No one with anything to do with dentistry could have escaped from the news in Nottinghamshire this week about the cross infection standards at a practice there over the years. This is my neck of the woods, so I can perhaps write with a little more insight than others who are out of the area.

The complete facts have yet to fully come out, but it seems clear there was enough of an issue perceived by the powers that be to recall 22,000 patients, and in doing so scare the living daylights out of a fair number of them.

But given the facts that are available, and not in any way condoning the actions of the dentist involved (whatever they may turn out to be), this brings up a more sinister undercurrent to the whole matter the really should be exposed.

It’s in the public domain that this practice had a UDA contract of 29,000. The last update of the NHS Choices website in 2010 for the practice shows a single performer at the premises where the contract was held.

29,000 UDA’s for a single-handed practitioner? Who in their right mind commissioned that number? That’s like contracting your dental nurse to do a 240 hour week and then washing your hands of the problem when it all goes horribly wrong. She’s either stupid or greedy (if its paid hourly) for accepting, and you’re an idiot for thinking its possible. Even if she gets a mate to help out, its NOT POSSIBLE.

It sounds like this has been going on for some time as well. It’s entirely possible this has been the case since the beginning of the contract.

Ok, the rumours flying around are that there was also a part time associate, but even so, it is still not an achievable number to do with any degree of quality, safety, and ethics.

The person(s) who commissioned this at the PCT, and latterly the LAT, and continued to do so over the years remains anonymous and unanswerable at the moment.

Because they have to take a share of the responsibility for this situation. Its one thing if a dentist decides to act in a certain way; there is the ultimate sanction of our regulator the GDC erasing us, but its another thing when the Unanswerable and Untouchable contract managers in their PCT/LAT towers make decisions solely based on targets being met and box ticking. As I have already said, if the registrant has brought patient safety into jeopardy then there should be the full and appropriate weight of our regulators applied to protect the public.

But how can it be remotely possible that SOMEBODY at the contracting level didn't think there was something odd about such a small practice having such a huge contract? Did they knowingly turn a blind eye in their quest for access? If so they surely are culpable to some degree for what has happened. If they were blissfully unaware that 29,000 Uda’s is a ludicrous target for that practice, then they should be given a job more suited to their skills. May I suggest if that is the case then an audit into how many paperclips the PCT/LAT have used in 5 years would be more the level of their ability.

This is our Mid Staffs. Clinical staff being driven by targets, (which may or may not in this case have a personal motive by the dentist from a financial point of view - we can only speculate) which are quite frankly unachievable with any degree of quality, and patient care therefore suffers.

Unfortunately, the managers commissioning would appear to have gone blind for a period of time and will probably get away with having any culpability attached to them. Their lack of vision and insight is ironic when you consider they are also usually responsible for optical contracts too. (Perhaps they have no teeth when it comes to problems with those contracts!)

However, Mr. Moyes at the GDC wants to broaden their remit to regulate even more.

Might I be so bold as to suggest that ANYONE involved with dental contracting has to be registered in the future with the GDC from a patient safety point of view.

From the Assistant Deputy Assistant Manager’s Deputy to the Assistant Manager (have you noticed how long these names get for people employed in LATLand?) right up to the Directors, they should all be included. The BDA should press for an addition to the Dentists Act whilst the Section 60 order is going through consultation and get these people included on a register. Charge the LAT a flat rate, (How about £890 for Directors and £116 for the others to start off with?). Then, when something like this hits the fan, THEY can be held responsible at least in part for the damage to patient care that results. Sanctions to them can be the same as us, suspension, or erasure. In one fell swoop you would then solve the employment issues that means some people can’t be got rid of in the normal manner. Not registered? Can’t work. End of.

Some will argue it is the dentist and only the dentist who is unilaterally responsible for issues such as we see here. If so, then these people have nothing to fear from registration. However, I think you find most of those who think this at the moment will probably be doing it from the comfort of a nice office somewhere in LATLand or some other associated organisation.

And what of the whistleblower? If someone has been party to the goings on at this practice for a period of time and has only reported it lately, why are they not implicated in the failure prior to the whistleblowing? Is this a negotiated immunity from implication in the problem? If it is, I’ll bet the Rottweilers at the GDC won’t see it that way if their name ever comes out and they are a registrant. If they don’t, then they the GDC are guilty of double standards. Given some of the recent charges levelled at registrants and how spurious they seem to us, I’d have thought any professional remaining in a practice as bad as has been made out for more than 20 minutes on their first day would have to be implicated just by continuing to work; a tacit acceptance of poor standards with the intention of whistleblowing at some point in the future wouldn’t be much of a defence I’d have thought.

And if its only been so bad recently that the whistleblower has only just had grounds to report and is therefore exonerated, then why say it has been going on for 30 years and involves 22,000 patients?

Which means Public Health England and the CQC shouldn’t escape criticism either; The CQC report on their website doesn't fail the practice at the level of needing immediate enforcement action, and closing it, but at the level of requiring improvement, which allows an action plan and to remain open. So should the CQC have gone further and sanctioned a close down if there was such a huge risk of viral transmission? Either the inspector is wrong in not closing it down, or the PHE/LAT have blown it out of proportion. Between them all they remind me of Corporal Jones from Dad’s Army running round in circles shouting ‘Don’t Panic’, whilst simultaneously causing the local population to do just that.

To reiterate, I am not in any way defending or condoning the actions the practitioner involved, and do not know him. If there has been a breach in safety and patients have suffered an increase in risk at the hands of one of our profession we should do the right thing and deal with it swiftly and publicly.

However, I suspect once again there has been virtually no real dental input into this situation, and its probably the Untouchables who have set all the balls in motion as a result of the whistleblower’s video.

So, Mr. Moyes, you want to broaden your remit? Might I suggest you clarify the definition of regulation (since your recent answers at the Parliamentary Committee meeting suggests you aren’t very sure about what regulation is) and get your remit broadened?

When you do, you could do worse than look at this case for some names to get you started.

Bobby’s Walk is one man’s five-month, 2,600-mile trek across India, which aims to raise £1,500,000 for Save the Children and other deserving charities.

India Association Chairman, 79-year-old Balwant (Bobby) Grewal will undertake this epic journey, which will take him from Kanyakumari on the southernmost tip of India all along the east coast to Delhi via Chennai and Calcutta, accompanied by only a single support vehicle.

In 2005 Bobby completed a 2,556 mile walk from Amristar in North India down the west coast to Kanyakumari. Now he hopes to complete the ‘Full Circle’ raising money and awareness along the way.

The Sterling Dental Foundation invites UK and Indian dentists and hygienists to walk alongside Bobby for this very worthwhile cause. Join the charity in supporting underprivileged children by raising Oral Health awareness in the various states in India. You can join at various legs of the walk, adding smiles, lighting up beautiful faces and having lots of fun along the way!

The Sterling Dental Foundation, the charitable arm of the Sterling Dental Group, provides practices and clinicians across the profession with support, advice and networking opportunities. The Sterling Dental Group is fully supportive of Mr Modhi, the Prime Minister of India’s initiative to raise awareness levels of Oral Hygiene and Dental Education amongst people, especially children living in rural areas.

To find out more, to sponsor Bobby and to book tickets for the Sterling Charity Ball logon to www.sterlingdentalgroup.co.uk

The Sterling Dental Foundation is linked to the Sterling Dental College.

For details of the hands-on courses, seminars and CPD events that the college provides visit the website, www.sterlingdentalcollege.co.uk

Sterling Dental Foundation, registered charity: VB/5042656/RTN

Patient Plan Direct is hosting a series of ‘must attend’ webinars exploring two ways dental practices could be better off in 2015; increasing income and profitability with patients’ care and interests at heart.

The first webinar explores the how’s and why’s of a ‘Principal only’ NHS conversion, potentially enabling a practice to ‘retain and gain’ – retaining NHS income whilst developing private income streams. This is a strategy becoming more popular with practices because of the various advantages it presents as well as the uncertainty surrounding the impact of a NHS reform. The webinar covers the various key considerations to determine whether such an approach is the right move at your practice.

Patient Plan Direct’s second webinar considers the advantages of a plan provider transfer and the opportunity that working with Patient Plan Direct can represent. More practices than ever in 2014 have made the move to Patient Plan Direct from another plan provider. Simon Reynolds, commercial director of Patient Plan Direct, discusses why practices are taking on this move, including significant increases in profitability and a unique approach to business and marketing support.

Each free 30 minute webinar runs on various dates over the course of the next few weeks at both lunch time and in the evening, ensuring there is a time that fits your schedule.

To find out more and book your place on either webinar visit http://patientplandirect.com/media/ call 08448486888 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Prestige Dental is delighted to announce the launch of its new website at www.prestigedental.co.uk.

Offering an easy way to find out more and to purchase Prestige’s range of products it is well worth a visit – time and again!

Products from brand-leading companies have been carefully selected and undergone rigorous investigation to ensure they conform to the highest standards.

Lucy Gabbitas and Paul Martin, the two directors of Prestige Dental, commented: ‘We’re delighted to present this up-to-the-minute internet offering, combining innovative new products with tried and tested old favourites. Alongside CE marking and safety and quality of products, it is our policy to ensure that all customers’ requirements are fulfilled in terms fitness for purpose, timeliness of delivery and subsequent customer service – an ethos that we have incorporated into the website.’

Whether you’re looking for materials and equipment for the surgery or laboratory, www.prestigedental.co.uk has it all.

What a great testament to the powers of humanity is the Rosetta comet chaser and viewing project. Not only a great success for the co-operative that is the European Space Agency, but for mankind., and an advertisement for human teamwork. Launched way back in March 2004, this craft has used a few slingshot manoeuvres around planets to gain speed on its 4 billion mile journey to reach Comet 67P at the planned time, travelling at the same speed as the spinning, irregular lump of rock.

The concept must have been dreamt up way back, maybe ten years before its launch, and the thinking and planning must have been so detailed. Then the team working from MUSC in Koln must have had  a seemingly endless ten year wait for this week to arrive.

But consider the team work, design, manufacturing, planning, mathematics and forethought that must have gone into this project over the best part of two decades. The distances involved, the risks of failure were massive, yet this team have got the craft to land on the planet, and even though it has bounced around in the micro-gravity there, it is communicating electronically to the base, where witty tweets are being posted in many languages. https://twitter.com/philae2014

And just think - Twitter wasn't a twinkle in anyone's eye when Rosetta was launched!

Even though now the lander is under the shadow of a cliff, and has lost battery power, it might get some daylight and re-charge itself. 

The comet itself is larger than one might think, around 3 kilometres by 5 kilometres, it rotates around each 12.4 hours, and takes around 6.4 years to orbit the sun

The goals of the mission are to look at the structure of the comet's core, its chemical and mineral composition, measurement of the comet's other phyical properties, an observation as the comet approaches the sun.

Let's congratulate the ESA team, hope for more successful results and images from Philae whilst anchored!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(spacecraft)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Rosetta_spacecraft
http://dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10394/

Disastrous events have and will still occur in dentistry, despite being, in the UK, the most over-regulated profession. But my question in this "open-letter" blog is not just about the right touch of the regulators, but about who runs and who controls the regulators.

In the good old days, the regulators of the professions were drawn from the professions themselves, people of good standing who were willing to put themselves forward, possibly by election or appointment, and it was the case that many good people did indeed come forward.

During the last twenty years, or less, political theories developed suggesting greater and greater roles for the lay members' control of regulators, and my strong contention is that the pendulum is proven to have gone too far away from professional input and control. In other words the regulators have visibly and clearly lost touch.

Regulators insist that professionals show insight into themselves. As professionals, do we educate ourselves correctly, probe our own weaknesses and failings, educate ourselves away from those weaknesses?

But have the regulators shown any form of insight? I also contend, in a very short time frame, the lay element just do not have insight of the profession. How it ticks, how practitioners think? Do they know? How new professional problems are viewed and solved? Intelligent people, as professionals, are put into the rapidly shifting sands of a hightly regulated and inspected system, how do the professionals respond to all those influences, and how do they cope? Do the lay regulators pick this up? How? GDC regulators, the people making the policies have now become so detached from this they have no idea at all. That detachment has been so vividly apparent this summer and autumn, with the GDC remaining with its' collective head deeper and deeper in the sands of 37 Wimpole Street.

Dentistry is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission [CQC]. The CQC early engagement with dental profession was disastrous. In many ways the initial relationship between the CQC and the English dental profession could have served as a case study in how not to engage, a manual on how to alienate. Even in 2014, when CQC have pronounced that dentistry in England carries a low risk for patients and inspections will be made each 5 years, the early alienation created by CQC remains at the forefront for the profession.

The style of CQC speakers, tasked with communicating to dentists in around 2010, was bullying, harrassing and when they saw the dental audience was visibly angry, they invoked the Health and Social Care Act 2008, and said they will do what they want, the law says they can. No negotiation, no compromise, no concept of listening to the senior dental people they were visibly insulting.

They got it wrong then and things may be improving [with added DENTAL input] but the D'Mello case shows how the CQC were getting it wrong. The report on that Mansfield practice shows an inspection was passed, but the main concern was that the mops were the wrong colours. ^[1] [For those who do not know, a system exists, which all dental practices must follow - mops used for the floors in each room must be the right colours, and cleaners educated and make tick charts of the use of the mops in differing areas.]  ^[2]  However, the lay CQC inspector did not note other more worrying aspects, such as, this dentist was seeing, to meet the demands of that particular NHS general dental contract, around 55 patients per day.

Even assuming a full 8 hour day, and knowing all professionals flag after a long day of executive processes and clinical decision making, that is close to seven patients per hour, an average of less than nine minutes per consultation. And we know some of those visits must have been for treatment, not just examination. And dear reader, think about the time it really does take for a patient to enter a room, take off their coat, say hello, be quizzed about their medical history, examined, explained, full informed consent given, explanation of costs, then final greetings, rinse, stand, coat back on. Could you do this in around 8 minutes? This is without allowing for the natural breaks in the day. Even if this dentist worked 10 hours every day, that only gives 12 minutes per patient, including treatment, day after day, hour after hour.

I omitted one thing here - time for cross infection control, several minutes each patient - and this was the thing D'Mello is now notorious, having been proven to have cut this essential aspect out.

But the lay inspector missed this massive aspect of how this practice was being run, something a dentist might not have picked up, but it is much more likely a dentist would have seen in a long, detailed, inspection visit.

So my words for politicians, civil servants, British Dental Association negotiators, and Department of Health; reforms of dental regulation are needed again, and do not cut the corners this time. We need appropriate intellectual and professional input at all levels of new regulation processes that urgently need re-specifying.

Tony Jacobs.

[1] see appendix 1 p15 

[2] CQC report updated at time of suspension of dentist.

Image credit - John Morgan   under CC licence - not modified.

Many people do many extraordinary things in the name of charity. From the tried and tested classic of soaking in a bath of baked beans, to pouring a bucket of freezing cold water over their head, the lengths people will go to in order to raise money and awareness for worthy and deserving organisations are in every case commendable.

Often the more extreme the feat, the more exposure and recognition the charity receives. Whether it’s a group of celebrities climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or a well-known comedian completing 43 marathons in 51 days, we are all aware of those who have gone the extra mile in support of a good cause. However, these immense charitable challenges are not solely limited to those in the public eye.

On the 16^th November 2004, Bobby Grewal, Chairman of the India Association, embarked on a colossal and formidable task to raise money for a number of well-known charities. His incredible fundraising endeavour saw him trek 2,556 miles from Amritsar in the north-western tip of India to Kanyakumari, in the extreme south.

Described as ‘The Great Charity Walk’, over five months Bobby trekked across 10 states, covering an incredible 30-35 miles each day. Although the walk was both physically and mentally challenging it was completed on 14^th April 2005 and the India Association raised over £100,000, which was donated to Northwick Park Hospital for Cancer and AIDS research.

Now, Bobby has decided to return to India, embarking once more on an immense journey that will see him go ‘Full Circle’. Setting off from Kanyakumari, where he concluded his previous walk, he will make his way up the east coast via Chennai and Calcutta to his final destination in Delhi covering an unbelievable 2,600 miles.

Now in his 79^th year (Bobby will celebrate his 80^th birthday during the challenge), this will be no mean feat. He will have to endure extreme weather conditions and exacting terrain, while completing 20-25 miles every day in order to meet his targets. Along the way, Bobby will attend various publicity and fundraising events to help raise awareness of his task.

