In the picturesque Wiltshire market town of Devizes, a quiet revolution in implant dentistry has been taking place over the past couple of years, as one practice's adoption of a easy to use implant system has led to a four-fold increase in patient numbers.
Martyn Cox first qualified as a dentist 20 years ago. He set up his first practice in Devizes in 1996, having previously run five clinics throughout Wiltshire, before launching his Ferndale Dental Clinic in 2008. The practice employs 20 staff, including two specialist associates in oral surgery and orthodontics, and with a strong interest in cosmetic and implant dentistry and facial aesthetics, has been carrying out 'in house' minor oral surgery for the past four years. Personally, Martyn has been developing his implant dentistry skills since 2005, when he studied an advanced implant training course where he learned how to deliver a wide range of treatments, starting with single units, before progressing to full arch rehabilitations, including all prosthetic stages.
By August 2010, however, frustration had set in, not only at the drawbacks and limitations of the implant systems he was using, but also the volume of implant-related work he was getting. Martyn had carried out fewer than 100 implant procedures in the previous five years, and was keen to explore alternative systems that would allow him to do more procedures and compete on price with more established implant practices in nearby Bath and Newbury.
Martyn started using the Implantium implant system and Korean-produced Dentium implants in September 2010, and almost immediately saw an upturn in fortunes.
He comments: "Since working with the Implantium system, I have seen a four-fold increase in the number of implants placed at my clinic. This has a lot to do with the ease of the system – the first Implantium I placed at the lower left first molar position took under 30 minutes from start to finish. My nurse and I were amazed at the speed of the system and it has made procedures so much easier.
"This is largely due to the logical, simple and well thought-out surgical kit. There was a slight learning curve in the use of Linderman drills, since they can be quite aggressive when you first use them and they definitely need a two-handed approach, but otherwise, I've been very impressed."
Other advantages that Martyn has experienced compared to other implant systems he has used previously are also mainly concerned with its simplicity. He has found the restorative side of the Implantium system very straightforward and logical, with a relatively minimal range of component parts in the kit. In addition, due to Implantium's streamlined business model, it is able to sell its high-quality implants at prices almost 40 per cent less than some rival providers. This combination of speed and simplicity has enabled the Ferndale Dental Clinic to be much more flexible in its pricing structure and the range of treatments it can offer.
Martyn explained: "This has had a direct implication in the placement of immediate implants in non-infected areas, since we often place at the time of extraction, providing the patient has been briefed of the possibility and has signed any relevant paperwork.
"It is so rewarding to provide this sort of treatment for our patients now that it is much more affordable and accessible. Some of these people have had to deal with years of self-consciousness about the appearance of their teeth, but now we're literally able to put the smile back on their faces. For example, one patient had lost most of their teeth and had them replaced with bulky and uncomfortable upper and lower dentures. This patient felt particularly awkward when speaking in meetings and would go out of her way to avoid smiling and laughing so as to not draw attention to herself. She even had difficulty eating properly. We replaced the dentures with implants and the transformation in her confidence was incredible."
Implant-related treatments now account for almost a quarter of the Ferndale Dental Clinic's gross income, with this figure set to grow in the years to come. Martyn commented: "Because the Implantium system is so simple to use, I have great confidence in my placements and restorations, which has led to us as a practice actively promoting implant treatments more and more. A number of my associates at the practice have seen the increased amount of patients we are treating and have started cross-referring, and in some cases, even starting to place Implantium implants themselves."