Dr Mark Bowes and Professor Howard Gluckman, founders of the revolutionary and innovative Enamel Clinic in the heart of De Waterkant, Cape Town South Africa are changing the stigmas surrounding dentistry and oral hygiene. In other words, it’s time to start taking care of your smile.
Chatting to Dr Mark Bowes, one of the founders of Enamel Clinic. He gave me the warmest welcome and his passion for dentistry is magnetic.
An Introduction To Enamel Clinic
Enamel Clinic offers bespoke treatments in a beautiful spa-like environment. They use the top-notch products, cutting-edge technology and perfected techniques, treating not just the teeth, but the patient as a whole, making it an all-rounded experience when walking through their gorgeous doors.
The Most Rewarding Part Of The Job
“We get the opportunity to restore our patients' smiles and give them their confidence back. We don’t realise the power of having the confidence of being able to smile in public,” says Dr Bowes and Professor Gluckman.
“Dentistry has always had a bad rap among the public. People are reluctant to see the dentist and aside from the scary concept of having dentists’ tools in your mouth, this was also contributed to by a lack of chair-side manner, by many in the profession.”
“At Enamel Clinic, we believe in relationship-driven dentistry. We build a relationship, based on trust. We initiate and encourage open and honest communication, about concerns, expectations, and fears. Not only does this allow patients to feel more comfortable in our room and alleviate any anxiety they might be feeling, but it shows how easy it is to visit your dentist.”
“This extends beyond the surgery. It’s an emotional journey, which begins when they first step into the clinic; from the way they are greeted, received, and interacted with. The entire team is instrumental in strengthening this. Their role is so much more than booking an appointment or passing a tool. They engage with the patients as much as the dentists do, sometimes even more. And it’s so rewarding to witness how much a patient appreciates the entire experience, as well as the result, removing the fear and anxiety they once had and replacing them with positive associations.”
Founders of Enamel Clinic: Dr Mark Bowes (left) and Professor Howard Gluckman (right).
Dentistry 101
How often do you visit your dentist? It’s recommended that patients see their dentist and oral hygienist twice a year, therefore, every six months. For some adults who have excellent oral hygiene, once a year might be sufficient to see the dentist, but it’s still recommended seeing an oral hygienist twice a year. Patients with specific gum conditions such as periodontitis, may be advised to see the oral hygienist more frequently.
How To Find The Perfect Dentist For You
Like all medical professionals, it is a good idea to do your research. Ask family and friends and look at reviews, etc. before visiting a clinic. Next, is the relationship that you build with your dentist. This is a personal relationship, as dentists are working in your mouth, which is such an intimate part of your body. Whilst you’re awake, you want to feel that you can trust your dentist and be confident that he/she has the relevant skills for the work you require.
Fear The Dentist, No More
“The first thing we say is, communication is key.”
“Talk to your dentist about your fear or anxiety. An open discussion can help identify the triggers and together, we can tailor a plan that would work best for you. A dentist with the patient at heart will do their best to make you feel comfortable and try as far as possible to help you through your fears and create beautiful smiles and wonderful memories.”
The rooms at Enamel Clinic are exquisite.
Why Is It So Important To Look After Your Smile?
“There are so many reasons!”
“However, confidence is the first word that comes to mind. Smiling is something that makes us feel better about ourselves and has a positive effect on our overall well-being. Simply smiling at someone releases oxytocin, which is an empathy drug. And we need this, especially during times where so many struggle with their mental health. Kindness and a warm, bright smile play powerful roles.”
“Moreover, when a smile is looked after, it translates to healthy teeth. This means that from a physiological point of view, our bodies will be healthy, since the teeth and mouth are linked to overall health.”
The Most Sought After Treatments in 2023
“One of the most common cosmetic requests we had in the past year was definitely Aligning, Bleaching and Bonding, which we acronymize with the term ABB. Adults' teeth often become increasingly more crowded and as we get older, our teeth darken and wear down. The combination of straightening teeth, whitening and bonding them with resin is a great treatment option for the patient.
Not only is it completely non-invasive (and non-damaging to the teeth), it also enhances strength and aesthetics of the teeth, along with function. Our aim is always to achieve the greatest result and give the patient complete confidence in their smile, with the least discomfort in achieving that.”
FYI:
People who show a lot of gum when they smile are also seeking cosmetic correction of this problem. This can have a massive impact on their smile. Gum recession can also have a negative impact on one's smile as the gum level is irregular and creates an unaesthetic smile. The gums are a critical part of the aesthetics of the teeth and can be compared to a picture and frame. In other words, if the frame is incorrect, it detracts from the beauty of the picture.
The Top Three Issues That Enamel Clinic’s Female Patients Faced This Year
1. Bleeding gums (Gingivitis)
The Solution: Getting a professional deep cleaning by an oral hygienist would be the first step to heal bleeding gums. They will give the necessary oral hygiene instructions and recommend products to use. Good oral hygiene practice at home is crucial after that.
2. Teeth staining
The Solution: Coffee/tea/red wine and smoking stains are extrinsic stains (outside the tooth) and can be removed by your oral hygienist. Also consider teeth whitening the lighten intrinsic stains (inside the tooth).
