It’s What’s Inside That Counts…

14 February 2019

Hi everyone!

How on earth are we nearly halfway through February!? January seemed to last forever, yet February is flying by, and throwing all the elements at us while it’s here! I hope the winds didn’t affect you too much this weekend – I was definitely a bit fed up after my park run, it felt like I was running against a brick wall! I am determined to get myself to my 50th park run before I have Baby Piper – only 8 more to go, so hopefully the weather will settle down and give me a fighting chance! The way I feel about it right now, I will crawl around Greenham Common to get to number 50 if I have to…! (ask me again in 4 weeks – I imagine my enthusiasm might have subsided a little!)

Here at The Briars, one part of my job is to take CB (cone beam) CT scans for both in-house and referred in patients. These scans produce 3D cross-sectional images of the jaw and of the teeth – it’s essentially a smaller, faster and safer version of a ‘normal’ CT scanner. The ‘cone beam’ element relates to the shape of the x-ray beam, which enables us to use a much lower radiation dosage, and shorter scanning time.

These scans can be required for a number of reasons, but many are sent over as part of the assessment for implant placement, or to investigate pathology associated with teeth that can’t always be seen on a 2D radiograph. These scans can show us bone structures, jaw structures, root canals, sinuses, even tumours. They can also be helpful with locating the origin of toothache – sometimes fractures in teeth aren’t always visible on a normal dental x-ray, but will show up on a 3D image. The CBCT scans are a fantastic, and fascinating diagnostic tool – and one of my favourite parts of the job!

The image on the left is a sectional 2D x-ray of the patient – the images in the middle and on the right make up part of their CBCT scan!

I took a scan for a patient last week, and we were both marvelling over the advances in technology – how wonderful it is that technology that was once restricted to a hospital setting can now be used in the dental practice. Not only is it more convenient to have all your treatment carried out under one roof – it also means you can avoid the evils of hospital parking! After I have scanned a patient, I show them the result on the screen, and check we have scanned all the areas that their dentist has requested. I often get asked the big questions by patients – ‘is the area suitable for an implant?’ ‘can you see if there is a fracture line?’ – but my qualification doesn’t go quite that far, and sadly I can’t answer their burning questions. What I can show them, is the 3D image of the area we’ve scanned – and for most, that is fascinating enough!

It’s not just the dental 3D scans that interest me though – Richard and I were lucky enough to have a private gender scan of our baby – mostly to satisfy my nosey nature and to confirm my suspicions that the little blob we’d met on week 12 was a baby boy! This too can be done outside the usual hospital setting – we had ours at a small private clinic in Didcot, in a shopping outlet of all places! At the gender scan, we were shown him in 3D, and it was absolutely incredible. Because we could find out near Christmas, we decided to have the scan and open the results on Christmas day – which meant the poor sonographer had to hide his lower half from us! She kept turning the screen on and off to make sure he stayed a surprise – but even without his lower half on the screen, the image was one the best I’ve ever seen. We could make out his little arm moving across his face, rubbing his tiny nose – we saw his little mouth opening and closing – it was just a knock me down with a feather kind of wow. Obviously I wouldn’t imagine everyone to have that kind of reaction to their CBCT scan, although seeing your teeth for the first time in 3D might bring on tears of joy?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend – apparently the temperature is set to hit double figures and we’ll get to see some sunshine! 😊

Amy x

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we love our patients

I recently visited Briars Dental Practice in Newbury and had a truly excellent experience. From the moment I walked in, the receptionist greeted me warmly and made me feel welcome. The hygienist who saw me prior to my appointment with the dentist was very thorough and gave me some great advice on how to keep my teeth healthy.I was then seen by Richard, one of the dentists at the practice, and I have to say that he and his nurse were fantastic. They put me at ease throughout the whole procedure, were extremely professional and caring, and made sure that I was comfortable at all times. I was also impressed by their attention to detail and their willingness to take the time to answer all of my questions.In fact, I was so pleased with my experience that I would also like to mention another dentist named Richard who saw me previously. He too was excellent, very thorough and professional, and I felt very well taken care of during my appointments with him.Overall, I can't recommend Briars Dental Practice highly enough. The staff are all so friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, and they really go above and beyond to make sure that their patients are well looked after. If you're looking for a great dental practice in Newbury, look no further than Briars.

