The BDA has called for nominations to its new Principal Executive Committee (PEC). The committee, which will replace the current Representative Body and Executive Board, will assume overall responsibility for BDA policy and governance. PEC members will also be the legally responsible directors of the Association. Those interested in standing for election are invited to submit a completed nomination form and personal supporting statement by Friday 23 April 2012.

Following its launch in the Republic of Ireland in August 2010, Denplan’s Executive Board has taken the difficult decision to withdraw its presence from this region. It closed to new business on 1 April 2012 and  will not renew existing business (120 patients) beyond 31 December 2012. The move will not affect Denplan’s presence in Northern Ireland.

Serious doubts have been cast, on both sides of the Atlantic on a US study which claimed that there was a link between patient-reported incidence of having bitewings taken and an increased risk of developing meningioma, a brain tumour. The findings were reported in the journal Cancer, but there accuracy and relevance has been questioned by experts in both the USA and the UK. They do not justify the scare-story headlines put out by the media in both countries.

Almost one in four NHS dentists has suffered from work-related stress in the last year, according to a new survey. The annual NHS Staff Survey revealed 23% of respondents had endured the work-related illness. In addition, 10% say they have been victims of discrimination and a further 13% endured harassment, bullying or abuse from patients in the past 12 months.

Dentist Ben Underwood has developed a unique app to encourage people to spend the correct time brushing their teeth.  It is called BrushDJ and can be downloaded on to Android or Apple devices. The app plays 2 minutes of music taken at random from the device’s music library, as well as reminding the user when they should take care of their oral hygiene.