The regulator is the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which has issued a consultation paper in relation to fees in 2016/17 and beyond. For many providers, including GPs, this means large increases to achieve ‘full chargeable cost recovery’. For dentists, however, this is likely to mean no increase in 2016/17 and a reduction to in 2017/18.
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The British Dental Association (BDA) has accused the General Dental Council (GDC) of hoarding reserves, and has told the regulator that it can and should set a fee level for dentists of no more than £500 for 2016/17. Mick Armstrong, Chair of the British Dental Association, said: “Sadly the regulator has served up another fees consultation with a familiar line in disinformation and predetermined results.”
Professional footballers have terrible teeth, according to a new study by Professor Ian Needleman of University College London and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. This may be affecting their game. Too many sugary energy drinks and snacks have been blamed for the finding that almost four out of ten players have cavities and almost eight in ten have periodontal disease.
The General Dental Council (GDC), has launched a consultation on a draft policy to ensure dental professionals have the necessary knowledge of the English language. Under new powers granted by the government, the GDC can now ask for evidence of a dental professional's language skills prior to registration. It can do this if there are concerns they don't have the necessary knowledge of English to practise.
Read more: GDC consults on English language checks for dentists
The British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) has voiced its concern in light of news that the EU is phasing out protections that have, until now, kept commodity prices high and prevented foreign imports. They say that the UK’s dental health will pay a heavy price if experts writing in the BMJ are correct in their prediction that new agricultural policy in Europe will see the cost of sugar plummet – and consumption rocket.
Read more: Cut-price sugar will come at a cost for dental health say therapists
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has reported that 10,000 children under 15 are being hospitalised every year for dental extractions under general anaesthetic in the Republic. The IDA says figures are an indictment of a ‘slash and burn’ oral health policy. However, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said that the figure seemed high. He believed there were 3,600 admissions to hospital.
Read more: IDA condemns Irish government’s child oral health policy