Natasha Stoneman shares how The Wand has transformed her patient care and revolutionised revenue streams for the practices where she works.
Recent data on new working patterns published by the General Dental Council revealed that, of over 56,000 UK DCPs, 39% of dental hygienists frequently work at different locations.
So, how does practising across multiple workplace settings influence the quality of patient care? And how might broader surgical experience contribute to the success of both businesses? Could the skills, knowledge, and investments learned and experienced within one team positively shape and inform those of the other?
Dental hygienist Natasha Stoneman demonstrates how practices can benefit from this peripatetic work model. She has spent 16 years honing her skills since graduating from the Eastman Dental Institute in 2009. She now works across two practices in Essex – Parkhouse Dental Health and Apollo Dental Health Clinic, both in Southend-on-Sea. She divides her clinical hours between them, and they have been her dental homes since she qualified.
Her extensive experience across both settings has greatly enhanced her confidence and the quality of care she offers. Equally important, however, is that it has elevated the standards of the practices themselves, which have greatly benefited from her knowledge sharing.
In particular, this has involved an innovative piece of equipment that Natasha now rates as highly as her newly acquired loupes – ‘a game changer for magnification’ – and airflow hygiene technology that has transformed therapy with a more patient-friendly approach. But more of this later.
Dentistry has faced tough challenges in recent years. COVID-19 significantly impacted its delivery, and Natasha, like many others in the profession, continues to see the pandemic’s effects on her patients’ oral health, with some only recently returning.
Hygienists are on the frontline of patient education, especially when three- and six-monthly appointment recalls are standard, and Natasha takes the view that, for those with more complex oral hygiene needs, treatment is best carried out gradually to achieve long-term buy-in and compliance. Comfort, she maintains, is paramount if she is to establish trust.
‘After a five-year absence from the hygiene chair, it’s all about rebuilding confidence and getting patients back on track,’ Natasha explains. ‘Often, they come to me looking for quick fixes for staining, so honest, open communication is crucial. Sometimes they associate bleeding with damage, so I emphasise that it is manageable, which helps shift their mindset. For erosion, I suggest keeping a food and drink diary and noting the frequency of sugar intake. I encourage them to brush along the gumline and to use floss and TePes. We also suggest three-monthly recalls.’
She adds: ‘Oral hygiene instruction is always given, and I attempt to remove debris above the gums, bringing them back for a deep clean. A full mouth debridement is often necessary for those who have largely missed appointments, so I proceed gently.’
During the procedure, Natasha ensures patient comfort and explains each step to make the appointment as stress-free as possible.
‘I start gently on the first appointment, then gradually become firmer. If it is painful, I will treat one side during one appointment and the other at the next. For some patients, this is often the best option.’
The Wand has become an essential tool in this endeavour, earning a place on Natasha’s must-have list. The computer-assisted system delivers anaesthesia via a pen-like device, enabling precise application of local anaesthetic to a single tooth without affecting surrounding structures. This controlled, slow administration and pressure sensing makes it less invasive, keeps it below the patient’s pain threshold (so relatively painless), and reduces the risk of anxious responses.
And it is here that patients at both practices have benefited from Natasha’s experience.
‘I had used The Wand on and off before COVID-19; Parkhouse Dental Health has always had a unit, and we had got to the point where patients requested it. It is so much easier to administer a local anaesthetic, and I sold the idea to Apollo, where many of the team were so keen that we organised a training day with Dental Sky for the whole team that conveniently took place at our own practice. Although it can seem intimidating to some clinicians (because it is a relatively unfamiliar piece of equipment), it’s much easier to manoeuvre – and the dentists at Apollo are keen to embrace it.’
She explains: ‘It features three speed settings that allow a customised flow rate for each type of injection. It doesn’t resemble a syringe, making it suitable for needle-phobics but is suitable for all patients, including adults and children. It is also excellent for those with a strong gag reflex and those patients who purse their lips tightly. It comes into its own when I am bringing a patient back for deep cleaning, as it provides painless single-tooth anaesthesia with no collateral numbness. The initial step is slower, after which the flow can be increased as the surrounding tissues begin to numb. As you see the gum blanching, you can follow it around. It is perfect for root surface debridement, and it’s also effective for sensitivity and lower anterior teeth. You just insert it, and patients are happy. The computer-controlled, slow flow rate makes the injection more comfortable than with a traditional syringe.’
Like other clinicians, she has found that, alongside excellent communication, developing technologies such as this can help earn patient trust – particularly if they facilitate quicker, but more importantly, more comfortable procedures.
‘I always explain to patients how The Wand works, then bring them back for an hour to treat the first half of the mouth and another hour for the second. Now that people are returning after falling out of their hygiene routine, we must encourage them to resume their routines and offer treatments that are comfortable, help them grow in confidence, and build trust in us. As a practice investment, it also sets you apart from other practices and can boost patient loyalty.’
Natasha recently treated a patient who was terrified of treatment. Her last appointment had been in 2020, and at the initial appointment, she could not be touched. Natasha explains: ‘So I just worked on the lower 3 to 3 using The Wand to numb her. She returned for another appointment and was more than happy to be treated.’
Hygienists are invaluable assets to practices. While working in two different practice settings offers mum-of-two Natasha the benefits of flexibility and exposure to two distinct teams and philosophies, her experience has also had a ripple effect beyond her own work. Her success in demonstrating the value of The Wand has inspired colleagues and patients alike, fostering positive change that benefits patients – wherever they seek care.
This article was originally posted on Smile Oral Health Matters here.
