What can I claim for tax?

Filing your tax claims can certainly be complicated, as there isn’t a readily available hard-set list of do’s and don’ts on the subject.

To simplify the process, you can apply the ‘wholly and exclusively’ rule of thumb. Using this, you go down your list of claims and check that every item purchased has been solely for business use.

But for dental associates, this guide isn’t as straightforward and encompassing as it sounds.

Take the clothing you use for practicing dentistry, for example. Though you may consider their purchase as a business expense, under HMRC laws you can only claim for the laundering, repair and replacement of these garments, and not for the cost of their initial purchase.[i]

Another example is claiming against subscriptions and joining fees to certain professional organisations, as these are only allowed if they appear on the approved HMRC list.[ii]

The British Dental Association, for example, is listed by the HMRC as a recognised professional body. The Dental Professionals Association, however, is not. Even if you join organisations that are wholly and exclusively for dental professionals, you cannot automatically assume that their fees can be legally claimed.

Another topic seemingly left open to interpretation are the costs of training courses and seminars. The HMRC states that professional development courses are allowable only if they’re designed to further any existing professional skills. If the course is taken to acquire new skills and learning, their costs cannot be claimed.[iii] The question then becomes, how would you categorise a course on, say, implantology or orthodontics? Who do you ask for a definite answer?

As you can see, even the ‘wholly and exclusively’ rule does not wholly and exclusively answer all the questions you might have regarding your tax claims.

These are but a few examples of how tricky tax deductions for dental associates can be. While you can certainly do some research and try to work out the rules of tax claims on your own, this could take up a lot of your free time – time that you would rather spend practising dentistry and earning money. Or, worse, you can get to the wrong or incomplete answer, and miss claiming something, or claim something incorrectly!

Another solution that could end up saving you money is to turn to a professional to resolve all this for you, such as figurit.

figurit is a web-based accountancy and tax solution exclusively for dental associates that can maximise your tax savings with their specialist knowledge and turn your tax returns around within four weeks.

By using figurit you can also reduce the risk of an HMRC inspection, because you can be sure that they have a full grasp of both the nuances of your profession and the laws of taxation. And if you do happen to be unlucky enough to get investigated anyway, their inclusive insurance will mean no additional costs for you to get the enquiry dealt with.

Filing tax returns doesn’t have to turn into the mind-bending puzzle that it can be when you don’t know the law inside and out. You can hire specialists to take care of all that for you so you can do what you do best – practice dentistry with no further distractions.

For more information on our specialist accountancy and tax package

exclusively for dental associates, visit www.figurit.co.uk

10 Ways To Get A Patient Referral

Neil Sanderson

I think just about everyone is in agreement that a patient referral is the best way to get new patients, even I as a marketeer would have to agree with that, however you can only get so many new patients by referral only, so I would still recommend a proper marketing strategy. That said if you are going to increase the number of referrals you get, here are a few hints and do’s and don’ts.

Most dental practices have no patient referral strategy in place at all, getting patient referrals has to be ingrained into the philosophy of the practice, you should view every single patient you see as someone who is going to recommend your practice and services to someone else.

Obviously to do that you have to offer great dentistry, that goes without saying but simply doing this isn’t good enough, because you patients expect you do deliver that anyway. Your services are no different to any other service or product that they are willing to spend their money on, you simply have to deliver quality.

So now we have that part out of the way how can you increase the number of patients who are willing to give you a patient referral?