Beatrice Andreea

12:07 11 May 23

Thank you for a wonderful experience, I am a coward when it comes to the dentist, Mr Nick French, put me at ease, and has the patience of a Saint. I would also say the dental nurse was I lovely lady who let me crush her hand while I was having my injections. I give Briars Dental Centre 10 out of 10, and would not hesitate to recommend them.

Jan Hamments

19:11 29 Jun 23

I had a hygienist appointment with Jo and her nurse, Suzanne. It was the first time I’d tried GBT and found the experience much more comfortable than usual. Jo and Suzanne really put me at ease and made sure I was happy throughout the treatment. It was good being able to clearly see the areas which I needed to improve on brushing and Jo gave me great tips. Would highly recommend

Lauren Jade

16:52 19 Jun 23

After such a positive experience today with Richard I thought it only fair to delete my previous review. I am a very nervous patient and not ashamed to say I cried before my appointment. Richard and his lovely dental nurse were so understanding and treated me with kindness and empathy. Richard explained everything to me and allowed me to go at my pace. All options for my next appointment were explained to me and I now have trust in Richard that I feel I will not need full sedation. I was in alot of pain prior to my appointment today along with an enormous amount of anxiety. Richard even explained to me how to breathe when having treatment- no other dentist has ever explained that to me before!Thank you again Richard and to your lovely dental nurse.

Mary Lovelock

15:03 24 Apr 23

I had my consultancy appointment with Chelsea today who looked after me very well. She was very friendly and easy to talk to and explained everything to me very nicely. And also answered all of my questions and made me feel at ease today and for future appointments. It was nice to meet you, and thank you.Glenn.

Glenn Cooper

22:20 23 May 23

I recently had to visit Richard Lineker as I'd broken a tooth.He and his lovely nurse Agata made me feel comfortable and explained what treatment I needed.They work extremely well as a team andmy treatment was painless.

Pauline Preston

13:59 12 Jul 23

Wanted to share my mother's thoughts of recent experience visiting Jo Craig hygienist."Jo was attentive , caring gentle and thorough today.I came out feeling fresh and motivated.Well looked after also by her lovely nurse Jenny."Angela Shaw.

Suzanne Hendry

11:03 21 Jul 23

I am very pleased with the treatment I received. After another dentist had told me the tooth had to be extracted, Mr Fady Khoury managed to save the tooth. The procedure was carried out in a very efficient and professional manner and I am very happy with the outcome.

Terence Marshall

16:03 24 Jul 23

Had an appointment with Chelsea today and it went very very well. Had my scans and photos done for Invisalign, which can be a bit awkward but she made it a comfortable experience. She was very friendly, welcoming, put me at ease and asked if I had any overall questions at that stage of the process. She was knowledgeable and explained everything I asked about. It's my first time at this clinic so I'm looking forward for my second appointment to discuss treatment. Great first impression from the moment I stepped through the door! Thanks!

Diana

11:01 31 Jul 23

A very happy customer! I had quite a lot of crooked and misaligned teeth so Victoria introduced me to Invisalign. She carefully created a program to give me the smile I wanted. In the end it took longer than we had expected but Victoria very diligently took me through every step of the process and she didn’t compromise on any part of the process to ensure I got the smile and teeth alignment we both wanted. A huge thank you to her and her assistant Jen who made every effort to make me feel comfortable throughout. Highly recommended.San

San James

17:16 02 Aug 23

My visit to Richard last week went well. He identified that x rays hadn’t been taken for 3 years, and showed me the images, interpreting the results carefully and explaining the steps that may be required as treatment. I am disappointed that I will need to have another consultation to confirm if a root canal is needed. Warning: if you do need a consultation with the endodontist, you will need to pay in advance. I couldn’t do that on the day, but I will be booking in to have this followed up as soon as I can. I will need my own teeth for many more years!

Emma Mulholland

15:31 18 Oct 23

Over the years I`ve found that the Briars delivers consistently high quality dental care and yesterday was no exception. I recieved first class root canal treatment by Dr. Richard Condon and team. Everything was explained carefully and despite my misconceptions was delivered pain free. I have no hesitation in recommending the Briars.

Mark Batten

10:42 24 Oct 23

Having just completed a course of treatment with The Briars I can strongly recommend Fady and his team. Thank you for your straightforward and thorough approach, and for providing treatment in a stress-free environment.

