Traditionally in oral surgery (wisdom tooth removal, implants) procedures a bur is used in a handpiece cooled by water. This basically cuts the bone (i can hear you going OUCH) in an environment that is as cool as possible (chilled saline should be used). Now, not much wrong with this but there is heat produced and this heat ‘burns’ the bone around the cut. This some believe can attribute to the after surgery pain and swelling which patients can experience. Today I got to use a new method of ‘cutting’ the bone, this is called ‘Piezosurgery’ and put simply it uses vibration of a cutting tip to do its ‘cutting’. The main advantage apart from an effecient ‘cut’ is that less heat is produced and hence the theory that less after pain is experienced. I have to say I was impressed by it and feel that if this does indeed offer our clients a better post surgery experience then it is something that we must consider carefully…… expect to see it soon!!
We had a great few days as a team last week, by this I mean lots of positivity. The team here love it when we get positive comments and this has been coming from all angles culminating in chocolates, flowers and lovely notes. Never underestimate what this does for a team which strives for the ultimate in client care, there was a spring in the step of everyone last week and it was great to see. As we have changed the practice to have its emphasis on customer service I as a clinician can almost stand back a bit and watch how wonderfully our clients are looked after. I am obviously a part of this and strive to do my best but the touch on the shoulder, the caring word, the comforting glance, the friendly face and appropriate body language all go a huge way in helping our clients have a poisitve experience out of what for many has never been an enjoyable experience. I have to say I was as proud of my team last week as I have ever been, we were on fire!! I hope they enjoy the nibbles and the flowers.
For me one of the sweetest things that has ever happened to me did so on Thursday. A much loved client delivered beautifully wrapped a gift for my children. I often chat about my children as clients go through their procedures and many very kindly take an interest in them. But here I had someone go out of their way to think about a gift that they would like judged on our personal conversations…. can I say it was well judged and the gift will take pride of place for some time I am sure….. this was a moment of disproportionate delight for me (more on these later).
