All posts by Catherine McCanny

Equality, Diversity and Ethnicity

Equality BLOG

We gave patients a questionnaire to fill in whilst waiting for their appointments. The results are from forms that were completed correctly.  

We used a selection of questions, each designed to ensure that anyone using the service feels that they are given the same opportunities, treated fairly and their needs are being met. Each question had the option ‘prefer not to answer’

  1. What is your sex?
  1. What was your age on your last birthday?

The results showed a fairly even cross section in gender, the largest percentage attending the practice were under 18 (72%).

  1. What language do you prefer to speak in?
  1. Do you need an interpreter or help to communicate?

96% of patients preferred language to communicate was English, of the 4% that selected another language as their preferred no one required the use of an interpreter. SMOL has a Translation Policy in place if required.

  1.  Do you regard yourself as belonging to any particular religion?
  1. To which of the following groups do you consider you belong?

Some patients (24%) preferred not to answer the question, of those giving a response 72% answered Christian, Church of England and the remaining 28% said Muslim.

  1. Did you have any difficulty accessing the Dental Practice today?

No patients had problems accessing the service.

  1. Are your day-to-day activities limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months?
  1.  Do you have any of the following conditions lasting (or expected to last) 12 months or more?
  1. Deafness or severe hearing impairment
  2. Blindness or severe vision impairment
  3. A condition that limits one or more basic physical activities (such as walking climbing stairs, lifting or carrying)
  4. A learning difficulty (such as Down’s syndrome)
  5. A learning difficulty (such as dyslexia)
  6. A mental health condition (such as depression or schizophrenia)
  7. A chronic disease (such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy)
  8. No
  9. Other please tell us
  10. Prefer not to answer
  11. Asthma 

The majority of patients answered no to this question (92%). Those answering yes selected depression (4%) and asthma (4%) as ongoing health problems. The practice updates medical history forms every 6 months for routine patients, this ensures we have the latest health information available to the clinical staff providing care.

  1. Feedback – Please use this space to tell use any areas in which improvement can be made

‘Friendly welcoming staff, gave me an appointment while I was here’

‘Staff very polite. Tea/coffee machine, water dispenser’

‘Great practice’

‘Fabulous service’

After reviewing the answers given in the questionnaire no patients reported having any concerns about the way they were treated at the practice and no patients had problems with access. We do not feel any changes are required at the present time but we will continue to listen to patients’ feedback and make any changes should they become necessary. We will continue to work hard to ensure all patients and visitors to the practice feel their rights are being respected and their needs are being met.

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How to spot mouth cancer

Beating mouth cancer is so dependent on diagnosing it at an early stage.

If it is caught early, the chances of surviving mouth cancer are nine out of ten – those odds are pretty good, and that’s why early detection is so important.

Sadly, far too many mouth cancers are not spotted early enough.

Mouth Cancer Action Month promotes the message ‘If in doubt, get checked out’. We encourage everybody to be mouthaware and pay more attention to what’s going on inside the mouth. Most importantly, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, it is essential that you tell your dentist or doctor immediately.

Checking for mouth cancer

As mouth cancer can strike in a number of places, including the lips, tongue, gums and cheeks, and given that early detection is so crucial for survival, it’s extremely important that we all know what to look out for.

Three signs and symptoms not to ignore are:

  • Red and white patches in the mouth.
  • Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth or head and neck area.

When checking for signs of mouth cancer you should follow the following routine:

Head and neck

Check if both sides look the same and search for any lumps, bumps or swellings that are only on one side of the face. Feel and press along the sides and front of your neck being alert to any tenderness or lumps to the touch.

Lips

Pull down your lower lip and look inside for any sores or changes in colour. Use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for any unusual lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat this on the upper lip.

Cheek

Use your finger to pull out your cheek so that they can see inside. Look for red, white or dark patches.

Then place your index finger inside your cheek, with your opposing thumb on the outside gently squeeze and roll the cheek to check for any lumps, tenderness or ulcers, repeat this action on the other cheek.

Roof of the mouth

With your head tilted back and mouth open wide, your dentist will look to see if there are any lumps or if there is any change in colour. They will run their finger on the roof of your mouth to feel for any lumps.

