The BDIA is looking forward to welcoming laboratory owners, dental technicians and CDTs to its Tech Show at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 16 - 17 May.

Tech Show will bring together a combination of expert speakers, live demonstrations and presentations, along with a range of the key manufacturers and suppliers in the sector who will be displaying their very latest products and equipment.

Edmund Proffitt, BDIA Policy and Public Affairs Director commented, “Tech Show probably offers the widest scope of any technician-facing event in the UK for many years. It will feature around 20 lecturers and 35 presentations and live demonstrations over two days, including international speakers such as Dr Christian Coachman, Dr John Besford and Ruth Bourke”.

Tech Show has been specifically organised with input from partner organisation the Dental Technologists Association (DTA) to appeal to the widest range of interests, with each day being themed around a specific area; Friday, 16 May will feature advances in prosthetics, whilst Saturday, 17 May will focus on advances in restorative dentistry.

Covering everything from denture making, crown and bridge build-up, implant planning, use of composites and working as part of a dynamic team alongside clinical colleagues, to the advent of CAD/CAM, digital printing and how to successfully integrate digital techniques into an existing laboratory set up, Tech Show will provide a diverse platform to suit all technicians and CDTs, regardless of levels of experience or expertise.

Entrance to Tech Show is free, with free parking for all our visitors and for those coming to Coventry by train there will be a free hourly shuttle bus from Coventry station to Ricoh Arena. Delegates wanting to come to the show can register online at www.dentaltechshow.com

BDIA Tech Show will take place in the Jaguar Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry on 16 & 17 May 2014 and will start with a key note presentation each morning from 9.30 to 11.00am. The show runs from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Friday 16 May and from 11.00am to 4.30pm on Saturday 17 May. More details are available at www.dentaltechshow.com

The British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) is a non-profit making organisation which means that any surplus funds generated from its activities are ploughed back into dentistry either directly or by supporting and working with other professional dental bodies.

For more information please contact Edmund Proffitt on 01494 781183 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

As part of the Government’s strategy to improve the quality of Apprenticeships, the Department for Business Innovation & Skills has launched the Trailblazers programme – a series of employer-led projects designed to simplify the existing system and give people the skills employers need to grow and compete.

MP Matthew Hancock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning says:

“National Apprenticeship Week is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.  

“We want to see Apprenticeships become the new norm for all ambitious young people, and employers who are dedicated to growing their own talent and increasing the skills base of the nation.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved this trailblazer for their commitment to Apprenticeships and Traineeships”

Delivery of the Trailblazers programme will follow a staged approach. The Government aims to continue to grow the programme in 2013/14 and 2014/15, with employers creating a range of new Apprenticeship standards and assessment approaches in different sectors and occupations.

The two academic years 2015/16 and 2016/17 will be the key period of transition to full implementation of the reforms. The stated aim is that from 2017/18, all new Apprenticeship starts will be on the new standards.[1]

The Trailblazers group in dentistry is a working group that includes the Association of Dental Groups, Dental Laboratories Association, Dental Technologists Association, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It also includes dental employers: 211 Dental, Den Dental, Genix Healthcare, Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH), Oasis Healthcare, Rodericks Dental and Smile Care Group. Furthermore, it includes the dental laboratories: Attenborough Dental Laboratories Ltd, Barry Appleby, CosTech Elite, First Impressions Denture Centre, JW Dental Ceramics, Kestrel Dental, Knight Dental Design, S4S Dental Laboratory and Sparkle Dental Labs.

Chair for the Trailblazers programme in dentistry is Mustafa Mohammed Managing Director of Genix Healthcare and Sparkle Dental Labs. He says:

“I am really very excited to be involved with the Trailblazers initiative, and encourage other likeminded individuals to join us in leading the development of standards for Apprenticeships in our sector.

“I am extremely passionate about developing Apprenticeships for both dental nurses and technicians, as I believe this would really help to encourage careers within the dental industry within the UK, while also working to raise standards.  

“In terms of the nurse Apprenticeship the idea would be for us to put our heads together as representatives of the sector and look at how we feel improvements could be made to existing schemes that are in place.