1. Strange as it may sound Social Media is becoming more and more important in this area. Quite literally social media is the new “word of mouth” marketing, so if you have an active Facebook and/or Twitter account which has lots of interesting content on it you are likely to increase the number of referrals you get.
2. The appearance of your practice is incredibly important. If you have a practice that looks shabby, do you really think that your patients are going to refer you to their friends and relatives, I don’t think so.
3. Don’t think that only long term patients will refer you, in fact quite the opposite is the case. You are just as likely to get a patient referral from a new patient than you are from someone who has been using you for years.
4. You don’t have to deliver fantastic results to get a patient referral either. Courtesy, smart appearance and attention to detail and giving them exactly what they want is just, if not more important.
5. Just because a patient has referred you once don’t think that they won’t do it again, you should encourage your patients to refer you as often as possible and reward them for doing it.
6. Your staff are incredibly important in getting patient referrals, you might be the best dentist in the world and offer a fantastic service, but if your patients don’t have a great experience on reception, you won’t get those much needed patient referrals, reception staff have to be well trained, just as you do.
7. Communicate regularly with your patients, a newsletter is a great way to share things with your patients along with social media. It’s not rocket science, the better they think they know you the more they’ll give you a patient referral.
8. Market your referral program everywhere in your practice. Tell them what you are prepared to offer in return for a patient referral, it could be a bottle of wine or a big thank you, but you need to have a rewards system of place and tell everyone about it.
9. Every new patient that comes to your practice should be given a welcome pack and that should include information about your patient referral program and the benefits they can achieve if they refer a friend or relative to you.
10. Finally and here’s the real big one. ASK FOR THEM you’ll be astounded the difference this simple little thing does.

If you would like more information on implementing a patient referral program or how to promote this using your social media or training your reception staff, call me on 01767 626 398 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the website www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk

Michael Lansdell, of Lansdell & Rose, speaks to small corporations about the benefits of Relevant Life Cover.

Life insurance is vital to ensure the safe continuation of any small company in case of the death or terminal illness of a director or key employee. In the vast majority of corporate cases, Relevant Life Cover (RLC) is the most tax efficient means of guaranteeing a secure future in the event of an untimely loss.

RLC does not attract any liability for National Insurance (NI) from either the individual or the company. From the insured person’s point of view, the premiums are paid by the company, not regarded by HMRC as a ‘benefit in kind,’ and not liable to income tax; nor do they form part of the individual’s annual allowance for pension contributions or lifetime allowance for pension savings. From the company’s standpoint, the premiums are usually deductible against corporation tax.

Compared with ‘non-relevant’ life cover, which attracts employee and employer NI contributions as well as income tax liability, an RLC policy will offer yearly net savings which amount to several thousands of pounds over the life of the plan.

RLC comes in two types of cover. Level policies, with a fixed annual premium, deliver a fixed payout with no regard for inflation. Inflation-linked policies, with premiums that go up every year, offer payouts that rise in line with whichever cost of living index is chosen.

RLC policies are written into trust for the benefit of the employee’s family, and on the death of the insured person the policy will pay out a tax-free lump sum to the named beneficiaries.

RLC covers only death or terminal illness, and cannot be extended to include any other provision(s). Each RLC policy is set up individually and can only be taken out by an employer to insure an employee when both are permanently resident in the UK, and the employee is aged between 17 and 69.

Premiums typically begin at £5 per month with no minimum level of cover, but most insurance companies impose an upper limit of £10million, or 25 times the value of the employee’s earnings, whichever is lower.

Small companies who have not yet explored the option of RLC should look into this tax-efficient way of providing death-in-service benefits for their directors and key employees.

For more information about RLC and the services available from Lansdell & Rose please call on 020 7376 9333

Following the introduction of The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 in May last year there still seems to be some confusion regarding the interpretation of the Regulations and the role of risk assessments in relation to the use of safer sharps and recapping.

Edmund Proffitt, Policy and Public Affairs Director at the BDIA comments, “From May last year all dental practices have to ensure that they comply with the ‘Sharps’ regulations. This means that dental practices must avoid the unnecessary use of sharps and where this is not possible a safer sharp must be used where reasonably practicable”.

He adds, “We believe from the discussions we have had with our members, dental practitioners and the HSE that for the majority of dental activities there will be safer devices available and that risk assessment would deem them reasonably practicable to use.

Therefore, it will be in very limited cases that 'traditional' devices can still be used, and this should be justified by the risk assessment process. Ultimately, it is for a dentist to justify to the courts why they did not use a safety device, and it would be very difficult for a court to agree with the dentist if there was a safety device on the market and others were using them”.  

In terms of the ‘recapping’ of needles, the Regulations clearly state that needles must not be recapped after use unless the employer’s risk assessment has identified that recapping is itself required to prevent a risk (e.g. to reduce the risk of contamination of sterile preparations). In these very limited cases appropriate devices to control the risk of injury to employees must be provided. 

