A successful day with the Oasis Team

 With the Clearstep™ brand ever growing; our System has been the subject of mammoth interest from dentists and corporate groups for accreditation courses. Excited to meet this demand, The Clearstep™ Training & Support Department recently held an Oasis accreditation day in Bristol for Oasis dental practitioners; the course educated the attendees to make the most of our outstanding system and it gave the attendees the solid platform for them to start providing our ‘invisible’ system to their own patients. 

Knowing the huge importance of the day, Clearstep™ Managing Director Alistair McCance was heavily involved in the planning of the training. “With the Clearstep™ brand fast expanding & increasing awareness in the dental market, along with the services we offer, we wanted to further this by aligning ourselves with some of the more prestigious corporate groups in the country. Oasis was one of our obvious choices for this. Oasis has a great reputation in the dental market and their clinic base provides far reaching access to hundreds of practitioners throughout the UK. They possess a high quality skill base and many highly competent practitioners who we are proud to support in treating their patients with Clearstep™.

The day allowed us to speak directly to these dynamic practitioners we have already mentioned and gained an understanding and feedback as to how Clearstep™ could work with a corporate group where we meet the demands of the corporate clinicians. We were able to show the dentists how best to utilise the comprehensive system that Clearstep™ offers and discusses how to best communicate this with patients.”

Combination approach & Clearstep System

Delegates were first given an introduction to the Clearstep™ System and the appliances that allow us to achieve the incredible results that patients demand. Many ‘invisible’ aligner laboratories are restricted to the cases they can treat due to the capabilities of using a clear positioner alone; however Clearstep™ enables practitioners to treat a large range of case severities by combining our positioners with other discreet appliances. After explaining how the appliances function, case studies were examined to illustrate the results that can be accomplished.

The Diagnostic Faculty

Our diagnostic process plays a pivotal role to all Clearstep treatment and during the second part of the day, the attendees where split in to two groups to learn about two very important areas of the diagnostic process:

1.       The importance of impressions taking & how to take good quality 2 part impressions.

2.       The importance of intra & extra oral photography and the correct method of taking high quality photos.

Each topic gave the attendees the hands on opportunity to take impressions as well as intra & extra oral photos, the hands on training will make sure that the attendees are now fully equipped to send in high quality records when submitting a case into diagnosis. Other topics covered throughout the day include interproximal reduction (IPR), promoting Clearstep within your practice & sending in a case.

Clearstep™ would like to thank all of the Oasis practitioners who attended our course and hope that they enjoyed the day as much as we did. We look forward to working with all of the delegates in the near future and are excited to receive their first cases.

Simplicity Training Course

Due to the positive feedback from the Oasis Training Day, 2012 will see the launch of the new Clearstep™ Simplicity Course. The new Clearstep™ Simplicity Courses is a three day course based around the modules taught at the Oasis training day, this course will give you all the knowledge you need to start treating Clearstep™ cases as well as applying the use of sectional fixed appliances to your patients which in turn will dramatically increase the amount of patients GDP’s can retain and treat as opposed to referring them away. In turn allowing GDP’s to retain higher margin and increase their reputation and skill set. 

For more information on our new Courses click HERE or to book a place:

 Please call: 01342 337910, alternatively you can email: sales@clearstep.co.uk

Dr Topolski – Clearstep™ Practitioner of the Month, December

Dr Topolski – Clearstep™ Practitioner of the Month, December

December’s Clearstep™ Practitioner of the Month has been awarded to Dr Rafal Topolski of Smile Care Cosmetic Centre for his continuous great work using the Clearstep™ System and the consistent fantastic records sent into our Diagnostic Faculty. Diagnosis plays a pivotal role in making sure that patients are given the best possible treatment with the Clearstep™ System therefore in order for our in house orthodontists to provide a top quality treatment bespoke to each patient, we require records that comply with our diagnostic guidelines. 