Tongue

Examine your tongue, looking at the surface for any changes in colour or texture.

Stick out your tongue or move it from one side to another, again looking for any swelling, change in colour or ulcers. Finally, take a look at the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth.

Floor of the mouth

Look at the floor of the mouth for changes in colour that are different than normal. Press your finger along the floor of your mouth and underside of your tongue to feel for any unusual lumps, swellings or ulcers.

If you find anything unusual in any of these areas, or are unsure of anything, visit your dentist or doctor as soon as possible.

Mouth aware

How can mouth cancer be detected early?

Mouth cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dentist during a thorough mouth examination. This happens during your routine dental check-up.

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Breathe easy with iTero technology

The taking of dental impressions is now a thing of the past thanks to our state of the art iTero dental scanner.

iTero pic

This £21,000 high tech scanner not only removes the discomfort from obtaining a dental impression but enables us to provide you with a more flexible, accurate and productive service.

The handheld scanning technology creates a digital ‘dental impression’, producing highly accurate 3D images of your mouth that can be rotated, zoomed and manipulated in various ways.

Scanner image

It provides a record of the exact dimensions of your teeth and gums and, with the magic of technology, we can even forecast what your teeth will look like after treatment.

With the ability to capture up to 6,000 frames per second, our trained staff simply move the wand-like scanner over your teeth and gums, stopping and starting it as often as necessary. The new process is far preferable for patients who no longer need to have impression material in their mouth for several minutes – a method which caused some people to gag uncomfortably.

Being able to send the impressions to the lab digitally means a quicker turn around, saving you weeks of waiting, and with the scanner able to forecast the different treatment outcomes, you will have all the information you need up front to enable you to make an informed decision about the different treatment outcomes available.

The iTero technology is not only improving the overall experience for patients but is in line with the excellent level of service we aim to provide at St Michael’s Orthodontics to ensure patient confidence.

To discover how iTero can benefit you, contact us at orthostmichaels@tiscali.co.uk or check out our websites: https://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/ or www.invisiblebraces-yorkshire.co.uk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wakefield Orthodontist smiles as global stage beckons

AN award-winning Wakefield Orthodontist, who runs a female only practice has been selected as a global ambassador for an international company.

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Dr Catherine McCanny, specialist orthodontist at St Michael’s Orthodontics, Dewsbury Road, has been chosen as a clinical speaker and key opinion leader for Invisalign, thanks to her experience and expertise using the invisible brace system for complex cases.  As the UK’s only second female Invisalign speaker, she wants to encourage more orthodontists to pick up the baton to help patients achieve straight teeth pain-free.

One of the most experienced Invisalign practitioners in the UK Catherine has helped 1000s of patients achieve a better smile without the need for surgery.  It was this track record that won her Platinum Elite Status and prompted the company to invite her to share her knowledge with other orthodontists.

“Invisalign aligns patients’ teeth in an almost invisible way; it is a much more comfortable and efficient alternative to fixed braces.  In even the most complex cases it has eradicated the need for surgery.   Thanks to my experience with the treatment, I now use Invisalign for the most complex of cases,” said Dr McCanny.

“Due to my experience I’ve gone from using the Invisalign on 10 cases a year to now over 80 cases a year.  Eventually, I hope to use Invisalign for 75 per cent of all my adult cases and share this conversion with other dentists and orthodontists through my new clinical speaker role.”

Catherine received her clinical speaker training in Amsterdam earlier this month and will start her new role in Birmingham on 3rd May.

This recent accolade follows her success at the 2018 Aesthetic Dentistry Awards where she snapped up two awards relating to the use of Invisalign plus the treatment of teenagers. 

Catherine added: “I am extremely privileged and honoured to be chosen by Invisalign as a Clinical Speaker.  This international treatment is globally recognised and I hope this showcases St Michael’s Orthodontics as a worldwide centre of excellence.

“I am excited to share my passion of the Invisalign system with my colleagues. We are all trained in using fixed appliances and it is easy to stay in our comfort zone.   However, I hope that by demonstrating how I have treated my patients with Invisalign that other colleagues will start to see the benefits of this system.”