As a result of the constant development of devices and technologies by BDIA members and others it is suggested that if a dentist has decided that it is not reasonably practicable to use a safer sharp in a specific circumstance the decision is regularly reviewed to see if a different or new product is suitable.

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

BDIA Showcase takes place between 9th & 11th October 2014 at Excel in London. Further information can be found here www.dentalshowcase.com

Those of you who are still ave dwelling after the wettest winter on record may have missed the strong discussions on GDPUK regarding a US development in Fixed Orthodontic mechanics.

Wake up at the back ….  Ortho fills diaries …  You might say it whets your appetite as opposed to your gardens.

There is a fascinating shift occurring in Orthodontic practice in UK Dental Practice.

For much of the profession, ortho remains the remit of a local specialist.  For a significant cadre however, the skills and learning required are well within the grasp of a competent GDP. Indeed many specialists with a teaching bent are want to publicly encourage us GDPs to take up the baton in a responsible and measured manner.

But …

There appears to be a rapidly strengthening sense of threat.

The specialists are feeling threatened by the GDPs marching across their patch, and the not-long-past British Orthodontic Society advert in a national broadsheet ruffled more than a few feathers. The GDPs are thinking this can’t be all that difficult and are starting to strut their stuff on this fertile ground for business – after all, every year another cohort of young patients pop into your sights.

So how interesting it is, then, to observe on one side of the vested interest fence we have Dr Viazis and the Fastbraces® brand becoming the torch of vocal GDP protagonists, to the evident irritation of many.

On the other side of ethical glass screen see how Align Technologies & Invisalign® are quietly starting to insert themselves into the postgraduate teaching programmes, in  manner of poacher-turned-gamekeeper,  and are now part of 7 centres in the UK

Influence, Sir? That'll cost you ...

We have always known that money buys influence. How you use that money determines how effective your influence might be.

Orthodontics appears to be a good example of the same desire to apply money and buy influence having opposite effects from differing companies.

As a GDP, if you are doing ortho, it’s Caveat Emptor.  Dark forces of corruption lurk, seeking to separate you from your money and are not far beneath the surface.

Cynical? Qui , moi?

“Come along there, move along please, another QuickBuck will be along in a minute.”

Most estate agents know that when the market for dental practices is up, as it is now, the two factors most likely to persuade you to sell through their company are the valuation price and their agency fees. It then follows that each agency you approach will naturally want to come up with the most attractive valuation.

Trusting the judgement of an agency whose sole viewpoint is to convince you to sell your practice through them can lead to lost time, wasted effort and great disappointment.

On the other hand, it would also be unwise to suggest that the judgement of someone who can only provide rigid and cold calculations is the final word. A practice is certainly worth more than its physical assets and patient base, or its monthly revenue minus the running costs.

The best solution, it seems, would be to turn to a company who can offer both marketing expertise and professional accountability; an agency that has been in the business of selling to people and banks for many years, and one that has professional accreditations to top that experience off.

When it comes to the sale of dental practices, there is only one company with such criteria, and that is Christie + Co – the only national firm that specialises in the valuation and sale of dental practices that is also accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

When you deal with a company that offers both years of real estate marketing experience and RICS accreditation, you strike the perfect balance. What the RICS, and companies and surveyors accredited with them ensure, is that when you sell your practice, the basis upon which you determine your pricing stands both the valuation test and the market test.

The valuation test is important because unless you’re selling your practice for cash to someone who doesn’t bother to bring their own surveyors in for another look, it will eventually have to be valued by an independent firm.

The market test is equally significant because the final selling price of your practice also depends of your agency’s knowledge of the market, and their knowledge of your potential buyer.

Selling your practice is essentially passing the trust and welfare of your patients onto the next person, and is naturally something that will be very close to your heart. This is not something that can be tackled with just pure intellect – accurate and impartial calculations also need to be made.

By turning to a company that understands both sides of the dental estate coin, you can be sure that all considerations are covered and your best interests as a seller are paramount.

