What is the difference between a Chief Dental Officer and a Head Dental Officer?
This is not posed as a dental trivia quiz question, but a reflection of the changing UK dental scene.
1 comments
The profession has learnt the sad news that Kevin Lewis, a true colossus of the UK dental profession, passed away this week. Colleagues produced an outpouring of tributes online across all social media, the end of an era.
The new GDC chair will take over from Lord Toby Harris at the end of August 2025. As reported in GDPUK, Dr Helen Phillips has exactly the kind of regulator class background that GDC watchers have come to expect. To date, registrants know little about the direction in which she will take the GDC.
Prevention is a cornerstone of the government‘s plans for NHS dental care. Water fluoridation, toothbrushing classes, more UDA‘s for interventions such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealants, have all been proposed. There can also be a place for nudge type actions, one example being the ‘sugar tax‘ introduced in 2018.
Read more: Has Sugar Drinks Tax Affected Caries Inequalities?
A new resource has been developed by the University of Leeds to help improve the oral health of autistic children. The online support package has been designed to help parents of autistic children manage their dental care and reduce the risk of tooth decay and the resulting need for treatment.
Read more: Online Dental Health Toolkit for Parents of Autistic Children
GDPUK has previously reported on the recent BDA webinar setting out the proposed modifications for the NHS dental contract, which are intended to be introduced in 2026.