 “The dental technician Apprenticeship will really help the dental sector in this country, as it will mean more jobs for dental technicians, stopping the recent decline. Once trained the new technicians will be able to follow a structured career path, and perhaps focus their skills on a particular department, thus shaping their own future within the profession.”

David Worskett, Chairman of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), says:

“I believe we really need to make much more use of the Apprenticeship route for training in dentistry, as with other sectors of the economy. The ADG is absolutely delighted to support the initiative in the dental sector as we think it can be good for dental professionals and for patients.”

Professor Stephen Dunne, Head of the Dental Practice & Policy Department at King’s College London, says: 

“I am delighted to be involved in this exciting initiative. Apprenticeships could play a major role in the training and career development of dental nurses and dental technicians.”

Richard Daniels, Chief Executive of the Dental Laboratories Association says:

“The Dental Laboratories Association is delighted to be a part of the Trailblazers initiative for setting up an apprenticeship in Dental Technology.  As an organisation, we have committed significant resources into this project with Skills for Health, so to see the Trailblazers group bring together associations and dental laboratories from across the UK is a fantastic step in the right direction.  Whilst Dental Technology has some excellent providers of education, there is still room for a work based apprenticeship to allow those who prefer the vocational route into a career as a professional dental technician.”

Barry Appleby, President of the Dental Technologists Association, says:

“I'm delighted that the Dental Technologists Association will be part of the Trailblazer apprenticeship initiative and we look forward to working towards the creation of training pathways that will aid the development of dental technologists with the skills and abilities necessary to meet the needs of Dental Laboratories of the 21st century.”

To find out more about the Trailblazers programme, and how your company could get involved, contact Mustafa Mohammed via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Like it or love it, the healthcare business in the UK now centres around contracts, agreements and settlements. Whether it's the NHS Standard Contract, dental contracts or Personal Dental Service Agreements, everything requires careful negotiation to get the best deal for your business.

Such negotiations invariably require detailed preparation, an in-depth knowledge of the procedures and a good understanding of what is likely (and unlikely) to be accepted. In other words it's a task for an expert, which is why more and more businesses are using the professional negotiation services of Amanda Atkin of Atkinspire Limited.

Steeped in healthcare management experience, including several roles within the NHS, Amanda Atkin has negotiated contracts from both sides of the table so she knows what commissioning teams want and how to manage them.

She says: "Whether you are tendering for a new contract or negotiating to reduce the clawback on an existing one, preparing a strong case is vital and that's where I come in. I know the sorts of questions that will be asked and the evidence needed. I also stay abreast of the constantly changing policies and guidance."

Although all her contract negotiation work is strictly confidential, Amanda can allude to some recent successes. In one case she had clawback cancelled, in another a contract was agreed at a much higher price than was offered originally.

If you don't want to be a hostage to negotiation, contact Amanda Atkin now on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07772 876 967. There is more information about the range of healthcare management consultancy services offered by Atkinspire here: www.atkinspire.co.uk

On the 14 February 2014, BDIA Dental Showcase unveiled the new identity and strapline for this year’s exhibition at the impressive Tate Modern.

An example of adaptive reuse, the Tate Modern is housed in the former Bankside Power Station, and retains the national collection of British and international modern and contemporary art. It was the ideal venue at which to launch this year’s Dental Showcase, following the Association’s recent rebrand to the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA); the Tate Modern is the most visited modern art gallery in the world and offers the general public the opportunity to view some of the most iconic and innovative pieces of modern art ever created. Similarly, BDIA Dental Showcase is the biggest event in the UK dental calendar, regularly attracting around 10,000 members of the dental profession keen to experience the latest dental products, services and innovations, hence the exhibition’s new strapline ‘Putting innovation into practice’.

Members of the dental press congregated for drinks and a catch up at the renowned location before embarking on a private tour of the expansive permanent collection. They then sat down to lunch in the gallery’s restaurant, which offers stunning views overlooking the Thames and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Tony Reed, Executive Director of the BDIA, formally introduced the BDIA Dental Showcase 2014 theme and thanked the dental press for their continued support.