BIO:

Simon Hughes joined Christie + Co in 1987 and has responsibility for the further expansion of its brokerage services into the Primary Care sectors of dentistry and GP surgery sectors. In the past three years, Christie + Co has advised, valued or sold almost £1 billion worth of businesses. Simon heads up a dedicated team of specialist advisors and agents based in regional locations throughout the UK.

For the last six decades, Eschmann has proven its dedication to the dental and medical community through extensive product research and development.

Its latest innovation comes in the form of the LittleSister SES 3000B Autoclave, which has recently completed a 12-week trial in dental practices and facilities around the UK.

Among these, Dr David Houston, Principal Dentist of The Houston Group of Practices in Somerset says:

“I was pleased with the general design and appearance of the autoclave and found the displays easy to monitor. The inbuilt cycle logger with no trailing leads also ensured that the area remained safe and tidy.

“In addition, the large water tank cut down on the number of refills during a day, and we found the early warning of 'low water' ensured levels were kept constant, reducing the risk of delayed cycles due to insufficient water.

“The large chamber and 10 cassette capacity were certainly a boon to our busy surgery.”

To find out how the LittleSister could streamline your workflow, contact Eschmann today.

For more information please visit www.eschmann.co.uk, or call 01903 753322

Individual Saving Accounts (ISAs) are one of the most popular investment and savings tools being utilised in the UK today.

Over £443 billion has been invested in adult ISAs since their creation in 1999, and since Junior ISAs or JISAs were launched in 2011, they’ve seen more than £557 million in total deposits. With so many UK taxpayers opting in, opening an ISA can’t be a bad decision.

The key benefits of an ISA are its income tax and capital gains tax-free status and its flexibility for either cash or stocks and shares deposits investments. As both children and adults can have multiple ISAs, they are also a great way of helping secure your whole family’s future.

Unlimited transfers can go in and out of ISAs each year with no impact, and they also offer generous savings limits – in 2013/14, the individual allowances for an adult ISA and a JISA are £11,520 and £3,720, respectively.

ISAs are clearly a great investment option – as long as certain things are watched out for.

For example, if you’re moving to another provider, you need to make sure you do not withdraw the funds – rather, complete a transfer form in order to retain your tax-free status.

If you move abroad, you cannot continue putting money into your ISAs as you are no longer a UK resident for tax purposes.

And the ISA’s tax-free benefit is only applicable until death, after which the funds may be subject to inheritance tax.

When investing in an ISA, the key tip to keep in mind is to use as much of your allowance as affordable every year, as these do not carry over. And as with any investment, consulting with a professional before taking any action is always advisable.

For more information about the services available from Lansdell & Rose

please call on 020 7376 9333

Leeds-based healthcare entrepreneur Mustafa Mohammad was recently invited to attend 10 Downing Street as part of the National Apprenticeship Week celebrations.

Mustafa is a well-known figure in dentistry, and is Managing Director of Genix Healthcare and Owner of Sparkle Dental Labs. He is also Chair for the Trailblazers programme in dental health, and has been a key figure in helping to promote apprenticeships in dentistry. As part of his role, Mustafa heads up a group of national associations, employers and educational institutions working to improve the quality of apprenticeships to give apprentices the skills and training they need to help their employers grow and compete.

As testament to Mustafa’s work promoting apprenticeships, he was invited to 10 Downing Street for a reception to mark National Apprenticeship Week. Mustafa attended the event alongside apprentice dental nurse Courtney Morgan-Jones, where they met Chancellor George Osborne MP and Mustafa was congratulated on his on-going commitment to apprenticeships and promoting British jobs.

Mustafa Mohammad said: “It really was a great honour to be invited to 10 Downing Street to such a prestigious event. I have always been passionate about apprenticeships in dentistry, and as such I am proud to be associated with the Trailblazers programme. I believe apprenticeships can be an excellent way to give young people the skills and experience they need to build a successful career within the profession.”

Meanwhile, apprentice Courtney Morgan-Jones said: “I had a sort of nervous and excited feeling beforehand, but it was a great experience – fantastic. And the paintings were fabulous!” Courtney was also eager to sing the praises of the apprenticeship scheme: “I’d definitely recommend it to other young people. It’s given me a great start in the career I want to do.”

