Category Archives: General

Ready to smile with confidence?

So you’re ready to change your smile, but how do you choose an orthodontist?

Thinking

For over 20 years, Dr Catherine McCanny has been changing the lives of patients at St Michael’s Orthodontics. Aside from the attractive smile and self-esteem boost that orthodontic treatment offers, there are many other benefits to a straight smile such as improved oral hygiene.
 
No doubt if you are looking to begin your journey to a straighter smile you have done your research and will be familiar with the types of orthodontic appliance available. For many, understandably, the cost of treatment greatly impacts the decision for the practice you will choose for your treatment. “Why does the cost of treatment vary between different practices?” is a question we are often faced with. Many General Dental Practitioners are now expanding their scope of practice into the field of orthodontics, which is a factor that can affect the variation of treatment prices. Generally speaking, the cost of treatment provided by a Specialist Orthodontic Practice will be slightly more, but with that comes many advantages.  

What is an orthodontist?

Dentists and orthodontists both work to improve oral health. A dentist carries out general dental treatment, such as a check-up or fillings, however they may have a special interest in other areas like orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry. An orthodontist would firstly qualify as a dentist, then undergo 3 years of additional training to gain their Masters in Orthodontics. Specialist training means that an orthodontist would be able to carry out complex and comprehensive treatments.

Advantages of treatment with St Michael’s Orthodontics Ltd.

We specialise in the field of Orthodontics. Our clinicians exclusively work within the orthodontic field, meaning all the staff know the treatments inside out.

Our Principal Orthodontist has over 20 years’ experience in orthodontics, and more than 10 years’ experience of working with Invisalign. This year our orthodontist Catherine has reached her milestone of treating 500 patients using Invisalign and she has achieved Platinum Elite status, making her one of the most experienced Invisalign providers in the UK.  Last year Catherine was appointed a clinical speaker for Invisalign- a recognition of her experience and expertise in this field.
She is now a member of the UK Invisalign advisory board and has been appointed as the UK representative for the Invisalign Cookbook which she has developed with 4 other European orthodontists in sharing their secret recipes for growing a successful Invisalign practice.

Our treatment packages include: –

  • ITero scan which will show patients how their teeth will look after treatment
  • Additional aligners if needed to fine detail the position of the teeth
  • Emergency or any extra visits
  • Patient care pack
  • Fixed and removable retainers as needed to ensure the teeth remain in position
  • Before and after photographs
  • 3 sets of Invisalign Vivera retainers
  • An 18-month supervision of retention



We offer different finance packages to spread the cost of your treatment (including 0% finance).

We offer a range of orthodontic appliances. Fixed metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, Invisalign First…so whatever your preference or concern we’re sure to have a solution.

We have won 17 awards including :-

Best orthodontic practice
Best Team
Best Invisalign case (on 3 occasions)
Best adult fixed appliance case
Best child/teenager fixed appliance case

All our staff are actively involved in the world of Orthodontics. We are all keen to progress with training, and stay updated with the most recent treatment techniques by attending the British Orthodontic conference annually.

We have two members of staff appointed the position of treatment coordinator. Our treatment coordinators are trained and experienced in communicating with patients to find the best way to work with you. They can offer advice, guidance and reassurance help patients discover all their options and what will work best for them.

We hope our guide to the advantages of seeking treatment with St Michael’s Orthodontics has helped in your decision making for your own smile transformation. There are also many benefits to orthodontic treatment with a specialist orthodontist, and as with most things it comes down to personal preference and what you feel would give you the best options.

If you would like to arrange a complimentary chat appointment with our treatment coordinator to find out your options for a straighter smile, call today on 01924380680 or email orthostmichaels@tiscali.co.uk

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ALL SMILES FOR COUPLE’S BIG DAY  

 

Vicki and Sam Shute Colin Powel (1)

ONE Yorkshire couple had more reason than many to smile on their big day as they showed off their dazzling new smiles, having had Invisalign treatment to straighten their teeth.  

Sam and Vicki Shute were both patients at St Michaels Orthodontics, Wakefield, when they decided to take the plunge and have orthodontic treatment.

But rather than Vicki persuading Sam to have treatment, he was first to book his consultation with  Dr Catherine McCanny, after seeing photos of himself at his brother’s wedding and deciding enough was enough.

“I was always aware that my teeth weren’t straight but seeing how pointed they were at the front on my brother’s wedding photos made me decide to do something about it,” said the business development manager from Sandal.

“Dr McCanny fitted Invisalign braces, which are almost invisible so I wasn’t conscious while I was having treatment and no one commented.”

Sam had almost completed his treatment and the pair were engaged when Vicki noticed how her teeth were moving.

“I was about 24 and my teeth had always been fairly straight but then my wisdom teeth came through and severely impacted the alignment of my bottom teeth.  There wasn’t enough room and they started to collapse in.  Being a teacher, I was more conscious of it in front of the pupils so I decided to get treatment.”

Dr McCanny of St Michael’s Orthodontic Ltd has treated nearly 500 patients with Invisalign since it launched 20 years ago but was delighted to treat a couple who were planning their big day. ‘It was a great feeling to be able to give this lovely young couple a fantastic new smile for their wedding day and be part of the whole plan. We were all so excited to see their wedding photographs’.

“Increasingly men are aware of their looks and how it affects their careers and confidence so I wasn’t surprised that Sam came along but it was really special to be treating his fiancée at the same time.  The tricky part was timing the treatment so that the aligners came off for the big day.  Sam’s treatment was finished while Vicki need some refinements after the wedding that were easy to schedule in,” said Dr McCanny.

“I’m just so delighted that we could do the treatment in time so they were both able to smile with confidence on their big day.  Congratulations!”