This month we would like to thank Dr Topolski for the excellent records he consistently provides to our diagnostic team. Through a recommendation from the diagnostic department here at Clearstep™, it has been highlighted how much our orthodontists are helped by Dr Topolski and how he realises the importance of record quality.

“We would like to say a big thank you to Dr Topolski for the time and effort spent providing excellent diagnostic records. It is always a joy to receive records of such high quality and we look forward to receiving more cases from Smile Care Cosmetic Centre. All records we pass to our diagnosing orthodontists must be of a fantastic standard; Dr Topolski truly understands this and his records are consistently exceptional”. Amanda Geary-Pepper, Clearstep™ Diagnostics Assistant.

Our working relationship with Dr Topolski has grown from strength to strength with every case that is submitted, and when we asked the question what tips do you have for any practitioners struggling with the records needed for diagnosis? Dr Topolski had the following to say:

“You do not need any fancy equipment, I am using very simple Kodak camera 4.1 Mp. There is no need to invest in large resolution cameras as these photos would be too large to be transmit via Data Exchange or even by mail and would require compression or resizing. It is very helpful to familiarise yourself with buccal mirrors as buccal segment photos are always the most difficult for majority of practitioners - practice on your nurse using good quality retractors until you will be able to photograph all the teeth including the last molars.

There should be no compromise when it comes to x-rays, you must invest in a good digital sensor or panoramic x-ray, preferably with cephalometric addition.  Since our practice digitalised I cannot believe how I was able to diagnose periapical problems or even simple caries with normal film based x-rays.”  Dr R Topolski

From feedback and looking at records we receive on a daily basis Buccal Segment photos and X-rays are often the most difficult to perfect. As you can see Dr Topolski’s photos and X-rays are very clear and enable us to see all required areas.

Dr Topolski is a skilled practitioner that we value highly and regard as one of our best practitioners. His records are outstanding but so is the care and attention that every patient he treats receives throughout their Clearstep™ treatment. To find out more about ‘invisible’ treatment through Dr Topolski please call the Smile Care Cosmetic Centre (Plymouth) on 01752 663239. Alternatively you can email smile@smilecare.uk.com.

Dr Blackie - November Practitioner of the Month

Since joining Clearstep™ at the very beginning of 2010, Dr Blackie has rapidly developed his knowledge of our system whilst providing fantastic Clearstep™ treatment to patients across the Glasgow region and he is now renowned to be one of the most prominent Clearstep™ practitioners in Scotland. In his very first year of using Clearstep™, Dr Blackie treated a large amount of Clearstep™ cases covering a variety of malocclusion types throughout last year. With the demand increasing for ‘invisible’ orthodontic treatment and Dr Blackie’s increasing knowledge of our system, Dr Blackie is set to treat more cases than he did last year. Below you can see Dr Blackie talk about his experiences with the Clearstep™ System so far.

“I became accredited in January 2010 after researching the evolving ‘clear brace’ market. There was an increasing level of enquiries from our existing patients, and new registrations, regarding the availability of treatments to correct teeth alignments without using ‘train tracks’.

The Clearstep™ System has progressively evolved in the time I have been involved. Subsequently I have become very comfortable with the processes which are required to solve the patients' orthodontic problems. I have come to realise how thorough the Clearstep™ System is and the diagnostic assessment is incredibly detailed, which makes the treatment sequence straightforward in many cases. I have noticed that my patients are very motivated when they get used to wearing the clear positioners. They like the fact that they have personal involvement in their treatment.

The Park Practice has always embraced modern dental approaches and treatments, and the Clearstep™ System has become one of our arrays of services. These include resin tooth colored fillings, teeth whitening, dental implant provision and many other modern preventative and restorative treatments. Clearstep™ can be one factor in a treatment plan that involves straightening crowded front teeth, before placing porcelain veneers on any misshapen ones, or creating space for an implant to be placed for a previously lost tooth.