Dentist Helen Barnes, who has been training Courtney, agrees. She said: “With the apprenticeship scheme, everybody wins. Courtney is brilliant and is actually one of the best dental nurses I have ever trained. She’s only 17 but she has a fantastic work ethic and takes everything on board. I’d urge other businesses to take on an apprentice – it allows you to train someone from scratch and it gives young people who may not want to stay in academics another choice, where they learn by actually doing the job. Courtney is going to be a very great asset to the practice.”

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

Tooth wear is a common condition among patients in the UK. According to figures in the Adult Dental Health Survey, over three quarters of the population suffers from tooth wear of some kind.[1] The treatment of wear poses a dilemma for many dentists. On the one hand there do exist some strict established protocols for the treatment of this condition, but these protocols can be impractical, invasive and expensive to perform.

However, there are other treatment options out there. On Saturday 8^th November, Tif Qureshi will speak at the BACD’s 11^th Annual Conference sharing a minimally invasive interceptive approach to the treatment of tooth wear. As a past-President of the Academy, Tif is a familiar face to regular conference goers, and will present on a topic that he believes is one of the most important treatments that he provides.

‘The idea behind my lecture is to present an “alternative approach” to treating tooth wear,’ says Tif. ‘It’s about using composites to try and restore patients’ teeth rather than having to go down more traditional invasive routes such as using preparing teeth for ceramics.

‘Often it is the case that treating occlusal problems requires certain protocol to be followed. In my lecture however we will be looking at the problem in a slightly different way using composite and the Dahl technique. Of course I understand that for some people the Dahl technique remains a slightly controversial treatment option, as some people think it doesn’t work, however I aim to prove them wrong.’

In a comprehensive and wide-ranging lecture, Tif will set out everything you need to know about the Dahl technique to use it safely, and predictably in practice. This includes when to use it, when not to use it, as well as a range of hints and tips to help you produce consistently excellent results.

‘I’ve been using this approach for more than 15 years and have carried out the technique on literally hundreds of patients,’ continues Tif. ‘Never once have I had to “take it off” or reverse treatment, nor have I ever had any serious problems with it. Of course case selection very important, as it’s not something that every patient can have.

‘As dentists I believe we have an ethical responsibility to be as minimally invasive and conservative in our treatments as possible. By intercepting wear cases sooner, rather than later we preserve more of the patient’s natural tooth structure for longer, and save them time, money and stress of leaving it and then treating them with more invasive methods further down the line.

‘It’s not that there’s a “right way” and a “wrong way” to treat tooth wear. All of the various forms of treatment out there work, however some are simpler, cheaper and more practical than others. To me, the idea of using composite before things get a lot worse makes a lot of sense as it makes it a lot cheaper and easier to maintain.’

As Tif is keen to point out, dentistry has come on a long way in the last few years. Materials technology in particular has progressed immensely, and presents new and exciting opportunities for dentists to provide effective treatments that are both conservative, and highly aesthetic. One particular area that Tif will focus on his in lecture is the use of the Dahl technique in conjunction with other minimally-invasive treatments such as short term orthodontics (STO) in order to enhance the final aesthetic result.

‘With short term orthodontics we have a powerful tool to help us enhance not only the appearance of patients’ teeth, but their overall facial profile as well,’ says Tif. ‘As we know the facial arch naturally narrows over time, which makes people appear more aged than they perhaps are. However with a combination of STO and the Dahl technique we are able to control and intercept this change.

‘This isn’t something that’s commonly dealt with in dentistry, and it’s something I aim to take up in my lecture. As such I aim to draw attention to the many different factors that as dentists, we are able to control. We will talk for example about canine width protection and canine width expansion and how we can use this to control anterior occlusion and maintain facial width. I will also demonstrate how using the techniques I have described we are able to dramatically affect a patient’s appearance and make them stay younger for longer.

‘In my opinion this is an exciting new avenue for dentists to explore, and is an excellent addition to what we can “offer” as cosmetic dentists.’

