Data recently published show that the percentage of the population seen in past two years remains the same at 55.7%. Band 1 courses of treatment have increased, whereas they are down for all other Bands. Exempt patients account for half of all Band 3 treatments.
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Having cake at work to celebrate colleagues' birthdays, engagements or just surviving the week is a danger to health, Prof Nigel Hunt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, at the Royal College of Surgeons, says and ‘cake culture’ is fuelling obesity and dental problems. At their annual dinner for dentists, he will say workplace temptation stops people losing weight and staff should be rewarded with fruit, nuts or cheese instead.
Advance Notice
The House of Commons Health Select Committee, chaired by Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, will hold a one-off evidence session with the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), which is responsible for overseeing health care regulators including the GDC, on July 5 at 2.30pm.
The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) has sworn in five new board members, including two women and its first overseas representative. Mick Horton, Dean of FGDP(UK), said it was a pleasure to welcome the new Board members “with such a diverse range of working backgrounds, it was a privilege to be able to draw upon their knowledge and expertise.”
Lib Dem peer, Floella Benjamin, says too many British children are suffering from tooth decay. She said: “I am aware the Department of Health is keen to address the issue and proposes to pay dentists to keep children’s teeth healthy instead of just dealing with problems as they arise. But 40% of children do not set foot in a dentist’s surgery to take advantage of it.”
Read more: Baroness Benjamin: “We are now facing a major crisis in child dental health”
Citizens Advice has issued a report saying that patients are being forced to pay hundreds of pounds to fix mistakes by dentists. Mick Armstrong, chairman of the British Dental Association, responded saying: "Over 20 million people are seen by a dentist every year, and official surveys consistently show very high rates of patient satisfaction.” Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said the Citizens Advice cases were "hugely subjective".