I have been rapidly growing my portfolio of Clearstep™ cases and am thoroughly enjoying seeing the progress patients are making. The clear braces are the biggest advantage of the system and the one constant that patients ask about before embarking on treatment. The simplicity and aesthetics are great selling points and being able to help so many adult patients, who previously were resigned to accepting crowding, and malalignments, is fantastic from a professional point of view." Dr M Blackie (2011)

We are delighted to announce Dr Blackie as our Novembers Practitioner of the Month due to his continued development in the knowledge of the Clearstep™ System and the variation of cases treated with the Clearstep™ System.

Dr Blackie is a highly skilled Clearstep™ practitioner and has attended our ‘Sectional Fixed Appliance Training Course’ enabling him to take on a much wider variety of cases. With his willingness to learn more about our system and our developments, we know that Dr Blackie will be producing fantastic results from the Clearstep™ System for many years to come.

Based in Glasgow, The Park Practice will always welcome new patients. Using modern and innovative treatment techniques, your dental and orthodontic needs will be fully looked after at the Park Practice, because of this The Park Practice is a great clinic to receive the very best Clearstep™ treatment within the Glasgow area. If you would like to find out more about Clearstep™ treatment with Dr Blackie please call: 0141 334 1211 or alternatively email: enquiries@parkpracticehealth.co.uk.    



Helping patient’s find their X Factor!

Once again, after much advertising, the X Factor live finals have returned to our screens with three new judges. Love it or loathe it, the show is often a talking point of the workplace with viewers all discussing the performances and most importantly how those involved looked on camera.

This year the show has seen many changes, the most notable being a brand new set of judges introduced to the show whose appearances have be scrutinized intensely on every show. All of the judges have been preparing for the finals thoroughly especially Tulisa Contostavlos who has been given the challenge of filling Cheryl Cole’s seat on the panel. As arguably the lesser known of all 4 judges she has undergone an extensive make over in time for the launch. Among the many beauty treatments, it has been publicised that Tulisa has spent £12,000 on porcelain veneers to improve her smile for the camera.

 £12,000, even for Tulisa, is a huge amount to spend on a smile but this highlights the ever growing need for perfection that living in a celebrity obsessed society brings. People are willing to pay the top price if they feel they can significantly improve their appearance. The issue is that understandably many people do not have £12,000 to spend on their teeth. Veneers, while improving the appearance of the teeth, often do not actually resolve orthodontic issues completely. If Tulisa was to want orthodontic treatment later on to align her teeth further the veneers are likely to need removing.

Orthodontic systems such as Clearstep provide the answer to these problems. In the majority of cases the patient will be paying much less than £12,000 making it a lot more affordable to patients. Also instead of having what could be called a ‘quick fix’, patients will be resolving orthodontic issues and aligning teeth completely rather than covering them up with porcelain.

Preparation for fitting veneers can also sometimes be very impactful needing large amounts of enamel to be removed to ensure the veneers have a chance of being fitted well and not becoming dislodged. This means that otherwise healthy enamel needs to be trimmed or stripped only to cover it with a piece of porcelain. Because of companies like Clearstep, patients now have a choice. They can forego large treatment costs, or opt to enhance their smile by discreetly changing the position of their teeth to achieve the smile they have always wanted using ‘invisible’ aligners which can be removed for hygiene purposes and also fit into any lifestyle.

What Clearstep also provides is support to cosmetic dental specialists so that with a short course of orthodontics using the above mentioned methods, the patient can have veneers fitted with their teeth in a better aligned position preventing large amounts of preparation or stripping therefore improving the fit of the veneers as well as inevitably reducing chair time, costs and most importantly maintaining the health of the teeth they already possess.  

Veneers can often be a temptation due to the appearance of traditional orthodontic braces however all treatments through Clearstep are ‘invisible’ and discreet meaning that for a patient to attain their ideal smile they won’t have to compromise their appearance in the meantime.

Thousands of patients are becoming aware of the potential and effectiveness of ‘invisible’ systems such as Clearstep. If you are interested in becoming accredited with Clearstep or are a current Clearstep practitioner and would like to find out about our latest offers please call 01342 337910 or alternatively email sales@clearstep.co.uk.