To find out more about this topic, Tif will present his lecture ‘Preventing wear to despair…’ on Saturday 8^th November at the BACD’s 11^th Annual Conference in Liverpool.

For further information 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.bacdconference.co.uk

The European Society of Aesthetic Orthodontics (ESAO) is committed to raising the standards of aesthetically focused orthodontic provision by GDPs through improving their core knowledge.

Following on from the success of last December’s course, the ESAO will run two parallel courses on 21^st June; one designed for dentists and one tailored toward dental nurses. Delegates will be offered all the hands on experience necessary to deliver aesthetically focused orthodontics in a safe and ethical way.

Attendees to the dentist course will have the opportunity to practice interproximal reduction (IPR) on typodonts, and will explore topics from accessing joint abnormality; accessing occlusion; Incision edge bonding and composite laying techniques; as well as effective retention protocols to avoid relapse.

While delegates on the dental nurses course will be instructed on how to take impressions, the safe removal of retainers and taking effective orthodontic photographs.

Both courses will feature specialist orthodontists who will provide valuable insight into the many fruitful ways that GDPs and specialists can work together. Contact EASO today to find out more, and see how your practice can benefit from offering aesthetically focused orthodontics.

For more information visit esao.co.uk or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In their persistent efforts to be the biggest and best, Sparkle continue to make changes to their service that can improve the way they fulfil all their clients’ needs.

New clear boxes for protection and infection control

Among recent customer care initiatives is the distribution of a new info pack that will be reaching everyone in their client base soon.

Together with updates on their products and services, the info pack will also provide dentists with new clear boxes that will serve to protect all items and products that are shipped between the lab and their customers.

Sparkle Dental Labs believes that this new method of transportation is a better way of ensuring product preservation and cross-infection control for everyone involved in the manufacturing process.

And Sparkle Dental Labs continues their commitment to green operations by making sure that these boxes are fully recyclable and environment friendly.

Sparkle Dental Labs reaches Scotland

Sparkle Dental Labs have also recently extended their scope of service to include dentists in Scotland who are looking for high-quality British workmanship at very competitive prices.

Dentists in Scotland will also receive personal attention from dedicated Sparkle representatives based in the area, to ensure that communications with the lab in Leeds are as smooth and stress-free as possible for practitioners.

Sparkle representative Kay Thompson, who is heading the launch of Sparkle Dental Labs’ Scottish service, says:

“Any problems with the service, any questions with the order, the dentists can call their dedicated Sparkle representative instead of having to spend time chasing up the lab themselves. Their rep is dedicated to making sure that all their concerns reach the technicians in a timely manner.”

“And of course,” Kay adds, “if dentists want to speak with the technicians themselves, they are always available, and this call is also something the rep can gladly facilitate.”

With the dependable delivery of Sparkle Dental Labs’ courier partner FedEx, practitioners in Scotland can also enjoy the same fast turn around times as the rest of their clients all over the UK.

Additional services such as these help ensure the satisfaction of all of Sparkle Dental Labs’ clients. And dentists can expect continued innovation from the laboratory, because service is the core of their business.  They always strive to make sure that every dentist who uses them gets the best in all aspects – in product, workmanship, partnership and customer care.

For any additional information please call 0800 138 6255 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit:

www.sparkledentallabs.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As self-employed earners, it can be said that associate dentists appreciate the value of money a little more than the salaried employee.

Since you have the capacity to increase earnings the more effort you put in, you naturally see and feel your own value, which in turn can be applied to your life choices. Whether it be for essentials such as weekly shopping or any luxury purchases, value is at the top of the list of your priorities.

Now, you can easily get the value you seek in everything else from your accountancy and tax solution of choice.

figurit is a specialist tax solution created exclusively for dental associates. With this new online system, you can easily have your tax returns filed and your business transactions reviewed by experts. And figurit not only completely understand all of your specific tax needs, you receive a good number of benefits for the fees you pay as well.

figurit provide the following as a one-off exercise when you join, among many other benefits:

• A full review of your previous year’s tax return
• Thorough assessments for any missed tax saving opportunities
• Assistance with setting up your own business bank account (if you don’t already have one)
• A 30-minute personal induction onto the Year 1 Customer Care Program

The low monthly fees include the preparation of your annual profit and loss and tax return in the required format, and secure online access to your financial documents and files. All returns are completed within four weeks, so as long as you supply the information needed in good time, you don’t have to worry about ever filing your taxes late.