Tom Saunderson

08:16 02 Nov 23

It was a very welcoming place at the practice with friendly staff whose knowledge was informative and comprehensive. Chelsea was very accommodating and took the time to listen my concerns and provide me with the best advice on what action to take next.

Michael Scrimshaw

18:02 23 Nov 23

Had my Hygiene appointment yesterday with lovely Meryl and her nurse Kiera. Meryl was gentle and very thorough. She removed all the staining from my teeth and now they feel super clean. Kiera made sure that I was comfortable throughout the treatment.

Agata Czarnecka

19:23 18 Jan 24

I highly recommend Briars Dental Care, I can't thank them enough for my teeth, they really put me at ease especially Kody. My teeth have never been straight but over the years they got worse, and made me feel so ashamed and embarrassed by them, now I have nice straight teeth and my confidence back .

Wendy Pearson

09:58 23 Jan 24

Absolutely Excellent service, from the initial phone call with Libby at reception who was so kind, understanding and so helpful and Zoe who helped us on the phone with trying to find us appointments needed and for the amazing care and service received on arrival for treatment that this dental practice is without a doubt outstanding. Five stars is not enough!Highly recommend the briars, lovely staff and top class treatment!

Angel Greaves

13:05 07 Feb 24

I can 100% recommend this dental practice as I have been with Briars Dental Centre for a few years now. From the reception staff to the Hygenist and Dentist I have had my confidence boosted in the biggest way. The reception girls are always very professional, helpful, friendly and always make time for a little chat. If it hadn’t been for one of the girls on the reception team I would not have known about the payment plan, which is proving to be well worth it, and gives me free Hygenist and Check-ups and a reduction of 10% on other treatments. Thank you girls for that. You are all fantastic and lovely. Keep doing what you’re doing.My previous Hygenist. Aimee, was absolutely the best and I had no fear going to her. Now I have a new girl, Meryl, and she is also blooming brilliant. Thank you.My dentist, Nicola Murdoch, deserves the most praise having built up my confidence in dentists again. She even adjusts treatments according to my own personal dilemmas, like claustrophobia. She’s just the best. Thank you so much Nicola.

Debbie Huntley

15:45 28 Feb 24

I have just completed my Invisalign treatment and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I wish I had done it sooner! Victoria, Jen and Chelsea were fantastic throughout and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending them.

Jen Woodbridge

14:38 06 Mar 24

We have received the most amazing service from Rochelle before meeting Dr Holden who will be overseeing my daughters Invisalign treatment. Very professional and approachable team we are very impressed.

Lisa Miles

10:11 08 Mar 24

I have just finished my Invisalign treatment with Dr Victoria Holden, I never imagined my teeth would look this good, they are beautiful and straight and I have a glorious smile. The aligners are stress free, comfortable, easy to wear and the scanning was simple. Victoria and Jen have been amazing from start to finish responded to any questions I had. I cannot thank them enough. I would recommend this treatment to any one of any age, it’s the best money I’ve ever spent.

Charlotte Bradford

09:57 14 Mar 24

Always a good experience at the Briars from the reception team, the hygenist to the dentists themselves . Victoria is the most patient , kind and professional dentist . Highly recommended

Jenny Philcox

16:55 13 Mar 24

I had a lot of discomfort from two adjacent back teeth, the slightest touch of cold drink and it got really painful. The Briars team quickly diagnosed the problem and explained the x-ray images that showed a previous different practice’s root canal had caused decay of the tooth and the adjacent one along with the surrounding bone. I was left with a few choices that were clearly explained to me, but removal of the two teeth was the option I took with an implant replacement for one of them. I was referred to Nick French, who is their implant specialist. I had a process that encouraged the bone to regrow and then the implant. Nick’s demeanour is so calming and his explanations very clear, I had no distress or discomfort at all. I recognised the techniques he uses from the manufacturing industry, they are so advanced that the replacement tooth feels exactly like the one it replaced and now my mouth feels calm for the first time in quite a while. I totally recommend The Briars Dental Centre and Nick French.

David Hartwell

06:43 04 Apr 24

Having completed my first appointment with Amy at The Briars today I am very happy with the outcome. Everything was very well explained in detail to me and the staff were very polite and professional. Amy’s knowledge was brilliant and the technology used in the appointment was amazingly impressive. It really helped set my mind at ease and pointed me in the right direction for the rest of my treatment journey. I would highly recommend The Briars.