Tony Reed commented, “We were delighted to launch this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase at such a spectacular venue. Art galleries provide a valuable function in that they reassure visitors that what they are seeing is the real thing rather than a forgery. The growth of internet trading and globalisation may have increased opportunities in many markets but it has also opened the door to fakes and cheap copies of just about everything including dental equipment and materials. Recent scandals in other markets have emphasised the importance of a reliable supply chain and I believe that BDIA Dental Showcase provides the perfect opportunity to see the real thing and to establish relationships with trustworthy suppliers. Showcase provides a vital link between the industry and the profession and I am particularly grateful for the support that Showcase receives from the dental press each year.”

BDIA Dental Showcase takes place from 9-11 October 2014 at ExCeL London. For further information visit www.dentalshowcase.com.

A retirement seminar, exclusively for practice owners, is to be held at the Pentahotel in central Birmingham on Friday 21^st March 2014.

Practice Sales experts, PFM Dental, will be joined by specialist dental businesses including Goodman Grant Solicitors, lawyers to dentists, and Clear Vision Dental Accountants.

New to the programme for 2014 is a presentation on ensuring your practice is compliant prior to sale. Sean Bradley BDS MFGDP (UK), a former chair of the National Association of Dental Advisers (NADA), will share his knowledge of the CQC and other compliance requirements.

With fewer than two months until sweeping pension changes, Jon Drysdale BA (Hons) Dip PFS, of PFM Dental (Financial Advice), will cover NHS Pension Scheme issues as well as the HMRC’s new annual and lifetime allowances for pension schemes.

Early booking is advised as delegate places are limited. Go to www.pfmdental.co.uk or call Mandy Wraige on 0845 241 4480 to book your place. The event runs from 9.00am to 3.00pm, includes lunch and offers verifiable CPD of five hours.

A new company called Medicare Management Academy UK has been established to cater for the training requirements of managers in all sectors of UK healthcare.

Medicare Management Academy UK will expand on the work of its sister company, Dentac Limited, which focuses on training in the dental industry.

Glenys Bridges, who has considerable experience of training within the healthcare sector, will be running training events for Medicare Management Academy UK, beginning initially with specially developed BTEC management courses.

Glenys says: "Medicare Management Academy will enable managers from all healthcare sectors to develop their management skills and techniques and so gain similar benefits to our participants from within dentistry. Such skills are particularly critical for managers and Registered Managers in healthcare business that must meet Care Quality Commission requirements."

The first Medicare Management Academy courses for which recruitment has begun are:

BTEC Level 3 Management Award – first one-day workshop 4 March in London

BTEC Level 4 Management Diploma – first one-day workshop on 15 April in London

Successful completion of the Level 3 Management Award course is an entry requirement for the Level 4 Management Diploma – the latter widely considered as an essential qualification for those in healthcare management roles.

Enquiries should be addressed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Telephone 01376 573573

Website www.medicaremanagement.co.uk (under development)

The postal address for administration is

215-217 High St, Kelvedon, Colchester? CO5 9JT

“A new year brings a new appointment for plan provider Patient Plan Direct”

Patient Plan Direct offers an, efficient, flexible and extremely cost effective means of administering patient capitation and/or maintenance dental plans. The approach has been extremely well received by the dental community since the company’s inception over four years ago. The latest development in the company’s expansion is the appointment of Simon Reynolds as commercial director.

Simon Pictured below

Conrad Broadbent, Managing Director of Patient Plan Direct commented: ‘we have gathered some real momentum in the past eighteen months as more and more practices choose to administer their plan with us, including the BDA’s 2013 practice of the year. I’m confident Simon’s experience in marketing, partner relationships and product development will help us continue to deliver an excellent value proposition to the dental market’.

