Mr Sebastian Evans

I see gums as an end organ, just like a finger. The difference is that gums are hidden – out of sight and out of mind. The surface area of the inflammatory disease process in a patient with advanced periodontal disease could cover a large area of the forearm. If this was the area the…

When starting out in working life there is no doubt reality hits hard, most often in your pocket. What becomes most apparent is how crucial financial stability is to us all. However, even the prudent have the conflict between actually living and being frugal. Pensions are well documented and may well be offered by employers.…

Sometimes criticism can be just what‘s needed to motivate people into making changes and improving themselves. That’s precisely what has happened at Glasgow dental school after its curriculum was criticised by the GDC for being too traditional a couple of years ago. Like any self-respecting Scot, they took the comments on the chin and have…

The Hornbrook Group has been teaching the Ultimate Occlusion course for the past eight years. During the development of ‘Ultimate Occlusion’ we created a five-step occlusal process for the general practioner to create a comprehensive occlusion review of every patient regardless of the proposed treatment plan. The five-step programme includes: Step 1: Speed occlusal examination…

In part 1 of this two part ‘endo made easy’ series, the concept of creating larger master apical diameters in canal preparation was discussed. Creating master apical diameters to sizes larger than those traditionally used clinically has been shown in endodontic literature to provide cleaner canals. Larger apical preparations are consistent with greater volumes of…

A great smile is now in great demand, thanks in part to media advertising by large companies and the proliferation of makeover reality TV shows. As a result, the corresponding demand for cosmetic dentistry is also growing. Today, dental practices are better able to combine basic needs-driven dental care with elective cosmetic enhancements to help…

Throughout the UK a revolution has started that will change dramatically the role of dental care professionals (DCPs). Over the next 10 years these changes look set to bring new and exciting challenges for dental nurses, hygienists and therapists in general dental practices. Training and preparation to enable DCPs to develop their roles in patient…

So many dental patients are fearful; I want to play a part in alleviating patient’s fears and turn the negatives into positives. At a recent hygienists’ meeting, a colleague said to me: ‘We want to make it a pleasant experience.’ This warmed my heart, as this is what brought me into dentistry – making patients…

Generating larger master apical diameters with excellent irrigation, prior to obturation, creates cleaner canals compared to those using smaller apical preparations. But small and large are relative terms, and clinicians can vary with the size that they feel is appropriate to prepare molar canals. I estimate that most clinicians prepare canals to an average size…

We’ve all seen them, those open contacts that occur in the posterior, trapping food and driving patients crazy. At a patient’s check-up, you ask them how that crown – often a second molar – you cemented six months ago is doing, and they tell you they get everything stuck between it and the teeth next…

It’s easy to see why the notion of starting up a new practice can appear so attractive to many dentists. There’s no hefty ‘goodwill’ premium to pay to a retiring practitioner, you can choose your own location and you can put your own mark on the practice from day one. If you are planning to…

Anything is interesting if you tell it as a good story. I’ve said it before but periodontics is often regarded as dull as dishwater. And if dentists view it in this way, is it any wonder that patients do not buy into it? So let’s think again. Periodontics is a wonderful story of a mystical…

Contracts come in all shapes and sizes. But whatever form they take, if you sign one with an employer, principal, primary care trust or patient then you must be prepared to stand by it. If you have any doubts about a contract then do not sign it, because you will be bound by the terms…

Outreach is the dental education buzzword of the 21st century. And as more dental schools embrace this new way of preparing their students for the working world, its pioneers are further improving their programmes. Sheffield School of Dentistry was one of the first to implement an outreach programme and it is expanding its uses as…

Instrumentation of curved canals is like a mountain climber who seeks to scale a significant mountain. If the preparation is carried out correctly and, once at the top of the mountain appropriate care is taken to get off the summit, success is the predictable outcome. Therefore, the process needs to be broken down into a…

The problem with inflammatory periodontal disease is that it is often detected too late and treatment made more complex as a result. As in the rest of the world of medicine a deeper understanding of the causes of periodontal disease and the disease progression is allowing the development of new strategies and concepts in disease…

Many dental practitioners are moving their practices over to more private work. But while the headline earnings of private work can look very attractive it is essential to consider the impact of any loss of NHS pension. No-one could deny that the NHS pension scheme is excellent, so its benefits will cost you a lot…

No-one would deny that computer and other electronic equipment is now an essential part of any dental practice. Even the smallest use a wide range of electronic or electrical equipment, from dental apparatus in the consulting rooms to PCs in the reception area. Yet despite this reliance, and the investment in buying the equipment and…

It is only natural that dentists want to make their practices as safe as possible. Accidents happen relatively rarely but there is always scope for improvement. First there are the basics, so make sure the practice has: • Practising certificates for the dentists and hygienists • Professional indemnity insurance for all practitioners • Practice insurance,…