Each day begins at 04:30 as he aims to cover 12 miles by 09:00, he will then take a break until the late afternoon to avoid the hottest part of the day and complete the day’s walk by the early evening. Throughout his walk, he will be accompanied by only a single support vehicle and small team. His crew of four consisting of a PR manager, a driver, a chef and a physiotherapist, who will attempt to ensure he stays fit and healthy throughout the five months.

Completing this gigantic task, Bobby hopes to raise £1,500,000 for Save the Children and the India Association who will distribute the funds to other charities here in the UK and abroad.

A West London based charity, the India Association is committed to helping raise funds for worthy causes. The charity’s committee is made up of 300 volunteers who all share the same aim of ‘providing relief from poverty, sickness and distress to those in need’. Bobby has been Chairman of the India Association since 2001 and has so far helped the charity raise over £300,000 for a number of deserving charities including Help the Heroes, St Mark’s Research Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital. This next challenge looks to be his most impressive to date and has backing from a number of well known faces, politicians and organisations.

The Sterling Dental Foundation is part of the Sterling Dental Group and is proud to be one of those supporting Bobby’s Walk Full Circle.

The Foundation will provide practices and clinicians across the profession with support, advice and networking opportunities. The group is committed to supporting the dental industry through working closely with charities and other professional associations.

The Sterling Dental Group is fully supportive of Mr Modhi, the Prime Minister of India’s initiative to raise awareness levels of Oral Hygiene and Dental Education amongst people, especially children living in rural areas. We welcome dental practitioners to visit the new satellite centers whilst also supporting Save the Children.

The Group invites UK and Indian dentists and hygienists to walk alongside Bobby for this very worthwhile cause. Join the charity in supporting underprivileged children by raising Oral Health awareness in the various states in India. You can join at various legs of the walk, adding smiles, lighting up beautiful faces and having lots of fun along the way!

Show your support for Bobby’s momentous challenge by attending the Sterling Dental Foundation Charity Ball at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, London on 13^th December 2014. Book online early to avoid disappointment at www.sterlingdentalgroup.co.uk

Amongst our distinguished guests, our Guest of Honour is Professor Ian Hutchinson, BDS, MBBS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Edin), FFD RCSI, Consultant in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals and Founder of Saving Faces Charity.  www.savingfaces.co.uk. 

To find out how you can help or to volunteer, visit www.sterlingdentalgroup.co.uk and register your interest online.  

To sponsor Bobby’s Walk Full Circle, please email Cara Williams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07985593147, or visit

www.indiaassociation.co.uk/bobbys-walk-full-circle

The Sterling Dental Foundation is linked to the Sterling Dental College.

For details of the hands-on courses, seminars and CPD events that the college provides visit the website, www.sterlingdentalcollege.co.uk

Sterling Dental Foundation, registered charity: VB/5042656/RTN

New from The Dental Directory: Doctor’s^® BrushPicks^® are toothpicks for a healthy smile.

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BrushPicks^® promote periodontal health, help in the fight against gingivitis and are available in four convenient varieties. Available now in The Dental Directory’s BigBite flyer – your patients will quickly see the benefits.

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on 0800 585 586 or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

Fast Growing Healthcare Finance Company Strengthens Resources with New Business Development Manager

Snowbird Finance Ltd - (snowbirdfinance.co.uk) announced today that Bill Carr is joining the business to further develop their practice finance offering to new and existing clients.  Bill Carr comes with a wealth of experience within the healthcare sector, having spent 24 years working closely with Dentists, Doctors, Pharmacists and Veterinarians.

Bill started his career at the renowned NatWest St James’ Dental Unit where he was one of the founding members of The Association of Service Providers for Dentists and Trustee of The Eastman Foundation for Oral Research and Training. Bill has helped numerous clients in Dentistry with financing for squats, practice purchases and repurchasing agreements.

Bill joins Snowbird on December 8^th 2014 as Business Development Manager to continue Snowbird’s growth and continued excellence in providing bespoke funding packages and practice finance to healthcare professionals around the UK looking to acquire practices. Bill comments “I am excited to start my new role at Snowbird and look forward to working with the team to further develop the specialised finance they provide. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that has an unrivalled reputation for top quality expertise, service and integrity.”

Simon Freeman, Managing Director, added “Bill brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of practice finance and will be a key addition to the Snowbird team. We view his appointment as a sign of our commitment to being one of the leading providers of specialised finance to the healthcare sector. We are very fortunate that we were able to find someone of Bill’s calibre to help us to build on the equipment finance and business and personal loan services we already offer and thus develop more opportunities for our clients to acquire practices.”

About Snowbird Finance Ltd

Snowbird Finance specialise in bespoke financial solutions for practices and professionals in the dental, optical, veterinary and medical sectors. Snowbird's understanding and experience in the industry is unique and we take the time to get to know all our clients so we can provide tailored solutions to meet their individual needs and requirements.  More information on the company’s services provided, team members’ experience and latest news and events can be found on our website www.snowbirdfinance.co.uk

About Bill Carr

Bill is a lecturer at UCL Eastman Dental Institute and also carries out lectures for the London Deanery, DFI Groups, BDA and the Whips Cross Hospital. He has lectured on practice purchasing with law and accountancy firms and specialist surveyors on GP Surgeries & Dentists.

Bill holds Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland & IFS School of Finance qualifications in Healthcare Credit and is a Chartered Banker under the Business and Commercial Accreditation Program.

Contact

Simon Freeman, Managing Director

Snowbird Finance Ltd

Tel: 01932 874674

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

For PR and marketing enquiries, contact Sophie-Louise Cook This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01932 450542.

‘This practice has been working with The Dental Directory for many years,’ says Andrew Webber, Practice Manager at Pinhoe Dental Centre in Exeter. ‘We have found them to be helpful in reducing costs, maintaining or improving quality and continuing an ongoing dialogue to look at products and pricing structures.

‘We use The Dental Directory as our main supplier for a number of products, including UnoDent. ‘It is vital to the directors that we have access to cost-efficient lines, where quality is the overriding priority and The Dental Directory offers this.

One of the main advantages has been a professional attitude and our dedicated representative. It is a partnership, rather than a depersonalised buyer-supplier relationship.

‘We have a tremendous working relationship with our representative. They are able to suggest ideas and take our own thoughts into consideration. Customer service is great, with simple accounting to save time and effort. 

‘We would recommend The Dental Directory. We want a simple supply chain with quality products and The Dental Directory provides this for us every time.’

The Dental Directory can enhance your services. Call today to find out more…

Contact The Dental Directory on 0800 585 586
or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

Even we health professionals enjoy a little extra food and drink over the festive period, but we would be remiss not to warn our patients of the potential for tooth damage.

Tooth erosion caused by alcohol, snacking between meals and increased consumption of sugary foods has the potential to escalate over Christmas.

According to the charity Addaction, Britons consume more than 600 million units of alcohol during December and 14% drink more than they intend to over Christmas. Meanwhile, Mars has historically reported that 65% of boxed chocolates are sold in the run up to Christmas.

If advice is to be focused on limiting the damage of a lifestyle harmful to the dentition, the following can be recommended:

• Drink erosive drinks through a straw to direct liquid to the back of the mouth and avoiding swishing drinks around the mouth

• Avoid carbonated and fruit juice mixers (which may be difficult as there is little else available and wine also has a low pH at around 3.5)

• Drink water between alcoholic beverages helps buffer their acidic potential

• Chewing sugar-free, xylitol- or sorbitol-sweetened gum to help neutralise acid in the mouth

• Never brush teeth immediately after acidic exposure, but waiting at least an hour. If this is not possible, rinsing with a fluoride mouth rinse and then applying a paste containing high fluoride or calcium phosphate to the teeth without rinsing before bed is worthwhile

• Use a fluoride mouthrinse throughout the day

• Use of a toothpaste low in abrasivity and a soft toothbrush.

If you are concerned that any of your patients are showing signs tooth wear, simply visit www.toothwear.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 020 7486 7180.

The journey of a practice sale or purchase starts with the crucial step of due diligence. It is here that your solicitor will ensure that the practice has everything in order, guaranteeing transparency of all available information.

A potential buyer has an increasingly larger task when investigating the practice he or she is about to purchase; likewise sellers are burdened with documenting every element of their practice to facilitate a sale.

It is the due diligence process that provides the buyer with the information required to make the right decision, making the process a necessity.

Due diligence, often perceived as being rather complex, is the obtaining and reviewing of the legal and financial information by the buyer, to ensure that they fully understand the practice and are aware of any issues that may affect the price or their decision to buy.

The initial process requires the seller to answer a form of detailed due diligence questions and provide supporting information and documentation. Once we are in receipt of this material we are able to advise on the structure, performance and operating of the business.

At Goodman Grant we have identified this as an area of the transaction, which can be daunting for both the buyer and the seller. When our clients are buying a practice we support them by going through the replies and supporting documentation in detail, providing a comprehensive report and identifying areas where we believe further enquiries should be made to find out more information about the business. As this exercise unfolds we can identify areas where you may need protecting. Additionally, this will allow you to understand the performance of the practice, whether it be the private income or the UDA performance under an NHS contract, as well as the everyday functioning of the practice. This also allows you to start to plan with a clear view for when you take over at the practice.

Where our client is selling their practice we aim to offer guidance – we can help you provide the answers to the questions raised by the buyer’s solicitors and deliver the information they are seeking. Having such assistance can speed up the transaction and also take the headache away during what is a busy and sometimes stressful time for both the seller and the practice. We are on hand to ensure you provide the correct information in a timely manner. We have recently introduced the use of a data sharing facility on our website, docSAFE which permits the easy transfer of documents online.

We have a detailed understanding of the whole process, which means we can help our clients with the due diligence and in particular the areas that are often difficult for clients. This usually involves providing the correct documents that the buyer is asking for, from commercial contracts that the practice is engaged in, to information about employees or evidence on the maintenance and quality of the assets which are being sold. Typically, experienced dental lawyers will enquire about all aspects of the practice, reviewing accounts, maintenance arrangements, patient information, compliance licenses and NHS contract performance levels if applicable. An effective and comprehensive due diligence process is therefore essential, to protect both parties and ensure that if there are any issues these are identified before the buyer is legally bound to proceed with the purchase.

From our experience at Goodman Grant we have seen the potential pitfalls of not instructing dentally aware solicitors. This can lead to a purchase or sale being delayed for a number of months, and sometimes even falling through altogether.

We understand the challenges for both buyer and seller during the due diligence process, from the legal obligation on the seller to provide accurate information, and also for the buyer to fully understand the practice they are inheriting. Buying or selling a practice is one of the biggest decisions a dentist can make in their career. With our wealth of knowledge and experience we are well suited to make it a positive experience, whether it is the beginning of your career or the last step towards retirement.

For more information call Ben Williams on 0113 834 3705 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.goodmangrant.co.uk

Author Ben Williams, joined Goodman Grant in May 2013 and works as a Paralegal in the Leeds Office assisting fee earners on Dental Employment Matters and Dental Practice Sale and Purchases’

Look out for The Dental Directory’s InsideOrtho flyer coming this January.

Whether your patient requires major orthodontic treatment to fix serious malocclusion or is interested in more aesthetically focused results, The Dental Directory can provide everything you need to deliver first-class treatment.

As well as great discounts on well-known and recognisable brands, the InsideOrtho flyer has excellent deals on Pink Line, The Dental Directory’s own range of exceptional quality orthodontic products.

From Buccal Tubes to Molar Bands and Self-Litigating Bracket Systems to Archwires, Pink Line covers all your orthodontic needs and offers remarkable value for money.

So for your everyday orthodontic essentials, turn to The Dental Directory, and make sure you pick up your copy of InsideOrtho this January.

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on 0800 585 586 or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

This tooth coloured, fluorescent and radiopaque bulk composite provides a perfect amalgam replacement and alternative to glassionomer cements, compomers as well as conventional filling therapy. Fill-Up!  combines the advantages of resin-based composites with simplified and efficient handling. Owing to its dual curing properties, fillings with Fill-Up! can be administered in arbitrary filling depth without the need of an additional covering layer.

Welcome to the safe side!

Conventional light curing bulk filling materials are limited in their curing depth, questioning whether the restoration fully cures. But with the dual curing properties of Fill-Up! There is a guarantee of thorough curing down to the bottom of any cavity.

Also, chemical curing minimises shrinkage stress dramatically, preventing micro fractures and postoperative sensitivities. As supported by studies, the bonding partner ParaBond caters for a perfect marginal seal comparable to the one of conventional composite - before and after thermo cycling and chewing abrasion – ensuring a secure long-term restorative solution.

Convenient and fast

Fill-Up! is applied in a single layer and finished with rotary instruments after 5 sec of light polymerisation. The material is easy and quickly polishable to high gloss and therefore is the perfect choice for all Class I and II fillings, cavity lining and core build-ups – for perfect and fast results!

Fill-Up! Deep. Fast. Perfect. 

Click here to book a demonstration or order an Intro Kit.

Follow Coltene on Twitter - @COLTENEUKLTD

Are you interested in capitalising on the growing demand for non-surgical facial aesthetics? Are you looking to develop your existing skills and confidence to broaden your treatment provision in this area?

Then make sure you don’t miss The Dentistry Show 2015. Brand new to the event is the Facial Aesthetics Theatre, in association with CCR, designed to offer you everything you need to know.

Key professionals from the field will share their experience and expertise to give you practical advice and tips and help you achieve optimum results every time. Discover the latest products and techniques, and learn how you could expand your provision to deliver the solutions your patients want.

With a two-day lecture programme designed for each member of the dental team, hours of verifiable CPD, live demonstrations and hands-on sessions, The Dentistry Show 2015 is one event you don’t want to miss.

Register online for your free delegate passes today!

The Dentistry Show and DTS 2015 - Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th April, NEC in Birmingham. For further details or to register, visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk,

call 020 7348 5269 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

It’s great to see the bigger picture but you mustn’t miss the wood for the trees. A rolling stone gathers no moss so rushing headlong into procedures may lead to problems growing like Topsy.

OK, enough of the metaphors, even though I love them so! How many more could you have read before becoming seriously irritated? Literary style like anything else needs attention to detail; try not to repeat words, don’t make sentences too long and attempt to keep the reader engaged.

Our practices are full of areas where detail is paramount. These extend from the clinical treatments we provide to the overall patient experience. I don’t just mean the details imposed by our regulators, of course we have to attend to them but in order to be successful we need to go much further. A good place to start is to put ourselves in the position of our patient and see the practice in a different way. Notice the little things; the things that well-known dentist Paddy Lund who practices in Australia terms ‘the essential non-essentials.’ (Not awkward prose but attention to detail; he’s actually British even though it’s tempting to say ‘Australian Dentist Paddy Lund!’) Is Reception accessible or are there barriers in the way? Can the patient comfortably sign forms on a work surface of convenient height? Is there a hook behind the loo door to hang coats or bags? At the very least, is there a mirror to adjust make-up after the appointment?

In the treatment room itself has as much scary equipment as possible been concealed? Has the head-rest been adjusted properly? Have team members removed all traces of alginate before the patient leaves?

Clinical detail is much more complex but also includes simple things. If Bayer or Ivoclar say a certain impression material needs 4 minutes to set they don’t mean 3 minutes and 58 seconds you know! Reading instruction leaflets on materials can be an eye-opener and can constitute the difference between excellence and failure.

You can’t attend to detail if you can’t see it. Use magnification. Always. Photograph as many of your procedures as possible and review them afterwards to identify potential areas of improvement. The BACD offers regular courses in clinical photography if instruction is needed.

Look at the details provided for you on medical and social histories. This information can enable you to tailor individual treatment plans more precisely. Above all listen. Listen to what the patient says; their concerns, symptoms and desires. Don’t pre-judge but really hear the detail that is being presented.

Attention to detail is essential and can avoid a plethora of clinical and medico-legal problems as well as increasing the success of the practice. Detail encompasses everything; patient well-being, diagnosis, clinical treatment and record-keeping. We’re all highly-trained professionals. We’re good but looking after the minutiae can make us even better!

As for me, I’ll continue to work on the writing style. I’ll try to avoid the metaphors as much as I can but I’m not promising anything; after all, we all know a leopard can’t change its spots, don’t we?!

For further information about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, call 0207 612 4166, fax 0207 182 7123, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.bacd.com

Geneva, 5 November 2014: FDI World Dental Federation is today launching the World Oral Health Day 2015 (WOHD 2015) ‘Smile for life’ campaign to remind people everywhere about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums.

World Oral Health Day is celebrated throughout the world on 20th March each year with a wide range of awareness-raising activities organized by dentists, dental students, National Dental Associations (NDAs) and corporate partners.

