Two grants, worth a total of almost £160,000, have been awarded by the Shirley Glasstone Hughes Trust Fund for research projects that will examine the role of dentists' anxieties in clinical decision making and the impact of the choice of linings under amalgam fillings have on outcomes for patients. The winning projects were selected by an international panel of experts, following a comprehensive peer review process of all the applications received.

A Liverpool dental surgery has been warned to improve after inspectors found medication stored in a dirty fridge. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) told the practice in Aintree that it was not meeting “essential standards”. Inspectors visited the surgery after they had major concerns at the provider’s other dental practice in Congleton, Cheshire.

NHS and social care staff who have concerns about patient care can now access a new, free whistleblowing helpline from the 1 January, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said. The free whistleblowing helpline is funded by the Government and is part of the Government’s drive to tackle poor practice. This is in addition to the introduction of a contractual duty to raise concerns, which will be enshrined in the new NHS Constitution.

A Devon-based, ‘cosmetologist’ has been successfully prosecuted for offering tooth whitening treatment and ordered to pay a total of £1,872. Mr Carl Espano, of Torquay, pleaded guilty at West London Magistrates’ Court to practising dentistry when not registered with the GDC. He has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. He has also been ordered to pay full costs to the GDC of £857.

Five dental professionals have been honoured by the Queen this morning

CBE: Professor Jimmy Steele, Dean, Newcastle Dental School.

OBE: Susie Sanderson, Chair BDA Executive Board

MBE: David Collington GDP Glasgow

MBE: Stephen Lambert-Humble Head of Dentistry, University of Kent

MBE: Angie McBain, British Association of Dental Nurses

Our congratulations to all of them