Dr Anne Gormley from Spires Oral & Dermal Clinic tells us about breakthrough products and services now available in-clinic.
Profhilo – The new injectable moisturiser
Sadly, the condition of our skin has been one of the casualties of six months of COVID-19 and restricted lockdown. The high levels of stress experienced along with poor diets and increased alcohol consumption have led to an increase in the aging process. Even prolonged wearing of cotton and clinical masks has caused dehydration and “macne “ in many people. Thankfully Spires dermal care are introducing a new product called Profhilo which is an injectable moisturiser. It is made up of hyaluronic acid which is found naturally in our skin although unlike dermal fillers it is not genetically modified. The material is processed thermally to produce a material containing larger molecules of HA and hence the body cannot break down the HA so quickly. Profhilo also helps to absorb moisture and consequently hydrates the skin. There are ten injection sites on the face. In order to be accepted onto the course to administer Profhilo it is mandatory to have performed 100 dermal fillers so you can be sure your clinician is highly competent in this field. This material is highly acclaimed and has been a game-changer in facial aesthetics.
There is no doubt that technology has its part to play in dentistry. Intra-oral scanners are now cutting edge within the profession. In recent years they are becoming the gold standard for taking impressions. The high level of accuracy alongside the reduction in time to send the scan to the laboratory have both helped to encourage clinicians to adopt the new technology. In COVID times, the scanner also reduces the risk of cross-infection as the laboratory technicians no longer have to handle the impression. The clinician also has less direct contact in the patient’s mouth. At Spires Oral Care, we are using the iTero scanner, particularly for our Invisalign Go patients to produce highly accurate scans which in turn ensure that the clear aligners fit properly. Patients prefer to have the treatment done in this way as it reduces the possibility of gagging. Cross infection control is a priority for both staff and patients. In addition, the scanner can be used to take scans for implants, crowns and bridges. As I start into my 30th year as a dentist, I am blown away by the possibilities open to the profession with this new equipment, a far cry from where my career started.
Dr. Anne Gormley is a highly experienced dentist who has been practising for over 30 years after graduating from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne School of Dental Sciences in 1991. She is also a facial aesthetic clinician, having obtained the Level 7 PGCert in Non-surgical Facial Aesthetics in 2019 from Northumbria University. She received her MFGDP(UK) qualification in 1996 from the Royal College of Surgeons, completed an Open University module in Paediatric Dentistry from Bristol University and finished a one-year part-time course in implant surgery and prosthetics. Dr. Anne has worked in the Restorative Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Orthodontic Department in the Waveney Hospital.
Dr. Anne specialises in cosmetic dentistry, with a particular interest in Align, Bleach, Bond (ABB). This technique involves straightening the teeth using Invisalign, followed by teeth whitening treatments and composite bonding and veneers. She loves enhancing facial features with non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as dermal fillers, botulinum toxins (also known as “Botox”) and Profhilo. In addition, Dr. Anne also specialises in crown, bridgework and ceramic veneers.