Over 90% of the world’s population will suffer some form of dental disease in their lifetime but many of these can easily be treated or prevented with a good oral care routine. The WOHD 2015 ‘Smile for life’ is supplemented by the call to action ‘It’s time to…’, which campaigners can adapt to their local needs and circumstances.

Dentists at the FDI Annual World Dental Congress in New Delhi last September endorsed the ‘Smile for life’ campaign both literally and figuratively when they took turns to ‘Smile for life’ in front of WOHD 2015 campaign poster.

FDI President Dr Tin Chun Wong commented: “The ‘Smile for life’ campaign reminds us that oral disease can be prevented by practising good oral hygiene throughout life, from childhood to mature adulthood.

After tripling the number of countries celebrating World Oral Health Day between and 2013 and 2014, we are now looking to reach an even larger audience in even more countries as well as online.”

FDI’s Executive Director Jean-Luc Eiselé added: “We want to encourage everyone to celebrate this important day. Participants can download materials such as logos, posters and toolkits to plan their activities from the ‘Smile for life’ campaign website – where they can also read inspiring stories from last year’s campaign to help them plan their World Oral Health Day 2015.”

In addition, FDI confirmed that the four key global partners of World Oral Health Day – LISTERINE®, Unilever, Henry Schein and Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program – have renewed their commitment to support the campaign in 2015.

“The continued support from our partners is essential in ensuring that World Oral Health Day keeps on having a global impact, and that our message can reach as wide an audience as possible”, emphasized FDI President Dr. Tin Chun Wong.

About FDI

FDI World Dental Federation serves as the principal representative body for more than one million dentists worldwide, developing health policy and continuing education programmes, speaking as a unified voice for dentistry in international advocacy, and supporting member associations in global oral health promotion activities. Over the years, it has developed programmes, initiatives, campaigns, policies and congresses, always with a view to occupying a space that no other not-for-profit group can claim.

FDI works at national and international level through its own activities and those of its member dental associations. It is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and a member of the World Health Professionals Alliance (WHPA).

For more information, visit: www.fdiworldental.org

About World Oral Health Day

World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20th March. The theme of World Oral Health Day 2015 is ‘Smile for life’. It reflects the major contribution oral health makes to our lives. Around the world, FDI member dental associations, schools, companies and other groups will celebrate the day with events organized under this single, unifying and simple message.

For more information, visit: www.worldoralhealthday.org

World Oral Health Day 2015 partners

LISTERINE® brand Mouthwash, part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies

LISTERINE® Mouthwash is the world’s number one daily mouthwash with antibacterial properties to clean the mouth, freshen breath and fight plaque.   Over 50 clinical studies support the plaque reduction efficacy of LISTERINE® Mouthwash when used routinely as an adjunct to mechanical plaque removal. LISTERINE® Mouthwash has been used by more than one billion people in more than 85 countries.  Professional dental organizations around the world have awarded LISTERINE® Mouthwash with their seals of acceptance.

LISTERINE® is distributed by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., a part of the Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, which is the world’s sixth-largest consumer health company and is a segment of Johnson & Johnson, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products.

Unilever

Unilever Oral Care is a leading global manufacturer of oral care products, including toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash, represented by brands including Signal, Pepsodent, Close Up, Mentadent, Aim, P/S and Zhong Hua. Unilever recognizes that good oral health and the sense of well-being and confidence it brings, is a vital element to making people look good, feel good and get more out of life and that small every day actions, such as twice daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, add up to make a big difference for the world. Through its science, products, partnerships and international network, Unilever Oral Care is privileged with the power to make a sustainable and measurable improvement to oral health around the world.

Henry Schein

Henry Schein, Inc. is the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners.  The Company also serves dental laboratories, government and institutional health care clinics, and other alternate care sites.  A Fortune 500® Company and a member of the NASDAQ 100® Index, Henry Schein more than 17,000 Team Schein Members and serves more than 800,000 customers.

The Company offers a comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices and delivering high-quality care.  Henry Schein operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, with a selection of more than 96,000 branded products and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 110,000 additional products available as special-order items. The Company also offers its customers exclusive, innovative technology solutions, including practice management software and e-commerce solutions, as well as a broad range of financial services.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein has operations or affiliates in 28 countries.  The Company's sales reached a record $9.6 billion in 2013, and have grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 16 percent since Henry Schein became a public company in 1995.  For more information, visit the Henry Schein website at www.henryschein.com.

Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP)

The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) partners with dental professionals worldwide, helping them improve their patients’ oral health through one extra simple and enjoyable step in their daily routine: chewing sugarfree gum after eating and drinking on-the-go. For more than 25 years, WOHP has supported independent clinical research into the benefits of chewing gum, including saliva stimulation, plaque acid neutralization and tooth strengthening to help dental professionals and their patients understand the role of sugarfree gum as a convenient tool for everyday oral care. Today, Wrigley operates oral healthcare programs in 47 countries worldwide. WOHP is one example of how we make a difference to people and the planet through performance, and how we incorporate our principles based approach to business into all that we do.

For more information, visit: www.wrigleyoralcare.com

Once more The Dental Directory is helping practices plan the year ahead with the 2015 annual wall planner.

The Dental Directory has everything you require to get set for 2015, from restorative materials and x-rays to everyday sundries. As the UK’s foremost dental dealer, The Dental Directory provides a phenomenal range of innovative and essential products – all at unbeatable prices.

With an outstanding reputation for excellent customer care, The Dental Directory offers free next day delivery on all orders no matter how big or small and has a team of experts on hand to answer any queries or questions.

Make sure 2015 gets off to a winning start with the fantastic wall planner, available to all practices on request. To receive your free planner, contact The Dental Directory today.

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on 0800 585 586 or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

Committed to expanding the quality treatment provision available for patients around the country, Rodericks Ltd Head Office has moved.

Now located at Grange Park in Northampton, the new premises affords the group with more space as well as enhanced meeting rooms and training facilities for all its team.

Shalin Mehra, Managing Director of Rodericks Ltd, says:

“As a group we are growing. The move to a larger Head Office premises is just one step we have taken in a bid to enable further growth and development of Rodericks Ltd. Not only do we have more space for our Operations, HR and Finance Teams to work more closely together, but we are also able to offer improved training opportunities to our professionals.

“With a shared passion for education and career progression amongst the group, our dedicated training team are now better equipped than ever to help our members further broaden their skills and reach their full potential.”

Built on a vision to deliver highly quality patient care through loyal and motivated professionals, Rodericks Ltd could offer an array of benefits to you and your team. To find out more about joining the group, contact the friendly team at their new offices today.

For more information please visit www.rodericksdental.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01604 602491.

Is intellectual property just an abstract concept for entertainers and corporate giants seemingly living in a different world to the rest of us?

When you consider recent high profile news stories you may be forgiven for thinking so, but the reality is far from it – and it can have serious repercussions for a dental practice. 

Goodwill, the lifeblood of any business, is defined as the attractive force that brings in custom. But the question is: Where is it manifested? As a dental practice your goodwill is founded on your reputation, either via word of mouth or through marketing, branding and advertising. This is what encourages your existing patients to return to you and new patients to try out your service, and is all underpinned by intellectual property.

Any small business, such as a dental practice, can spend a considerable amount of money on creating a strong, positive image, enhancing its goodwill. This can be through designing a new logo, having a sign put up outside the premises, investing in a new website, or having office stationary printed. However, issues can arise if the proper precautions are not taken first. 

Much of the legal work undertaken in the field of intellectual property relates to those who either did not know they had any intellectual property, or did not consider whether their marketing activity would step on the toes of those who do. The questions any business should therefore be asking themselves are:

1. Will you be infringing someone else’s intellectual property rights when you launch your brand, website or business identity?
2. How do you stop others from infringing your intellectual property rights?
3. What will you do if you are accused of infringement?

These questions relate to the main causes of action around intellectual property and there are some simple steps that can be taken to prevent legal action:

1. Carry out thorough searches to avoid accusations of infringement.
2. Protect your ideas from the offset.
3. Deal with any disputes in a timely manner, as this is the best way to avoid litigation.  Whether you are accused of infringement or feel that someone has infringed your IP, always seek specialist guidance and advice first.

So, before you even begin developing your new name and brand, it is essential to make sure that you’re not going to be stopped from using your name. Furthermore you will also need to ensure that someone else isn’t going to take advantage and use the same name, or image, effectively hijacking your goodwill.

If you do fall into the intellectual property trap, contact us immediately at Goodman Grant Solicitors for honest, expert guidance and pragmatic advice.

© 2014 Goodman Grant Solicitors Ltd

Paul Edels of Goodman Grant Lawyers for Dentists

For more information call Paul Edels on 0151 707 0090 or email

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

www.goodmangrant.co.uk

There can be no doubt that the demand for cosmetic procedures has seen unprecedented growth over the last two decades. This is partly facilitated not only by the enhanced focus on celebrity culture and on achieving the ‘Hollywood’ aesthetic look, but also because people just want to feel better about themselves. This has certainly been accelerated due to the rise in the technology and the variety of procedures available.

Practitioners looking to provide such treatments first have to make the decision between surgical or non-surgical solutions and in recent times the pendulum tends to have swung towards the non-surgical procedures, especially for facial aesthetics. The popularity of these procedures compared to that of surgical treatments stems from their relative affordability and their perceived safety and less-invasive nature.

In the UK in 2010 the number of non-surgical cosmetic procedures exceeded the one million mark for the first time[i] and that figure has been rising yearly alongside other forms of cosmetic treatment ever since. In 2011 it was reported that the previous year saw three million injections of botulinum toxin (type A) administered worldwide[ii].

Indeed, both botulinum toxin and dermal fillers are arguably the most popular forms of non-surgical facial aesthetics (NSFA) and strong consumer awareness for these treatments has helped to maintain this demand.

However, as a clinician you may at times find yourself faced with a client who is concerned about their appearance, who wants to do something about it and would like a non-surgical treatment, but is nervous around needles and injections. They may present with a sagging neck or jowl area under the chin and without needles or injections a non-surgical procedure may seem like an unlikely solution. Radio Frequency Treatment would be an ideal resolution in this scenario.

Radio Frequency (RF energy treatment) is a non-surgical, non-invasive aesthetic procedure for improving skin tightness and reducing wrinkles and loose or sagging skin (Touma and Gilchrist 2003). Radio Frequency treatment initiates a process of dermal tissue remodelling by stimulating fibroblasts to proliferate and produce more collagen.

An appropriate analogy is that if you take an empty crisp packet and put it in a cold oven, nothing happens. If you were to put it in an oven at full temperature it will quickly shrivel up. But, if you carefully put it in an oven at an exact specified temperature it will shrink, but retain its exact proportional dimensions and structure. This exemplifies the effect achieved by Radio Frequency. The procedure is the perfect non-invasive solution, ideal for treating sagging around the jaw-lines, chin and the neck, and stimulates and encourages the body’s natural process to restore youth.  

As any professional would understand, there are times when dermal fillers and botulinum toxin will simply not be able to achieve the desired results, and so Radio Frequency and Fractional Radio Frequency Treatments can be advantageous additions to the procedural modalities available. This can be especially true in areas that may be difficult to treat with injectables or where the results might not have been as efficacious. Radio Frequency treatments are not a particularly new procedural option, and it may be one of the less well recognised, certainly among consumers, however in this instance it would represent the optimum choice for a non-surgical procedure.

Results are impressive as they are immediate, much to your client’s satisfaction. They may not have thought it possible to achieve such effects without resorting to more invasive or dramatic surgical procedures or lasers, and will be surprised at how quick and easy the treatments are.

As the demand for cosmetic treatments continues to rise and the pubic appetite for non-surgical procedures increases, any clinician will be wise to at least consider adding Radio Frequency treatments to their range of available procedures. Like botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, the popularity of Radio Frequency will only rise as it begins to be perceived by clients as a more efficacious, safe and cost-effective alternative to surgical cosmetic treatments. 

Whatever the treatment option chosen there is no doubt that non-surgical facial aesthetics can provide a welcome and reliable additional source of revenue for a practitioner. Moreover, it is essential that should you choose to offer such treatments you receive a high level of appropriate instruction beforehand. The training courses offered at the Dr Brian Franks Facial Aesthetics Training Faculty cover a range of treatment solutions from foundation, intermediate and advanced level botulinum toxin and dermal fillers to medical micro-needling (dermaroller) and radio frequency treatments, and ensure that you are fully prepared and confident to provide your clients with the highest quality NSFA available. Enhance your treatment modalities today and expand upon your provision of aesthetic treatments by contacting the Dr Brian Franks Facial Aesthetics Training Faculty or visiting the website.

For more information on training courses, and the next dates available, please visit www.drbrianfranks.com, call 020 8446 6518 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

By Ray Cox, owner of Medifinance, specialist finance brokers to the healthcare profession. Ray has worked alongside the dental industry for over 40 years and works very closely with a number of manufacturers and dealers, including Clark Dental, helping practitioners finance equipment and apparatus for their practices. 

As a dentist who is part of a modern and innovative dental practice it makes sense that you would want to use the latest, state-of-the-art equipment for treating your patients. However the initial cost involved for the outright acquisition can be prohibitive, and is often accompanied by an immediate and noticeable reduction in cash flow.

One potential solution is to consider leasing your equipment, in a similar way to which airlines lease their planes or you might lease your car.

Airlines choose to lease their planes because it provides improved flexibility, and reduced flight costs. You may lease your car as a more cost effective method than taking out a bank loan. So why not lease your dental equipment for very much the same reasons?

Like a car that has left the forecourt, a piece of dental equipment, once purchased, begins to depreciate in value almost instantly. Why spend all that money at the outset for something that, whilst vital, will certainly depreciate?

Almost all of the equipment in your practice is available via lease. This particularly applies to anything that has a high ‘wear out’ factor. Sterlisation devices and I.T. systems, for example, are items that you should never really consider owning outright because their ‘wear out’ factor is so high.

For example, after 5 years a steriliser will surely be out-dated and is also unlikely to be operating to its optimum efficiency. Not to mention that with the rate of technological innovation any I.T. system will also no doubt be obsolete after this length of time. Therefore to have the option of renting or leasing such products, where you have built-in possibilities for upgrading at the end the contract, whether it’s a 2, 3, 4 or 5 year deal, is a particularly attractive proposition.

Dynamic equipment on the other hand, such as dental units and x-ray devices, will probably last 15 years. However, during that time they would start to cost more in repair bills and maintenance than if they has been leased for 5 years and then updated. It would also arguably be in your best interests, from a competitive perspective at least, to be seen to update your practice equipment regularly, thus instilling confidence in your patients that yours is a practice that remains truly at the forefront of the profession.

The chances are this is already the way in which you finance your car, which after your house is likely to be your biggest single expenditure. So why not do it for your dental equipment too? It is a sure fire way to avoid depreciation, reduce maintenance costs and ensure that you stay ahead of your competition by regularly renewing your equipment and facilities.

For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

For many people buying their first house is a time fraught with worry and stress, the sheer number of choices and options available can confuse and confound even the most savvy potential home owners. But with the right help and guidance the dream of buying your first house needn’t be a nightmare.

I see a lot of dentists looking to buy property and not really knowing how to proceed. The obstacles seem endless. Indeed at any one time there may be more than 7,000 mortgages available, all with subtle yet consequential differences, and all potentially affected by national interest rates.

At the time of writing the Bank of England base rate remains at 0.5%, but the likelihood is that in the next six to nine months it will start to creep up. This will probably only be around a quarter of a per cent per increase.

Opinion is divided as to the precise outcome of an interest rate rise, even one as seemingly minor as 0.25%. While some believe that this will have little significant impact, some think it will cause mass crises and panic across the housing market. However, according to Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, any increase that does happen will be ‘limited and gradual’ and will only go as far as to settle at 2.5% (half of the 5% pre-crisis rate). So maybe we shouldn’t start to panic just yet.

Generally we find that at the moment most of the mortgage deals available are very competitive. Therefore if you are thinking about securing your outgoings this could be an ideal time to consider a Fixed Rate Mortgage. As regardless of what happens to interest rates over the coming months, with a Fixed Rate Mortgage your repayments will remain the same for the length of your agreement.   

Another positive for first time buyers is that you can now receive mortgage agreements with deposits as small as 5% and with a bit of creativity you can even get that 5% funded from elsewhere. In effect you can arrange 100% funding for a mortgage, meaning you don't need to find that initial five or ten per cent deposit, which can be the biggest stumbling block for first time buyers.

One final thing to consider here is the lenders themselves. Most will require associates, or any debtors, if they are self-employed to have three years accounts available before they will even consider offering a mortgage. A lot of dentists, when looking to purchase their first property are young associates, having just completed education and will therefore not have this length of accounts available.

