Pembroke Dental Bunclody - Pembroke Dental Clinics

Dr. Lucian Costin

Five Minutes with Dr. Lucian Costin, General Dentist

Dr. Lucian is a General Dentist working full time in our Bunclody and Wexford Clinics.

Lucian is a skilled Dentist with many years’ experience as a General Dentist with a focus on Endodontics. He is proficient in all aspects of General Dentistry for patients of all ages and backgrounds due to his extensive work as a dentist in his home country of Romania.

Dr Lucian’s patients will love his work hard and commitment, his dedication to patient care, his meticulous approach towards the clinical procedures and the great pride he takes in his work.

Let’s hear from Lucian himself:

Where did you start your dentistry career?

I started my career in dentistry in 2014 in St. Spiridon Hospital in Iasi, Romania.

What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?

I am interested in all aspects of dentistry, especially Endodontic procedures.

In my spare time I like to swim and hike, there are many beautiful locations to explore in Ireland and I look forward to exploring more of Wexford and the surrounding areas. I am also very interested in history and when time allows I enjoy watching history documentaries.

What is the last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?

I believe that is very important to keep up to date with new dentistry techniques and skills. I am always looking for new courses to learn new techniques and I also watch many lectures online on topics that I am interested in.

What is your top tip for Oral Health?

My top tip for Oral Health is to avoid drinking cola, fizzy drinks or any other refreshing beverage with sugar or artificial sweeteners. I would also advise patients to avoid adding sugar to their coffee or tea.

Dr. Akram Jasim

Five Minutes with Dr. Akram Jasim, Specialist Orthodontist

Selecting the right orthodontist is important. My name is Akram Jasim and I am an orthodontist since 2005. I offer a wide variety of treatment options for adults and children ranging from modern cosmetic and near invisible orthodontic braces, Invisalign and lingual braces.

We ,together ,will discuss the options to determine which treatment solution is best suited for your specific life and orthodontic needs to attain your ideal result. Orthodontics can improve the smile of people of all ages and I treat children, teenagers and adults in a sympathetic and caring manner.

Where did you start your dentistry career?

I started my dental career in my home country of Iraq over 25 years ago now, working as a general dentist in the Ministry of Health. After a few years I moved into the educational field where I worked as a Clinical Instructor and lecturer to students studying Dentistry.

During this period, I followed my keen interest in the field of orthodontics by entering an orthodontic training programme and graduated with a master’s degree in Orthodontics three years later. My career continued in education, moving into lecturing orthodontics while gaining practical experience in private practice.

After many years teaching, I fulfilled my ambition to open my own private practice in General Dentistry and eventually Orthodontics alone. I moved to Ireland in 2016 with my family to work in Pembroke Dental as a specialist Orthodontist.

2. What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?

The most enjoyable thing about dentistry is the creation of a beautiful smile, bringing people’s dreams to reality. Many of my patients have told me that they avoid smiling and if they do smile, they try to cover and hide their teeth. I can often help with this embarrassment. After orthodontic treatment I can see patients smiling with confidence, some for the first time which is hugely rewarding for me, each and every time.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family playing table tennis and I am keen swimmer.

3. What is that last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?

I attend orthodontic conferences and courses regularly. I have just returned from the Orthodontic Society of Ireland (OSI) Annual Meeting which I attend annually to share knowledge and experience with my orthodontic colleagues. My most recent attendance at an educational course was Carrierre Motion Applications “Carrierre in Practice, the way forward”-I found it very useful and now use these appliances in my practice.

4. Do you think you’ll still be interested in dentistry in ten years, Why?

Yes, I do. I enjoy dentistry and especially my area of expertise, Orthodontics. I am over 25 years working in dentistry and I am still curious about the latest dental developments. My dental career has also brought me to many different parts of the world-not many careers offer this opportunity. I could not imagine doing any other type of work and I expect to be doing this job until I retire. It is a very special career, getting to meet people from all walks of life and making their dreams come true. I work with my patients for a long time so lasting relationships are built.

5. What are the changes you have seen in dentistry in the last 10 years?

There have been major changes in Dentistry in the last 10 years. A digital revolution has occurred and thankfully, Pembroke Dental is at the forefront of this. There are so many dental treatments now entering the digital age from crowns and bridges, implants and even in my field of orthodontics.

