Children’s Dentistry at Foyle Dental Spa0

Posted on April 18th, 2012 in publications

Children’s Dentistry Derry/ Londonderry | Children’s Dentist | Foyle Dental Spa

Thanks to a new concept in children’s dentistry, local kids and parents have plenty to smile about. Quietly, using new techniques and latest technologies a new vision is emerging that will transform the dental health of children here. The man leading this velvet revolution is dentist Paul Cochrane of Foyle Dental Spa.

The FDS team are confident they can raise a generation of local kids without fillings or extractions – if they begin to treat them early and families follow their preventative strategy. It’s a bold statement, especially in region ranked among the worst for child dental health on these islands. But it’s a pledge that’s entirely evidence- based, the pioneering dentist insists.

Some 80 per cent of the patients Paul treats at Foyle Dental Spa are kids. The state-of-the-art practice puts a special emphasis on children and its family-orientated ethos permeates every aspect of the service. “At Foyle Dental Spa we look on excellent dental care as an investment in your child’s future. We all want the best for our kids and investing in their dental health in childhood pays massive returns.”

Underpinning the spa’s ethos is the emerging American concept of ‘a dentist for life’. “The future is our kids – by changing mindsets, raising expectations and above all concentrating on preventing decay from infancy on – we can deliver a new concept in dentistry to Ireland – north and south.” “Think of it as a journey, today’s 2- year-olds are the 4-year-olds, 10-yearolds, teenagers of the future.

If we see them early enough and we treat them into adulthood – then they can reach adulthood without fillings.” “Quality dentistry is about so much more than working on someone’s mouth – it’s about good communication, education. “Our ethos is also open, transparent, honest – it’s about building trust. “Traditionally there’s been too little focus on those aspects of dentistry. And in the past the profession didn’t fully recognise preventative needs,” Paul insists. Patient care, for both adults and children, is a top priority. And it’s no coincidence, Paul suggests, that the areas that have the worst childhood dental health also have the worst adult dental health.

Transparency

“I’ve a special interest in quality child dental care and we’re encouraged here at FDS to develop our interests with a view to establishing the practice as a centre of excellence.” Khalid Hussain, principal dentist and owner of Foyle Dental Spa was quick to identify Paul’s enthusiasm. “Few people have his passion, his wisdom, his expertise. At Foyle Dental Spa we want to be part of the change,” he says of his latest recruit. “We put forward a range of options – we don’t say – ‘this is what we’re giving you’; we say ‘this is what we’re offering’ and you make the ultimate decision. It’s all about making informed choices,” says practice manager Anne Crawley.

At Foyle Dental Spa Paul tailors the treatment to the specific needs of each and every patient – child or adult, mindful that every patient is an individual with individual needs. “We all want what’s best for our children – as a new father I know that instinct is written on our DNA. “But there is sometimes a lack of knowledge out there. We try to make parents see the importance of good dental care for their kids and to prioritize it.

Anxiety-free

“We encourage them to bring in a DVD of their choice – a feel-good movie or favourite show to help them relax. We talk to the parents – we don’t apportion blame, we work as a team – we do our part in the surgery and you and your child do your bit in the home. It’s an entirely holistic approach.

“And we work hard to make the parent feel comfortable, at ease and informed.”

Integrated service

“We offer NHS dentistry to all children resident in Northern Ireland. We register all children with the NHS and we also offer private dental care to children and adults in the cross border area. In our view, it’s all about being fair. Identifying the options available to parents, costing them individually and then letting the parents make thechoice.”