 

 

 

Editor’s notes:

 

  • St Michael’s Orthodontics – a team of skilled orthodontists led by Catherine McCanny – is based on Dewsbury Road, Wakefield.
  • Dr Catherine McCanny has achieved Invisalign Platinum Elite Standard for both the quality of her work and the number of treatments she has performed
  • Having graduated from Dental School at Queen’s University, Belfast in 1988, Catherine commenced her specialist training in Orthodontics at Leeds Dental Institute in 1993. She then teamed up with her now-husband, Joe, to build and develop St Michael’s Dental Practice and St Michael’s Orthodontics Ltd, which opened in 1998.
  • More recently, Catherine – a member of the British Orthodontic Society – was delighted to win two awards in the 2018 Aesthetic Dentistry Awards.
  • In 2015 St Michaels Orthodontics won three awards at the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards including ‘Best Team’.

 

  • For more information about St Michael’s Orthodontics, please go to http://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk http://invisiblebraces-yorkshire.co.uk

 

Press release issued by: Carmel Harrison PR, The Plex, Margaret street, Wakefield. For further information, please contact Carmel Harrison on: 01924 632263. Alternatively, email carmel@carmelharrisonpr.com

 

 

 

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Data protection privacy notice for patients

GDPR IMAGE

Data protection privacy notice for patients

In providing your dental care and treatment, we will ask for information about you and your health. Occasionally, we may receive information from other providers who have been involved in providing your care. This privacy notice describes the type of personal information we hold, why we hold it and what we do with it.

Information that we collect

We may collect the following information about you:

  • Personal details such as your name, date of birth, national insurance number, NHS number, address, telephone number and email address
  • Information about your dental and general health, including
  • Clinical records made by dentists and other dental professionals involved with your care and treatment
  • X-rays, clinical photographs, digital scans of your mouth and teeth, and study models
  • Medical and dental histories
  • Treatment plans and consent
  • Notes of conversations with you about your care
  • Dates of your appointments
  • Details of any complaints you have made and how these complaints were dealt with
  • Correspondence with other health professionals or institutions
  • Details of the fees we have charged, the amounts you have paid and some payment details

Catherine McCanny is responsible for keeping secure the information about you that we hold.

Our data protection officer, Carol Walter, ensures that the practice complies with data protection requirements to ensure that we collect, use, store and dispose of your information responsibly.

Those at the practice who have access to your information include dentists and other dental professionals involved with your care and treatment, and the reception staff responsible for the management and administration of the practice.

How we use your information

To provide you with the dental care and treatment that you need, we require up-to-date and accurate information about you.

We will share your information with the NHS Business Services Authority in connection with your dental treatment.

We will seek your preference for how we contact you about your dental care. Our usual methods are telephone, email or letter.

If we wish to use your information for Social media, dental research or dental education, we will discuss this with you and seek your consent. Depending on the purpose and if possible, we will anonymise your information. If this is not possible we will inform you and discuss your options.

We may use your contact details to inform you of products and services available at our Practice.

Sharing information

Your information is normally used only by those working at the practice but there may be instances where we need to share it – for example, with:

  • Your doctor
  • The hospital or community dental services or other health professionals caring for you
  • NHS payment authorities
  • The Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies, where you are claiming exemption or remission from NHS charges
  • Private dental schemes of which you are a member.

We will only disclose your information on a need-to-know basis and will limit any information that we share to the minimum necessary.

In certain circumstances or if required by law, we may need to disclose your information to a third party not connected with your health care, including HMRC or other law enforcement or government agencies.

Keeping your information safe

We store your personal information securely on our practice computer system and in a manual filing system. Your information cannot be accessed by those who do not work at the practice; only those working at the practice have access to your information. They understand their legal responsibility to maintain confidentiality and follow practice procedures to ensure this.

We take precautions to ensure security of the practice premises, the practice filing systems and computers.

We use high-quality specialist dental software to record and use your personal information safely and effectively. Our computer system has a secure audit trail and we back-up information routinely.

 We use cloud computing facilities for storing some of your information. The practice has a rigorous agreement with our provider to ensure that we meet the obligations described in this policy and that we keep your information securely.

We keep your records for 10 years after the date of your last visit to the Practice or until you reach the age of 25 years, whichever is the longer.