Simon added: ‘The dental plan market has been dominated by a couple of providers for a long time. Patient Plan Direct represents an alternative that at the very least any practice should take the time to explore. Around 80% of practices that opt to administer their plan with Patient Plan Direct have transferred their plan administration to us from another provider and reaped the benefits. Our service brings a refreshing, flexible, great value and unique approach to administering dental plans. There has never been a better time to explore Patient Plan Direct. Our technology, our flexibility, our support and our team continues to evolve and strengthen. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to help more practices across the UK realise there is a way to make significant cost savings and get more from the dental plan they offer to their patients.’

To find out more about Patient Plan Direct visit: www.patientplandirect.co.uk

NHS pension delays could be costly by John Fearn - PFM Dental

Delays in sending out PSS1 forms to dentists are causing headaches and more problems may be on the way. The form shows annual NHS pension figures, which are needed to complete tax returns by 31 January 2014, but many dentists are still overdue this information.

Some dentists had less than a fortnight in December to decide whether to pay an HMRC annual allowance charge through the NHS Pensions Scheme Pays option or by adjustment to their 2011/12 tax return.

One of our clients only received his PSS1 form, confirming he had exceeded the annual pension allowance for the 2011/12 pension year, on the 19th December. With a deadline for action of 31^st December and Christmas and Bank Holidays to contend with, this gave him insufficient time to liaise with his professional advisers and make an informed decision.

With the Scheme Pays deadline missed, NHS Pensions listened to our appeal and has allowed him to apply for the Scheme Pays method of settling the HMRC charge. This prevented the need for the dentist to produce £20,000 at short notice.

Another potentially missed deadline is looming. So far, only a handful of dentists have received their 2012/13 PSS1 annual NHS pension figures form. Technically, these figures are required for the correct input on the tax return, due by 31^st January 2014. Most of these tax returns have already been submitted and the NHS pension figures are now well overdue. Dentists breaching HMRC’s annual allowance in respect of 2012/13 pension year will need to instruct their accountant to make a retrospective adjustment before 31^st January 2015.

If this seems confusing, dentists are advised to ask a suitably qualified dental accountant and financial adviser to examine their individual pension circumstances. The Scheme Pays option is not for everyone so careful analysis is required.

Jon Fearn is a qualified independent financial adviser and NHS Pension specialist for PFM Dental.

e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

t: 0845 241 4480

www.pfmdental.co.uk

MIMI^®- Flapless Implantation with Single-Tooth Champions Implant (R)Evolution^® in the Esthetic Zone  

Author: Dr. Stephanie Ott, Dental Care Solutions, Frankfurt/Main

*Please note: The tooth numbers mentioned refer to the FDI Notation System (Dental Chart/Two-Digit World Dental Federation Notation)

As a dentist in private practice, I have placed and restored different implant systems since 2001. For some time, I have incorporated MIMI^®-Flapless, the Minimally Invasive Implantation Method, as an additional treatment in my dental office. I am delighted to say that this implantation procedure that is performed without surgical flaps and opened mucosa proves to be less traumatic for patients than the conventional methods of implantation that require reflected flaps and direct visualization of the bone. Most patients feel almost no pain, swelling or post- operative soreness after the surgery. In most cases, patients can resume their activities that day or the next. In this article I would like to describe a case of an implantation of Teeth 11 (#8) and 21 (#9) and the following 8 weeks.

Fig. 1-3: X-rays after the patients’ accident that caused a fracture of the zygomatic bone and the nasal septum: view of the roots of Teeth 11 and 21. Both teeth were lost. The clinical situation 4 months post extraction. 

Implantation

After administering local anesthesia with UDS-forte, we inserted a Champions^® conical triangular yellow drill transgingivally until it was in contact with the periosteum to determine the gingival height and thickness (laser markings: every 2 mm). We measured 2 mm-gingival thickness. We drilled transgingivally and slightly palatinally at a slow rotation speed of a maximum of 250 rpm (no water used) (Fig.4 and 5). After measuring the initial gingival thickness and before placing a 10 mm-Champions Implant (R)Evolution^®, we prepared the bone with the following 3 conical triangular drills in the D2/D3 bone: first the yellow drill, followed by the black drill and finally the white drill. These drill types allow the spongy bone to be laterally condensed. Between each drill sequence a bone cavity check is performed. (Bone Cavity Check “BCC” is a manual check of the bone cavity to confirm all walls of the prepped bone are intact.”)