Luckily, there are specific lenders who will now offer standard terms to dentists even if you haven’t got the three years’ accounts, and with the right IFA you can still arrange funding. An educated lender will be aware of how dentists get paid and will therefore know that lending to dentists without this arbitrary 3 years accounting information is still a viable option.

For more information please call 0845 345 5060, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

Follow @money4dentists on Twitter and Like money4dentists on Facebook

The next step forward in root canal treatment

The modern GDP has the opportunity to provide a wide spectrum of different clinical treatments for a range of patients. From routine care to cosmetic procedures, periodontics, implants and endodontics, all are within grasp for those with the appropriate training, skills and experience. Each discipline has evolved as our understanding and technologies have developed, offering ever more reliable and successful results for patients.

Take endodontics, for example, which first began in the 17^th century when necessity was the mother of invention. At that time, practitioners were mostly experimenting with various, and often very crude, instruments, techniques and materials, aiming to relieve pain and preserve the teeth. Pierre Fauchard – widely recognised as the ‘founder of modern dentistry’ – was the first to describe the dental pulp,[1] and dispelled the legend of the ‘tooth worm’, which was previously believed to be the cause of caries and toothaches.[2] He went on to describe the removal of pulp tissue, before Edwin Maynard introduced the first root canal instrument in 1836, which he created by filing a watch spring.

With the invention of the X-ray in 1895 by Konrad Wilhem,[3] dental radiographs revolutionised the endodontic process. Their true potential was not discovered for many years however, as theories of oral sepsis causing systemic disease became widely believed, and extraction became the preferred treatment over endodontics for devitalised teeth. It wasn’t until the late 1940’s, early 1950’s that sufficient laboratory research had been accumulated to dispel such myths, once again restoring faith and practise of endodontics.

Today, root canal treatment is not uncommon, and while it is advisable to refer more complex cases, GDPs with adequate training are often able to deliver the efficient and pain-free treatment their patients need. It is however essential that any clinicians providing such treatment are aware of the latest research, products and materials available to them to ensure the absolute quality of their work.

To this end, Dr Martin Trope, a world-renowned clinician, lecturer and researcher in the field of endodontics, will be discussing some of the latest developments in the industry at The Dentistry Show 2015.

Dr Trope has gained several qualifications and accolades throughout his nearly 40-year career, including becoming a Specialist in Endodontics at the University of Pennsylvania. He went on to receive the JB Freedland Professorship in the Department of Endodontics at the University of North Carolina, School of Dentistry, which recognises outstanding contributions to the field. Dr Trope has served as a Director for the American Board of Endodontics and editor-in-chief of two different publications, while also contributing to the development of a new material for root canal filling.

This will be the first time Dr Trope has attended The Dentistry Show, and he will be speaking both on Friday 17^th April and Saturday 18^th April from the hugely popular GDP Theatre.

“I have lectured and taught courses in the UK on many occasions and always enjoy interacting with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic participants. Having seen the number of dentists who visit The Dentistry Show and heard about how well attended the lectures were, it was a simple decision to present there,” says Dr Trope.

“I will be delivering a lecture entitled ‘The next leap forward in endodontic instrumentation’. There have been some extraordinary developments in the field of endodontic dentistry in recent years. Until now, all preparations for root canal treatment have been circular, but the natural canal within the root is not this shape. For the first time in the UK, I will be introducing a revolutionary 3 dimensional technique that addresses this problem, cleaning more of the canal system without sacrificing the root dentin.

“The sessions will be suitable for all GDPs, with practical tips offered throughout. I will also discuss some cutting edge treatment options that I hope will be of great interest to delegates – although their pioneering nature means that some may not be immediately available for all to use in practice.”

Offering further insight into the fascinating world of endodontics will be the new EndoLounge, created in conjunction with the British Endodontic Society (BES). Designed to inform and inspire, leading professionals from around the globe will share their own experiences and expertise to help you advance in your career.

Also new to The Dentistry Show 2015, Launchpad UK will provide the perfect platform from which to discover the very latest products, materials and innovations in the UK market. By pre-registering for the Show, you will receive updates and details of what to expect and from who, so that you can plan ahead and make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Even more learning and CPD opportunities will be available within the main lecture theatres, each dedicated to a specific area of the profession with a focused and relevant programme. Hands-on workshops and live demonstrations will also provide a chance to practise your skills and witness how some of the best in the business work.

If you only attend one dental event in 2015, make sure it’s The Dentistry Show.

The Dentistry Show and DTS 2015 - Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th April, NEC in Birmingham. For further details or to register for your free place visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5269 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Where is the “pain point” in dental practice marketing right now?

13 years ago you might have asked, “Where do I start?”

Many practice owners and managers weren’t convinced that they even needed a marketing strategy.

Up until 2001, there was a body of opinion suggesting that, provided you obtained your dental qualification, you stuck your brass plaque on the wall and the practice opened, there would be enough people coming through the door for you to make a reasonable living.

But then, in that year, a pivotal point in the timeline of dental marketing came about when the newly formed Boots Dentalcare invested heavily in advertising teeth whitening treatments in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The ‘would you like a Whiter Christmas?’ campaign was a real game-changer for dentistry, as it went national and suddenly the public were on the receiving end of retail dental marketing for the first time. While it is commonly believed that Boots Dentalcare was a failure (although the real reasons for its sale were due to directional changes within the core business), the campaign proved to be a wake-up call for the dental profession as well as the public.

This was a singularity – it was an event, after which, things were not quite the same again.

Fast-forward to 2014, and where is the ‘pain point’ in dental marketing now?

We are approaching another singularity, another game changing episode.

In the last five years, dentists have accepted the need to build a good website and even more recently, they have realised the potential of social media engagement as part of their activity.

It has been clear for some time that practices need to create marketing systems that allow them to attract interest from strangers and searchers, gain recommendations and promote additional sales to their existing patients. The challenge now comes in knowing where and how to market for optimum results.

There are three main marketing methods for UK dental practices: internet-based, word of mouth and direct marketing, which is essentially advertising.

The market has become so complex with so many different ‘jigsaw pieces’, that a lot of dental practice owners or managers are once again lost and are asking ‘where do I start?’

It may be that you decide to throw money into online activities or at advertising, but how do you know if it is working or not? How do you measure your Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI)?

I am frequently asked three questions by practice principals and business or practice managers:

1. How much cash should I be investing in marketing?
2. How should that investment be divided between the different marketing activities that I could get involved in?
3. Which of these marketing avenues are likely to be the most successful?

One of the options I am probably most excited about at the moment is the area of internet-based marketing, which includes what should your website look like, which social media channels should you be visible on and how should you use them for success.

But there is the hot potato of Google, Pay per Click, Ad words and SEO – all of which are moving largely out of reach for the small independent practitioner.

I have seen this confusion of choices accumulate in recent years and have spent more and more time listening to your concerns. When enough people are asking you the same question – you know that you have identified a problem that needs a solution.

As such, at 7connections we questioned whether there was a more efficient way to get the message across and provide solutions. What if we created a 12-month programme, answering all the questions we have mentioned above in a literal, step-by-step guide?

Our answer is to create The Ultimate Marketing Academy, so that we can tell practices exactly what they should be doing and how they should allocate their resources.

It is a 12-month training programme designed to share marketing tactics that have worked for other businesses both in the UK and abroad, from within dentistry and outside, as well as to introduce some of the latest innovations in marketing. Quarterly Academy meetings will bring all the practices together in a workshop environment where we will “show and tell” the marketing tactics that are working, share the latest information and updates.

Between the meetings, we will follow up on those practices who join us to offer support and make sure the new strategies are implemented effectively.

If you are feeling the pain of marketing and need clear direction on what you should be doing to help grow your business, you are certainly not alone.

There are ways you can make the process easier and more successful, and a clearly defined 12-month plan might be just what you need.

For more information about 7connections and the Ultimate Marketing Academy, please call 01647 478145, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. or visit www.7connections.com

To the outsider most dental brands would appear very similar; we all have parallel visions of what a clinical practice should look like and what the aesthetic of it should be.

The problem arises if people just see their practice brand as a tagline or a logo or an image, they won’t nurture it and the staff won’t buy-in to the mission statement and direction. Thus the brand could loose its significance and impact altogether.

Brand NHS

If you ask people about what makes Great Britain great, high up on that list is the NHS. At its launch in 1948 it was the greatest public healthcare system, and a world-changing phenomenon. But unfortunately, in recent times the brand hasn’t been nurtured or allowed to grow.

If you ask dental professionals about brand NHS they would tend to say it’s marred with time constraints, bureaucracy and lower standards. Although the concept of the NHS is fantastic, it has lost its way and the brand has lost its shine.

Brand Harley Street

Another divisive brand is that of Harley Street. Historically this comes with an image of clinical excellence, where the best doctors and dentists in the world are housed, with the smartest consultants embodying the epitome of charm and style. Perhaps for the outsider it still has that charm, but what does it actually mean when there is no requirement to have any added qualifications to practice here, other than the capacity to pay the rent?

As a brand the name Harley Street is heavily protected, but what we think it signifies and what it actually does are two entirely different things.

Brand SmilePod

Recently I attended a meeting of a small corporate that has five practices. Incredibly they had invited every member of staff from each practice to this meeting: every nurse, dentists, hygienist and receptionist. They went through their vision from conception to future developments, with everyone involved, sharing the same goals and objectives.

I thought that this was a brand that was growing and thriving. It wasn’t just a logo or a title, but an organic entity that had a code and set of principals.

They had embraced the brand philosophy across the whole corporate and made sure that everyone was involved, on board and ‘on brand’.

You wonder how many other practices would do this: actively nurturing the brand by sharing the vision, the mission statement and the clarity of purpose and communicating this with the whole organisation.

Brand Endocare

At Endocare our brand is focused on our mission statement. We aim to provide a service to our patients to relieve them of pain, utilising the best equipment to make a potentially stressful procedure more comfortable, whilst offering the best possible patient journey.

The Endocare brand has benefitted from being nurtured and has now grown away from pure endodontics and our mission has evolved to providing great healthcare, alleviating pain and suffering and truly caring for our patients.

For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999

Or visit www.endocare.co.uk

Dr Michael Sultan BDS MSc DFO FICD is a Specialist in Endodontics and the Clinical Director of EndoCare. Michael qualified at Bristol University in 1986. He worked as a general dental practitioner for 5 years before commencing specialist studies at Guy’s hospital, London. He completed his MSc in Endodontics in 1993 and worked as an in-house Endodontist in various practices before setting up in Harley St, London in 2000. He was admitted onto the specialist register in Endodontics in 1999 and has lectured extensively to postgraduate dental groups as well as lecturing on Endodontic courses at Eastman CPD, University of London. He has been involved with numerous dental groups and has been chairman of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity. In 2008 he became clinical director of EndoCare, a group of specialist practices.

I wasn’t going to write any more GDC related blogs for a while, as I don't want to be seen as a one trick pony, but the situation with the GDC is the singular most important thing to have affected our existence as a profession, and continues to have more twists and turns than a white knuckle roller coaster, so my apologies for writing about it again.

Seriously, was anyone surprised by the GDC’s decision to increase the ARF to £890 on the 30th October?

After the sham of a consultation, it’s not entirely surprising that this should be followed by what was probably a sham of a discussion at the Wimpole Street Lublyanka (for those unaware, that was the name of the HQ and prison of the KGB), and an ARF of £890 has been set.

Nothing has really changed though; despite now slightly reducing the amount for DCP’s (the majority being nurses who I suspect have that actually paid for by their practices), this would appear to have been the classic “give ‘em 3 choices and they’ll pick the middle one”.

The BDA is now set on its path for Judicial review; and this will be heard before the 17th December. The BDA stops short of recommending what its members can do up to this point, but If I may suggest the one thing that absolutely everyone can do now is cancel their direct debit, and write themselves a reminder to pay the GDC before the 31st December. That way they CANNOT take the money early, and whilst it may only be three or four weeks more before they can get it, at least if the BDA win the Judicial Review then people wont have to be waiting for a refund from a regulator that has no sense of respect for the profession. You will not be acting illegally, just stopping the GDC from getting its hands on your money sooner. Incidentally, according to a recent freedom of information request, the decision to engage KPMG was a decision taken by the Executive of the GDC and not by the council. One would have thought that engaging a company like KPMG with its associated costs would have been something put to the Council to vote on. Anyhow, the GDC will need even more money to pay for the services of KPMG, and guess what? We get to pay again.

This brings me to the point of this blog.

Civil Disobedience.

What would happen if every one of us rang the GDC between Christmas and New Year to pay? If a few thousand registrants rang over that 3 day period it means hundreds of calls would need to be taken every hour by the GDC if they had an 8 hour working day. What if their systems collapsed under the weight of having to take so many online or telephone payments? Apparently they are so arrogant they do not have the facility to take payment in cash, so the very press worthy images of a few hundred dentists turning up with buckets of £1 coins in order to pay are not going to hit the pages of the Daily Mail anytime in the future.

So what’s wrong with paying £10 on each of 89 cheques, and requesting a receipt for each one?  Or making multiple credit card payments of the same amount? Given that it is also legal to write a cheque on just about anything, may I suggest that a few 6’x4’ pieces of chipboard, properly filled out with sort codes etc delivered to the GDC in Mid-December from registrants wouldn't go amiss. How about arranging a mass payment in between Christmas and New Year, and on the days that the LAT’s insisted we should all be open for normal business? If just 100 of us turned up and wrote cheques out on pairs of boxer shorts (new ones obviously!) that might get some press attention. All at the same time as they're manning the phones taking the card payments above. One idea being floated on Facebook is getting the GDC’s bank account details and paying them directly by BACs. Its actually quite difficult for the GDC to trace who has paid at their end, but we will all have documentary proof at our end that it has been paid.

All a bit tongue in cheek admittedly, but with a serious side; if the judicial review fails, then we will have to pay this ARF. The BDA will continue the fight I know; but this particular avenue will then have closed, so a little bit of civil (legal) disobedience would show the GDC we are still up for a fight, but just looking for the next opportunity to open up a chink in their armour.

I also think that with Thursday’s decision the position of the remaining dental registrants on the GDC has now become untenable. I’ve stopped short in my past blogs of directly levelling any personal criticism at any members of the council, including the Chair and the Chief Executive. But with the emasculation of the profession so effectively by this council structure and those at its head, and the lack of any PUBLIC individual vocal defence of the profession by those who are members of it on the council, then they can no longer use the excuse of trying to change it from the inside. Thursday’s outcome should surely have delivered that message resoundingly to them. If they were against the ARF rise then they cannot now remain in the council; if they were for it, then they are not representatives of the profession. Either way, that makes their positions untenable. They look to be completely sidelined in the council processes that seem to be railroaded through at the whim of those who appear to be building a personal fiefdom with the seeming remit to destroy the entire profession it regulates. Indeed, they don't appear to write their own articles, as those published recently in the dental press which purported to be from them were 80% similar to one another when run through anti-plagiarism software. I also understand a large amount of the council business is now held behind closed doors, and only lip service is paid to the public aspect of the meetings these days which generally give the appearance of being stage managed for those observing.

As a Yorkshireman from the Loxley valley now living in Derbyshire, and working in Nottinghamshire, one legend that has been very close to me throughout my life is that of Robin Hood. I was brought up a stones throw from one of the reputed birthplaces of Robin of Loxley, am now living near the reputed burial place of Little John at Hathersage, and work close to the Major Oak near Mansfield, and I can see a huge analogy in this story.

We have a Sheriff of Nottingham, collecting taxes from the downtrodden masses, ruled over by a King John figure who’s got no real chance of a proper throne. The peasants don't like either of them but they don't care and keep finding more and more reasons to persecute the peasants whilst charging them for the privilege. This makes the remaining members of the GDC the barons at the table of the Sheriff with no real power whilst paying lip service to the Sheriff and King.

We've then got our Little John and Friar Tuck rolled into one, (ok, so its actually Fat Mick but the sentiment’s the same), and the BDA collectively as our Robin Hood (probably the Errol Flynn one rather than the Kevin Costner one given the size of its cojones recently!). That makes the profession the downtrodden peasants (metaphorically), some of whom became the Merry Men and Women. GDPUK is a collective Will Scarlett as the mouthpiece of a storyteller and bard. Hopefully the righteous King Richard is going to be the judiciary who will hear the BDA’s case.

