The British Dental Association (BDA) has initiated legal proceedings against NHS England for setting up potentially impossible barriers to smaller contractors in tenders for over £1/2 billion of orthodontic services. It has argued that the tendering process, covering orthodontic services in the South of England, is in breach of Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition (PCCC) regulations by failing to treat providers equally.
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Croydon has a brand new dental centre after vital changes were made to a department in desperate need of an upgrade. This fulfils the dream of oral surgeon, Graham Gilmour, who fought for years to secure the vital improvements but did not live to see it realised. His widow opened the new facility recently.
Researchers have discovered the world's most ancient dental fillings in northern Italy. The fillings were spotted inside a pair of 13,000-year-old front teeth and they were made of bitumen, a semi-solid form of petroleum. This is the earliest example of dentistry known to date. “It is quite unusual, not something you see in normal teeth,” said Stephano Benazzi an archaeologist at the University of Bologna.
This week saw the results of the latest NASDAL (The National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers) goodwill survey announced and they seem to show a market that is a little less bullish and perhaps more uncertain than it has been in recent times. Alan Suggett, specialist dental accountant, who compiles the goodwill survey, explains.
Dr Sissy Frank, a medico-legal adviser at the MDU, has been advising GPs what they should do if a patient presents with dental problems. Research suggests that 600,000 patients a year see their GPs with dental problems instead of a dental professional. She writes: “If a patient asks you for help with a dental problem, there are some medico-legal issues to bear in mind.”
Last month mydentist announced that it would be closing its Tewkesbury practice but it has now been confirmed that Oasis is about to take it over. In a statement, NHS England said: "Oasis Dental Care is committed to providing quality oral care to patients, and patients will start to see some changes to the practice over the coming weeks."