Direct access decision misguided, says BDA

Speaking for the British Dental Association, Dr Judith Husband, Chair Education, Ethics and the Dental Team Committee, has condemned the decision by the GDC to allow direct access to DCPs. She said: “This is a misguided decision that fails to consider best practice in essential continuity of care, patient choice and cost-effectiveness, and weakens team-working in dentistry which is demonstrated to be in patients’ best interests”.

No comments

s2sdefault

Heraeus sells dental business

The German precious metals firm Heraeus is selling its dental business as platinum group metals fall out of favour. The business group will be acquired by Mitsui, a listed chemicals group, which says it intends to retain all employees of the business.

No comments

s2sdefault

GDC votes for Direct Access

Meeting for the last time in its current council chamber, the General Dental Council (GDC) voted to allow some Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) to treat patients without prescription and without the patient having to see a dentist first. Direct access will be extended to:

• dental hygienists and dental therapists for their full scope of practice

• dental nurses undertaking public health initiatives

• orthodontic therapists carrying out IOTN screening

However direct access will not be extended to dental technicians or widened for clinical dental technicians.

No comments

Coffee drinking may halve risk of oral cancer

A new study from the USA claims that people who drink more than four cups of caffeinated coffee a day have half the risk of dying from oral/pharyngeal cancer compared with people who drink it either occasionally or not at all. However, the researchers say their findings need to be confirmed by more research.

No comments

s2sdefault

Research fund launches call for dental plastics research bids

The Shirley Glasstone Hughes (SGH) Trust Fund, chaired by Professor Elizabeth Kay, has launched its annual competition for primary care dental practitioners to win up to £200K of funding for research. The Fund is this year seeking applications for research projects that investigate the environmental impact of plastics in restorative dental materials.

No comments

s2sdefault

Oklahoma dentist branded a health risk

The Oklahoma Department of Health is sending letters to patients of Dr Scott Harrington, urging them to have their blood tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Investigators said they found numerous health and safety violations at his practice, including nonsterilized and rusty instruments. The unsanitary practices of the dentist may have exposed thousands of patients to HIVand hepatitis forcing him to close his practices while health officials investigate and test about 7,000 people who had visited him since 2007.

No comments

s2sdefault

Direct access decision misguided, says BDA

Heraeus sells dental business

GDC votes for Direct Access

Coffee drinking may halve risk of oral cancer

Research fund launches call for dental plastics research bids

Oklahoma dentist branded a health risk

More Articles ...