Robbing the rich to give to the poor? How much money has the GDC had from us over the years? Having enough money to spend on QC’s and £78,000 Fitness to Practice cases over silly matters that should dealt with locally at lower cost to the profession shows it has no respect for the money it is given. It has become like a like a rich man who knows the cost of everything and value of nothing. Whilst its remit is to protect the public, this does not mean it should have the sort of reserves it wants. It should have enough to function effectively and no more.

Legend or not, every version of the story ends the same; good always triumphs over evil; a disorganised band of individuals becomes a force to be reckoned with after starting out with a bit of Civil disobedience and brings down a brutal Fiefdom that sees its subjects as legitimate source of money for its own ends, and for summary punishment at its whim.

At first the people can’t see how they will defeat the Sheriff. But up steps a leader and a small number of supporters. The impetus grows and grows until eventually a tipping point is reached. They eventually win by sticking together and keeping up the pressure. King Richard steps in and justice is restored.

Only we can decide if we let the Sheriff and King try to divide and conquer us. It’s still up to us to unite the profession against the GDC.

So to coin Moyes’ phrase of yesterday; ‘Are We Comfortable with that?’

I am.

* Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Following fresh warnings about the dangers and legal implications of missing oral cancer in patients, it’s never been more important to ensure you have all the skills and knowledge you need to detect this potentially fatal disease early.

In support of Mouth Cancer Awareness, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is pleased to offer an opportunity for you to brush up on your skills.

IDH has developed a CPD module on behalf of the ADG, designed specifically to help you identify oral cancer as early on as possible.

The module is completely free of charge and is available to all healthcare professionals at: http://www.dentalgroups.co.uk/mouth_cancer.php.

To claim your CPD credits there is a small charge of only £20, £5 of which goes directly to the British Dental Health Foundation.

With a rise of more than 30% in the number of new oral cancer cases between 2000 and 2011,[1] and the latest figures showing 6,767 new cases a year,² make sure you are prepared for the future. Find out more about the vital free training available to you by contacting the ADG today.

For more information please visit www.dentalgroups.co.uk

But last chance for whom?

Good morning worker bees. Get you cheque books ready.  It looks like £890 is the scrap of ARF meat being fed to the lambs that are called the Council, led by Cruella deVil’s partner in professional fur-fights, Chairman Bill.

You should have all received yet another patronising diatribe from ‘er up top in which the choices are summed up as “Ignore your dentists and their fiscal stakeholder role in the GDC and keep the DCPs on side”.

You have three days. If you cannot be bothered, pay the price.

If you cannot afford this before Christmas, get lobbying NOW.  You can see the GDC Council Members on line – mail them, let them know your feeling, for all things being equal, on Thursday you wallet will be shoehorned open by a large amount.

The Council must act with courage reject these options and simply ask that the Executive come back with a more acceptable solution.

Incompetence carries a price and it appears to be the order of £900. 

Of course how you pay is up to you. There is a general feeling that you should cancel your DD.

I saw a comment that £576 by cheque and any increase by Postal Order, each sent separately and by Royal Mail Special Delivery which caught my eye.  Mind you don’t get caught speeding; if the Magistrate hears it you will be up to the GDC for an FtP Party.

Ironic really that of course next year’s increase will have to cover the admin costs of this year’s collection.

How do you feel?

The word “shafted” comes to mind.

Will Contract Reform cover this additional cost, allied to the Medico Legal cover increases?  Quite.

Can you imagine the medics letting the GMC do this?  Quite

BDA Judical Review

So the BDA driven Judicial Review is all the profession has. Guess what? Cruella has palmed it off it seems in a manner a rugby player wold be proud of.

Do not dismiss the BDA efforts - this may yet turn into the professional gunfight at the Wimpole Street Corral

Let’s think positively. What shall we get Cruella for a leaving present? 

Spooky how Haloween is here at the same time.  Kee-eep dancing :)

One of the meanings of the word ‘key’ in the English language is ‘essential, fundamental or crucial’ and emphasises the importance of something. Within the dental practice there are key professionals who have the knowledge and skills to create and keep the business running successfully. Without them there is a possibility that it could no longer be a sustainable.

Most people would agree that not insuring their physical assets against danger is irresponsible. Property owners insure buildings against fire, theft, flood and storm damage and business owners will take further cover to replace the consequential loss of profits they may incur while waiting for these assets to be replaced. However, it is not unusual for dentists to overlook their most important assets of all – the people whose skills and knowledge are critical to the existence of the business.

Within a dental practice the expertise and contribution of key people needs to be protected adequately and appropriately to secure the viability of the practice as a whole. Unfortunately many owners and partners overlook this vital cover, which can leave their business in uncertain territory. Many people believe that if their loans are covered they are secure and they can sell the practice if the worst comes to the worst. Problems arise however, when surviving partners cannot afford to pay a deceased estate or when they do not want to or find it difficult to sell their practice.

Lets look at an example: Dr Jones and Dr Smith form a partnership and own a dental practice on a 50/50 basis. They decide to take out a practice loan to extend their building and incorporate some new technology. However, a few years later, Dr Jones is involved in an accident and dies. The practice loan must still be repaid in full but additionally, Dr Jones’ estate includes half of the value of the practice at its current worth and his executors expect to receive his fair share of the business. Assuming the practice is worth £1 million, the estate will legitimately expect £500.000. Dr Smith may not be able to fund this amount of money and consequently, the business is in danger of collapse.

Key-Person Assurance is an insurance policy that can be used to compensate a practice for financial losses that would arise from the death or extended incapacity of an important member of the business. The practice pays the protection and in the event of death or critical illness, a lump sum is paid by the assurance company to eliminate the financial strain on the surviving business partner. In the case of the partnership, described above, the practice would receive the £500.00 enabling the surviving partner, Dr Smith, to pay Dr Jones’ estate and allow him to retain the entire business.

Obviously there are financial implications of the Key-Person Assurance, such as the need to pay the premium. However, it is paid by the business not the individual, which means that tax relief is applicable on the premium and the benefit is also paid out tax-free. So there is really no reason to prevent practice owners from taking out Key-Person assurance. The peace of mind is invaluable and if the worst happens, there are no complications or financial strain on surviving partners, family or estate.

A partnership agreement is also essential when a business is a shared investment. According to the Partnership Act of 1890, if a partnership dissolves the deceased partner’s share may have to be paid to the estate. This could mean struggling to fund thousands of pounds when one of the profit sources of your practice has been lost. Similarly, if one of the partners of a business becomes very ill or disabled the effects can also be destructive. They may need to continue taking a profit from the business when they are unable to practise themselves. Alternatively, they may wish to take early retirement or be bought out. A partnership agreement should document how these circumstances can be resolved for both partners, as well as the business.

For dedicated guidance from Independent Financial Advisers who are familiar with working closely with the dental professionals, consult the experts at money4dentists. They understand that all financial decisions should not be made lightly and are experienced in helping dentists across the UK to overcome the challenges and problems that arise, unique to dentistry.

The key is often used as a symbol of security and throughout history it has also been used to represent the ability to gain access or open up opportunities. Don’t overlook your vital ‘key’ people, who allow you to access indispensible skills and bring value and security to your practice. They need to be protected from unforeseen circumstances to ensure a safe and fruitful future for everyone involved.

For more information please call 0845 345 5060, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

The modern world dictates that practice principals need to understand the health of their business just as comprehensively as the health of their patients. They need constant indicators of how effectively and efficiently their business is running to ensure growth and profitability. You may be under the impression that your business is strong due to a high volume of patients, but individual figures, like annual turnover, will give a fairly limited and unreliable representation of your business.

In order to assess the real potential of your practice, it is necessary to create, implement and analyse Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). These are used to evaluate and predict the success of your business, which can be defined by not only profitability but also performance and progress. In choosing the correct KPIs you can measure all areas of your practice in a broader and more accurate way.

Establishing useful KPIs

Once the targets of your business are defined, KPIs enable you create a strategy to reach those goals and then monitor your progress to ensure you stay on the right course. They can help assess the current state of your practice and highlight any areas that need improvement or refinement.

To establish useful KPIs for your practice you can look at the aspects you wish to change, decide how you would like to enhance them and what indicators would demonstrate this progress. The secret to success is in the actions you take as a result of your KPIs – focus on the actions, see the value, enjoy success and build on the momentum from there. By implementing a process rather than making an isolated change, you will get much better results.

What should your KPIs measure?

Your KPIs should measure how effectively your targets are achieved and how efficiently your resources are used to do this.

You can therefore look at your actual and expected sales figures, daily gross income per practitioner or as a whole practice and expenses for activities such as marketing. Overheads such as staff wages, routine product purchases, equipment maintenance need to be kept in mind, but of course cannot be affected by KPIs. Variable costs like dental supplies, laboratory costs and new technologies also need particularly careful management and review with an inventory when production increases. In monitoring what you were aiming to achieve and how close you get to doing so on a regular basis, you can quickly access your financial stability.

KPIs can then be used to measure how well you utilise your practice teams, equipment and funds to attract and engage new patients, collect payment, provide customer service and perform exceptional dentistry, which can all generate referrals and therefore profit. Other non-financial aspects such as chair occupancy, case completion rates, diary utilisation, patient conversation rates, fee collection efficiency and cancellation rates should also be taken into account.

There is no limit to the data that can be analysed, but it is usually advisable to start with less and to increase them as you and your team become accustomed to the new processes in place. It’s important to remember that even basic tracking can yield results and improved outcomes. A balance of the aforementioned areas will provide an accurate idea of your overall practice performance. Such KPIs will help you not only manage your business more effectively on a day-to-day basis, but also predict profits and growth and implement realistic goals for successful future development.

Where do you find the time to monitor all this?

Effective strategies and systems need to be utilised in order for you to implement and monitor your KPIs in a time- and cost-efficient manner. A comprehensive, easy to use computer system is therefore invaluable, and fortunately there are solutions available to you.

An integrated system such as the CS R4 Clinical+ practice management software from Carestream Dental offers complete integration of imaging, case notes and Back Office tasks. The system allows practices to generate patient records and review clinical notes, while keeping track of appointments and chasing accounts. Financial statements, production rates as well as monthly or yearly averages can be reviewed at the touch of a button and it is ideal technology for tracking a range of KPIs while simultaneously operating an efficient dental practice.

For any business looking to expand and grow, realistic targets and effective strategies to achieve these targets are paramount to success. KPIs offer an efficient method for implementing processes to improve a variety of areas, while also enabling you to measure and monitor progress in an accurate and tangible way. From this data, you can create the actions you need to enhance your business.

For more information please contact the experts at Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

The Government’s Trailblazer initiative is set to improve and develop apprenticeships in 29 different industry sectors across Britain. Owner of Sparkle Dental Labs, Mustafa Mohammed, is leading the way to create a programme designed specifically for dental technicians.

Apprenticeships can give young people the opportunity to learn on the job, building essential experience and practical skills to enable them to become experts in their chosen field. Through high quality training and mentoring, businesses can create a motivated, skilled and highly qualified workforce.

Committed to spreading the word and raising awareness for dental technician apprenticeships, Sparkle Dental Labs recently welcomed a selection of esteemed professionals to its remarkable premises in Leeds. The event, held in celebration of the company’s first year of business, also presented a fantastic opportunity to increase support for the apprenticeships.

MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones, was in attendance and commented: “Apprenticeships are one of the most important parts of education in Britain…I believe few sectors will however create as much excitement and as much drive as the dental laboratory industry has, and for that I would like to congratulate everyone involved.”

Delroy Beverley, Chairman of The National Apprenticeship Ambassadors Task Force for Yorkshire and Humberside, further highlighted the importance of the apprenticeship scheme and offered high praise for Mustafa Mohammed and the team at Sparkle Dental Labs: “Crucially, Mustafa has recognised the need to do something… Asking for no personal accolade, he has nurtured this idea and is dedicated to providing a blueprint that shows the Government and other businesses alike, that you really can ‘practice what you preach’. Sparkle Dental Labs is a great example of just this”.

Anthony Knowles, Head of Employer and Delivery Services with the National Apprenticeship Service, added: “The facilities at Sparkle Dental Labs are fantastic – something for Yorkshire to be proud of. I think this is matched by Mustafa’s approach to offer more chances of employment for young people… I would encourage as many business owners as possible to get involved with the scheme”.

The pioneering dental technician apprenticeship will offer an array of advantages for the British public with hugely increased employment opportunities and the chance to ‘earn while you learn’. Boosting the national economy and the UK dental lab industry in particular, participating employers will also benefit from enhanced productivity, lower staff turnover and an increased skill set among the company1^,2.

Sparkle Dental Labs continues to lead the way in training and education. With established orthodontic and implant teams, all work is produced to the highest standard and tuition of the next generation of employees is second to none. To find out more about the laboratory, or about how you can get involved with the apprenticeship scheme, contact the dedicated team today.

For any additional information from the National Apprenticeship Service, please visit www.apprenticeship.org.uk.

For more details about Sparkle dental Labs, please call 0800 138 6255, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit:

www.sparkledentallabs.com

Recently in a study conducted by the Cosmetic Dermatology Journal it was revealed that the number of males using Botulinum Toxin treatments has increased by 258 percent over the last decade.

In general, men do not want to undergo significant, invasive alterations but are more likely to consider Non Surgical Facial Aesthetics (NSFA) to reduce the visible signs of ageing and to make them feel more confident. Often men are interested in reducing the wrinkle lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows to make them appear less angry or stressed and more responsive.

Wrinkle relaxing injections are also used to counter periorbital wrinkles or crows feet, furrowed brows and frown lines. Dermal fillers are able to soften lines and folds and to restore volume to sagging skin. These procedures are non-surgical so patients recover quickly and do not require any time away from work or other commitments.

In order to receive the best possible results, it is vital for both men and women to visit an appropriately trained practitioner with in-depth anatomical knowledge, in a suitable clinical environment. It is vital that the differences between treating males and females, is fully understood. For example, men have much stronger muscle mass on the forehead area than woman and the natural shape of the male eyebrow is not as arched. The usual female brow is situated above the bony orbital margin, whilst the normal male brow is situated below the orbital margin and is perceived as a vital part of masculine presentation. Without this understanding a practitioner might administer cosmetic injections, which could leave their male client looking overly feminised.

Adequate training to undertake NSFA is vital to provide clinicians with the necessary knowledge and confidence to provide first class treatment. Leading facial aesthetics practitioner and trainer Dr Brian Franks is able to offer hands on training courses in Botulinum Toxin, Dermal Fillers, Medical Micro-needling (Dermaroller) and radio frequency. With over 25 years’ dental experience, he has wealth of knowledge as a clinician who has progressed into facial aesthetics and understands the clinical and ethical issues involved.

Cosmetic interventions are a booming business in the UK, worth £2.3 billion in 2010, and this is estimated to rise to £3.6 billion by 2015 with non-surgical procedures accounting for nine out of ten procedures and 75% of the market value[1]. While non-surigcal treatments are highly popular with women, men are now becoming an increasingly important part of the market.

For more information on facial aesthetics treatment, or to find out about training courses, please visit www.drbrianfranks.com, call 020 8446 6518 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr Brian Franks

BDS (U.Lond) LDS RCS (Eng) MFGDP (UK) FPFA ACIArb MEWI

Dr Brian Franks is a Facial Aesthetic clinician, and the Clinical Lead for the MSc in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). He is a member of the Health Education England (HEE) Expert Reference Group and Task and Finish Group, helping to establish training protocols for the facial aesthetic / cosmetic industry, as well as the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) and the TYCT Governance Board. He is also the founder of the Dr Brian Franks Facial Aesthetics Training Course Faculty, as well as an experienced teacher and lecturer on the facial aesthetics and dental circuits. Dr Brian Franks Facial Aesthetics Training Course Faculty offers courses from foundation, intermediate and advanced level botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, to medical micro-needling (dermaroller) and radio frequency training.

Dr Adyl Asani and his team have recently opened a new contemporary dental clinic, TwentyOneDental in Hove. He spoke to us recently about his vision for the future and how he would like to create clinical and customer care excellence for his patients.

“I have lived and worked in the Hove area for the last 17 years and I felt that my patients wanted and deserved a better service. I have learnt that many people spend considerable amounts of money on their dental care, especially with cosmetic dental treatment. My idea was to offer an unmistakably unique experience for dental patients from beginning to end, similar to visiting any high-end establishment. My logic behind the clinic was to create a site that was well designed, where patients are able to access excellent quality dentistry and feel that they are receiving unparalleled customer service.