The whole package also offers an array of additional annual benefits valued in the excess of £400 a year, all of which you get absolutely free. These include:

• Insurance that protects you against the costs of any HMRC investigations
• An interim tax estimate and planning review
• Easy-to-use online bookkeeping software for more accurate financial records

The figurit team also has helpful account managers who deal with the HMRC on your behalf, taking the hassle away from you. And the package offers an annual consultation with an expert financial advisor who can provide guidance on pensions and investment opportunities for those who are interested.

Because they’ve been servicing the dental trade for quite a while now, the team behind figurit can also provide specialist knowledge such as a full and comprehensive list of what you can and cannot claim as business expenses, and how to record these accurately so you end up with maximum tax savings.

As the only accountancy and tax package exclusively for dental associates that provides this much in added benefits, you can count on figurit to make your financial life not only easier but also more profitable. Now that’s true value for your money.

For more information on our specialist accountancy and tax package

exclusively for dental associates, visit www.figurit.co.uk

Renowned for his highly acclaimed facial aesthetics training courses, Dr Brian Franks offers a variety of courses including Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers at Foundation and Advanced levels, as while as Medical Micro-Needling and Chemical Facial Peels.

Having taken the Foundation level Botulinum Toxin training course with Dr Brian Franks, Deepak Songra, Principal Dentist at Abacus Dental Care in Buckinghamshire, says:

“It was an excellent two-day course that we all enjoyed! Brian and Jan have given me the confidence and reassurance that I needed to happily start building my facial aesthetics practice.

“I would like to say a really big thank you to them.”

Through the comprehensive and structured hands-on training, all the courses are designed to ensure that delegates provide the treatments competently and safely, so they can use their new skills in practice with confidence.

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.

We live in a digital age. With e-commerce now one of the fastest growing markets in Europe, many companies are now turning to online stores as way to offer customers even better service, with greater flexibility and the option to place orders at any time, day or night.

Among the companies leading the way in this field is Nobel Biocare, with its new online store found at: store.nobelbiocare.co.uk. The design and layout of the new store has been based on an extended period of research and development to provide customers with the very best experience possible.

Glenn Rhodes is Head of Marketing at Nobel Biocare. With over 20 years’ experience in marketing, Glenn has worked across the dental and healthcare sectors and has overseen the introduction of the new online store to the UK market.

“When we set out to create a new online store we wanted to make sure we got it just right,” says Glenn. “Our customers are always our number one priority, so a long time was spent researching the market and assessing what does and doesn’t work in order to provide the best online shopping experience. The result is a finished product that looks incredibly crisp and clean. The menu system in particular has been designed to be simple and intuitive so customers can find the products they’re looking for in as little time as possible.”

According to Glenn, the launch of the new online store comes as part of Nobel Biocare’s ongoing commitment to providing the very best service and support. Designed to make online ordering easier and more convenient, providing a valuable extra option for customers who may be pressed for time, or who would like to place orders outside of normal working hours.

“We’ve made our entire product range of over 1,700 product available, with everything from implants to tooling and abutments all easily accessible,” continues Glenn. “Each product page contains a detailed description of the product alongside technical specifications and a zoom feature such as you will find in many other high quality stores you will find online.

“To make the ordering process easier, the system also relates products together so that if you’re searching for an implant, you will also find drills, tools, healing abutments and numerous other associated products included below the main listing. You can also design your own personalised product catalogue, so that all of the items you commonly order can be found swiftly at the click of a button. This means you can spend less time ordering, and more time doing the things that really matter in practice.”

Another notable innovation found in the online store is the inclusion of an organic scrolling “home page”. This page provides a stream of regularly updated information to assist customers, and also acts as a portal to additional services and content, such as online training opportunities with iTunes U, social media links, and video testimonials from satisfied customers. Users will also appreciate easy access to information about returns policy, how to contact the company, and further customer support.