Fig. 4-6: Use of the conical triangular yellow drill to prepare the implantation site using the MIMI^®-Flapless technique and Bone Cavity Check (BCC) with the flexible thin BCC probe.

After the drilling, a 3.0 mm-diameter condenser (Fig.9) was used to extend, expand and condense the spongy bone area to confirm the implant size picked was correct. If primary stability cannot be reached, a larger diameter can be placed. In this case, primary stability of 30/40 Ncm was achieved, which was indicated when the Torque Wrench middle line moved from 20 to 40 Ncm and when the arm of the Torque Wrench bent at 40 Ncm (Fig. 10). We unpacked the blister package and removed the sterile Champions (R)Evolution^® implant from the vial. As a rule, you can insert the implant manually with the integrated white plastic Insertion Aid that is attached when the package is opened. There is no need to touch the sterile implant or reset the Insertion Aid. Once the resistance becomes so great that you cannot insert any further, you can remove the Insertion Aid and place the gold hex headed metal driver on the implant head. You have 2 choices to continue the insertions: either use a surgical unit with handpiece at very low RPM (5-10 rpm) or use the Torque Wrench on the gold driver. This treatment is non-traumatic and takes only a few minutes. In this case, the Torque Wrench was used to drive the implants on both 11 (#8) and 21 (#9) to the desired depth. The total time for both placements was less than 1 hour. Finally, X-rays were taken. The patient was very satisfied. She compared this to a friend who had conventional implantation in another office that took two hours to complete.

Fig.7 to 10: After drilling with the yellow, black, and white conical triangular drills in the soft D3/D4 bone, condensers were used with the Torque Wrench. The Torque Wrench was adjusted to 20 Ncm. When the scale sleeve bent around the axis of the Torque Wrench at 40 Ncm and the middle line moved from 20 to 40 Ncm, primary stability at 40 Ncm was reached.

Fig. 11-13: Manual insertion of Champions Implant (R)Evolution^® Shuttles by means of the Insertion Aids. The Shuttle (also playing the role of transgingival healing) should not stick out of the tissue more than 1 mm to avoid strong lateral shear forces of occlusion particularly during the first 2-6 weeks post surgery.

Fig. 14-16: The second implant, including the bacteria-proof Shuttle, was placed. The 3.5 mm-high Shuttle is fastened with 10 Ncm from the factory. The implant and Shuttle were placed so only 1 mm of the Shuttle was supragingival. As a rule, if the mucosa is less than 3 mm thick before drilling, subcrestal drilling and positioning of the implant will be preferable to prevent the Shuttle from sticking out more than 1 mm above the gingival height, thus preventing lateral shear forces and movement on the Shuttle head.

Fig. 17-19: After taking X-rays, a WIN! Gingiva-Clix was set on the Shuttle of each Champions Implant (R)Evolution^®. Then, a temporary prosthetic restoration (Maryland bridge) was fitted and cemented with Fynal (Dentsply).

Impression & Laboratory & Prosthetic Restoration

During the seven weeks post surgery (Transition between Primary Osseointegration Stability and Secondary Osseointegration Stability), the patient felt no pain and experienced no complications. Seven weeks post surgery, the temporary restoration and Gingiva-Clix were removed. A closed transgingival Impregum impression of the implants was made through the Shuttles. The Gingiva-Clix were replaced on the Shuttle and the temporary restoration recemented. The supragingival treatment lasted 15 minutes without the need of anesthesia or X-rays. Our German laboratory, DENTworry in Alzenau, Germany, manufactured two individual zirconium-coated crowns. It is important to provide the laboratory with both Implant Analogs and Shuttles to preserve the exact location of the implant and the soft tissue contour. The lab should use gingival mask material to simulate soft tissues.

After a week, the Shuttles, including the screws, were removed for the first time. The angled titanium Abutments were placed using a resin key and screwed in to a torque of 30 Ncm. The final crowns (zircon) were fitted and cemented.