The building has been fully interior designed (Materialise Interiors/Armstrong Young) and embodies the concept of a modern boutique hotel, with three state-of-the-art treatment suites, separate concierge and patient lounge, a quiet zone (post sedation), a digital X-ray suite and a dedicated decontamination and sterilisation zone ensuring patient safety at all times. The name TwentyOneDental is derived from the notion of 21^st Century dentistry as well as the building number. We have the latest equipment and technology installed to ensure that we can offer premium quality dental services and procedures.  For instance, I think I am the only practitioner in the area who works routinely from a dental operating microscope. This means that I am able to see the most minute details very clearly using high magnification. Use of the microscope means that I can work very accurately and reliably and I can see an outstanding level of detail that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Patient communication is also enhanced, via the microscope’s ability to capture HD stills and video. Thanks to the magnified field, I never need to remove any excess tooth tissue, thus enabling me to preserve as much natural tooth as possible. In addition, endodontic procedures can be carried out with direct vision into the canals ensuring a predictable and favourable outcome.

As well as myself, the clinical care team includes a specialist associate dentist with a masters degree in aesthetic dentistry and two dental assistants. The patient service team comprises of our commercial director Mark Rayner and junior and senior dental concierges who run the reception area and impart top level customer service. We offer general dentistry, all types of cosmetic dentistry including smile makeovers, teeth whitening, dental implants and short-term orthodontics.

Our emphasis is on a modern, luxurious and relaxing atmosphere and extends from the concierge and patient lounge to the treatment suites. Our facilities include iPads to use in the patient lounge, with educational apps installed for children. As well as the usual magazines that you would expect in a waiting area, there is also a television and a completely integrated Sonos music system throughout the clinic, which synchronises with patient’s smartphones. Inside the treatment suites there are televisions on the ceilings to enable patients with a long appointment to watch a movie or catch up on a television programme. This is particularly beneficial for our nervous patients and we find that the distraction of the television and/or the music really helps relaxation.

Our mission is to provide excellence in modern dental care and to combine this with an outstanding contemporary, welcoming and relaxed environment. In addition, our branding is very important to us and encompasses the ethos of the clinic. When we launched in September, we held a prominent champagne afternoon tea event to showcase our fantastic new clinic and services. Each invitee received a goodie bag which included samples from CB12, since we only use and stock the highest quality products to complement our first class service. CB12 mouth rinse embodies the same principles as our clinic and the suitability of this prestigious product was perfect. I use CB12 personally and find it very effective so I am happy to recommend it to my patients.”

Understanding patient expectations is paramount when running a practice. It enables practitioners to advise and treat patients effectively and successfully. Supplementing this with the most advanced products and technology is key. It is also worth remembering that patients will feel confident if sufficient time is allowed for the dental team to deliver their expertise proficiently along with the best level of customer care possible. And as we all know, when patients are happy their recommendations will follow.

For more information on CB12 and the extensive research behind it,

Please visit www.cb12.co.uk

Download the new GDPUK Media Pack

Click below to receive the latest information and pricing from GDPUK.com

Download the media pack to find out all the features and benfits of advertising on GDPUK.com

Join our other UK Partners on GDPUK.com

Many of the leading businesses in the dental world use GDPUK to reach dentists

For further information on how we can help you, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or download the media pack today. 

Clark Dental is proud to announce that it will be the Platinum Sponsor of the 2014 IAAFA Charity Ball on the 15^th November in support of Make a Wish.

The International Academy of Advanced Facial Aesthetics (IAAFA) will hold its Black Tie Charity Ball this November – this spectacular annual event is not to be missed!

Guests arrive at 7pm for a fantastic drinks reception, followed by a 3 course meal and charity auction, as well as exclusive entertainment that will round off the perfect evening. 

This year, Clark Dental, in association with FONA, has generously donated the latest Schick 33 equipment worth an as part of the charity auction. This will be one of many fantastic prizes on offer on the day.

Stuart Clark, Managing Director at Clark Dental says, “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted to be the Platinum Sponsor of this wonderful event and contributing to this very worthy charity.”

So far IAAFA have raised almost £120,000 to date from its Annual Charity Balls for a range of children’s charities.[i]

For booking information contact: www.iaafa.net This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01344891235

For more information contact Clark Dental on 01270 613750,
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.clarkdental.co.uk

Winner of Christie + Co’s Dental Caption competition at the recent BDIA Dental Showcase, Mr Jayendra H. Patel has decided to award his prize money of £100 to Children in Need.

Delegates were challenged to create a unique and amusing caption for the attached photograph, with the prize money donated to a charity of their choice. The winning caption from Mr Patel was:

“Now which tooth would you like extracted? We have a promotion this month, two extractions for the price of one!”

With a leading team of specialist property advisors across the medical, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors, Christie + Co works hard to ensure the very best outcome is achieved for your business. Whether you are looking to prepare for a valuation, sell, secure funds for practice acquisition or enhance your existing assets, Christie + Co provides reliable advice and support to guide you through every step of the process.

If the time has come for you to buy or sell a practice, make sure you utilise Christie + Co’s wealth of experience and expertise. Call the friendly team today.

To discuss how Christie + Co might help you achieve your future plans please contact Simon Hughes on 020 7227 0749

Members of the two leading professional services groups for dentists, the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists (ASPD) and the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants & Lawyers (NASDAL), will deliver a Preparing for Retirement seminar in Watford on Friday 21^st November.

Practice valuer, Martyn Bradshaw of PFM Dental, and dental solicitor, John Grant of Goodman Grant, will discuss the challenges dentists face when selling their practice. Experienced dental accountants will consider the tax implications of selling a practice for sole traders, partnerships and for limited companies. In addition, financial advisers will cover the NHS pension retirement options and HMRC lifetime allowance issues.

Seminar coordinator, Jon Drysdale of PFM Dental, commented: "We have been running these seminars for five years and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from the hundreds of dentists who have attended. Most dentists only sell their practice and retire once so getting it right is vital.”

To book your place on this event call 0845 241 4480 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Visit www.pfmdental.co.uk for details of retirement events in other UK locations.

We have put together an infographic which shows how UK Dentists are using the internet. We have included some of the stats that were produced from the recent August 2014 GDPUK Survey. Thanks to all that took part. We have also added in some statistics from We Are Social which shows how addicted we are becoming to our smartphones  and social media in general! Thanks for reading.

Thanks to our friends Stockdale Martin for sending over some of the statistics. They are a healthcare marketing agency. Ed Stockdale can be contacted via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or followed on twitter.

If you are looking to reach thousands of dentists on a daily basis, our new GDPUK Media Pack for 2015 is now available! Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will send it straight over. 

Dr Martin Trope, a world-renowned clinician, lecturer and researcher in the field of endodontics, will be discussing some of the latest developments in the industry from the GDP Theatre at The Dentistry Show 2015.

“I have lectured and taught courses in the UK on many occasions and always enjoy interacting with the knowledgeable and enthusiastic participants,” he says. “Having seen the number of dentists who visit The Dentistry Show and heard about how well attended the lectures were, it was a simple decision to present there."

“I will be delivering a lecture entitled ‘The next leap forward in endodontic instrumentation’. There have been some extraordinary developments in the field of endodontic dentistry in recent years. Until now, all preparations for root canal treatment have been circular, but the natural canal within the root is not this shape."

“For the first time in the UK, I will be introducing a revolutionary 3 dimensional technique that addresses this problem, cleaning more of the canal system without sacrificing the root dentin.”

If you only attend one dental event in 2015, make sure it’s The Dentistry Show.

The Dentistry Show and DTS 2015 - Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th April, NEC in Birmingham. For further details or to register for your free place, visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5269 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

So who is going to admit having read the draft Statutory Instrument to that is going to change the Dentists Act so the Fitness to Practice process can be streamlined?

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/358328/Draft_Order.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/358765/Consultation_document.pdf

It may well have gone unnoticed due to the smoke screen of the ARF rise, but creeping in under the cover of darkness to be installed as part of the Dentists Act is a draft amendment that changes the Fitness to Practice proceedings. This has long been asked for by the Registrar, and also the profession, but having read it, whilst I think it is a step in the right direction, it is a potentially worrying device in the hands of a regulator that is acting in its current manner.

Once you translate the legislation speak into plain English, it becomes apparent the Registrar is being given quite a few new powers. Whilst in principle these powers look like they will streamline the Fitness to Practice procedure, that is only if they are used proportionately, which we all know at the moment it isn’t necessarily the way the things are at Wimpole Street.

One of these powers will allow the Registrar (or any other officer of the Council) to ‘exercise the functions of the investigating committee’. This will basically remove the Investigating Committee from the process of Fitness to Practice and replace it with Case Examiners.

Great, the removal of a tier of costly committee system to allow the streamlining of a process. That is one of the reasons the ARF is so high and the process takes so long. That can’t be bad. Get rid of an entire layer of the process, and speed things up for less money. You’ll not see many registrants complain about that. Giving the Case Examiners some powers to issue warnings which are binding is also a step forward.

 If you read the consultation document, you will see that there will be 2 Case Examiners, one lay, and one from the registrant’s own field of practice. But that’s only one less than the panel of 3 on the Investigating Committee. Read a bit further, and you’ll see if they can’t agree then the case goes to the Investigating Committee anyhow. We’ve now got Case Examiners to fund, and still got the Investigating Committee to pay for as well by the looks of it. I can’t see that costing much less that it does already, especially given the GDC’s skill with figures that the BDA have already pointed out.

More worryingly though is the addition of powers to the Registrar to review a decision of the Investigating Committee or Case Examiners not to be considered by a Practice Committee, and subject to ‘Rules’, then unilaterally take action despite this decision. There’s no official definition of what the procedural rules are yet, but the GDC will be running a consultation in November about them. I don't think any further comment is needed on what the profession currently think of GDC Consultations…..

This amendment effectively brings in the possibility of a registrant going through an Investigating Committee or Case Examiner process, being found there is no reason to refer to a practice committee, (which is in effect a not Guilty verdict), and then the Registrar deciding that they should be referred after all, which might even be some time after the original decision has been made - again depending on ‘the rules’. Two years is the time mentioned, but in ‘exceptional circumstances’ could be longer.

To me that looks like we now have double jeopardy entering our professional regulation. The prospect of registrants found ‘not guilty’ by the Investigating Committee then living under the spectre of not knowing if they are going to have that decision overturned by the registrar and proceedings restarted is now very real. In addition, since the rules governing this are not yet written, we don't even know over what period of time the registrar can look back at these decisions and reverse them. Does this mean old cases earlier in a registrants career will be resurrected in order to support the ‘No smoke without fire’ policy the GDC seem to have? Who decides the exceptional circumstances, as theres no talk of a committee being involved in that decision. Talk about a Sword of Damocles hanging over those (un)lucky enough to be exonerated by the Investigating Committee.

All these changes are all well and good if the regulator has a degree of proportionality though, and that what its so worrying about these changes. Given the current stance of the GDC and in particular its refusal to listen to reason, do we have any faith that this fundamental change in the statute will improve the system, or will it make it a more streamlined, swift, and cheaper way of eventually getting all of us in front of a Fitness to Practice committee? It requires us to trust that the legislation will be interpreted appropriately by the GDC. Given the that the GDC are the most disproportionate of UK regulators according to Dental Protection, then is giving them a bundle of new powers necessarily a good idea at the moment?

Disappointingly, there is absolutely nothing whatsoever in the draft that indicates a change in the approach to what happens to cases at the earliest level. This is where the real problem is. The inappropriate referral of cases by the NHS and the abdication of responsibility to sort them out, and the advertising of the DCS are all doing nothing to stop the tide of complaints. Yet it a dentist encouraged or felt obliged to take on a clinical workload such as this, he or she would rapidly fall foul of the very regulator that is in effect unable to say ‘No’ to the same thing.

So rather then reducing this flow of cases by putting requirements in to exhaust local resolution first, or require cases to be heard by the appropriate NHS body, and bounce them back pending this, there’s now a mechanism to deal with them faster by fewer people.

At the moment this is only a draft our for consultation. I am fairly sure that both the BDA and the Protection Societies will be responding to this consultation on our behalf, along with other key stakeholders, but we should all individually read it and voice our opinions as this is the legislation under which we are going to be regulated.

http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/ftp1/gdc-proposed-amendments-to-ftp-processes

As I have already said, I happen to think this is the step in the right direction that Fitness to Practice needs; but only if we have a GDC we trust.

With the contempt the dental profession is so obviously held in by our regulator at the moment, we need to ensure that we do everything in our power to protect ourselves against a potential modern day McCarthyism descending on our profession.

Dentists who apply for their NHS pension while erroneously listed on open NHS contracts could well experience delays receiving their payments warns independent adviser, Jon Drysdale.

As an example, he cites a West Yorkshire dentist whose NHS pension was delayed because his former employer failed to notify several Local Area Teams (LATs) that he was no longer on the performers list for NHS contracts in various locations. The dentist, who held a regional dentist position with a large dental corporate until earlier this year, submitted his pension application to NHS Pensions in July 2014 with a view to retiring in November. However, the Pensions Team at NHS Dental Services were unable to send his completed application to the NHS Pensions payments department for processing until the relevant contracts had been closed. The dentist in question was not notified of the delay and now faces an initial period of retirement without his pension.

Jon Drysdale, an independent adviser with pension specialists PFM Dental, says "The delay in paying his NHS pension was caused by the failure on the part of the corporate to carry out the necessary procedures when the dentist left their employment. The lack of communication about the delay made matters worse. I strongly urge all dentists applying for their NHS pension to check they are no longer listed on open NHS contracts – this is one of the many important points we make on our one-day retirement seminars.”

Jon Drysdale, a director of PFM Dental, runs a series of retirement planning events to help dentists plan effectively for retirement, including NHS pension options. For more information visit: www.pfmdental.co.uk

“You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” (Peter Drucker)

On a number of blogs I have written over the last few years, I have mentioned one huge benefit of advertising online and that is accountability and the fact that transparency can be seen as a huge advantage to the marketing team.

Having the ability to track or getting feedback from your ads is critical. Other advertising forms can be hard to track; using display ads means you can receive weekly or even daily updates. This kind of information tells you whether your advertising/marketing effort is succeeding or you need to tweak it. Feedback reports can guide you to better strategies and more successful marketing.

Experienced marketers say that one of the greatest benefits of online advertising is its measurability and the information it provides about your audience. It is a win-win situation, you can learn about your visitors while they are getting to know you. This means you are getting instant input about the effectiveness of your campaigns which can then be quickly modified to increase conversions and sales.

Online marketing is wildly more measurable than offline marketing but it is still marketing, as we are all aware humans are complicated and unpredictable, I just think it appeals to the marketer’s brain and budget constraints that there is a huge benefit to receiving reports and statistics to show for their marketing spend.

We have just returned from the BDIA Dental Showcase, it was great to catch up and chat with a range of people in the Dental family. When it came to the subject of online marketing, they kept coming back to accountability and the fact that since they had embraced digital advertising; they were increasingly getting a better idea of which campaigns worked and which media platforms to use.

It is still too early to make a final judgement but I believe the appeal of greater measurability and accountability in online marketing is beginning to pick up further support from the dental marketing community. What do you think? Is it true that you cant manage what you can't measure? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

A successful dental practice needs good dentists, but more importantly, a good dental team. Happy, motivated employees are the foundations of the perfect practice. Recruit well in the first place; keep your contracts updated regularly to reflect the needs of the practice and use disciplinary procedures when necessary. Too many businesses issue standard contracts and never update them. Contracts should be reviewed regularly to reflect the changing needs of the practice, through added incentives, adjustment of working hours or changes to job descriptions.

Dental W1 Practice Management Consultants based in Marylebone provide expert legal advice to assist with all your employment needs, from help with staff recruitment to drafting tailor-made contracts to conducting disciplinary interviews. We also provide training to your practice managers on a host of relevant topics. Practices made perfect.

Dental W1 Practice Management Consultants can be found on stand R12G at the Dental Showcase.

Dental W1 Practice Management Consultants

3 Marylebone Street, London W1

www.dentalw1.com

07770 435375

W&H look forward to welcoming you on Stand J03 at BDIA Dental Showcase for the latest news and special offers on handpieces, surgical and decontamination products.   W&H are launching a number of new and innovative products, including new models within the Synea Vision range of top quality  handpieces:  Penta LED turbines  which offer unique daylight quality 100% shadow-free illumination of the treatment site and the Short edition contra-angle handpieces which are lighter and shorter for perfect balance especially for those with smaller hands.  Also on display will be the new Alegra handpiece range offering vibration free, quiet operation and improved spray function and the new improved range of air motors which do not require a coupling for 360^o flexibility.  W&H will also be introducing a new prophy handpiece with press-button chucking system for swift replacement of prophy cups and brushes.

