice within the dental profession. Since our formation in January 2002,…

Endodontic access is frequently overlooked as an essential step in creating excellent clinical results. Interestingly, our mental conceptions of a root canal are generally images of instrumentation and seldom opening the tooth. Achieving proper access is a vital precursor and predictor of ideal results. If access is less than ideal, it is very difficult –…

A year had passed since Nancy and Peter Milton moved into Middletown. The married couple had not yet sought the services of a new dentist and both decided it was time for a check-up. Nancy asked some of the women at her office who they thought she should see. Peter began his search on the…

Not many dentists would consider giving away £20,000 worth of treatment to be a sensible way of running a practice. Nor would they also want to spend over 50 hours of their time just to decide who would get the free work. But Stricklands Dental Fitness Centre in Haslemere, Surrey, is definitely not your average…

The Dentists Act of 1956 had prohibited dentists from running their practices through the medium of a limited company, with the exception of those who’d already been providing dentistry services on 21 July 1955. At the end of July 2006, however, these restrictions were removed. Incorporation is a complex topic and involves a number of…

There is a significant difference between getting a white line to the end of the root on a radiograph versus treatment which provides a biologic three-dimensional cleaning, shaping and obturation of the root canal space from the orifice to the minor constriction of the apical foramen. In the pursuit of ideal cleaning and shaping, the…

The latest report from the Council of Heads and Deans of Dental Schools (CHDDS) paints a sobering picture of the state of dental education in this country. According to its survey, the provision of high-quality dental education in the UK is under threat because so few people are pursuing careers in dental school education. Professor…

Beautiful smiles are created not by chance, but by an understanding of craft and art. The materials, techniques and procedures blended with the creative eye of an artist ultimately give us and the patients we treat the masterpiece we are proud of. Aesthetic dentistry is comprised of two aspects, craft and art. Craft refers to…

When I ask the attendees at my practice management seminars if any of them are experiencing stress, they don’t raise their hands, they just start laughing because the answer is obviously ‘yes’. Unfortunately, stress in the dental practice is no laughing matter. Operating at a chaotic pace without effective management systems virtually guarantees an inefficient…

Like good stand-up comedy, efficient investment relies on expert timing. Get it wrong and you could end up buying your shares or funds when prices are high and selling when they are at rock bottom. Expert investment timing requires a good knowledge of economic cycles and the time to analyse stockmarket characteristics – at home…

The British Dental Practice Managers’ Association (BDPMA) recently undertook a logo review in line with the organisation’s general strategic overhaul. Its previous logo, although well established in the industry with a good degree of awareness, no longer fully represented or reflected the principles and vision of the association. But is a logo so important that…

Have you ever been concerned by something you’ve seen between a child and their parent/carer in the waiting room? The vast majority of receptionists and other members of the dental team have seen the signs of child abuse or neglect but have been unsure about the best way to respond. Firstly you need to be…

This patient presented with a fractured upper left lateral incisor. The tooth had previously been restored successfully for many years using a direct composite resin restoration, but the patient was now considering a crown. The medical and dental history was unremarkable and the treatment options were: • Composite resin restoration • Porcelain jacket crown •…