did you know...
General dentists [like us at Alpers Dental] are entitled by law to do orthodontic or other specialist procedures - and we don't usually charge as much! |
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home : about : news and gossip there are always new and strange happenings in the office. Here are some of the more notable events of recent times:
 Here is our latest toy - or, rather, our latest piece of specialised equipment that is keeping us at the cutting edge of dentistry! It is a cone beam 3-D dental imaging system known as the i-Cat, and it continues our history of being the first in the country to utilise new technology and ideas [including the BioResearch computerised jaw joint analysis system, the CEREC 2 which we bought on the day it was released in Germany, and of course our office personally designed by architects in Auckland and in the United States]. The i-Cat, in one 20 second sweep, photographs the entire head and from this data we can produce literally hundreds of different xray images of the head, face, and neck and provide our dentists with a huge range of previously unobtainable diagnostic information
 wow - this is our sweet and quiet hygeinist after dark! Erena first got interested in body building [the natural variety - no drugs involved of course!] about three years ago because one of her girl friends was involved in the sport. Now Erena has won three awards in regional competitions and is planning to take out a major prize in a national competition soon. Lots of full on dedication for this sport - daily training, strict diet, and learning to walk on impossible shoes!
 we have had many complimentary remarks made about our office - the relaxing atmosphere [even for a dental office!], its airiness, and the overall innovative design.
We used two architects. We started with Michael Unthank, an architect who lives in Nebraska, USA, and has never been to New Zealand. Why did we choose him? Because he has two University degrees - architecture and dentistry! And all he does now is design dental offices. We then took his floor plans and had several Auckland architects sketch building concepts to fit these plans. From these sketches we chose Barney Milic, a brilliant architect who grew up in Yugoslavia and now has his 'boutique' practice in our city. It cost us lots - but it certainly was worth it!
 There was a dental-themed fashion parade as a part of the opening night function for the NZ Dental Trade Show in 2009. Caty had the priviledge [?] of representing Alpers Dental. She didn't win - but with make up like this, she certainly was a winner in our eyes! We can only conclude the judge needed new glasses
 but thats not all about Caty. In 2009 she completed a year's course of study run by the NZ Dental Association to become a Qualified Dental Assistant . Not only did she pass, but she also scored the top marks for all of New Zealand! Here she is - with an almost sugar free cake of congratulations
 Kate has just scored another strike on a night where we pretended we were good at tossing bowls in a straight line. Alison and Catherine won the Champions Trophy by perfecting some underhand techniques. We then went off to a dark smoke filled, strobe lit, two level maze and shot each other with laser weapons until we got rid of the stresses of the week. Interestingly, we were all still good friends the next Monday
 This has to be bad! Movember - the month that all good men grow facial hair to support prostate cancer research - came around and none of us had a reasonable enough excuse to avoid joining in. I guess it meant our razors had a bit of a rest. But, as the clock chimed midnight on November 30, woosh - and they were gone!
 and here is the Alpers Allstars netball team - fresh from yet another nail-biting victory [perhaps fresh is the wong word - high might be a bit more accurate!]. Kate [the captain] and her daughter Haana shoot the goals. Nic and Jared [Ilona's husband] provide the muscle, Alana and Debra use their height to prevent the opposition scoring, and Fleur just runs around looking scared
 we took a day off, boarded a ferry, and headed away to Tiri Island to look at the birds and bees and trees. It was interesting that, out of the 22 of us on the trip, only three had been to the island previously. Great day, hot weather, lots of birds [of the feathered sort]. This is a photo of some of the team on the return voyage. They look happy - I suppose it was because they had a good time and got paid as well!
 Alana, our orthodontic / TMJ team leader travelled to the United States in 2005 and 2006 to attend courses in TMJ assisting. Here she is at the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain conference in Fort Worth, Texas, in July 2007, receiving her certificate as a Certified TMJ Assistant from Dr Charles Holt, Director of the Assistants Programme. Alana has also attended myofunctional therapy courses in the US. Not bad for someone who has a rather severe fear of flying!
 Ilona has also completed the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain TMJ Assistants course. She attended lectures over two years in Fort Worth, Texas, and [seen here with Dr Charles Holt, Director of the Assistants Programme] she received her certificate at a ceremony at the Academy's 2009 meeting in San Antonio
 But it isn't all hard work when Alpers staff travel overseas for conferences and courses! Here Alana and Ilona are relaxing after several days of serious TMJ lectures by having breakfast with Irish coffees in the Buena Vista bar at Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco.
 and here is Ilona in another role - that of a bride! She married Jared on the beach at Whangapoua on a sunny Saturday in February 2009. She arrived on a tractor-drawn trailer and afterwards there was food and speeches and laughter and a bit of a haka by Jared's whanau. Sadly, noone had a Swiss cowbell to respond!
 not to be outdone, Kyra got married the same weekend as Ilona. Also on a beach - some hidden cove on the edge of Auckland. The Weather Gods were kind and rain was turned off for the occasion. Then Mez and Kyra disappeared to Tahiti for a while - while the rest of us grafted away at work covering for the two lots of honeymooners!
 Kim is back. She took about three years off to be a mother and here she is with the reason for her absence. Kelly is a sparkling little girl who will no doubt become another staff member in a few years!
 We all love a celebration - especially if there is food involved! In July 2009 Alana celebrated her 10th anniversary of working in Alpers Dental. She is second only to Catharine in the 'long and devoted staff' statistics. And, instead of a long service and good conduct medal, Alana received a cake - which we all kindly helped her to eat!
 and last but not least! Here are some of our good looking staff at Halloween. Hidden in these photos are Ilona, Fern, John, Catherine, Kate, Rachel, Marnie, Debra, Elverie, Erena, and Kyra. See if you can find them! Jane from Rainbow Rascals has been arriving at the office on October 31 for several years now - and each year the disguises become more adventurous and bizarre. Make an appointment with us next Halloween and prepared to be terrified!
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