Jonny Paine

21:49 19 Apr 24

I’ve been using a periodontal specialist at The Briars for nearly 20 years and have never been disappointed. Treatment and advice has always been top class and has certainly improved the overall health of my teeth.

Martin Shoesmith

15:26 19 Apr 24

I recently had an appointment with Joanna Craig and I couldn't be happier with the care I received. She was extremely professional and thorough during my cleaning. Her attention to detail was evident, and she made sure I was comfortable throughout the entire process 5 Stars

Neil Garland

10:41 07 May 24

The Briars Dental Surgery provides an exceptionally friendly and professional service that I would recommend to everyone. I grew up with a fear of dentists born out of difficult childhood experiences. However, I now look forward to my visits with my hygienist Jo Craig and her assistant Kasia. My Associate Dentist Nicola Murdoch provides annual check ups to ensure my overall teeth health remains in great shape. Sharmila has also taken great care of my gums with her specialist expertise. You are in wonderfully safe and caring hands at the Briars and they can cater for everything dental related.

Laurence Berry

08:54 10 May 24

All the staff at the Briars are lovely! Having just completed my invisalign treatment I could not be happier with the results! The process was quick and painless and the care given during the treatment was spectacular!

Jake Martin

09:29 10 May 24

Had a great detailed and well explained consultation with Chelsea regarding my concerns about dental treatment to improve my smile. She was so thorough and the whole thing was very pleasant.

Bridget & Warwick Ryan

11:14 13 Jun 24

Great service for a root canal treatment. Dr Richard Condon was very professional, explained everything clearly before doing and after the procedure which lasted for 2 hours. Removed a crown, treated the root canals and replaced with temporary crown. No pain during the procedure at all, just a little that day when the numbness faded. Next day almost back to normal. Great job thank you.

Timothy Brew

19:00 19 Jun 24

Had an appointment today with my dentist Victoria Holden. I’m so impressed and grateful 🙏 kind caring efficient professional. I highly recommend and no words to express my gratitude ! Thank you

Natasha Christova

12:05 07 Aug 24

First appointment with Richard and Kasia yesturday. It's not my favourite place in the dentists chair but yesterday they made me feel comfortable and confident. We discussed the most suitable dental plan that was right for my needs and Richard put it in place.By the time I got home I had a email with all the information and costings. So professional and empathetic both of them.With gratitude Jo

Joanne Crook

13:45 28 Aug 24

After 30 years of constant pain in my head and shoulders I have finally found relief. A consultation with Afif lead to a swift diagnosis and a treatment that has literally changed the quality of my life. Great dentist

Victoria Anderson-Stewart

12:38 05 Sep 24

Having moved to the area 2 years ago, I was really hesitant to change dentist but I wish I did it sooner! Richard and team are truly incredible, they make me feel a part of the process and I always come out smiling.Many past experiences throughout my childhood meant the going to the dentist was often anxiety provoking, often ending up in anxiety attacks. I now (dare say) look forward to going to the dentist and feel more calm than I ever had so thank you Richard!I have recently had an onlay fitted and am beyond happy with the whole process and final outcome - you can’t even tell it’s there!Would highly recommend coming to the Briars 💖

Abbie Trussler

16:03 19 Sep 24

Fantastic dental practice. Very well equipped with the latest treatments available combined with warm, friendly staff and a very professional service. Definitely the best experience that I’ve ever had with a dental practice, would highly recommend.

Carol Odendaal

10:11 02 Oct 24

I was recently booked in for an appointment with Amy to discuss Invisalign treatment. On arrival, reception staff were lovely and directed me to really nice and homely waiting room! Amy was so great, she made the appointment relaxed and friendly and took me through how Invisalign works and made sure I understood everything. At the end of the appointment she wasn’t pushy with me to get started and pay for treatment. She even emailed me a finance calculator so I could go away and think about what I wanted to do and how I would pay for it. Really lovely place and staff, highly recommend 😊

Steph Adams

16:04 15 Oct 24

I had 4 tooth implants in all, with the work being done to a very standard with great care by Nick French and his team, and I'm very happy with the results.

Mark Thompson

09:09 24 Oct 24

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