Wish List with Dr. Paul Abraham

I qualified from Guys in 1989 and went into practice as a ‘voluntary VT’. Fortunately, I had a forward-thinking principal who was a fantastic mentor and allowed me to develop my clinical skills in the best environment possible.

There have been phenomenal changes in my 30-year career, so little that I did at the outset is the same today. I’ve always been a bit of a ‘course junkie’, so I consistently look to introduce new materials, techniques and bits of kit into my practice.

In 1993, I started a squat private practice in St. Johns Wood with my original principal, while at the same time working in three other practices. So funding ‘new toys’ was difficult, but as the practice developed, I made a point of investing when I could. I was an attendee on the first-ever Rosenthal programme in the UK, after which I purchased my first Biolase soft-tissue laser. From that point, my practice evolved, and I’ve always had a soft spot for new technology.

Like most dentists, though, I find there’s always something that looks to be the new ‘big thing’ but just ends up collecting dust at the back of a cupboard. Fortunately, those have ben few and far between.

The biggest thing on my wish list would be more space. I have two small treatment rooms but my location is key to the success of the practice, so expanding on my particular high street would be costly. I’d love to have space for a photography studio with soft boxes, correct lighting, etc., and a CBCT scanner. All of that type of imaging currently has to be referred out.

I came close to buying a microscope last year and it’s still on my mind, so I anticipate that it’s definitely something I’ll look at again in the near future.

The digital world is currently evolving so quickly! Two years ago, I attended the IDS in Cologne (before buying the Cerec Omnicam) and the options for in-surgery scanning and milling systems were pretty limited. This March, technology had literally taken over the show and the choices and systems available had grown exponentially. If money were no object, I would want to purchase the Trios scanner as an adjunct to my existing scanners.

Each and every system has something different to offer, so it would be great to have the full choice available.

At the same time, printing is clearly also evolving and so a 3-D printer would be added to my list (space permitting) Undoubtedly technology will continue to evolve, and it’s always difficult to know when to make the decision to ‘jump in’, but I have no regrets about being an early investor and believe the investment has helped grow and improve my practice. 

Paul Abraham is principal dentist at SmileMore Dental Care in St. John’s Wood, North London.
Twitter: @drpaulabrahams
Website: smilemoredentalcare.com