My Journey in Zygomatic Implants

Nov 12, 2021

My first step into the zygomatic implants started around 4 years ago. I went to Brazil and did live patient hands-on training. During a one-week immersive experience with other surgeons from the UK I placed 9 zygomatic fixtures in 5 patients. I have been carrying out this procedure ever since.

I recently attended a 3-day Zygoma course with Carlos Aparicio in Manchester and I would like to share my takeaways from this course. Learning from an expert in Zygomatic implants was an opportunity I could not miss. Carlos has multiple published articles in journals around zygomatic implants, developed the ZAGA concept, written a textbook on zygomatic implants and designed the latest Straumann zygomatic implant.

Here are my five takeaways from the course:

1 / the most important instrument is the pencil!
2 / the importance of meticulous planning and 3D printed models
3 / learn about complications to avoid them
4 / the right patient, surgeon and technique is the true key to success
5 / creating...

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Charity is A Challenge

Sep 28, 2021

Fulfilment isn’t the only emotion you will feel when you volunteer on a dental aid mission, although it is the prevailing one.

Long hours of hard work start from the planning stages, when we recruit volunteers - core clinicians, nurses and therapists - and map out the logistics.

Over 200 orphans received essential dental treatment in our 2016 trip to Kashmir. Many of those children had never received treatment before, let alone visited a dentist. We also lent our services to two local schools for children suffering from blindness and hearing impairments.

Trips like this allow you to develop a sense of pride for what you do, especially when you see the smiles on their faces. Every now and then, however, there’s an itch of frustration for what you can not do for them and how much more you want to give but can’t.

 I have been on dental aid missions to Kashmir and Palestine twice. We have also assisted in   orchestrating  trips to Greece and...

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Magic of Reading

Jul 30, 2021

Even if you have read just one book, you will know what reading gives. It gives you unparalleled pleasure. There is no doubt that reading has been instrumental to my personal growth.

I would like to share some reasons why I read:

One of the major reasons I love to read books is because of the knowledge I gain from reading. Every time I read a book, I learn new information that I may otherwise not be exposed too. It’s the best return of investment bar none. For a few pounds, I gain exposure to an abundance of knowledge.

Reading stimulates my mind to think and helps unlock my creative potential.

Every time I read a book, my brain learns to remember new things and it has an impact on my memory. It gets better.

Reading a book relaxes me in a similar manner as listening to music or exercising. According to studies, those who read tend to have lower stress levels and improved sleep.

My critical thinking skills have developed by reading. This...

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Five Steps To Safer Implant Surgery

Jul 24, 2021

Preventing surgical errors involves following a systems approach.

This includes the participation of all team members involved in the patient's journey.

Let’s remember that our patient's expectations are the same as ours; is the staff adequately trained? Do they know how to deal with complications and is the equipment safe?

My Five Steps To Safer Implant Surgery

1. Checklists
2. Diagnostic aids
3. Informed consent
4. Surgical team briefing/debriefing
5. Silent Cockpit protocol

Checklists provide a safety net to prevent undesirable events.Two types of checklists are described: safety checklists and task checklists. Task checklists are useful for surgical procedures that involve multiple interdependent stages. Safety checklists aim to reduce undesirable events during a surgical procedure.

Diagnostic aids such as radiographic imaging and restorative guides are invaluable in implant cases allowing the surgeon to perform procedures with confidence and predictability.

Obtaining informed...

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Managing Stress During Surgery

Jul 21, 2021

It's simple… it's all in the PREPARATION.

Stress during surgical procedures is not an uncommon feeling and I feel it can be avoided/minimised by focusing on 4 specific areas. These areas are all inter-connected and can not be addressed in isolation to be effective.

4 key areas of focus to minimise surgical stress:

1 Procedure
2 Patient
3 Team
4 Environment

Procedure preparation relies on the surgeon having an appropriate knowledge level and training. The knowledge level must include awareness of complications and their management along with the surgical ability to execute the procedure. It should involve mental rehearsal and visualisation of the surgical procedure in advance of the surgery date. As the surgeon we must demonstrate leadership as the team will usually mirror our demeanour and reactions.

