Private dental practices in the UK have been in the doldrums but show signs of picking up, according to the NASDAL quarterly goodwill survey. Alan Suggett, specialist dental accountant and a partner in UNW LLP said ‘it was still apparent that there was a 'feeding frenzy' for dental practices of all kinds in the South East – which he dubbed ‘London area lunacy’.
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More than 60 dental practices around the country have been chosen to pilot the new ‘protoype’ contracts. Health Minister Lord Howe visited one of those, Woodford Dental Care in Essex and spoke to staff about their practice. The owner Len D’Cruz said: “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be a prototype in the move toward models of preventative care, an approach we have fully embraced from the outset.”
Peter Crooks has been re-elected unopposed as Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee. He said: “This is a crucial time for dentistry in Northern Ireland with practices under significant financial pressures and ever increasing regulatory burdens. As a committee we will continue to push for better resources and provide strong leadership to meet the challenges that face the profession.”
Read more: Peter Crooks re-elected to chair Northern Ireland DPC
A new study has highlighted the potential threat to the teeth of professional wine tasters. Researchers at the University of Adelaide found that just 10 one-minute swill-and-spit sessions are enough to soften tooth enamel and make teeth vulnerable to erosion. It found that the acid in most wines would render teeth vulnerable to erosion “within minutes”.
Andre Basson was last month was given a six-month suspension and ordered to repay an NHS grant. He failed to wash his hands between patients and occasionally failed to wear gloves at his Inverness practice. In 2009, he was awarded £175,000 by the NHS to help him set up his practice as part of a scheme to address the shortage of dentists in the Highlands.
The UK Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND) has announced that 76 UK graduates are still on the waiting list for a Dental Foundation Training (DFT) place, while 968 graduates have confirmed places. The BDA’s Judith Husband has responded to the report by calling for ‘proper investment’ in DFT places.