Out for a late lunch in a new venue in Belfast Six by Nico. We had a very unusual experience, so different and new! We were welcomed by a young enthusiastic team, excited to tell all about their offerings and keen to hear after how we found everything. They explained the origins of the restaurant, how the food would be delivered and a little about each course. They told us what to expect and assured us it would be a unique experience that we would love, and they were right. There was even a screen showing live feed from the kitchen as each plate was put together time after time all afternoon

We did the usual… took photos of the food, checked in on Facebook, shared it with friends!
On the way home Gareth did an online review and recommended the restaurant as a must do experience. What happened next was even more unusual! The following day Gareth received an email from the chef thanking him for taking the time to review explaining a bit more about their new set up in Belfast (home town Glasgow!)

” I cannot tell you what it means to be so warmly welcomed to the Belfast community. Your compliments will be passed on to my Team in Belfast and will help motivate them to continue their incredible work. I’d love to keep this channel of communication open with you. If I can answer any questions, you remember something that you thought could be changed or even I could check availability for you. Please do not hesitate to contact me I love being able to communicate with my guests on a one to one level Thank you and have a wonderful week”

We love reviews at Helens Bay Dental and are lucky to have an expanding collection of warm words! We take a lot of time to tailor how we offer Dentistry and customer service and we were very impressed at this Restaurant and will be looking to see what we can transfer to our Customer care and communication. We will start with thoughtful replies to the lovely patients who take the time to review us!!

We have a new look for 2019 our 25th year in Helens Bay and it has changed things in ways we imagined and ways we didn’t! And its changed things for everyone as our pictures show.

Gareth wanted to have a new studio to deliver his Brand of Digital Dentistry in a new and improved way:- all digital imaging, microscopic examination when required, single visit crowns and a quicker and more accurate outcome with implant retained crowns.

Alexis wanted to have a space where she could look after patient calls, emails, patient care administration and Gareth’s many digital technical support needs in a back office space.

Amanda wanted to have a team member at the front of house looking after patients on arrival before handing over to the clinician looking after them.

Glenda wanted to be able to concentrate on her Treatment Coordinator role looking after new patients on first visits and helping existing patients make appointments to suit their schedule when new treatments are needed.

The physical changes took only 2 to 3 weeks which surprised us all, although our Builder Seamus Woulihan of Seaview Developments was delivering exactly what he promised. He met and exceeded our needs, which is what we try on a daily basis to do. We have worked hard in the Pre-Christmas period to deliver the best of care and service and to develop the new flow through our small building.

The impact on our patients has been enormous and we have been hugely encouraged by the swift and positive responses. The bank of 5-star reviews are building on Google and Facebook allowing others to get a glimpse of what it is like to be a patient at Helens Bay Dental. Many have taken the opportunity while with us to log a review on one of our Ipads!

A review on Instagram this week shows the patient perspective literally!

Our smaller Reception area and extra treatment rooms allows a more personal interaction between patients and staff and that has led to so many positive conversations about why Helens Bay Dental suits our patients and why it is different. New arrivals are recommending us to others which is how we can continue to grow.

We are family owned and operated and aim to remain that way. We have invested heavily in the Dental technology and are changing small things to make the Dental and Service experience personal and remarkable. We look forward to welcoming patients old and new to Helens Bay in 2019 and hope we can share the experiences with others like some of our new patients do.

We are just back from a family weekend celebrating my Father in laws 80th Birthday. Happy times with extended family of all ages reflecting on how time flies!

I returned to a 2 day in Practice training event with the whole team as we completed our move to the Digital World by introducing a wireless scanning tool to record images instead of using wet impressions material!

Long standing patients here ( of whom there are many) are the backbone of our Practice and they are very familiar with how things change at Helens Bay. It was 13 years ago that we started digital scanning to allow us to mill crowns and inlays in house. This continues to develop and progress and our dentists are among the most experienced in the UK in this field The skills have now been expanded through the entire team allowing new exciting work areas to develop for the nursing team.

