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Public Health England axed, but where does it leave oral health strategy?

In a widely forecast move, health secretary, Matt Hancock has abolished Public Health England, admitting that the UK was not adequately prepared for the Covid-19. In its place he has created a new National Institute for Health Protection to fight pandemics. The move leaves open the question of what happens to other public health responsibilities, such as strategies to improve oral health.

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Dental therapists demand action from Council of GDC

BADT and BSDHT Presidents have taken the unprecedented action of writing to all Council members of the GDC ensuring awareness is raised, and demanding the "daughter test" is applied. Of great concern are the risks to patient safety by allowing untested foreign national dentists treat UK patients as therapists.

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Ancient teeth trace the history of epidemics

Paleogenomics, which studies DNA in remnants of ancient teeth, has been looking at how humanity’s first encounter with disease is thousands of years older than originally thought. The growing evidence suggests that the first epidemics forced change onto societies. “In the case of covid-19 we see similar processes, but we are watching it unfold in real time,” said Anne Stone, professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University.

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Safety Concerns Grow At Increased GDC Registrations

By Paul Felton

Safety concerns are growing among dental professionals as it’s been revealed that there has been a substantial increase in the rate at which the General Dental Council is registering overseas dentists as dental therapists and dental hygienists, without carrying out a practical examination of their clinical skills.

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COVID-19: Update: WHO issues guidance on dentistry

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued interim guidance on ‘Considerations for the provision of essential oral health services in the context of COVID-19’, developed under the lead of Dr Benoit Varenne, Dental Officer, Oral Health Programme, at WHO headquarters. It was the subject of a rather sensational article in the Daily Mail. GDPUK feels this is not aimed at UK, where very high standards of PPE and disinfection are in place, but most likely aimed at other areas of the world.

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Welsh dentist stalked by disgruntled patient

The Telegraph reports that a Welsh dentist was secretly stalked for four years by a disgruntled patient who carried a “murder kit” — including a ski mask, knife, hammer and even a crossbow, according to prosecutors. Thomas Baddeley, 42, took meticulous notes as he counted down to “the event” — which officials believe was a plan to kill his target, dentist Ian Hutchinson.

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