Dr. Akram Jasim

Speciality: Specialist Orthodontist

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. Luca Lamia

A LITTLE ABOUT LUCA

Luca is a passionate dentist with a demonstrated track record of working in hospitals & private clinics. He has a strong interest in Cosmetic Dentistry and Orthodontics. He is adept at all branches of orthodontics for adults and children alike with a particular focus on patient-centred care and quality improvement in healthcare.

Luca qualified as a general dentist in 2018 and continued his post graduate education in the University of Naples in Italy, qualifying with a Masters degree in Orthodontics and a further Masters degree in Orofacial pain and Temporomandibular disorders.

He now only focuses on Orthodontics day-to-day; always advancing and going one step further for your smile. Your smile deserves no less.

Luca worked successfully practicing orthodontics for several years in Italy prior to moving to Ireland and joining Pembroke Dental. He is a trusted practitioner in all the most advanced Orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign.

 

WHAT MAKES LUCA SMILE?

Luca is passionate about changing smiles for all ages and all concerns and is meticulous about the patient care experience throughout. He knows this begins with his skilled and welcoming team who are family centred and welcoming with an amazing friendly team of nurses, therapists and receptionists. Always going to the next level of care, Luca has heavily invested in training with the most innovate technology for the practice to ensure accuracy of results and detail in planning every step of the orthodontic treatment process.

‘Practicing orthodontics allows me to witness the transformation my patients go through when they improve their smiles with braces. I love the excitement and concern that each brings with them on their first visit. I see each case as an opportunity to positively influence another person’s life, to exceed expectations and help patients overcome their fears of dentistry whilst treating them. Changing the world one healthy smile at a time!’

Dr. Paulina Bodrug – Specialist Orthodontist

Dr. Paulina Bodrug is our friendly Orthodontist based in Pembroke Dental’s Waterford practice. Paulina currently offers free Orthodontic consultations for new and existing patients in Waterford.She provides a full range of orthodontic treatments to both children and adults.

 

Want to know more ? Let’s hear a personal insight from Dr. Paulina herself:

 

What is your background?

 

I was born and raised in Moldova, a small country nestled between Romania and Ukraine. My career in dentistry began in Romania, before travelling to Ireland to work with Pembroke Dental in 2021. I am really interested in continuing education in my field of dentistry ,orthodontics and my latest course interest is studying TMJ Disorders and Occlusion. I have also attended many lectures in Biomechanics & Aesthetics in Orthodontics.I really enjoy orthodontics and seeing the difference I can make to peoples lives by changing their smile with braces.

 

How do you spend your spare time?

 

Outside of dentistry, I enjoy the outdoors. Cycling and yoga are some of my favourite hobbies.

 

What are some changes that you have witnessed in dentistry since you qualified?

 

In the past 5-10 years, I have noticed significant changes in Orthodontics. Nowadays, people are increasingly aware of their oral health, not just for health reasons, but also for aesthetic and social reasons. It has become more popular among teenagers especially, as they are always eager to undergo Orthodontic treatment in order to have a beautiful smile. Also, with the advancements and recent developments in technology, braces have improved in size and quality. There are also more options, including metal or ceramic braces and clear aligners. This helps improve the speed of  braces treatments and the outcome also.A win for everyone.

Dr. Nebil Boussetta

DDS (Rom2014) ; MSc (Rom2018)

 

Nebil is a Specialist Orthodontist who is passionate about providing the best and most technologically advanced orthodontic care for his patients. He creates a relaxed and calm environment in his surgery to put both his adult and child patients at ease. He prides himself on attention to finer details which results in exceptional orthodontic results.

Nebil graduated from Cluj-Napoca University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Romania in 2014. Following his graduation he remained at the University Hospital to undertake postgraduate studies ,initially working  in Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery. The same year, he started an Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics specialty training program.

 

In 2016, he attained a diploma in Differential Diagnosis and Directional Force Systems, Edgewise Mechanotherapy from The Charles H. Tweed International Foundation for orthodontic research & education in Arizona, USA.  He became a member of The Charles H. Tweed Foundation.

 

The same year, he also gained a diploma in Lingual Orthodontics, in Naples, Italy and also specialist  Invisalign certification. Lingual braces have the advantage of being placed on the inside of the teeth and so being practically invisible. Invisalign aligners are a clear brace system, again practically invisible.

 

In 2018, Nebil was awarded the Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics. He is a Member of The Orthodontic Society of Ireland and joined the Specialist Orthodontist list of Ireland in 2019.

His goal is to provide his patients with the highest level of adult and children orthodontic services possible in a friendly and relaxed environment.As he says- ”my team and I look forward to a happy and positive relationship with our patients and we are confident you will be happy to recommend us to your family and friends after your treatment with us.”

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.