24 March 2023

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Video: Dr. Elaine Halley, author of “Smile Analysis”

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Edra Publishing interviewed dental industry leaders and authors at the recent International Dental Show in Cologne, Germany. 

IDS organizers estimated that attendees numbered 120,000 throughout the convention. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the IDS, which premiered in 1923. The convention featured innovations and new technologies in digital dentistry.

In this interview, Dr. Elaine Halley, clinical director for the Pain Free Dental Group in Scotland, talked about her background and her book, “Smile Analysis.” 

When she was studying biology as an undergraduate, she met some dental students and realized dentistry was an interesting career choice. 

“I particularly liked the dental surgeon title,” she said. She applied to a program to go in that direction and said she never looked back. 

“All of my career, I’ve been interested in cosmetic, esthetic dentistry and particularly interested in the differences that can make to our patients’ self-esteem,” Halley said. 

If dentists don’t approach their work comprehensively, Halley said that the delivery of dentistry can become unpredictable. 

“Writing this book, I’ve detailed how I work in practice in terms of systematically gathering all the information, diagnosing completely as much as we can in general practice and then being able to tell the story back to the patient in a way they can understand,” she said.  

In this way, both the dentist and patient “win,” said Halley. 

“We’re able to present larger treatment plans and also the patient has a real understanding of what’s going on in their mouths and is able to say, ‘yes,’ again to more predictable treatment options,” she explained.  

Halley is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and serves as director of the UK’s first Seattle Study Club, Pathfinder in Scotland. She is also the owner of the Cherrybank Dental Spa with locations in Perth and Edinburgh.