I am a Specialist Invisalign provider -these appliances are completely made digitally, from design to manufacture. We can now even show our patients the outcome of their treatment digitally before commencing treatment so patients can see what they will look like with straightened teeth before they start wearing their braces or appliances! That is a terrific move forward in my opinion. Digital dentistry is developing so fast that I expect it will be involved in most dental treatments soon.

Dr. Waseem Gohar

Five Minutes with Dr. Waseem Gohar, General Dentist

Where did you start your dentistry career?

I started my formal dentistry career in The University Dental Hospital in sunny Dubai after graduating with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Hungary. Having been away from my family during undergraduate years, I wanted to spend some time with them in Dubai before I embarked on my journey to work in Ireland.

I spent the following months as a dental intern in different departments of dentistry gaining indispensable skills from the specialists in the hospital. During this time, I also completed Part 1 of Membership of Faculty of Dentistry postgraduate examination from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (MFD RCSI). I intend to take Part 2 of this examination imminently.

Dubai is a home to over 200 nationalities, so meeting new people and understanding different culture has strengthened my communication skills, which is an important aspect of dentistry.

What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?

The beauty of being a dentist is this- every day is different, each patient presents a unique challenge, keeping you motivated. You never get bored or have a mundane day at work. I enjoy all things dentistry, from meeting and greeting my patients to the treatment procedure itself but my particular interest lies in Endodontics or root canal treatment.

I am an avid reader and gym enthusiast; I spend my spare time reading psychological thrillers, weightlifting, and occasionally dabbling in cardiovascular exercise.

What is the last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?

I keep myself up to date with contemporary literature, reading scientific articles, attend courses and live webinars to provide the best possible treatment to my patients. I recently attended a webinar hosted by an endodontist from the UK titled ‘Introduction to a Perfect Root Canal Treatment’ which was excellent as I can apply those skills into my daily practice. I follow dentists from all over the world on social media to learn different tips and tricks. As a healthcare professional, simply put, the learning never stops.

Why is the routine dental health check so important?

Changes to teeth happen on both macro and microscopic levels. As dentists we are trained to detect both during a routine dental health check. There are tests and tools at our disposal such as X-rays which can aid our diagnosis. During regular visits, the changes can be detected early and treated in the initial stages before they have had the chance to deteriorate. For example, the presence of tartar or calculus, a tenacious hard plaque deposit which develops slowly over time and is adhered strongly to the teeth which can cause gum disease cannot be removed at home with toothbrushing. It requires cleaning with our ultrasonic scaler performed at a dental clinic. Dentist can further evaluate your overall oral health and guide on how to improve it, if needed. In the long run, regular visits are more cost-effective and contribute to your overall general wellbeing.

Should I use mouthwash regularly?

The one thing that should not be regularly used in an oral care regime is Mouthwash. In simple terms, our mouth or oral cavity has both friendly and harmful bacteria -we want to lessen the harmful bacteria while encouraging the friendly bacteria. Unfortunately, mouthwash is 100% antibacterial and cannot distinguish between the two. Recent studies have shown that people who use mouthwash twice a day for a certain period are at 55% higher risk of developing pre-diabetes or diabetes. No concrete reason for this has been found yet.

The American Dental Association suggests the use of mouthwash for therapeutic use or symptomatic relief, for instance, in the treatment of bleeding gums under the prescription of a dentist. Toothbrushing, manual or electrical for 2 minutes twice a day and daily flossing is absolutely sufficient for maintenance of good oral hygiene without the use of any mouthwash.

Dr. Raksha Batajoo

Five Minutes with Dr. Raksha Batajoo, Specialist Orthodontist

If you look up the word ‘passionate’ in the dictionary, you’ll probably see a picture of Dr. Raksha. She is passionate about everything she does from cooking to yoga and reading; but most of all, she is passionate about what she does here at Pembroke Orthodontics. Helping our patients and researching new solutions to dental problems are top priorities for Dr. Raksha. She joined the Specialist Orthodontist list of Ireland in 2022.

When not engaged in orthodontic pursuits, Dr. Raksha enjoys her spare time with her family and friends. In addition, she is very involved with her Nepali ex patriot community in Ireland. She is an avid fan of movies and the cinema. Travelling and exploring the Irish countryside is also a keen pastime.

A little-known fact about Dr. Raksha? Her first concert ever was Kutumba, a Nepali folk band! Not sure who they are? Or are you a fan of their music yourself? Ask her about it the next time you are in!

