DentaltownUK Asks David Bretton

DentaltownUK readers know David Bretton as our resident ‘Lifestyle’ Health and Fitness guru (he is also a fully qualified fitness instructor!). This month, we want to know more about his dentistry and we asked him - ‘what are the things you couldn’t do without and what’s on your ‘wish list?’

David graduated from Newcastle University in 2013 and has a particular interests in restorative and aesthetic/cosmetic dentistry and is passionate about postgraduate education and continued professional development.

1. A good nurse
Nurses can make your life heaven or a misery – I have been fortunate to have only ever worked with great nurses. I would say a good nurse is worth her weight in gold. They are your sidekicks. My nurses keep the operation running smoothly, they help manage my patients allowing me to focus on the dentistry (particularly with the nervous ones) and they are often a step ahead of me in my protocols to make sure materials and instruments are there before I even ask for them.

2. Rubber dam
The rubber dam is one of the single most amazing things in dentistry. The technical benefits are clear for adhesive dentistry and it is absolutely mandatory for endodontic treatment (no rubber dam, no endo!). Not to mention it also stops our patients talking/spitting out/rinsing. When the rubber dam is on I am able to just sit, relax and do the dentistry that needs to be done. Once you’re proficient at putting it on there is no single item that will make your dentistry easier and more relaxing. I favour ‘Unodent’ heavy latex-free rubber dam (hate the thin green ones that rip easily!)

3. Magnification
If you can’t see it, you can’t treat it. I started using magnification for my dentistry in third year undergraduate training. I remember some people advising me that I should ‘learn dentistry first’ and that I should try not to ‘become too reliant on magnification’. What a load of rubbish. I am reliant on them and magnification is an essential part of dentistry. As a patient I would not go and see a dentist who does not use magnification. I currently use Orascoptic XV1 4.3x magnification (the light-unit is essential)

4. Intra-oral camera
A picture is worth a thousand words’. Caries, fractures, unrestorable teeth, heavily restored teeth needing cuspal protection, soft tissue lesions…just a few of the things where an intra-oral camera is absolutely essential. As a 23-year-old entering general practice, taking over a ‘stable’ list was a nightmare. Patients didn’t seem to trust what I said, they were questioning my opinion. Purchasing an intra-oral camera was a game changer. ‘Click’. Image goes on the screen. What do you think? Patient’s can see straight away what they need to and there is no ‘ethical sales techniques’ needed.

5. DSLR camera
For educating our patients about what is going on inside their mouths and for documenting this - a DSLR camera is essential for every dentist.

6. Wave one gold (W1G)
Endodontic file systems continue to develop at such an amazing rate making us all love endo that little bit more. W1G, developed by Julian Webber, Cliff Ruddle, Sergio Kuttler and Willy Pertot is my usual ‘go-to’ file system. Endodontics is classically thought of as fiddly and tedious – used with a good protocol W1G makes it simple and effective making endodontics more fun with great results. If you don’t like endo…try this system and watch your love for the subject and quality of your work transform overnight. They say ‘a good workman never blames his tools’ – in endodontics the right tools are essential.