Business partnership in the heart of London

Harley Street Direct is a company which promotes the medical services and expertise available in the heart of London – Harley Street and the surrounding area. The company aims to raise the international and business profile of private medicine in the area and create a powerful collective voice for the Harley Street community of clinicians

The first sponsor for the Harley Street Direct directory of W1 clinicians is KaVo Dental. On September 12 KaVo is launching its new dental laser, Key Laser 3 (pictured), at a meeting at the RSM. For the clinician, the benefits of laser treatment are in the wide range of applications in periodontology, surgical procedures, conservative therapy and endodontics. The essential benefits of laser treatment are in patient comfort with no need for anaesthetics, no noise, no vibration, a positive biocidal effect and faster wound healing.

For more information call KaVo on freephone 0800 281020.

Reader response number: 051

Dencare supports Chernobyl victims

Dencare's Kensington Court dental practice in Newport, Gwent, is providing treatment for children from the Chernobyl disaster zone this summer.

Every year the Victims of Chernobyl Children's Fund invites 12 children who have been badly affected by the Chernobyl explosion to holiday in Wales. All the children have illnesses related to their exposure to high levels of radiation and some also suffer from psychological problems. The children visit the dentist and optician and may register with local GPs. Kensington Court Dental Care has been providing free treatment for the visiting children for the past five years.

For details of helping the fund call Malcolm Lovell on 01633 674291. The Dencare Group can be contacted on 01892 617617.

Reader response number: 052

Braun adds batteries to broaden range

Braun Oral-B has launched a battery toothbrush to meet growing demand and complement its range of power toothbrushes.

The product, economically priced at £11.99, has an oscillating cup-shaped head for effective plaque removal, and bristles that fade with use. Two AA Duracell batteries are included in the pack and sit in a waterproof compartment in the base of the unit. A brush protection cap makes the unit suitable for travel.

Reader response number: 053

Buy up by Benchmark

Benchmark Dental Laboratories Group has acquired three more dental laboratories; Goodwin Dental Ceramics Ltd, Softbrook Ltd (trading as Broughton Tyrrell) and Chiltern Ceramics.

The vendors of these three businesses, Geoff Goodwin, Paul Broughton and Chris Farrow, will be on the new management team. They will join Chief Executive Matthew Hinkley and Finance Director Steve Hatcher. The Newbury site is to be developed to incorporate the enlarged group's administration.

All three sites are to be upgraded with the aim of making them world class laboratory operations. The group also plans to acquire other high quality laboratories, to work closely with suppliers and customers to develop innovative products and processes, and to invest significant funds in equipment and staff training.

Reader response number: 054

Ceramic support on line

Techceram Ltd now offers dentists free marketing support for its all-ceramic restorations via their website www.techceram.com

Suitable for use as an alternative to metal copings, Techceram has now been in clinical use for seven years and is an effective solution for crown restorations in both the anterior and posterior regions and also onlays, inlays and certain types of veneers.

For further information visit www.techceram.com or telephone Techceram Ltd on 01274 416664.

Reader response number: 055