Photography by Colin Powel

 

Editors’ Notes:

About St Michaels Orthodontics: 

  • St Michael’s Orthodontics – a team of skilled orthodontists led by Catherine McCanny – is based on Dewsbury Road, Wakefield.
  • 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 three awards in the Aesthetic Dentistry Awards, including the ultimate accolade of Best Aesthetic Dentist 2013. This success was repeated in 2015, when the practice picked up a further three awards, including ‘Best Team’.
  • Catherine McCanny is an Invisalign Elite Platinum Provider.
  • For more information about St Michael’s Orthodontics, please go to http://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk
  • Press Contact
  • Press release issued by: Carmel Harrison PR, Unity Works, Wakefield. For further information, please contact Carmel Harrison on 01924 831114 or 07714 708 271. Alternatively, email Carmel at carmel@carmelharrisonpr.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Orthodontist appoints two treatment coordinators

TC and CMC

AWARD winning Wakefield orthodontist, St Michael’s has appointed two treatment coordinators as part of its investment in patient care.

The two will work alongside orthodontists at the Dewsbury Road practice to offer advice, guidance and reassurance to patients throughout their treatment.

Clinically trained, Dawn Rimmington and Joanne Reape will be the first point of contact with patients to explain the orthodontic procedures they will undertake, how to care for their braces at home and also discuss payment plans.

Dr Catherine McCanny, orthodontist explained: “Patients are keen to enjoy the end result of the treatment which is attractive and healthier aligned teeth, but naturally they have questions.  I was very conscious that some patients were reticent to ask me about things such as payment plans or even ask questions about their treatment or teeth because they thought they were too silly.

“We completely understand that but at the same time we don’t want patients to go away feeling they are in the dark about their treatment.  Dawn and Joanne act as a bridge between clinicians and patients and can often pre-empt questions through the comprehensive advice they provide about home care during treatment.  They offer advice about care of braces, how long to wear them and the best kinds of foods to eat to enhance a patient’s results.

“With their own consultation room patients are confident of being able to ask anything discretely,” she added.

“We are the first point of contact when patients first come in for a consultation about orthodontics and so they are able to build a long lasting informal yet confidential rapport with us so that they get the most out of their treatment,” said Dawn.

 

Photograph: Dawn Rimmington, Dr Catherine McCanny and Joanne Reape

 

 

 

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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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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.

IMG_9374 (1)

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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CHRISTMAS OPEN HOURS

 

Holiday

The practice is now closed for the Christmas holidays.

Our open hours are;

Monday 25th December – CLOSED

Tuesday 26th December – CLOSED

Wednesday 27th December – 9am – 1pm         2pm – 5pm

Thursday 28th December – 9am – 1pm         2pm – 5pm

Friday 29th December – 9am – 1pm         2pm – 5pm

Monday 1st January – CLOSED

Tuesday 2nd January – 9am – 1pm         2pm – 5.30pm

If you require urgent care outside these hours please contact 111.

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BE MOUTHAWARE: 45 SECONDS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

M C

Are you able to recognise the changes in your mouth? That’s the question posed by St Michaels Orthodontics Ltd as they support a charity campaign to raise awareness of mouth cancer.

The orthodontic practice, based Wakefield is urging West Yorkshire residents to be more Mouthaware and recognise the early warning signs of mouth cancer, ahead of November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month.

With awareness of the disease remaining alarmingly low, St Michaels Orthodontcs say that a simple 45 second check is often all that’s needed to identify anything unusual and be able to then seek professional guidance.

  • Early diagnosis transforms our chances of beating mouth cancer from 50 per cent to 90 percent so it is crucial that we know what to look out for and that we do not hesitate in seeking advice from a health professional.
  • A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks, red or white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth or head and neck area, can all be potential signs of mouth cancer so it’s important to be aware of any changes occurring inside your mouth.
  • Quite often it is easier to notice lumps and bumps on the outside of the body or to dismiss a mouth ulcer as benign. Most of us will spend at least a few minutes every day in front of a mirror brushing our teeth so while we’re there it makes sense to have a quick look inside the mouth.
  • If you keep a lookout for these symptoms then a simple 45 second check really could save your life.
  • If you notice anything out of the ordinary, please speak to your dentist or a doctor.

Mouth Cancer Action Month takes place throughout November and is organised by the Oral Health Foundation.

With around 7,000 Brits diagnosed with mouth cancer last year, the disease is one of the UK’s fastest increasing cancers, with cases rising by a third in the last decade alone.

Survival rates of mouth cancer have not improved in the last 20 years and the oral health charity is concerned that too many are mouth cancers are being diagnosed at a late stage, significantly reducing our chance to beat the disease.

CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE added: “Mouth cancer can appear anywhere in the mouth including the lips, tongue, cheek, throat and gums.

“Mouth cancer can have a devastating effect on a person’s life, impacting on their breathing, eating and speech. Reconstructive surgery could also change their appearance while the experience often has an impact on confidence and self-esteem.

“By developing a greater understanding about the early warning signs and symptoms, the lifestyle factors which increase our risk, and recognising where to go if we notice anything unusual inside our mouth, we can detect mouth cancer early. This will not only improve our chances of beating it but will also reduce the amount of invasive surgery needed to treat it.

“During every dental check-up, your dentist will do a visual examination for mouth cancer and look for anything that might be a cause for concern. That’s why it’s so important to keep regular dental check-ups – it’s not just about the health of our teeth and gums – a trip to the dentist could really be a life saver.”

To book an appointment with St Michaels Dental Practice please call 01924 383369

To find out more information about mouth cancer and Mouth Cancer Action Month, please visit www.mouthcancer.org

 

 

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