Come and view the latest decontamination equipment range, with options available to suit individual budgets and requirements.  Decontamination equipment including the ThermoKlenz washer disinfector dryer and Lisa sterilizer are available for an affordable monthly fee under the W&H Rental Scheme.  The Implantmed surgical system is unbeatable for precision, ease of use and reliability, and the whole surgical range will be on offer at amazingly low prices. Also on display will be the full range of oral hygiene products and the award winning Facelight caries detection unit.

Visit W&H on Stand J03 for unbeatable show promotions and to meet the Specialist Team.  For more information call 01727 874990.  We look forward to seeing you at the Show you can now follow us on Twitter at ‘@WH_UKLtd’.

W&H.  People Have Priority. 

www.wh.com

The season has started ...

Autumn has arrived, as has the rain.  Time to close those curtains a while, light the fire and catch up with reading maybe?  The fall is with us and that refer’s to Man U’s fortunes …. 

Recently publicity should not have escaped your notice. Barely a week has passed since Public Health England, under the leadership of Dr Sue Gregory & Dr Sandra White went public on what many of us have known for a while.

12% of 3 year olds have tooth decay

Now … is that a scandal? You bet it is.  But it is also an inconvenient truth that has been long ignored by Dr Gregory’s superior, the erstwhile Chief Dental Officer at the DH, Dr Barry Cockcroft. His new role has moved him downwards and outwards to NHS England of course. But it was on his watch that this problem both developed and was ignored. But it was on his watch that this problem both developed and was ignored. Was it not our illustrious CDO who hawked the Adult Dental Health Survey around as a triumphant scalp over the ne’er-do-wells, in full knowledge that he was ignoring the cries of ‘Fire’ from the coal face of children’s dentistry? 

Just consider this secondary fact:

This is the first national survey of the oral health of 3 year old children in England.

Well that’s two scandals in consecutive soundbites– firstly the ignorance of the problem and secondly the lack of enquiring minds in the first place. What exactly have the DH been doing with taxpayers money might one ask?

The state of children’s teeth is now officially and very publicly worrying [1]. It was headline news on the BBC and even took lead coverage in the "Today" priogramme.  The Public Health England report is found via the at the PHE website [2]

Now call me irritating, call me inquisitive. My wife uses other words. OK dear, just coming ...

Do I not recall that much of all that we GDPs feel is wrong with the 2006 Contract is the  UDA system of perverse incentives?  The result of 10 years of perverse incentive is borne out by this report.

The Guardian highlighted the GA Admissions scandal in the early summer. [3]. This is quoted fromn The Guardian:

The number one reason for primary-school-aged children being admitted to hospital is to have multiple teeth taken out, newly released figures show….Provisional figures for the period 2013-14 show that 25,812 children from that age group have been admitted to hospital to have multiple tooth extractions, up from 22,574 three years previously.

RESULT ...   DH & NHS England 0  -v- Public Health England  3  [Att. 100 000, dentists and teams]

Now it seems to me that Dr Cockcroft has wilfully presided over a collapse in children’s dental care with the 2006 contract and simply failed to undertake any attempt to resolve the matter.  And believe me, he has been told many times.

We are to be thankful to Dr Gregory for her persistence in examining the problem. One wonders if there is a fundamental difference of professional approach to the job. On the one hand, Dr Cockcroft, riding the Dept of Health Fiscal Horse called Austerity, and on the other Dr Gregory’s role demonstrating true caring about the problem?

To any outsider there is a self-evident split, nay a cavernous gulf, between the opinions of the CDO England and the Head of Public Health England.

The rumours of efficiency drives allied to prototypes of Contract Reform abound. The GDPC is playing its cards close to its chest, whether rightly or wrongly. I for one think that they need to empower the whole profession with openness and transparency to call their MPs to account. Closed doors are a defunct way of acting as the profession's negotiators

What Sue Gregory has done, whether by intent or not, is give the GDPC an Open Goal to aim for!

If ever there is a problem that requires proper funding for dentists and their teams to work effectively, this is it.

The DH are now out on a limb, Dr Cockcroft has proved himself an anachronism, and Public Health England under Dr Sue Gregory has given reason and energy to the GDPCs position.

The GDPC must make their case without fail, and without shrinking from what can now be described openly as a 21^st Century scandal of gargantuan proportions. 

Like all football matches, the GDPC need us cheering them on - please open your doors, GDPC, and tell us your strategy. Let us know who is playing where, keep your fans on side.

Children’s dentistry in General Dental Practice is in a mess, and it is Dr Cockcroft and his political masters who shoulder the responsibility.

But it is dentists who can deliver the solution.

The GDPC know what they have to do now for negotiating a rejuvenated Contract Package and with it money to solve the scandalous problem of children’s teeth.

The result should be an assured 3 points.

Shouldn't it ? ... 

[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29413906

[2]  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-phe-survey-finds-12-of-3-year-olds-have-tooth-decay

[3] http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/13/teeth-problems-children-hospital-decay-extractions

Dentaid is a charity dedicated to eradicating dental pain around the world. We can only do this with the support of UK dental professionals who want to share their passion for dentistry with those in most need.

Are you a passionate dental team? Dentaid can help your dental practice truly express its passion for dentistry and make a positive impact on oral health around the world.

Through Dentaid’s sponsorship scheme your practice can provide vital dental equipment to projects serving the world’s poorest communities.

Just £1500 will provide a fully stocked DentaidBox; a complete portable dental surgery.

£500 will sponsor the portable dental chair in a rucksack.

£400 will deliver a full set of hand instruments, steriliser and consumables.

Partner with Dentaid to improve the world’s oral health.

For more information visit Dentaid on stand M02 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This tooth coloured, fluorescent and radiopaque bulk composite provides a perfect amalgam replacement and alternative to glassionomer cements, compomers as well as conventional filling therapy. Fill-Up!  combines the advantages of resin-based composites with simplified and efficient handling. Owing to its dual curing properties, fillings with Fill-Up! can be administered in arbitrary filling depth without the need of an additional covering layer.

Welcome to the safe side!

Conventional light curing bulk filling materials are limited in their curing depth, questioning whether the restoration fully cures. But with the dual curing properties of Fill-Up! There is a guarantee of thorough curing down to the bottom of any cavity.

Also, chemical curing minimises shrinkage stress dramatically, preventing micro fractures and postoperative sensitivities. As supported by studies, the bonding partner ParaBond caters for a perfect marginal seal comparable to the one of conventional composite - before and after thermo cycling and chewing abrasion – ensuring a secure long-term restorative solution.

Convenient and fast

Fill-Up! is applied in a single layer and finished with rotary instruments after 5 sec of light polymerisation. The material is easy and quickly polishable to high gloss and therefore is the perfect choice for all Class I and II fillings, cavity lining and core build-ups – for perfect and fast results!

Fill-Up! Deep. Fast. Perfect. 

Follow Coltene on Twitter - @COLTENEUKLTD

If you want an opportunity to win £25,000 visit Frank Taylor & Associates on Stand G06 where you can have a go at cracking the safe and one lucky person can win £25,000.

Emmanuel  the security guard will escort you down the red carpet where you simply have to enter a six digit code of your choice – if it is the correct code the £25,000 will be yours!

The team at Frank Taylor & Associates are able to advise both sellers and buyers on dental practices as well as all of the associated services you need to run a successful and profitable dental practice.

As part of DPAS’ flexible, comprehensive and effective support for dental practices, the dental plan provider will be launching an entirely revamped Web Portal at this year’s Dental Showcase, along with an online patient registration facility.

Featuring a whole host of new functionality, the Web Portal allows DPAS clients to access and amend all relevant details relating to their plan and plan patients, with real-time reporting and intuitive software making plan performance tracking simple and efficient.

Because one size doesn’t fit all, patients will now have the option to sign up to dental plans online. Whether they’re in the practice or from the comfort of their own homes, DPAS’ Web Portal will continuously be helping DPAS clients to attract more patients in this increasingly competitive environment.

As part of DPAS’ continuing commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and in keeping with its ISO14001 accreditation, this online solution reduces paperwork for everyone, while also helping practices to promote their own green credentials.

To find out how the DPAS Web Portal can benefit your practice, visit Stand F11 at Dental Showcase.

With more and more patients having access to smart phones and emails, iSmile can cater for a completely paper free solution using our newly released product.  Patient Links gives your practice it's very own patient portal, so that you can give your patients the ability to fill in medical history forms on their desktops, tablets and mobile devices prior to their appointment.  iSmile can automatically email medical history forms to your patients, which are filled out securely online and then transmitted back to iSmile and stored within the patient's file, significantly reducing workload at reception.  You can also give your patients the facility to fill out medical history forms at your practice, on your choice of tablet or mobile device as Patient Links is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Online Patient Questionnaires with Patient Links - Part of any growing practice is getting feedback from patients and disseminating the data into easy-to-understand reports.  Patient Links allows you to create a patient questionnaire in iSmile which is automatically emailed to patients after their appointment.  Data collected back by iSmile can be displayed in a range of reports to allow you to analyse trends over a series of time periods and easily see how your business is changing, and identify where improvements can be made.

Visit us on Stand K05a at BDIA Dental Showcase for a no-obligation demonstration of iSmile and Patient Links.

Telephone: 0845 468 1287
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Medisafe and Euronda give you the New E9 Med Steam Generator Edition.

The new autoclave offers you the possibility of choosing between 5 types of cycles, all of class B and between 3 types of sterilization tests. The Rapid Cycle selection allows you to obtain sterilized wrapped hollow and porous loads in only 25 minutes. The new integrated steam generator also allows a higher and pure quality of the steam and conforms to the EN13060.

Visit stand R18 to also receive Medisafe’s new decontamination brochure with exciting products in accordance with HTM 01-05.

Medisafe is one of the world’s leading providers of equipment that reprocesses complex and critical surgical instruments. Medisafe have been operating on a global scale since 1985. Medisafe now install over 1000 machines every year worldwide.

http://www.medisafeinternational.com/

http://www.euronda.com/

By the use of modern polymer plastics OPTICLAR loupes combine durability with lightweight comfort. Our VISIONMAG Pro-Line I.O loupes have a twin lens system providing excellent edge to edge clarity with no aberration. The wide fields of view and deep working distances enable intricate work to be carried out with ease. The individually adjustable optics ensures accurate interpupiliary settings. The coated optics minimise reflections and maximise light transmission to provide crisp bright images. The unique height adjuster provides perfect pupiliary alignment. The extreme angles of declination ensure that these loupes are ideal for dentistry. The sealed optics are water resistant minimising the risk of moisture and condensation related damage. A supplementary frame is also available to enable the use of individual prescription lenses.

These loupes can be supplied with an optional, fully integrated light system that guarantees brilliant homogenous illumination free from chromatic aberration. The lithium Ion battery pack can deliver up to 12 hours continuous use and can be fully recharged in less than 2 hours. The pack can sit unobtrusively in the pocket or clipped to a waist band or belt. The connection cable has a coiled section that provides an early warning if the cable becomes snagged on furniture or other objects. A separate on/ off switch prevents premature wear on the rotary rheostat and enables the unit to be turned on/ off at the previously selected setting.

These fantastically priced loupes provide unbeatable value for money by delivering clarity without compromise.   

You can find the Loupes at the Albert Waeschle Stand - B06

Albert Waeschle has been supplying the Surgical and Medical profession for over fifty years. Our first class technical knowledge has enabled us to develop products in conjunction with leading specialists to ensure superb product performance. We have a dedicated field sales team focusing on our customers’ needs and requirements with the ultimate aim of proposing the best solution. Our end to end service includes fast, reliable supply of product, local technical support, training and full on-site equipment servicing and repair. We also provide flexible payment options to ease the burden of the initial cost. Our objective is to build a lasting relationship through demonstrating our market leading knowledge and advice.

http://www.aw-online.com/

Get Dental Plans are independent dental insurance advisers offering your patients a wide range of insurance policies from leading UK insurers. 

Being part of the well-established, Get Private group of companies, Get Dental Plans is a trusted name, offering independent, impartial advice from a range of individual and company plans designed to suit dental needs.

Individual polices are available to individuals and families offering comprehensive cover for everyday maintenance costs such as check-ups and hygienist fees. Cover is also available for treatment such as fillings, dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays as well as periodontal treatment.  Additional cover such as accident cover, emergency visit cover, dental hospital cover and mouth cancer cover is also available.

Company policies are available for two employees upwards, once again offering comprehensive cover for maintenance costs such as check-ups and hygienist fees. Additional treatment cover such as children's orthodontic cover and implant cover is also available. Plans in the main offer immediate cover and do not take into account pre-existing conditions.

By recommending your patients to Get Dental Plans, you will be safe in the knowledge that they will receive impartial advice on a range of dental insurance plans on a non-commital basis.  There is no administration for you, simply recommend your patients to speak to us and let your practice grow!

The plans are very comprehensive and competitive with no pre-joining checks.  People are claiming straight away, they are writing to tell us they can’t believe how easy it is and the dentists are saying the same:

I am writing to express my satisfaction with Get Dental Plans . My dental insurance policy was easy to understand and my first claim was paid without any problem or delay. My policy compliments my health insurance policy that I have currently, as the health policy does not cover me for dental cover. Stephen Slade

Get Dental is an extremely useful scheme for affording private dental care.  It involves only an introduction from my practice and then no administration at all.  It gives patients immediate access to dental cover so they don't delay treatment.   It serves us well by removing a major barrier to accepting care and by improving our cash flow and case acceptance. It really is a win win opportunity. Maish Weinstein – Dentist

At the BDIA Showcase we will be launching our ‘One Year’s Free Dental Insurance’ voucher.  Please come over to stand R12M for more information on how we can help your business grow.

Paul Lewis

Get Dental Plans

Tel: 07770551712

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook  or Twitter https://twitter.com/GetDentalUK or Pinterest http://uk.pinterest.com/GetDental/

Renishaw is a British based, global company operating in market sectors as contrasting as medical sciences, industrial and electronic manufacturing, consumer electronics and academic research. We develop innovative products that significantly advance our customers’ operational performance - from improving manufacturing efficiencies and raising product quality, to maximising research capabilities and improving the efficacy of medical procedures.

Our products are used for applications as diverse as CAD/CAM dentistry, stereotactic neurosurgery, medical diagnostics, additive manufacturing (3D printing), Raman spectroscopy, machine tool automation, co-ordinate measurement and a vast range of other measurement activities. In all of these areas we aim to be a long-term partner, offering superior products that meet our customer needs both today and into the future, backed up by responsive, expert technical and commercial support.

Renishaw is one of the world’s leading providers of in-lab dental CAD/CAM systems. We offer a comprehensive CAD/CAM suite direct to dental laboratories. This includes the DS10(contact) and DS30 (optical) dental scanners which enable labs to access a range of centrally manufactured crown and bridge restorations and abutments in materials such as zirconia, 3D printed cobalt chrome, PMMA and wax.

As well as industry-established zirconia milling, Renishaw uses 3D printing (additive manufacturing) machines to ‘print' cobalt chrome frameworks. Our 3D printing system is a sophisticated, computer controlled process digitally driven direct from 3D CAD data. We create tooth-supported and implant-supported frameworks through this process. Each 3D printed framework is manufactured in the UK.

To make these products easily available, we offer our software package Renishaw Dental Studio, powered by ExoCAD, with intuitive and extensive modules for your design needs.LaserAbutments™ - One-piece implant supported restorations. These single piece items can be used to create either screw-retained crowns orstacked abutment/crown restorations. Supplied with a pre-polished emergence profile and available for a range of implant systems.

LaserAbutments™ - One-piece implant supported restorations. These single piece items can be used to create either screw-retained crowns orstacked abutment/crown restorations. Supplied with a pre-polished emergence profile and available for a range of implant systems.

LinkAbutments™ - Two-piece link abutments are another way to create implant-supported restorations. Using a titanium base, the profile is scanned and a custom abutment design is bonded on top. In the case of screw-retained crowns, porcelain can be applied directly to the supragingival surface.

LaserPFM™ - These crown and bridge frameworks are an ideal alternative to cast, non-precious or semi-precious units. They give labs a cost effective framework at a fixed price and consistent quality.

Zr100 and Realistic™ Zirconia – Strong, biocompatible and aesthetically pleasing full contour crown and bridge frameworks.

PM100 temporary PMMA and WX100 castable wax – Designed to reduce the lab’s workload and improve the efficiency of the more menial of lab tasks.

DS10 – Our contact scanner – when accuracy is crucial.

DS30 – Our efficient optical scanner – for use where speed is paramount to give higher throughput whilst maintaining accurate results. Flexible and easy to use when teamed with Dental Studio™.

