Meet our clinician, Abdul Wahab

SpaDental is pleased to introduce you to Sibahathullah Abdul Wahab. At the moment, Abdul is working as a dental therapist in three practices: SpaDental Ledbury, Ross-on-Wye and Tewkesbury.

A qualified dentist in his home country, Abdul has worked as a dentist for over 15 years, in both India and the United Arab Emirates. Last year, he decided to become a dentist in the UK, and applied to take the Overseas Registration Examinations (ORE) that will enable him to practice the full scope of his skills here. Until then, Abdul is registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) to work as a dental therapist in England.

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An accomplished professional

Abdul has enjoyed a successful career delivering a full range of general dental treatments to optimise his patients oral health. Moreover, he has experience in placing dental implants and using dental lasers.

“Very nice – gave me meticulous instruction on the best way to keep the plaque at bay and I was pleased to receive it.”  A SpaDental Tewkesbury patient.

As a dentist, Abdul finds great satisfaction in being able to help patients who are in discomfort because of their teeth. It is rewarding to be able to deliver good dental care so patients feel comfortable with dentition that is healthy, functions well and looks pleasing. Having a healthy mouth ensures individuals can enjoy the benefits of healthy nutritious food as digestion begins with chewing, which in turn improves overall wellbeing.

Before moving to England, Abdul was doing complex dental treatments, regularly doing tricky posterior root canal treatments and trans-alveolar extractions. Early in his career, Abdul trained with Nobel Biocare  in dental implant surgery with prosthesis loading. He also has a diploma in the use of dental lasers awarded by Aachen University.  In his daily work as a dentist, Abdul performed many laser procedures. For example, the removal of gum tissue (gingivectomy) for periodontal health or aesthetics, cavity preparation prior to filling, gingival depigmentation, crown lengthening, root canal disinfection, laser bandaging for oral ulcers, pre-prosthetic alveoloplasties, and laser tooth whitening.

Currently, in his role as a dental therapist, Abdul helps to alleviate discomfort, he shares good advice so his patients can keep their gums healthy, and guides them towards their optimum oral health.

Abdul listens to his patients carefully, so he can understand their dental problems.  He consults with them about every aspect of the procedure, discussing the outcome, pros & cons, long term and short-term benefits, and the price.  His patients are actively involved in the decision making process regarding the procedures and their health.

Moreover, Abdul helps his patients by calming their dental anxiety. Often patients avoid dental visits due to fear of pain or because of the cost. It is important for patients to feel comfortable.  He listens carefully and believes an open discussion about the procedure, possible adverse effects, the cost and outcome, helps his patients feel comfortable and cared for.

How a Dental Therapist can help you

Did you know that you can book an appointment directly to see a dental therapist? It’s called Direct Access, and has been permitted for private patients since 2013. Prior to that, patients had to see a dentist before they were permitted to see a therapist (or hygienist). It allows patients more control over how they manage their own oral health.

As part of a hygiene appointment, your clinician performs a check of your teeth and mouth. If they see anything of concern beyond their scope of practice, they will let you know you should book an appointment with a dentist. Otherwise, a visit to the therapist is an excellent way of supporting your home dental care regime. It allows for regular visits for a ‘scale and polish’, as well as advice on how to look after your teeth and mouth more effectively.

Therapists are a great support for children too

It is so important for children to have regular oral health checks. Therapists are able to support children’s oral health. Their scope of practice includes fluoride application, and delivering information in a friendly way about brushing, oral hygiene and healthy eating. If necessary, a therapist can fill or extract primary teeth, which is helpful when a child is in pain and needs attention quickly.

Direct Access to dental therapy appointments

Over the last two years, many children and adults haven’t been able to get the dental attention they need, especially with the national decrease in the number of dentists offering NHS care. As a private patient, it is possible to make a direct access appointment with a dental therapist. A professional clean can be of great benefit to adult teeth, and children can benefit from instruction to brush better and fluoride treatment.

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