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News 2010

December 2010 - Pacific Smiles Dental – Open this Christmas and New Year

The dental industry, as with many professional service industries, typically closes over the Christmas and New Year holiday period. This often leaves many people within our local community with few, if any options for assistance for emergency or urgent dental care.

To ensure our local community has access to required dental care over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, some Pacific Smiles Dental Centres will be open and available to see patients who have toothaches or other dental emergencies.

For information about when your local Pacific Smiles Dental Centre is open over the Christmas and New Year period click here.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year; you can relax knowing that we are available if you require an appointment.

November 2010 - Traralgon Community Deserve to Smile

Dental health is a subject which is rarely discussed without someone commenting about their fear of the dentist or their embarrassment about the state of their teeth. It’s true that Australians typically visit the dentist too infrequently and many of us spend more on our hair than we do on our teeth, despite the importance of the function, appearance and health of our teeth and gums.

But the people of Traralgon have shown an incredible commitment to their dental health since the opening of Pacific Smiles Dental in Traralgon, twelve months ago.

“We have been very busy since opening” said Dr David McMahon, the Lead Dentist at Pacific Smiles Dental, Traralgon. He added that the best way to ensure a life-long healthy smile is to follow three simple steps:

• Regularly brush and floss using the correct technique

• Limit all food and drink intake to meal times

• Visit the dentist 6 monthly for an examination and clean if required

Dr McMahon leads a dedicated team of dentists and staff at Pacific Smiles Dental, Traralgon, including Dr Sashi Nair and Dr Karen Griffin. Dr McMahon confirmed that the team are passionate about not only providing excellent dental treatments, but educating the community about oral disease and their effective prevention.

As part of this focus on education, Pacific Smiles Dental offers local pre-schools and kindergartens access to a free dental health education program which introduces children to the sights and sounds of a visit to the Dentist, the importance of brushing teeth and also about healthy eating. The program gives children the opportunity to learn good dental health practices in a fun and interactive environment in their own classroom.

Dr McMahon said “our free education program informs children of effective health management”.

Pacific Smiles Dental understands that many patients feel anxious about attending the dentist and that they delay making those necessary appointments to improve the health of their teeth and gums. The Pacific Smiles Dental team at Traralgon focus on reducing that fear and anxiety by providing a gentle and caring dental experience. A positive and stress free dental appointment means patients are more likely to continue with regular dental check-ups, ensuring a happy and healthy smile for life.

For more information about keeping a healthy smile for life or about Pacific Smiles Dental’s free dental health education program please call 5175 8700.

October 2010 - Open this long weekend.

Pacific Smiles Dental is dedicated to patient care which is why some of our New South Wales Dental Centres are open this October long weekend. We understand that patients who are genuinely in a dental emergency need priority attention.

We are pleased to advise that the following centres are open every day this long weekend:

• Pacific Smiles Dental, Greenhills: Please phone 4934 9000 between 8.30am and 5.30pm on Saturday or 10.00am and 5.00pm on Sunday and Monday.

• Pacific Smiles Dental, TuggerahWarilla: Please phone 4350 0500 between 9.00am and 5.00pm on Saturday or 9.00am and 4.00pm on Sunday and Monday.

• Pacific Smiles Dental, Erina: Please phone 4363 7300 between 8.30am and 5.00pm on Saturday and Sunday or 9.00am and 4.00pm on Monday.

Pacific Smiles Dental Centres located at Charlestown, Gladesville, Morisset, North Parramatta, Rutherford and Salamander Bay have appointments available on Saturday October 2nd 2010. Pacific Smiles Dental, Morisset is also able to provide assistance on Monday October 4th 2010.

We hope you have an enjoyable long weekend; you can relax knowing that we are available if you require an appointment.

May 2010 - Pacific Smiles Group opens new Dental Centre at Erina Fair Shopping Centre.

Pacific Smiles Group (PSG) is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new Dental Centre on the New South Wales Central Coast. The new Pacific Smiles Dental Centre is located at Erina Fair Shopping Centre, Erina. It opens today, Monday 24th May 2010.

The brand new Centre opens with two fully equipped surgeries and a potential capacity of up to five surgeries, including a purpose-designed prosthetist room. The Dental Centre has been fitted with the latest proven dental technologies including digital x-rays, OPG and an electronic patient management IT system. The quality and standard of the fit-out and finishes is outstanding, providing patients, dentists and employees with a comfortable and functional interior environment, conveniently located within the largest shopping centre on the Central Coast.

The new Dental Centre is the eighth Pacific Smiles Dental Centre in the Hunter and Central Coast region of New South Wales. Pacific Smiles Dental is a well-known and respected business in this region and we are pleased to now have a presence in the southern area of the Central Coast to complement the successful Pacific Smiles Dental, Tuggerah, which is located 20 kilometres to the north.

Like Pacific Smiles Dental, Tuggerah, the new Dental Centre at Erina will open 7 days a week. This will greatly enhance accessibility for the local community to dental care when they need it. The dentists at Pacific Smiles Dental, Erina, will offer family and cosmetic dental treatments and will reserve time every day for emergency appointments for patients requiring urgent treatment.

Arrangements are in place with all major health funds to ensure that privately insured patients enjoy maximum benefits. Eligible patients will be treated under Government funded programs such as the Medicare Teen Dental Plan, Chronic Disease Dental Scheme and Veterans’ Affairs.

After an extensive local communication campaign, including press, radio and direct mail, the new Centre opens today with over 180 appointments, confirming the need for additional dental services on the Central Coast.

May 2010 - Pacific Smiles Dental launches in the Illawarra.