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Clearstep™ Practitioner of the Month (September 2011) – Dr Christine Sweeney

Dr Christine Sweeney, a Clearstep™ ambassador joined as a Clearstep™ practitioner in 2006 and was immediately impressed with how effective the system was. Since becoming accredited with Clearstep™, Dr Sweeney has used our bespoke system frequently to treat a wide variety of cases with an excellent standard of service.

“The clear positioners are comfortable, hygienic and effective. Patient’s love them and often send friends and relatives into the practice because they are so pleased with the results” Dr C Sweeney (2011).

After Dr Sweeney’s traditional orthodontic treatment relapsed when she was in her 20’s, she became very interested in pursuing ‘invisible’ orthodontic systems to help tackle the problems that she once had. Dr Sweeney has undergone Clearstep™ treatment herself therefore she knows and understands the patient experience with Clearstep™ first hand.

Since becoming a Clearstep™ practitioner, Dr Sweeney has seen a positive impact in her practice as well as many benefits to her patient’s confidence, whilst getting them the smile they desire. This is the reason why Dr Sweeney is regarded as a highly valued Clearstep partner and a Clearstep™ ambassador.

“With the recession patients are more careful with their spending but are often happy to have cosmetic work done if the price is right. Simple cases can be far less expensive than fixed appliances” Dr C Sweeney (2011).

Minimum intervention and tooth conservation are of high importance to Dr Sweeney and through using Clearstep™ and other techniques she has been able to treat some tough cases. It is the use of clear aligners in combination with other appliances that enable her to do so with minimal impact on the patient, shorter treatment time, and better results. Not only does this make it easier for patients during treatment, the financial costs are also lowered.

Furthermore, Because Dr Sweeney has worked with Clearstep™ for a number of years, she has had a wide range of cases presented to her. Below are some examples of cases Dr Sweeney has skillfully treated.

We have selected Dr Sweeney as this month’s ‘Practitioner of the Month’ due to her continuing loyalty to Clearstep™ ,the wide range of cases sent to us and quality at which Dr Sweeney treats them all as well as her commitment to further training through Clearstep™. Through the years we have developed a fantastic working relationship and look forward to many more years of good relations.

If you live in Ireland and are interested in ‘invisible’ and effective treatment, Dr Sweeney in Greystones Dental Centre could be the solution to your orthodontic issues. To find out more about Clearstep™ treatment at Greystones Dental Centre please call (01) 2017000 if you live in Ireland or if you live in the UK, 00353 2017000

Sun, Sand and Smiles

Holidays are always something to look forward to, for the image conscious they can be the most exciting as well as the most stressful times of the year. Feeling good about how you look on holiday can boost your confidence and allow you to enjoy the sun rather than hideaway in the hotel room.

A few image problems people have before a holiday can be easily solved.  Some will buy new clothes, get a new hair style and others may even decide that they need to lose weight. On the other hand different issues are not as simple to fix. Many are now looking to achieve their perfect holiday smile but are unsure about how to go about it. New clothes and a new style mean little if you are unable to smile with confidence for your photos.

One of the main reasons for leaving orthodontic issues untreated is the prospect of having to wear fixed braces and holiday photos are a prime example of why patients do not want to have them. They want the fantastic end result but are unwilling to compromise their appearance during treatment. Clearstep resolves this problem entirely.

Using ‘invisible’ braces and appliances a huge range of orthodontic issues can be treated while still allowing patients to look and feel great. The end result is achieved but the photos from holidays during treatment will only show the massive improvement, not the braces!

With new technologies and the increased use of social media, photos are now an essential when going on holiday. Friends and family want to see what you have been up to and the patient will also want to share where they have been.

Too many patients are unaware of the advances in cosmetic dentistry and still believe the only way to achieve their ideal smile is through fixed orthodontics. They need to be told that systems such as Clearstep are available to help make patients holiday preparations that much better.