At Helens Bay Dental the “Family” is comprised of team members of many ages some in situ 24 years and others less than a year. Together we are learning and introducing the latest technologies to make the patient experience and treatment outcomes the best and most innovative available anywhere! There are more exciting changes to come in 2018, news to follow!

How time flies at work when you are having fun and learning new skills to improve more smiles!

Friday 11th May 2018 was Team Meeting morning at Helens Bay Dental and we started early with breakfast, a healthy one as we practice what we preach and like to look after our teeth! We called upon the culinary skills of our near neighbour “Crumbs Catering”.

8.30 am the goodies arrived and a beautiful table was set up in readiness by Crumbs owner Diana. All agreed that our healthy option was local and delicious. We had a successful review of the last quarter and discussed the coming months.

There are even more exciting times to come at Helens Bay Dental and we will share soon. Thanks to Diana and her staff for the breakfast for the Helens Bay Champions!

On Friday last, I met my colleague Lidia Ferritto from our Implant Team in London to attend the ITI Conference to refresh our knowledge on the latest developments in Implant Dentistry and beyond. When you each have almost 30 years of experience in Dentistry it is humbling to discover so much innovative research and to be able to sit in London and hear the World’s best minds present their work.

It is always refreshing to get a few days away from the “normal” and bring new ideas home. Lidia and I left the 2 day conference with much to think about. After the conference we met with my daughter who is studying Dental Therapy at Barts and the London. The conversation was dentally oriented and she was very enthusiastic to hear all the ‘news’ ! It emerged that one of the speakers was actually Professor & Chair of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry at her University, Professor Nicos Donos.

Interestingly, her first lecture back at University on Monday was presented by the same speaker – great to know that our young people are being educated by the best in the field!

We look forward to continuing to provide the very best Implant Care available and it is not a coincidence, we try really hard!

A patient recently brought this newspaper picture in to the practice. We all laughed and it made me think about how Dentistry has changed in general and at Helens Bay in particular. I have been in practice here for 23 years in October and love the changes we can offer patients and the tools at our disposal.

The rate of change has quickened in the last 5 years as the digital revolution gathers pace.

For the last 10 years we have been able to image a tooth and construct a crown in a few hours allowing smiles to be restored in a single visit.

This years latest technology has advanced to imaging multiple teeth to make bridges, crowns, veneers and crowns for implants. More same day solutions to resolve smile issues.

We don’t need sticky impressions for this work! Accurate digital images capture all the information we need.

To allow placement of implants with greater accuracy we can make a virtual guide, digitally imaged and manufactured in-house.

For patients undergoing orthodontic treatment no impressions are necessary the camera captures all the information we need with accuracy and clarity.

Last week, a patient was referred to me with both upper front teeth damaged beyond repair to see what his options were. The good news for him was that because of our imaging technology his options are much superior to this time last year in terms of speed of outcome.

We removed the broken teeth and then placed an implant into each tooth socket.

We digitally scanned the implants and designed two crowns on the computer screen and milled them.

When ready and polished we screwed them onto the implants and in 3 hours we gave him back his smile. I was almost as delighted as the patient.

When I started in Helens bay I couldn’t have foreseen what my daily workflow was going to be but it fills me with enthusiasm for the future anticipating what I may be doing next.

1. Gareth Small and Sarah Lochhead have a combined 34 years of providing dental solutions at Helens Bay
2. We offer the latest Digital solutions in Dentistry across all treatments- faster treatment, beautiful predictable results and smiles that last! We have provided 3800 same day crowns in the last 10 years
3. We have an in house Implant team who have placed 1800 implants in Helens Bay
4. We have an in house Short term straightening team who have improved smiles for 200 people so far. Digital techniques at the practice can eliminate the need for sticky impressions!
5. We have a dedicated, caring Nursing and Reception team who will book you in with your own treatment provider for all your visits because they know what you like.
6. We are accepting new patients! If this sounds like the service you would like for you and your family call in and see us!
7. Our hygiene care is lead by Lorraine Dunlop, Dental Therapist and we call her our Children’s treatment champion