Pacific Smiles Group (PSG) today announced the acquisition of a popular and reputable Dental Centre in Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales. The Nowra dental centre formerly owned by Dr Paul Broganis centrally located at 64 Junction Street, Nowra and has been providing quality dental care to the people of Nowra and surrounding areas for over thirty years.

The Nowra acquisition allows PSG to establish the first Pacific Smiles Dental Centre in the Illawarra / Shoalhaven region of New South Wales. With its history of success in regional areas such as the Hunter region of New South Wales and the Gippsland region of Victoria, PSG will carefully assess other opportunities in the Illawarra / Shoalhaven for the establishment of a local network of Pacific Smiles Dental Centres.

Like all Pacific Smiles Dental Centres, the acquired Centre in Nowra, will feature the latest proven clinical technologies including digital x-ray systems and D4W patient management software. Investments will be made in new equipment and new instruments and the facility will be expanded to feature four brand new surgeries.

John Gibbs, CEO of Pacific Smiles Group says that the acquisition of Dr Brogan’s dental centre confirms the commitment of Pacific Smiles Group to investments in key regional locations throughout NSW and Victoria to provide regional communities with access to excellent dental care services.

April 2010 - New Dental Centre for Waurn Ponds and Pacific Smiles Group.

Pacific Smiles Group is pleased to announce the opening of a brand new Dental Centre in the fast-growing Geelong suburb of Waurn Ponds. Pacific Smiles Dental, Waurn Ponds is located within the Medical One Building at 160 Colac Road, Waurn Ponds and opened on Monday 19 April 2010.

In a first for Pacific Smiles Group, the new Waurn Ponds Dental Centre is co-located with a general medical and allied health centre. The entire facility, known as Medical One, is a new stylish building that is well located opposite the major shopping centre extension at Waurn Ponds. It offers patients the convenience of a range of health services within one building, including general medical services, pathology, physiotherapy and podiatry services. There is also a retail pharmacy about to open on site.

The new Pacific Smiles Dental Centre opens with 2 fully equipped surgeries with a potential future capacity of up to 4 surgeries. As is the Pacific Smiles Group standard, surgeries are fitted with the latest proven technologies including digital imaging and electronic patient charting.

Patients have access to the new Centre 6 days a week and there are daily emergency appointments available, as at all Pacific Smiles Dental Centres. Dental Practitioners will offer a range of services including family and cosmetic dentistry and will participate in Medicare funded dental care schemes such as Medicare Teen Dental and the Enhanced Primary Care Scheme.

Pacific Smiles Dental, Waurn Ponds joins a growing Victorian cluster of Dental Centres around Geelong, which also includes Drysdale and Torquay.

CEO of Pacific Smiles Group, Mr John Gibbs, said he is “excited to see the expansion of the Pacific Smiles Dental network in regional Victoria where population growth and demand for dental services are both strong. The Geelong region, like the Hunter and Gippsland regions, is well suited to the unique business model of PSG.”

March 2010 - Pacific Smiles Dental Returns Smiles to Faces.

For the fourth consecutive year, Dentists and staff from Pacific Smiles Dental generously donated their time on Saturday 13th of March to participate in the NSW National Dental Foundation Volunteer Day.

The Volunteer Day, which is held biannually, aims to assist disadvantaged Australians improve their dental health by providing free quality dental care.

A team of four Dentists and Dental Assistants offered their time on Saturday providing a range of services to eighteen patients from local charities including Carries Place and WHO. Patients received a range of much needed dental treatment including examinations, cleans, fillings and extractions.

Dr Alison Hughes, founder of Pacific Smiles Dental, was part of the team on Saturday and said “the patients were extremely appreciative of the care they received on the day”. “The team was happy to assist patients from the local community – dental treatment can make a huge difference to someone, especially when we can remove a toothache, or improve the appearance of a tooth for someone. We were just glad for the opportunity to give back to the community in this way”.

For some Australian’s, regular and emergency dental treatment is relatively unattainable due to lengthy waiting lists for dental services in the public health system. Participation in the NSW National Dental Foundation Volunteer Day by Dentists and staff of Pacific Smiles Dental, assist between 40 and 50 patients each year offering the much needed care that is often not available.

Pacific Smiles Dental plans to participate again in the next Dental Rescue Day to be held in August 2010.

January 2010 - Another Victorian Acquisition for Pacific Smiles Group.
Pacific Smiles Group (PSG) today announced the acquisition of Drysdale Family Dental Clinic at 41 High Street, Drysdale, which is located on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, near the regional city of Geelong. Previously owned by Dr Nick Johnstone, the Centre has been providing quality dental care to the people of Drysdale and surrounding areas for many years.

The Drysdale acquisition brings the number of Pacific Smiles Dental Centres in regional Victoria to six with other centres located at Bairnsdale, Sale, Torquay, Traralgon and Warragul.

Like all of the other Dental Centres owned and operated by PSG, Pacific Smiles Dental, Drysdale, will be progressively updated and expanded to cater for the needs of a growing population in the local area. The Centre will feature the latest proven clinical and information technologies. Pacific Smiles Group plans to invest further in equipment such as digital x-ray systems, patient management software including electronic patient records and a range of new instruments. Ultimately, the centre at Drysdale, will feature four or five dental surgeries on site.

Although the dental centre will undergo a name change to Pacific Smiles Dental, Drysdale, we are very pleased that Dr Nick Johnstone and his dedicated team of employees will remain at the centre. New practitioners are expected to join the team in early 2010. The Drysdale team will benefit from integration and interaction with the other Victorian Pacific Smiles Dental Centres.

John Gibbs, CEO of Pacific Smiles Group says that the acquisition of Drysdale Family Dental confirms the commitment of Pacific Smiles Group to key locations in regional Victoria and he and the PSG team look forward to investigating further such opportunities in the future.