Restricted access to dental care due to COVID-19 resulted in greatly increased dental antibiotic prescribing, against an otherwise downward trend. In April to July 2020 was 25% higher than April to July 2019, with a peak in June 2020. The increase was highest in London (60%) and lowest in the South West (10%).
No commentsRead more: Antibiotic prescribing for dental conditions rose during Covid lockdown
Health Minister, Jo Churchill MP, was challenged in the House of Commons by Rosie Cooper Labour MP for West Lancashire to say what help the Government could give dental surgeries to improve their capacity. The Minister replied that the Department was ‘actively working on at pace’ and she would be meeting the BDA Chair, Eddie Crouch, to discuss what could be done.
Read more: Minister promises to meet Eddie Crouch to discuss effect of fallow time on practices
Dentists have provided around 19m fewer treatments in England since March this year compared to the same period last year, BDA figures show. PEC Chair Eddie Crouch said: “The clock is ticking on an oral health time bomb, as dentists lose the chance to act on the early signs of decay and oral cancer. Ministers have a choice. Make an investment that would pay for itself and bring millions back through our doors, or leave patients waiting for the care they need.”
Read more: Covid restrictions on dentists threaten patients’ oral health
The British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD) says in its latest newsletter that the announcement of the second national lockdown in England was littered with ambiguity and they were the first dental organisation to reassure both public and profession following the announcement of the second lockdown, that private practices in England should and could remain open.
Read more: BAPD tells how it responded to second lockdown in England
The four Chief Dental Officers of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have written a letter to dentists to thank them for their professionalism and flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis and anticipating some of the challenges the profession is likely to face during the second wave. There have also been updates on Dentists as Essential Workers, priority for any Covid-19 vaccine and the Overseas Registration Exam.
Answering questions in the House of Lords, junior health minister, Lord Bethell said the challenge presented to the dental profession by Covid is severe. The Government is ‘grateful’ for the hard work of 10,000 NHS and private practices in introducing PPE and infection-control arrangements to keep patients and staff safe, and to the 600 urgent care centres that are providing services for the most severe cases.
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Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common oral health problem, particularly in disadvantaged and developing populations. Its causes are multifaceted, including feeding practices like breastfeeding. The link between breastfeeding and ECC is unclear. Key findings No significant association was found between breastfeeding and the development of early childhood caries (ECC). Nighttime breastfeeding was associated with an [read the full story...]
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Antiresorptive drugs, used to treat osteoporosis and metastatic bone disease, can complicate dental implant procedures by increasing the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This systematic review investigates how these drugs affect the success and complications associated with osseointegrated dental implants. Key findings Antiresorptive drugs significantly increase the risk of (MRONJ), accounting for [read the full story...]
The post How do antiresorptive drugs affect the success of dental implants? appeared first on National Elf Service.
The study assesses the impact of antibiotic prophylaxis on the incidence of infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures, specifically focusing on the risk reduction for high-risk individuals.
The post Does antibiotic prophylaxis reduce endocarditis risk after dental procedures? appeared first on National Elf Service.