Access to your information and other rights

You have a right to access the information that we hold about you and to receive a copy. You should submit your request to the practice in writing or by email. There may be a charge for copies of your information; if we pass on a charge, we will explain the reasons.

You can also request us to:

  • Correct any information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. If we have disclosed that information to a third party, we will let them know about the change
  • Erase information we hold although you should be aware that, for legal reasons, we may be unable to erase certain information (for example, information about your dental treatment
  • Stop using your information – for example, sending you reminders for appointments or information about our service
  • Supply your information electronically to another dentist.

If you do not agree

If you do not wish us to use your personal information as described, you should discuss the matter with your dentist. If you object to the way that we collect and use your information, we may not be able to continue to provide your dental care.

If you have any concerns about how we use your information and you do not feel able to discuss it with your dentist or anyone at the practice, you should contact The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF (0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745).

 

 

 

 

 

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Wakefield orthodontist snaps up two top awards

ST MICHAEL’S Orthodontics are beaming with success after their specialist orthodontist Catherine McCanny snapped up two awards at the 2018 Aesthetic Dentistry Awards.

 

2018 ADA v2

Catherine – who set-up St Michael’s Orthodontics in Dewsbury Road, Wakefield 20 years ago – won the two awards relating to the use of Invisalign plus the treatment of teenagers.

She had submitted two case studies, including photographs before, during and after treatment, showing how the work she had carried out improved the appearance of a 13 year-old boy with very crowded teeth plus highly prominent ‘fangs’ plus a 31-year-old woman who was really unhappy with the appearance of her teeth, especially on the top right.

The practice was also shortlisted for the Best Aesthetic Practice Award, recognising the practice as a centre of excellence and the hard work every team member brings to the patient experience. St Michael’s Orthodontics have previously secured wins at the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards in 2013 and 2015.

“I am delighted to receive the recognition that winning these awards brings. I tend to enter such events with no expectation of success, knowing what strong competition I’m up against and to come out on top is a welcome endorsement of the standard of service and outcomes we are delivering for our patients at St Michael’s Orthodontics,” commented Catherine.

“I view the awards very much as a team achievement as it’s the service we all provide that gets results.”

The Invisalign award entry outlined how Catherine used the clear, virtually invisible, aligner system which gently moves teeth into position, to treat a particularly challenging case.

“Invisalign was the only treatment the patient would have but the level of complexity involved saw us taking the use of the system to a totally new level. The patient was on board all the way and by going that extra mile over two years of treatment we achieved outstanding results. We would never have used Invisalign for such complex challenges several years ago but, in doing so, it has given me more confidence to treat more difficult cases with it in future,” said Catherine who also won the Aesthetic Dentistry Award for Invisalign in 2013 and 2015.

“A key factor in the successful outcomes of both case studies that we submitted for the awards was that the patients were willing to work with us. Our teenaged case study involved 27 months of treatment, combining twin block removable braces and fixed braces.

Both patients were extremely dedicated in working with me and as a result, they a had such a difference to their smile and self confidence.

Editor’s notes:

 

  • St Michael’s Orthodontics – a team of skilled orthodontists led by Catherine McCanny – is based on Dewsbury Road, Wakefield.
  • Dr Catherine McCanny has achieved Invisalign Platinum Elite Standard for both the quality of her work and the number of treatments she has performed
  • Having graduated from Dental School at Queen’s University, Belfast in 1988, Catherine commenced her specialist training in Orthodontics at Leeds Dental Institute in 1993. She then teamed up with her now-husband, Joe, to build and develop St Michael’s Dental Practice and St Michael’s Orthodontics Ltd, which opened in 1998.
  • More recently, Catherine – a member of the British Orthodontic Society – was delighted to win two awards in the 2018 Aesthetic Dentistry Awards.
  • In 2015 St Michaels Orthodontics won three awards at the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards including ‘Best Team’.
  • For more information about St Michael’s Orthodontics, please go to http://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk http://invisiblebraces-yorkshire.co.uk

 

Press release issued by: Carmel Harrison PR, The Plex, Margaret street, Wakefield. For further information, please contact Carmel Harrison on: 01924 632263. Alternatively, email carmel@carmelharrisonpr.com

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Terms and conditions

T&C – Whitening toothpaste offer

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For a chance to win 4 tubes of whitening toothpaste tag a friend on our Instagram or Facebook post.