3. Sensitive teeth
The Solution: Speak to your oral hygienist regarding different products (toothpaste, mouth rinses, varnishes etc.) that can be used to relieve and treat tooth sensitivity. Check with your dentist if you have gum recession which is a big cause of sensitivity.
Thinking About Getting Teeth Whitening?
“Teeth whitening is a great cosmetic dental offering and suitable for anyone, provided they are an adult and have good oral health – as it would be unethical to whiten teeth that have cavities or provide treatment for a patient with gum disease. One should only have teeth whitening treatments at a dental clinic, with either a dentist or a highly skilled oral hygienist. They would be able to provide the proper advice and guidance on the do's and don'ts and who is eligible and not. For example, whitening cannot be done on crowns and veneers.”
Post teeth whitening at Enamel Clinic. I couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear!
Trend Talk
“As we approach 2024, we’re starting to see a greater connection between tooth wear and tooth movement as well as its relationship to sleep and breathing disorders,” says Professor Gluckman.
“Tooth wear has a significantly negative impact on breathing and sleeping. So, many of the patients who come in with tooth wear issues and then have Align, Bleach and Bonding treatments, also have sleep and breathing disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring. By understanding these conditions (which could lead to chronic illnesses like cardiac disease or inflammation) we are able to not only improve the aesthetics and function of the teeth and mouth, but also aid the patient’s overall health and longevity. This is something we call Airway Dentistry: where we help alleviate the causes of sleep and breathing disorders.”
Everyday Oral Hygiene Rules Straight From The Docs
- It’s vital to brush our teeth twice a day and floss once a day.
- It’s a good idea to also brush the top surface of the tongue.
- The best type of toothbrush is a soft bristle brush (keep in mind, movement should be circular and gentle). Most people brush too hard and cause damage to the soft tissue, which is very delicate.
- The correct flossing technique should also be used to avoid damage to the gums.
- Unsure how to floss? Chat to your nearest Oral Hygienist. They are the pros of flossing, as well as brushing.
Some Festive Season Advice
“Don’t use your teeth as tools,” plea Dr Bowes and Professor Gluckman. “People tend to use their teeth to open bottles, packets, and other objects this time of year. Please don’t do this, as we see many people with badly broken teeth as a result. Also, if you can, avoid carbonated drinks as they are really bad for the teeth and cause erosion of enamel – which is the white covering of your tooth structure. It’s so important to maintain your enamel health. Lastly, remember to take your toothbrush and floss with you wherever you go.”
How Long Does It Take To Repair A Chipped Tooth?
“We’ve seen some amazing developments in bonding techniques and resin materials over the last few years, so to fix a broken or chipped tooth can take as little as 30 minutes to an hour to repair, without any indication that there was any work done! Longevity of the repaired tooth is about 7 to 10 years, if not longer. Sometimes, if the case is minor, no drilling or anesthetic is necessary. These materials have such a natural appearance that they have the optical properties of a real tooth. It’s a relatively simple process these days, and we have really effective solutions.”
Read This If You Grind Your Teeth
“It’s important for the dentist to identify when patients are grinding their teeth. It can happen from a very early age and the effects are quite gradual. So, it’s difficult for the patient to notice until it’s too late. Regular checkups are important, as this allows dentists to spot these instances early on, and monitor them. We now have intraoral scans, which are taken yearly. They can pick up minute amounts of tooth wear causing grinding, so we can intercept it before it progresses, avoiding more significant treatment. If identified early enough, treatment will simply be to wear a night guard to protect teeth. Many patients don’t get this advice, so by the time they realise that there’s an issue, damage has already been done and they would require more substantial treatment. We do however also advise these patients to wear a night guard, as this prevents further damage.”
A Word For Future, Aspiring Dentists
“Dentistry is many things. It’s an art and a science, but it’s also a peoples’ profession. It’s important to remember that although your primary role is to treat the teeth and mouth, you’re also treating a person that has hope, faith (in your skills and expertise) and insecurities that they’re trusting you to help with.
It’s also important to research and explore the different specialties to decide which is the best fit for you. This ties in with identifying your own strengths and weaknesses. Not everyone is suited to everything and that’s okay! Find your fit.
Lastly, determine what it is that you want out of your career in Dentistry and pursue it. This profession requires lots of hard work, patience and sacrifice and you will deal with a few challenging situations, but - the sense of achievement and gratification you feel when your patient lights up because of what you’ve done or created for them is an unmatched feeling of reward.”
Are you the future of Enamel Clinic?
Get in touch:
Dr Mark Bowes
Visit Dr Mark Bowes’ website here.
Follow Dr Mark Bowes on Instagram here.
Professor Howard Gluckman
Visit Professor Howard Gluckman’s website here.
Follow Professor Howard Gluckman on Instagram here.
Enamel Clinic
Visit Enamel Clinic’s website here.
Follow Enamel Clinic on Instagram here.
If you have any queries, please leave a comment below! Thank you for reading.