Patient preparation begins with building rapport and trust. This starts from the very first encounter and is followed by your patient understanding and accepting the rationale...

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Complications Will Arise - Prepare for Them

Jul 13, 2021

So just how normal is human error?

In fact, research suggests that regardless of the activity or task being conducted, humans make between 3-6 errors per hour.

Even a relatively small error can trigger a very serious incident.

The average person will make 773,618 decisions over a lifetime and will come to regret 143,262 of them. A typical adult makes 27 judgments a day usually starting with whether to turn off the alarm or hit snooze.

As clinicians, we can’t avoid complications. They are part of our profession, and once you are faced with one, you have to know how to respond.

Forming the proper response always starts in your mind. In the same way that you can bolster your confidence, you can condition yourself to respond - not react - to complications.

Most people’s initial response to them is to dwell on the results or on the on-going dilemma. While it’s vital that you examine your actions, your focus should be on the possible solutions you can apply.

Just...

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Support Network-Do You Have One?

Jul 01, 2021

I cannot stress enough the significance of being in the right environment and surrounding yourself with people who share your vision and your values.

These are the people who need to be part of your support network because they can provide the encouragement you need in the context of your mindset and goals. They know you well enough to identify what kind of encouragement you respond to and how they can be with you in your lowest moments.

Establish a network of clinicians around you that consist of colleagues and mentors. These are the people you can consult with to reflect following the completion of a procedure.

This support network in your workplace/environment serves as an accessible source of encouragement through the micro and macro failures you will experience. While you are your primary supporter, it’s good to receive assurance from other people that mistakes happen, and that’s okay.

In the same way that they are available for you, be present for their needs as...

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Surround Yourself with Learners

Jun 25, 2021

Your environment will always influence your decisions. This is why it’s integral that you select settings and people who will inspire you to keep learning.

A well-known quote from Jim Rohn is that ‘you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’

Who are those five people in your life? Do they motivate you to accomplish more, or do they tempt you to be complacent? Ask yourself if you need to find a new social and professional circle that will benefit your dreams. You may not have total control over your environment all the time, but you can make decisions that bring you closer to the right people.
These people are the like-minded individuals who share similar passions and goals. They are interested in advancing their education and using their careers to help others. It’s even better if these individuals are ahead of you in many ways because that will challenge you to reach their level.

I was in an environment that influenced me to go down...

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Practice What You Learn

Jun 17, 2021

Practice is how you create things in the physical. What you start in the mind through learning, you turn into reality through relentless application. Doing it once is not enough. To be good at something, you have to practice it relentlessly every day. 
I travel all over the UK to work with different clinicians. This gives me the opportunity to learn from a variety of clinicians all the time, and it has been a part of my on-going routine for a while now.
Consider taking opportunities outside of your regular work. Search for programs that give you access to respected authorities in your field and learn how they perform their tasks. 
One of the ways we improve is by looking at other people and what they do.  I take every chance I get to reach out to people I look up to and ask to shadow them. This way, I can observe them and try to use their methods in my own practice.  The more exposure you get, the sooner you will master your specialty.  
Maybe what you need...

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Simplicity

Jun 10, 2021

“Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.” – Martin H. Fischer

Every person has a different way of learning. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Intelligence inspired eight learning styles that can help you determine the best approach for you. 

* Visual (spatial)
* Aural (auditory)
* Verbal (linguistic)
* Physical (kinaesthetic)
* Logical (mathematical)
*  Social (interpersonal)
*  Solitary (intrapersonal)
* Naturalistic (outdoors)

For a learning strategy to be effective and enjoyable it has be understandable. Trying to understand Full arch implant dentistry can appear to some as a daunting task. The best outcome for everyone is if it can be explained in a simple way. This motivates further learning and stimulates natural curiosity which is required to develop even further.

A method that works for you may differ from another colleague. If you so happen to be a visual learner, copying your colleague’s habit of...

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