Entrants can enter as many times as they like but to be included in the draw a different friend must be tagged.

Entrants must like either the Instagram post or the Facebook post to be entered.

The winner will be selected at random from either Facebook or Instagram on 23rd March 2018.

The winner must be able to collect the prise in person at the office address or provide a UK delivery address for postage.

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Start your New Year with a healthier smile

As a New Year begins and we are all looking to live healthier lifestyles, don’t forget how important it is to maintain a healthy mouth.

smile 1

 

3 simple steps to improving your oral health:-

• Visit your dentist for regular check ups

• Brush your teeth for 3 minutes at least twice a day (and remember to floss in between your teeth)

• Cut down your sugar intake especially snacking between meals

If you are unhappy with how your teeth look, now is the time to seek advice from your orthodontist on how we can make your teeth look better.

There are many health benefits to straight teeth and these may include:-

• Simpler brushing: Crooked teeth are harder to clean, allowing food particles to get trapped in the crevices between the teeth. If plaque builds up this can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.

• Healthier gums: When teeth are crooked, the gums can become irritated, inflamed and red. These characteristics not only look bad, but also are a warning sign of gum disease.

• Tooth function: Teeth and jaws that are misaligned can cause unequal pressure on some teeth leading to abnormal wear or gum recession.

• Improved speech: Sometimes the simple formation of sounds and the enunciation of words can be a challenge for those with very prominent teeth or with an open bite (i.e. no vertical overlap of the top & bottom teeth). If the teeth are put in a better position this may make it easier to produce the correct sounds correctly.

So, what are you waiting for?

Contact our team of experts today and make 2018 the year you transform your smile!

Contact us: orthostmichaels@tiscali.co.uk or check out our website: https://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/ or www.invisiblebraces-yorkshire.co.uk

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Announcing the launch of a new Invisalign website

Yorkshire based orthodontic practice, St Michaels Orthodontics, has launched a new website to highlight their Invisalign expertise to patients.

 

Invisalign

Dr Catherine McCanny, specialist orthodontist at St Michaels Orthodontics, was one of the first Invisalign practitioners in the UK and has helped 1000s of patients achieve better oral health, general wellbeing and more confidence using the revolutionary technique.  Invisalign is an almost invisible system of braces that has helped patients achieve straighter teeth without having to use embarrassing metal fixings.

Having been a pioneer for Invisalign and a passionate advocate of the associated long-term benefits of orthodontic treatment, Dr McCanny wanted to provide an improved information portal so developed the website separate from her St Michael’s Orthodontics website.

“There is no one type of patient seeking to have their teeth straightened but everyone who comes to us wants more information about the benefits of orthodontic treatment,” said Dr McCanny.  “We were also keen to provide information for people anonymously to make them feel more comfortable about the process before seeking help or treatment,” she added.

“Today everyone, including executives wanting to improve their confidence at work to retirees wanting to spoil themselves are considering orthodontic treatment as a means of improving their lives, but they want as much information as possible.   Whatever their reasons we want to make sure that everyone is as well informed as possible.”

Dr McCanny achieved Invisalign Platinum Elite Status earlier this year and has applied this expertise to the website.  Now launched, it will be constantly updated with the latest research, news of new methods of treatment available at St Michaels as well as interesting information.

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Built with the patient in mind, the website also has special features such as a ‘Smile Gallery’ and video testimonials from patients who achieved the smile they always wanted, thanks to Catherine’s expertise and the Invisalign system.  This offers patients a visual documentation of what they can expect from the treatment, helping them to make a clear, informed decision.  

Although Invisalign is featured on the existing St Michaels Orthodontics website, the new website specialises solely on this technique, offering a more in-depth documentation on the different types of Invisalign on offer for patients.

Practice Manager Carol Walter said: “The new website focuses solely on Invisalign which allows patients to research everything they need to know about the features and benefits of Invisalign in one place. The website creates clarity for patients and really helps people to decide whether Invisalign is right for them, ensuring that we are delivering the ultimate standard of patient care at all times.”

Click here to visit the new website: www.invisiblebraces-yorkshire.co.uk/

 

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