Returning Home With A Fresh Perspective
June 2026
To all our wonderful patients,
We hope you’ve been enjoying the change of season - with a lovely King’s Birthday weekend enjoyed, it's now a great time to reset your routine, get snug, and take stock of what you need to keep everything running well. Eating warm and hearty foods, nourishing our bodies, spending time with friends and taking care of our spirits is an important focus at this time of year. We are very grateful to you, our Accent family, and would love to share our latest news with you...
1. A Note from Matt and Kimberly
Matt & Kimberly returned recently from an incredible trip through India and Sri Lanka, beginning with a beautiful wedding celebration with friends in Northern India. It was so colourful and full of life that they've returned to New Zealand feeling very uplifted. Sri Lanka was lush, the people kind, and it’s also true that they ate so much good food they’ve returned home to strict gym routines!
Beyond many of those good things we often associate with holidays, one thing they noticed was just how often teeth are removed once decay progresses too far. Okay, yes it's true, they pay attention to teeth. More on that later. What they were veryblessed with was the opportunity to relax and gain perspective, a reminder of how wonderful New Zealand is to live in, and an incredible team who kept things going for three weeks while they were away. Modern technology was also a real help.
Back busy at work, beyond Matt's burgeoning bonsai brood, and Kimberly's new guitar routines, something they’re also excited to share with you is Accent is right now in the middle of a website relaunch that you will get to see soon. It’s a lovely fresh look, and we have some fabulous people helping us with it. We will be keeping you posted…
2. Team News - Welcome Karen (our Zumba star!)
It’s been lovely seeing so many familiar faces back in the practice recently, along with welcoming our many new patients into our Accent community. We’re delighted to introduce Karen Fernandes, our new Front Desk Customer Experience Champion, who we trust will make your day a little bit brighter. She’s with us five days a week, which we’re stoked about, and many of you may have already had the chance to connect with her. We hope you’ve enjoyed meeting her as much as we have, and please also feel free to ask her about her big love...Zumba dancing!
We’d also like to thank you very much for your patience while we took the time to find the right person for this important role—it’s something we care deeply about, as your experience with us matters at every step. We’re grateful for your support.
Our hygiene team is growing, led by Jade Hobbs, who we’re lucky to have fully trained in Adult Scope Dentistry. We know how much you appreciate Jade, and did you also know that last year Jade put her exceptional training to good use in Fiji, volunteering her time to help those who don’t have access to the dental care we have in New Zealand...what a superstar.
Behind the scenes we’re continuing to invest time in how we do things, so your visits feel easy, well-organised, and consistently high quality, and we hope that's working for you. We have a few exciting developments in the pipeline, and as they come to fruition we will be delighted to let you know.
If we haven't shared this with you already, we really value your feedback, and are always grateful to those who have taken the time to share it with us. Even when it’s not always positive, it helps us reflect, refine, and continue to improve how we deliver our care and overall experience to you. So thank you for sharing when you can.
3. Cosmetic Dentistry - Subtle Changes, Big Impact
On a cosmetic note, one of the most interesting conversations we’ve been having lately with patients is around small cosmetic improvements- particularly closing front teeth gaps, refining uneven edges, gum line recontouring, or improving proportions to support a more balanced smile.
Interestingly, research consistently shows that people perceive smiles as more attractive not because they’re “perfect,” but because they’re harmonious and well-proportioned. That’s exactly what we aim for - enhancements that feel like you, just a more refined version.
Many of our patients tell us that they didn't realise these treatments are more conservative than they would have initially thought. For example, in many cases, options like composite bonding or minor contouring can make a significant difference to your smile without invasive procedures. Our goal is always to give you a natural, balanced smile that suits your personality. Please feel free to check out our recent case studies on our website.
4. Losing One Tooth Through Decay - Why it Matters for You
What we noticed in India and Sri Lanka is that for many, when decay rots into your tooth, pulling your tooth out is often seen as the simplest solution. In New Zealand we’re very lucky to have many alternative options. At Accent, wherever possible, we focus on restoring and preserving teeth—not just for appearance (since losing teeth can reduce facial support, creating that "sunken" look), but also for long-term function. A few of our patients have been unlucky where decay has progressed quickly, and not only has it affected their individual teeth, but it’s also had an impact on their teeth surrounding it.
We understand it’s easy to think one tooth gone isn’t a big deal (especially if you can’t see it), but due to the structural relationship between teeth (in terms of how they all support each other), what we see in many patients coming through the practice is that losing an adult tooth can lead to over-crowding in your mouth, teeth becoming more crooked, bite changes, and always increased wear in areas that were previously stable (which can be a real problem if you’re a teeth grinder).
It’s why our focus is to support you better not to lose even a single tooth if you can, and it’s also why it’s so much better to restore what you can, as soon as you can. It’s also why it’s important to move quickly if you have a problem with decay (which may make itself known through soreness or "zingy" sensitivity).
What we consistently notice—both in our own patients and in line with New Zealand and international research - is that seeing a dental clinician regularly (every 6–8 months, including a hygiene visit every 4-6 months) significantly reduces the likelihood of more complex and expensive issues developing over time.
5. Your Next Appointment
Please look out for our next newsletter where we give some colour to "Why we do what we do". If you wanted a reminder to rebook your routine appointment, or just want to stay on top of things, we’re here to make it easy and supportive - wherever you’re at with your dental care. Your health gives you energy, and we're always grateful for your support. Thank you also to those of you who have recent given us new Google reviews - 335+ and counting!
We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment with us. As always, you can also book online for your convenience here.
Warmly,
Dr. Matt, Kimberly, Jade and Your Team at Accent Dentists