Dental Studio™ - Advanced CAD software that is easy to use and includes the unique combination of contact scanning for accuracy (DS10) and optical scanning for speed (DS30). It includes a variety of modules developed by technicians. Designed to ensure labs have the best possible tools to create their designs and with photorealistic images of the designs with

Trusmile™ image rendering software.

Scanning service – Renishaw offers a scanning service for LaserAbutments. Details of implant types supported, Freepost™ labels and order forms can all be found at www.renishaw.com/dental.

Whether you are buying equipment or frameworks from us or making use of our scanning service, our support team is here to help you every step of the way.

• Face-to-face training (with CPD hours)

• Web based support

• Telephone support

To learn more about Renishaw or our dental products please call us: 01453 524528 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can follow us on Twitter @RenishawDental

RENISHAW, the probe symbol used in the RENISHAW logo, are registered trademarks of Renishaw plc

OraCoat^® XyliMelts^® oral adhering discs; new dry mouth treatment advancement

XyliMelts oral adhering discs relieve dry mouth day and night

For patients who suffer from dry mouth, there is a new remedy. OraHealth, the world leader in the breakthrough technology of  OraCoat oral adhering discs to coat and soothe the mouth has introduced  OraCoat XyliMelts for Dry Mouth, all-natural, great tasting, oral adhering discs that slowly release an effective amount of xylitol (500mg) and oral lubricant to relieve dry mouth (xerostomia) day and night and reduce plaque and tooth decay.  XyliMelts discs can be safely used while sleeping when dry mouth is worst.

Xylitol, the key ingredient in XyliMelts, is a natural food substance that is comparable to sucrose in sweetness but contains fewer calories and fights cavities. XylMelts adhering discs also contain cellulose gum, a humectant, which coats the mouth to retain moisture. The xylitol and mild mint flavor help to stimulate saliva.

For dry mouth suffers, the feeling of serious dry mouth is bad enough, but there are two consequences that are even worse: disruption of sleep, reducing quality of life all day long, and rampant tooth decay.  XyliMelts is the only dry mouth remedy that effectively addresses either of these consequences.

The patented oral adhering disc technology allows XyliMelts to discretely stick to gums or teeth making them ideal for use while sleeping to avoid sleep disturbance.  A recent clinical study, published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene, demonstrated that use of XyliMelts time-release adhering discs while sleeping significantly improved perceived oral wetness upon awakening in the morning, and improved perceived discomfort for xerostomia.

A second consequence of dry mouth is rampant caries.  XyliMelts time-release an effective level of xylitol into saliva while sleeping, when saliva flow is lowest and the xylitol will stay in the mouth longest before being swallowed.  XyliMelts used while sleeping is the most effective delivery per gram of xylitol for caries control.

According to Kiet A. Ly, MD, MPH, University of Washington Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, "sufficient evidence exists to support the use of xylitol to reduce caries."

Many medications cause dry mouth, as does increasing age, mouth breathing while sleeping, use of CPAP machines for sleep apnea, certain autoimmune diseases like Sjogren's Syndrome, and radiation therapy.

Additional benefits of XyliMelts for dry mouth suffers include:

• Stimulates saliva

• Coats, moisturizes, and lubricates

• Provides lasting relief (all night when used while sleeping)

• Reduces plaque and tooth decay

• Freshens breath

• Discreet – no one can tell you have something your mouth

• Works for night-time dry mouth caused by breathing through the mouth

• Can be used with CPAP machines, oral appliance therapy, and dentures

To use XyliMelts for Dry Mouth, place the disc at the gum line on the outside of a molar, upper or lower, with the white side touching a cheek and the tan adhesive side against the gums and/or teeth.  Use the tongue to push the disc to a comfortable spot.  Once there, do not push the disc with fingers or touch it with the tongue for 10 seconds, as this will disrupt adhesion which grows stronger over time.

XyliMelts discs come in two flavors, regular (mild mint) and mint free, and are currently available online.  Patient samples and wholesale pricing are available for dental professionals at www.oracoat.eu. For more information call (London) +44 (0) 203 772 5432 or visit www.oracoat.eu.  At the Dental Showcase, visit stand S09 for a free sample.

Braemar Finance is holding a FREE PRIZE DRAW* at the BDIA Showcase.  To enter your details simply visit stand C12 and leave your contact details.

We provide finance solutions from our range of hire purchase, leasing and loan products, suitable for all your finance needs.

Equipment or IT solutions finance can be pre approved prior to Showcase, allowing you the flexibility to select your supplier(s) of choice. Once approved you simply place your order and indicate Braemar as your method of payment.

Our patient finance options provide your practice with an enhanced service, assisting your cash flow, as payment is made at the onset of the patients treatment.

For all your finance needs contact us on 0845 485 3890 or visit www.braemarfinance.co.uk

*Terms and conditions apply visit http://www.braemarfinance.co.uk/competition-terms-and-conditions

By Alex Hall, Meade King Solicitors

It has always been awkward for holders of PDS agreements to sell. Unlike GDS contracts which allow holders to enter partnership, have the contracts varied and for such partnerships then to be dissolved PDS agreements area meant to be ‘personal’, held by only one dentist or entity (e.g. an LLP or Limited Company) and so the right to take on and shed partners is absent.

PCT and now NHS England consent has therefore always been necessary for a transfer to a buyer. With the increased understanding (and enforcement) of European procurement rules, NHS England (as seen in its current policies) is unwilling to give such consent, for fear of legal challenges.

This is currently the situation no matter whether the PDS agreement is for orthodontic services, domiciliary services or sedation. It is of course the case that a PDS agreement for mandatory services can be converted to a GDS contract (on 3 months’ notice under Regulation 21 of the PDS Regulations), although there is a risk for high-UDA-rate contracts that the contract value may be challenged (the GDS Statement of Financial Entitlements maintains the right of NHS England to ‘agree’ the contract value of a new GDS Contract). Furthermore, due to the nature of a PDS Plus agreement (only a percentage of the contract value may be converted to GDS), such conversion is inappropriate making consent necessary for PDS Plus agreements too. 

Consequently, it is of great interest (especially to Orthodontics who wish to sell) that in recent months it has become clear that NHS England’s position towards incorporation may offer a solution.

It was always the case that many PCTs refused consent to incorporate, and the fear of breach of procurement rules often provided them with the excuse. However that slowly changed, especially with the growing knowledge of the 2009 European Court of Justice ‘Pressetext’ ruling, and in June 2013 NHS England released its first policy on incorporation.

That policy has meant that PDS agreement holders have been able to apply for consent to incorporate and obtain a new PDS agreement in the name of their company. Once that is arranged, the company can then be sold to a buyer. This therefore appears to be a solution to a sale proceeding.

However, there are some downsides and some issues to seriously consider:

• NHS England, applying the incorporation policy criteria, may still refuse consent in certain circumstances;
• Incorporation (even when followed by a sale) is a serious trading change and there are costs attached to it;
• Having only shares in a company to sell can limit the market of willing buyers (there are still some buyers who are nervous of buying shares rather than assets);
• NHS England insists, in its policy, on a ‘novation agreement’ signed by the contractor who must agree to guarantee the company’s performance of the new company PDS agreement. That obligation is open-ended, and would feasibly continue beyond the sale of the company unless NHS England consent to be released from the guarantee (or agree a replacement guarantor) is obtained.

Having said all of this, such issues and potential problems perhaps pale into insignificance (though they should be dealt with appropriately) if there is no alternative, leaving the contractor with the choice of selling on these terms or not selling at all.

However, a further issue on the Horizon looms. In June 2014 NHS England published a revised incorporation policy (‘revised April 2014’), which encourages Area Teams to consider including a change of control clause in the novation agreement as a condition of consent. Such clauses, necessitating NHS England consent to a sale of the company who in the future, are attractive for NHS England as they give Area Teams a degree of control over who the company is sold to.

Worst-case scenario, this could defeat the sale objective, as NHS England could refuse. However the chances of successfully arguing that NHS England should consent to a transfer of the shares to a buyer (or indeed that a refusal is unreasonably), should still be higher than the current prospect of convincing an Area Team to agree to a straight transfer in breach of procurement rules. Indeed, paragraph  35 of the revised policy helpfully states;

“consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned and shall not apply in relation to the departure by reason of death, retirement or ill-health of a director or shareholder”.

Those most at risk of refusal will be those:

·         Who are openly incorporation simply to sell shortly after, highlighting the importance of care and confidentiality throughout the process; and

·         those whose buyers are unpalatable to NHS England. Buyers in such circumstances should expect some difficult questions from vendors and their about their previous NHS performance, ongoing patient complaints and GDS and performances list proceedings.

It is interesting to note that NHS England appears to expect the opposition to its new policy in these respects as paragraph 39 of the revised policy states “Area Teams should be aware that they may face challenge on the inclusion of the change of control” and the policy includes several references to disputes being referred to the NHS Litigation Authority, first-tier tribunal or the civil courts.

Consequently, cumbersome though it is, and despite the fact that it is still fraught with risk and issues, incorporation appears to be an option that should be considered for sellers who hold a PDS Plus agreement or PDS agreement for advanced, further or additional (i.e. non-mandatory) services.

Alex Hall will be participating in the daily ‘Ask the Lawyers’ panel on the Dental Elite Stand (Stand No – E10) on Friday at the Dental Showcase 2014 from 2pm.

Dental Elite are offering all delegates free access to a Dental Lawyer to answer any questions any delegates have in respect of the Dentolegal World every day from 2pm at the Dental Showcase 2014.

A SPECIALIST team of dental lawyers from LCF Law will give visitors something to smile about at this year’s BDIA Dental Exhibition Showcase, when they unveil their brand new exhibition stand that incorporates a photo booth in a VW camper van.

The team is based at LCF Law’s Leeds office and offers a wide range of dental related legal services covering associate agreements, dental employment law, practice incorporations, compliance with the Care Quality Commission and the sale and acquisition of dental practices throughout the UK.

It will be the first time the company has attended the exhibition, which is one of the key events in the dental industry’s annual calendar and takes place at London’s ExCeL between 9^th and 11^th October.  The company’s exhibition stand is themed to resemble a beach scene complete with a VW camper van where visitors can pose for ‘selfies’.

Members of LCF Law’s team attending the exhibition will include Partner Tom Coates, Associate Sarah Buxton and Legal Assistant Matthew Jones.  Sarah will also be speaking at the event on Friday 10^th October on behalf of the Association of Dental Administrators and Managers (ADAM) about the legal challenges Practice Managers can face. 

Tom says: “The dental market is a fast growing industry that faces a continual sea of new legislation so it requires its own very unique and specialist advice.  We have a fantastic track-record working across all areas of the industry, on behalf of dental practices and businesses throughout the UK, and we’re delighted to be attending this exhibition for the first time.”

LCF Law will be on stand S13 and further information in the run-up to the event is available via Twitter at @LCFDentallawyers.  This year’s BDIA Dental Showcase will be attended by more than 350 exhibitors and will offer a wide range of networking events, seminars, mini-lectures and opportunities to trial new products and equipment. 

LCF Law is a leading commercial law firm that works with both businesses and private individuals.  The long-established firm employs an 85 strong team across offices in Leeds, Bradford and Ilkley.  For further information visit www.lcf.co.uk

“If we’d asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses”, Henry Ford is famously quoted as saying.

And this week we have news reports about the car insurance industry being subjected to further “market reforms” in order to deliver cheaper end-consumer prices.

But this is a fundamental misunderstanding of the markets.

If you look at the résumé of our first appointed chair of the General Dental Council [GDC], Bill Moyes, you will see that he has led several market-driven initiatives in various roles, and it wouldn’t be a leap of the imagination to consider that he has been appointed into the GDC to fulfil a “market-driven” reform. Dentistry has long suffered an image problem; consumers feel that prices (and pay) are too high, that dentistry delivers poor value to the consumer and that there is a conspiracy of the profession against the public – it is only necessary to have the briefest of reads through the comments section on any newspaper that publishes a dental article to see that the accusations of “rip-off” rear their head at a very early stage.

But this premise is entirely wrong. The problem with a free market is that the results are entirely unpredictable. Economic journals are full of perfectly logical explanations as to why markets behaved in a certain way – crucially, behaved and not behave. That is, the analysis of the markets and the rationality of them is done post hoc.

One of the most fundamental problems I can see with the approach of trying to manipulate markets in order to deliver a specific outcome is that it rarely works, or often, even where it does work, often this is not what the consumer demands or buys, although they may insist at the outset that that is what they want.

In our particular dental industry, I would hazard a guess that many people (of a non-dental nature) believe that market reforms will deliver cheaper dentistry, through increasing the supply of the dental workforce. I would suggest that this is unlikely to work for a variety of reasons. Firstly, costs represent some 60-70% of the price that the patient pays. Given that the average pay for dentists has been declining in real terms for some time, if we were to cut pay for dentists by 10%, then this can translate into only a 3-4% price saving for patients. And I don’t believe that we can cut pay much further without running into another economic problem – that of a shortage. If you pay too little for something, you create a shortage. In this case, how many dentists do you think would leave the profession if average pay drops below a certain point? (I would suggest £50,000 for associates, on average, and £75,000 for principals)

So if cost savings are to be made for the end consumer prices, this will have to come from reduced costs. And here we already have an idea of what happens from another industry – the British car industry. Throughout the 60s and 70s, the British car industry suffered a slow and agonising death over many years, selling outdated cars, with poor workmanship and a reputation for declining quality, and in some cases, with cars selling at less than the cost of manufacture. Do these problems sound familiar?

Of course the British car industry eventually collapsed, superceded by German and Japanese competitors who were operating on free market conditions, and produced innovation and rapid improvements in delivering things people wanted rather than what they told government-led focus groups that they wanted. The eventual death of Rover marked a turning point and renaissance of the British car industry, and now we have world class manufacturing and design, but for this to happen we had to see the government leave the industry and several companies to go under.

I sincerely hope that dentistry has its “Rover moment” soon. I believe in the free markets, but a belief in the free markets also means accepting when they don’t deliver quite what you thought they would. And that doesn’t always mean that what will be delivered will be cheaper: sometimes, what is delivered is “better” rather than “cheaper”. I believe that health and dentistry falls into this camp.

After all, when was the last time you saw a car maker advertise how cheap they’d made the braking system?

Free markets tend to deliver better healthcare, by and large, which is often but not always cheaper. I would therefore issue a challenge – if this is truly the purpose of Mr Moyes’ appointment, I would suggest that he can best serve the public by completely withdrawing any government interference in the market, but only on the proviso that he and they MUST accept that prices will almost certainly rise, but also must accept that this may result in longer term reduction of cost. Otherwise we run the risk of delivering the cheapest horses in the world when the rest of the world has moved onto cars.  

Image credit - Coen Dijkman  under CC licence - not modified.

With PFM Dental's practice purchase seminar on Thursday 18 September in Warrington fully booked well in advance, it was obvious the associate dentist participants were very interested in owning their own practice.

Organised in association with RBS (healthcare banking), Goodman Grant (dental solicitors), PFM Townends (dental accountants) and plan providers, Patient Plan Direct, a wide range of topics were covered in presentations and Q&A sessions. These included the current market, applying for competitive finance, legal and accountancy considerations and the benefits of a capitation scheme.

Jon Drysdale, an independent financial adviser at PFM Dental says: "We have run this course for four years and the Warrington event saw the highest attendance yet, with nearly 40 associates. Concerns over pay and job security, combined with the desire to build a valuable business asset, means more associates would like to buy a practice.”

The next practice purchase seminar for associate dentists is on 20^th November in Watford (evening). Places can be booked by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling PFM Dental on 0845 241 4480.

For more information about purchasing a dental practice visit www.pfmdental.co.uk

A-dec looks forward to welcoming you to stand M03, where at this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase we will be bringing our showrooms to you.

This year we will be showcasing the full spectrum of fully integrated dental chairs with cabinetry solutions from the current range. Whatever your budget, there is an A-dec chair for you; from our newest entry level package, the Performer LR+ right up to our luxurious A-dec 500 chair. All of our dental chairs can be tailored to your specification to give you everything you need.

Also on stand M03 this year we will be presenting our A-dec difference display which shows a selection of the high quality A-dec parts that go into every chair. In addition we will be bringing back the popular consultation area, where we will be offering design and equipment advice and even drawing up your surgery plans live on the stand.

Our A-dec Territory Managers will be on stand for the duration of the show. Visit them on stand M03 or call 0800 233 285 for more information.

0800 233 285
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.a-dec.co.uk