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Welcome to Kids Dental Care!

Supporting Your Child at Their Dental Appointment

Dear Parents,

At Kids Dental Care, we are dedicated to making your child’s visit as positive and anxiety-free as possible. We understand that a visit to the dentist can sometimes be a source of anxiety not just for children, but for parents too. To ensure your child has the best experience, here is some advice on how you can help:

1. Stay Positive:

Children often pick up on their parents’ anxieties, so maintaining a positive demeanour can greatly influence how your child perceives their own experience. Try to stay calm and upbeat about the dental visit both before and during the appointment.

2. Watch Your Words:

Certain words or phrases can inadvertently increase a child’s anxiety. Phrases like “it won’t hurt,”, “nothing to worry about”, or “a jag” can lead children to anticipate pain or discomfort. Instead, let our team introduce dental instruments and procedures in a way that’s friendly and non-threatening. We’re trained to help children feel at ease about what’s going to happen during their visit.

3. Follow the Dentist’s Lead:

Our dental team is experienced in managing children’s behaviour during dental visits. If a dentist or a team member suggests actions like “take a seat” or guides you on where to stand or how to participate, they are doing so to optimise the environment for a successful appointment. Following these cues will help your child feel more secure and cooperative.

4. Be a Silent Support:

Sometimes, the best support you can provide is your calm presence. Allowing the dental team to engage directly with your child helps establish trust and authority. Feel free to bring a book or a magazine to read, which can also model calm behaviour for your child.

5. Discuss Any Concerns Beforehand:

If your child has specific fears, special needs, or past traumatic experiences with dental care, please share this information with us before the appointment. This can be best communicated to us via the pre-visit questionnaire which is included in this email. This allows us to tailor our approach and be fully prepared to make your child’s experience as comfortable as possible.

Thank You for Your Cooperation!

We appreciate your help in making your child’s visit a positive encounter. Your support is key to developing their confidence in dental care. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@kidsdentalcare.co.uk

Lorna Breakenridge

Dental Nurse

Lorna qualified with an SVQ Level 7 in Dental Nursing from Mentor Training in 2021. Lorna says her favourite aspect of working in dentistry is being able to put people at ease and make them feel comfortable (you’ll definitely have heard her singing along to the radio if you’ve been in surgery with her).

She particularly enjoys working with children and helping them to overcome any fears they may have. In her spare time Lorna enjoys travelling, trying new foods and whilst she won’t admit it, she’s a karaoke queen (her rendition of The real Slim Shady is really something to behold).

She says her greatest achievement to date is passing her driving test at the start of 2023, much to the relief of her parents and Pam who were having to drive her to/from work every day.

Alicia Dillon

Dental Therapist

Alicia’s full bio will be ready shortly!

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Hazel Hannigan

Dentist

Hazel graduated with Honours from Glasgow Dental School in 2010, receiving the Dean Webster and Lord Provost prizes for being the highest performing student in her year. In 2012 she became a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow after completing her MFDS examinations. 

She then spent some time in the public dental services, focussing on the treatment of children, anxious patients and those with additional support needs, before working as a general dental practitioner in practices based in Alexandria and Airdrie.

In July 2016, Hazel and her husband, Pearse, established Hannigan Dental Care, making the leap from associates to principal dentists. Hazel has lots of experience treating anxious patients, having logged hundreds of hours of sedation over her career, but she says she especially enjoys treating children, even more so since becoming a mum herself.

She believes forging good relationships with children as early as possible helps prevent dental anxieties ever developing and feels very lucky to be in a position where she can see families regularly and watch children grow and develop year on year. Out with clinical dentistry, Hazel is the vice chair of the Lanarkshire Local Dental Committee, and also holds seats on Lanarkshire’s GP Subcommittee and Area Dental Advisory Committee, groups which represent NHS dentists in communications with the health board and Scottish Government. Hazel’s hobbies include baking, reading and walking and one day she hopes to have some free time to actually practice them again.

 

John McCall

John McCall

Dentist

John qualified in Dentistry from the University of Glasgow with Commendation in 2018. His professional journey encompasses a broad spectrum of training within General Dental Practices, hospitals, and the Public Dental Service. 

These training roles included working in Paediatric Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Maxillofacial Surgery. This diverse expertise enables him to deliver unparalleled care to his patients.

Since his graduation, John has been dedicated to treating anxious paediatric patients, leveraging advanced technologies such as “The Wand” for pain-free anaesthesia. His proficiency in this area has led him to provide valuable training and courses to both General Dental Practices and the Public Dental Service. Furthermore, for the past five years, John has been practicing Inhalation Sedation, contributing to his role as a mentor in sedation training for dental professionals.

His academic achievements include Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians Glasgow and a Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education. Currently, John serves as an Honorary Clinical Teacher in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Glasgow, where he passionately guides future dentists in compassionate patient care. His contributions to dental education are complemented by his research published in the European Journal of Dental Education.

Beyond his professional life, John is a former elite track and field sprint hurdler and sprinter, having proudly represented and captained Scotland in international competitions and still holds Scottish and Celtic records over sprint hurdles. Although retired from competitive sports, he remains active, undertaking challenges for charity, such as the Ultra Marathon Spartan Race, and is preparing for the 70.3 Ironman triathlon in June 2024.