Fig. 20 to 22: After unscrewing the retaining screw from the Shuttle/Implant, the Shuttle Extractor (R)Evolution was used to remove the Shuttle. With the adapter, the Shuttle Extractor was manually screwed clockwise in through the Shuttle and into  the implant. This lifts the Shuttle off of the implant. Favorable peri-implant soft-tissue results are observed from the Shuttle and Gingiva-Clix. Before the removal of the Shuttle and placement of the Abutments, the inner diameter of the implant has remained sterile during 6-8 week healing. This prevents the problems of peri-implantitis around the healing implant. The titanium Abutments are screwed in and torqued to 30 Ncm, and the screw shafts are covered with cotton pellets and Cavit.  

The implant/Abutment can be connected with the same screw as the one removed from the Shuttle that was connected to the implant. In this case, the crowns were fitted and cemented in only 15 minutes without anesthesia. Highly esthetic results were obtained.

Fig. 23: X-rays. Fig. 24 and 25: After fitting the Abutments and the crowns, excellent esthetic results in the buccal and palatinal areas were obtained.

Conclusion

Apart from the advantages of the non-traumatic, efficient and time-saving treatment, the innovative and high-quality Champions Implant (R)Evolution^® and prosthodontic restorations are more affordable for patients than conventional implantation (total price: 135 €, including Gingiva-Clix, angled Abutment, Laboratory Analog, Shuttle, and impression, laboratory and dental accessories). This implant system has now been fully integrated into the treatment services offered in my dental office. I don’t want to be without it!! The innovative Champions Implant (R)Evolution^® is a real "Revolution".

In fact, the MIMI^®-Flapless method is very promising for patients. Over the past 10 years, international scientific studies at universities have shown that the MIMI^®-Flapless method is very beneficial. One of the many advantages of the system is no need of re-entry in the gingival tissue during the impression or when the final restorations are placed. Many patients are enthusiastic about MIMI^®-Flapless implantation techniques and the Champions^® implants.

Please watch the video of this case here:

https://vimeo.com/75207980

Author:  Dr Stephanie Ott     DENTAL CARE SOLUTIONS

Leipziger Strasse 4    60487 Frankfurt am Main                            

Tel.: 069 - 97 78 33 66     

Internet: www.dr-ott.net       

Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dental practice valuers, PFM Dental, and dental lawyers, Goodman Grant, (each a member of a leading dental business organisation) have joined forces to deliver a series of seminar covering everything dentists need to know about retiring. The first takes place in Leeds on Friday 24^th January 2014.

Key topics for these seminars include: valuing goodwill, selling to a corporate, legal issues with the transfer of NHS contracts and securing NHS Pension benefits while avoiding HMRC tax charges. The seminar format allows plenty of time for Q&A and runs from 9.00am to 3.30pm, with lunch included. Delegate fees are only £50, making the events exceptional value considering the specialist nature of the content.

Between them the firms have more than 50 years experience of advising dentists on business and legal matters. Such issues have grown in complexity in recent years with the new NHS contract, increased interest from corporate buyers and CQC requirements as well as changes to employment law and NHS Pensions. All these issues and how they relate to the sale of a dental practice – a key factor when planning to retire – are covered on the day.

Martyn Bradshaw (pictured below), a director of PFM Dental and guest CPD speaker at the BDTA Dental Showcase 2013 commented: “These events stand out from the plethora of general retirement seminars because the participating firms are genuine dental specialists with either NASDAL or ASPD accreditation.”

NASDAL (National Association of Dental Accountants and Lawyers) and ASPD (the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists) were each formed to share knowledge among leading business specialists within dentistry. Before being accepted, prospective member companies undergo a vetting process to ensure they have the required level of specialist knowledge and experience.

PFM Dental is one of the UK’s leading dental sales agencies and valuers. It sells and values dental practices throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Goodman Grant is one of the country's foremost law firms providing specialist legal services to the dental profession nationally.

Click here for further information and to book your place (numbers are limited).