What Dr. Raksha likes best about her job here in Pembroke Dental? All of the great people she gets to meet and work with; parents, patients, co-workers and the nursing team as well as the wider dental community.

Let’s hear from Raksha herself:

1. Where did you start your dentistry career?

My dentistry career started as I took my first step inside the University in Romania as a Dental student in 2010. I graduated from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, DMD. After completion I returned to my home city of Kathmandu in Nepal and practiced as a general dentist for about a year. My particular area of interest in dentistry has always been orthodontics so I followed my dream and completed my 3-year post graduation training on Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopaedics.I am now on the Specialist Orthodontist Register in Ireland.

2. What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?

I particularly enjoy meeting new people, communicating with them and getting to know their dental and health problems and helping to solve them if I can. I thrive on difficult cases and getting entangled with new methods and technologies.

I spend my spare time mostly travelling and watching movies. Some days I totally relax and I do nothing at all-I need time to totally unwind. I do always make sure to have time for my family.

3. What is the last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?

The last thing that I have done to improve my skills/ knowledge is to attend as many Invisalign seminars and webinars that I could possibly get my hands on-they are really educational and informative. I am also attending some online training programs. I have worked and assisted many renowned dentists and grabbed many helpful tips and knowledge from their experience. I am an avid reader and study as many scientific articles as I can related to dentistry and new innovative practice methods.

4. How do you suggest for nervous patients who needs to see a dentist but are too nervous?

For every patient we need to gain their trust first. To do so, we must ensure we acknowledge their problems and the history of their nervousness. A smile and an open friendly nature never hurt. Discussing our problems in a calm and open forum can help lessen fears which I welcome and can help in easing nervousness and make my patients feel relaxed.

5. What is your top tip for oral health?

First and foremost, attaining and maintaining dental health is our top priority. Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease and can help you keep your teeth as you get older. Dental health is also interlinked with general health -so some simple tips are as follows. Practice good oral hygiene. Brush teeth thoroughly twice a day and floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque. Visit your Dentist at least twice a year for a dental health check. Cut down on the frequency of sweet acidic drinks and sweet foods to help both your dental and general health overall.

Dr Brenda Barrett

Five Minutes with Dr Brenda Barrett, Clinical Director

1.Where did you start your dentistry career?

I started my dental career at the tender age of seventeen in the Dublin Dental University Hospital in Trinity College, way back in the last century! After graduating as a dentist in 1988, I worked in the UK for a few years and also attended the world-renowned Eastman Dental Hospital to do a post-graduate diploma in General Dentistry.

I acquired Pembroke Dental in 1993, which had an excellent reputation in Carlow Town and I have been trying to build on that reputation since!

2.What do you enjoy most about dentistry and how do you spend your spare time?

I enjoy meeting my patients on a daily basis-many of whom I now consider friends. I am humbled by their trust in my skills and in Pembroke Dental as a team. I also like the buzz of building a great specialist and general dental team around me and enjoy the camaraderie of a positive group of dental professionals.

One of the drawbacks of dentistry as a career is the sedentary nature of the job, so in my spare time, I like activity-walking my lovely dogs, horse riding, cycling and dancing. I have recently joined a choir and warble as best I can amongst friends.

3. What is that last thing you have done to improve your skills/knowledge?

To prove that you can teach an old dog new tricks, I returned to Trinity College Dublin to complete a Masters in Clinical Dentistry in the Dublin Dental University Hospital in 2018. I am really proud of that achievement as it encompassed all the skills and knowledge I had slowly gathered over the years as a general dental practitioner.

4. You have won the Best Practice Irish Dentistry Awards won numerous occasions, explain as a winner what it took to win this award?

In a few words-Lots of hard work and dedication to our patients! We have worked hard over the years to build a great and dedicated team of dental professionals in Pembroke Dental who can offer the highest quality dentistry to our patients. We believe in giving the very best care, and attention to all who come to us and each member of the team is encouraged to give their utmost. That’s our motto- The patient’s best interest comes first!

5. How would you describe your team in Pembroke Dental?

The Pembroke Dental Team are special is so many ways- talented, dedicated to their patients, positive in their thinking and totally professional while being compassionate towards our patients. They really put the care of our patients first, and I am very proud to be part of this great team.