East Coast Orthodontics Blog

We have moved!!

jim@eazi-apps.com (Jim Kelly) — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:47:38 GMT

We are delighted to let you know we have moved to the beautiful, brand new Seapoint Clinic only a few mins walk from our old clinic.

Here is a sneak peak of the new clinic!

We are now at 4-6 The Avenue, Beacon Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 DE43

There is parking available in the main Beacon Hospital Car Park.

We look forward to seeing you there!

HSE Orthodontic Eligibility Guidelines

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 17:00:04 GMT

In Ireland one of the most confusing aspects of deciding Orthodontic treatment for your Children is wondering if treatment is covered by the HSE, because nobody wants to pay for private Orthodontic treatment if the the State is going to provide the same treatment for free. I do not work for the HSE so the following are my observations over the years and if you want definitive answers contact the HSE directly.

As with all State schemes,resources are limited so therefore orthodontic care is rationed through the use of waiting lists and priority groups. In general HSE will provide treatment if you fall in to Grade 4 or Grade 5 category.

Grade 5 Treatment Requirements

Increased overjet greater than 9 mm.
Extensive missing teeth or major dental anomalies such as amelogenisis imperferfecta.
Impeded eruption of teeth apart from wisdom teeth due to crowding, displacement,presence of suppernumerary teeth,retained deciduous teeth,and any patholigical cause.
Reverse overjet greater than 3.5,, with speech or eating problems.
Defects of cleft lip and palate .

Grade 4 Treatment Requirements

Reverse overjet greater tha 3.5mm.
Anterior or posterior crossbites greater than 2mm .
Severe displacement of anterior teeth.
Extreme lateral or anterior open bite.
Increased and complete overbite with gingival or palatal trauma.
Posterior lingual crossbite.
Reverse overjet greater than 1mm but less than 3.5mm with recorded masticatory and speech difficulities.

You may not fully understand all of it but I think you get the idea that only the most severe cases are accepted for treatment.I would say that 80% os cases are refused treatment.

So what are the practical implications?

Congratulations! you are accepted for treatment due to severity but HSE will not start treatment for 2 to 3 years if you are lucky! Any body who is in Grade 4 or 5 need to be treated as a matter of urgency, a two year wait time will only make a severe case even more difficult.
80% of Patients are eventually declined treatment ,attend private Orthodontist at 14 to 15 years instead of 11 to 12 and are not happy to have braces at 15 when thier friends are just finished not to mind the increased difficulty.

What you need to know from the HSE

Ask when your child will be formally assessed for Orthodontic treatment,and ask are they likely to be in Grade4 or 5. The sooner you know the sooner you can plan.
Ask HSE will they provide retainer care post treatment,I have seen quite a few HSE treated cases that relapse because no retainer care was provided.
Most private orthodontists want to see the child at 8 years to start planning treatment so treatment can start at the right time for the individual patient
HSE tend to formally assess children at 12 years of age which in my opinion is to late.

If you are in any doubt please consult your local private orthodontist, as you can be advised what is best for your child and when is best time to start treatment.

Talk Soon - Dr Jim ��

What Does a Smile Mean to You?

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:12:08 GMT

Smiling more, can change your way towards life.

We must spend millions of euro each year in Ireland looking after our health. We go to the gym, have fitness regimes, use supplements, visit the doctor and get prescriptions etc. It all really adds up fast. But luckily, there are ways that you can save money and still boost your health.

In this post I want to talk about one of the easiest and cheapest ways to boost your health, your mood and perhaps even your success. What is it? How do you do it? Just smile!

Think about it, a smile is like an accessory for a human being. To me it is the most important and attractive accessory. Why? Because it is all about expressing your happy and positive feelings. And even better, it also brings happiness to others. It is an expression that defines one person's feelings.

A Smile Means Different Things to Different People.

- A smile to a child means you are a friendly giant

- A smile to a stranger means you acknowledge he could be your friend

- A smile to old people means you are paying attention to them in a kind way

- A smile to yourself tells yourself you’ve had a good, fulfilling day

More Than One Facial Expression

A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. But this is only part of an overall facial expression. You also use your eyes and your eyebrows. As a result, you can do a nasty smile, a genuine smile of caring, happiness or love.

However, I’m sure you’ll agree that a smile is most often an indication of something nice. This is because when you see a person smiling it usually makes you want to smile as well; it's contagious.

Are you smiling as you read this? Yes? Good .

Smiling is a kind of strength that can be used in difficult situations. A smile can help with confidence. The next time you must deal with a difficult situation try a little smile and see does it help reduce your stress levels.

Look at yourself in the mirror and smile. That would make a big difference. Your smile is a good friend, and it will never disappoint you.

Have Confidence in Your Smile.

Smiling more, can change your way towards life.

Whatever meaning is behind our smile, as I’ve alluded to, it’s usually beneficial to our own wellbeing. So, how do you reap these benefits? And how do you find much-needed confidence in your smile? Here are some tips to help you make the best of your smile.

- Practice smiling.

Standing in front of a mirror and practicing your biggest and nicest smile will help you find the best smile-induced facial expressions which compliment your appearance.

- Have a healthy smile.

Pay attention to your oral hygiene. Perhaps you don’t really like your smile. You might avoid smiling because your teeth are crooked or overlapping. This can easily be fixed by an experienced orthodontist.

- Smile from the heart.

We tend to mimic the smiles or frowns of others because it helps us better understand what other people are feeling, allowing us to respond appropriately.-- - -Trust the feedback.

Smiling will relieve you of stress and boost your mood, make you feel more attractive and even physically healthier. Once you notice the positive reactions of people around you, you will smile with even more confidence and pride.

- Allow yourself to smile.

Sometimes people refuse to smile because they think it is a sign of vulnerability and weakness. However, your smile will make you appear friendlier and perhaps even make it easier to close business deals, get promotions or have people help you if you get stuck in a project at work.

Closing with a Smile.

Obviously the second point above is closest to my heart (and expertise). When you’re not happy about your smile for whatever reason, it’s hard to properly express those feelings. In other words, your oral health actually has an impact on your emotional health.

All of us naturally associate people in pictures with straight, white smiles as confident and healthy, and I would love to help you to feel the same.

Smiling is a curve that spreads happiness. It multiplies when you smile with someone and that someone smiles back. It is a way of spreading positive vibes.

If you would like a free consultation with us, just contact me. You don’t have to visit us we can talk online through this link - virtual consult .

Let’s chat about how you can get a smile worth showing off.

Talk soon – Dr. Jim ��