Page 19 - Phonebox Magazine June 2007

Cobbs Garden Dental Practice
Richard Shaw, Senior Dentist at Cobbs Garden Dental Practice, has been practising Dentistry in Olney for 25 years. Ron interviewed him to see what has changed in that time and to find out what we can expect in the future from him.
Ron: Congratulations on 25 years in Olney Richard. Tell us how you came to be here and what has happened during this time.
Richard: Thank you. I have to say it really doesn’t feel that long – I must have enjoyed it! I started in January 1982, after qualifying from Birmingham University and worked for a partnership based in Newport Pagnell, dividing my time between there and Olney. We had a very small set up in Olney House on the High Street. After a couple of years they offered the Olney surgery to me to purchase and I jumped at the chance because I absolutely loved the town and the patients seemed to like me!
As the town grew, we got busier and about 15 years ago there was the opportunity to move into one of the newly built bungalows next to the Doctors surgery in Cobbs Garden. Since then we haven’t stopped changing and improving the services that we offer. I say we, because virtually all my staff have been with me since we moved. We are like a family really, and I think that our clients like the fact that there is a friendly welcome from a familiar face.
feel like an old fashioned Dental Surgery that I remember from my youth.
How has Dentistry changed?
Richard: Unbelievably! Probably the most important thing is that people are more aware of dental health and look after themselves better. We see much less decay in children thankfully. I have always preached that prevention is better than cure.
As far as modern techniques go, we now have reliable bonding of tooth-coloured materials to teeth, which has opened up cosmetic dentistry possibilities that were never available 25 years ago. Using bonding, often we don’t even have to use the drill. That is very popular with our clients!
Dental Implants, to replace missing teeth are wonderful and really work well. I have studied and attended many courses in Implantology and Cosmetic Dentistry both here and abroad, so that I can offer these techniques with reliability.
Last year I undertook a lengthy course with some of the top guys from the USA to learn ‘Smile Design’, using new ceramics which are available to provide veneers and crowns. The results that we are getting are amazing and can really change people’s lives.
of it, can you imagine how it can change their personality if you can give them a lovely smile that they can be proud of?
Ron: What about the future?
Richard: I have just
completed the training in
Botox and Dermal Fillers. These can enhance one’s appearance by reducing or even eliminating facial wrinkles and lines. They are totally safe and because I am very proficient with injections, they are virtually painless. I want to be able to offer a complete ‘aesthetic service’ to people.
We are just introducing ZOOM! teeth whitening, which is the number 1 system from the USA.
Apart from that, I do not intend to sit still and have ambitions to keep abreast of new technology and techniques if I think that they can benefit people.
We have just been joined at the practice by Miss Bernarde Smyth, who takes over from Michael Huntley who has recently moved away. She will look after his existing patients and will be taking on new patients to the Practice. She is an experienced Dentist with a lovely personality. She will fit in with our ethos perfectly.
Ron: What do you mean by that?
Ron: That’s true. There is always a friendly Richard: Well, if someone hates the look of Ron: Thanks for that Richard and good luck
Cobbs Garden Dental Practice
welcomes Miss Bernarde Smyth, who will be looking after patients previously registered with Michael Huntley and taking on new private patients from June.
atmosphere in the Practice. It certainly doesn’t their teeth and doesn’t want to smile because for the next 25 years! K
WE PROVIDE FRIENDLY, CARING DENTISTRY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
G Comprehensive Dental Plan available G Crowns
G Veneers
G White Fillings
Bernarde Smyth
G Dental Implants
G Teeth Whitening
G Facial Aesthetics – removal/reduction of wrinkles and lines
10% discount for teeth whitening and facial aesthetic treatments during June and July
5 Cobbs Garden, West Street, Olney, Bucks MK46 5QG 01234 711489 www.cobbsgarden.com
Richard Shaw
Phonebox Magazine 19