April 25th is World Penguin Day! A day to think about those natives of the southern hemisphere – penguins. And what penguin mouths are like! Although not all penguins live in the Antarctic, and some live in much warmer waters, some species are endangered. The focus of the awareness day is on protecting their food sources and habitats from the effects of human population growth and global heating. Go to Penguin International for lots of informative and fun penguin-themed activities. Surprising penguins We’re definitely attracted to penguins. They’re in films and cartoons, they’re soft toys a ..read more

“When should I contact my MP?” “Now!” Find your MP February update: “Faster, simpler, fairer” On February 7th, 2024, the government released an action plan to improve patient access to NHS dentistry. They say what we want to hear – that NHS dental care will be “faster, simpler and fairer”. The government plan outlined sounds like the positive action patients and workers in the dental sector have been asking for. It’s what we all want for NHS dental care. Reading through the new government reform strategy we want to believe there is a positive drive forward, and feel optimistic that governmen ..read more

Dentist Nader Botros is accepting new patients at SpaDental Ledbury and Tewkesbury. Nader joined SpaDental in 2020. Begin your journey to straighter whiter teeth – click to read more Our patients say: “I was impressed by the caring & professional attitude of the dentist.” “The Dentist and his assistant were extremely helpful and pleasant throughout my time. I left feeling that the examination had been very thorough and professional.” “The dentist takes time to explain options in my treatment, the risks and outcomes as well as the costs.” A skilled hand, an aesthetic eye Two qualities tha ..read more

If you require a more complex dental treatment, your dentist’s use of a microscope can greatly improve your treatment journey. In the hands of a skilled dentist, a dental microscope is a valuable tool in restorative dentistry. It helps the dentist provide optimum levels of treatment to patients. It is favoured by dentists who offer complex endodontic treatments. Dentist Nader Botros performing an endodontic procedure on a patient in SpaDental Ledbury. Using the latest technology can make a significant difference to the treatment outcome. Patient benefits from a dental microscope A high ..read more

SpaDental wishes all of our patients a happy and safe holiday season. We hope you won’t have a dental problem as no-one wants to spend a holiday weekend seeing their dentist in a professional capacity. But here is some handy information, just in case. The NHS advice is to only visit A&E for dental care in ‘serious’ circumstances, such as: severe pain (when self-administered pain relief is inadequate or not possible for medical reasons) heavy bleeding injuries to the face, mouth or teeth.   SpaDental has procedures in place to help you out over holiday periods. If you need to ..read more

Dental treatment abroad usually falls into two categories. Either: Patients who plan a trip specifically for a particular procedure because the prices are cheaper than where they live. Or: People tempted to make spur of the moment decisions to undergo a procedure, because it’s an attractive idea at the time. In both cases, there can be satisfactory outcomes but there can also be terrible disasters.   Planned dental treatment abroad. A quick search in a website browser will throw up a wide range of dental destinations and treatments for consideration. With long NHS waiting lists and t ..read more

Dentistry is one of the few NHS services where you have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. To help understand NHS dental charges each year, the information on this page explains what you may have to pay for your NHS dental treatment. Emergency dental treatment – £26.80 This covers emergency care in a primary care NHS dental practice such as pain relief or a temporary filling. Band 1 course of treatment – £26.80 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care su ..read more

The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion. It’s a good time to look at the important role women play in dentistry. Opportunities for women in dentistry Throughout the last century, most dentists were men. Indeed, if we look at the percentage of male to female dentists over 55, it’s still predominantly male. But with an increasing number of women training in dentistry, the balance is changing. Women in the dental sector have chosen to challenge traditional roles, and the gender balance has changed. Key issues facing women in dentistry today Information from the BDA ..read more

If you are a patient who had an appointment booked on Friday 23rd February, 2024, we would like to reassure you that one of our team will be in touch with you soon to re-schedule your appointment. Thank you for your understanding. If for any reason you need to contact us, please use our online form. Get in touch!   A German SC-500 bomb dropped on Plymouth during the Second World War caused disruption across Plymouth. With record numbers of people evacuated from their homes it was certainly a significant event. Historians suggest the undetonated bomb remained from a raid on either the 2 ..read more

Each year March 16th is all about pandas. Here, it’s always about teeth and today it’s giant pandas’ teeth in particular. Well known because they’re endangered, I believe it’s true to say that although we all have a good idea of what a giant panda looks like, not many of us have ever seen a live one. I know I haven’t. Until last year, the only giant pandas in the UK were in Edinburgh Zoo. But now they have gone. Read more here about the pandas’ return to China. Striking images of pandas are everywhere though. Indeed, the giant panda is the famous emblem of the World Wildlife Foundation. So a ..read more