Though the new online store has only been in operation for a short time in the UK, according to Glenn, the feedback his team has received so far has been extremely positive.

“The response we’ve had so far has been fantastic,” concludes Glenn. “Our customers really appreciate the chance to be able to place orders at a time and location convenient to them. While of course we are always available during our regular office hours the online store has given our customers that extra option to place orders whenever and wherever they want. Our customers also value the fact that they can review their order history and create their own personalised catalogue to make ordering regular items an absolute breeze.”

To register for the Nobel Biocare online store, simply visit store.nobelbiocare.co.uk and click to “sign in or register” at the top of the page. This will require only a few simple details including your name, email address and customer number. If you are new to Nobel Biocare, you can also request to be contacted by a sales representative who will be more than happy to assist you in setting up your account and getting started.

For more information contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300 or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

To register for the Nobel Biocare Online Store go to:

store.nobelbiocare.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every dentist will strive to give treatment that is tailored to the specific needs of a patient. This approach is also applicable when looking to lease a property for use as a dental practice. Taking into account the very specific service that dentists offer, it follows that their practice will also require specific terms and conditions in the lease to support that service.

Standardised leases

The ability of a dental practice to function as smoothly as possible is of the utmost importance. Standardised commercial leases can often hinder dentists in their work, making them waste time and money unnecessarily. The pitfalls and problems are numerous with standard commercial leases, and it is best to avoid them at all costs.

There is a very real danger that the specific requirements of a dental practice can be overlooked and in some cases actually forbidden under the terms of the lease! For example, the need for practices to store X-ray machines and various drugs is clear. However, it is possible for a standard lease to prohibit the storage of these items. If a dentist does not adhere to the conditions of the lease there is a possibility of the lease being terminated by the landlord and the dentist being evicted from the property, which can lead to otherwise preventable high expense and hassle in order to resolve the situation.

In addition, dentists are often not required to register for VAT in respect of their supply of an exempt service. However a standard commercial lease can leave the landlord with the ability to charge VAT at any point should the landlord so chose. If this were to happen, it would mean an unavoidable and immediate 20 per cent rise in the rent of the property.

The restrictions that standard commercial leases enforce can not only cripple the financial position and functionality of a practice, but can also prohibit anybody from sharing the property.

This is particularly unfavourable when considering commonplace associate agreements. A term that associate agreements usually state is that the associate is given a license to use the property for dental purposes. With a potential restriction on who can occupy the property, an associate agreement can unwittingly lead to a breach of lease, and once again termination of the lease can occur.

The fact is that many general practice solicitors who draw up standard leases do not take into account the particular requirements of a dental practice, as opposed to the requirements of their other commercial clients. Whilst these general practice solicitors may be knowledgeable about commercial leases in the broad sense, it would be extremely advantageous to any dentist considering taking a commercial lease to employ a solicitor who has experience specifically in the dental industry.

In simple terms, the disadvantages a standardised commercial lease presents to a dentist can be overwhelming.

The benefits of bespoke commercial leases

Instructing a commercial lawyer with specialist dental knowledge will offer a solution. A bespoke lease will address the requirements a dentist has for his or her practice and amend the terms a standardised commercial lease overlooks or prohibits. This will provide a successful and hassle free lease, ultimately allowing for a dentist to focus on providing dental treatment, rather than worrying about legal matters.

Using bespoke commercial leases can be a sensible way to avoid time and money being wasted, and the complications that come with that waste. From ensuring that the storage of vital dental equipment is allowed to enabling associate agreements, and making sure there is no unexpected rise in rent, the benefits of a bespoke lease are clear.

 The key points to always bear in mind is not only the employment of a dental lawyer who understands the dental industry, but also the fact that where any legal matter is concerned it is important not to cut corners to save time. Bespoke commercial leases can be extremely beneficial in avoiding unnecessary complications and costs; their importance cannot be stressed enough.

Goodman Grant has a reputation of quality legal advice within dentistry. With this crucial and specialist knowledge, Goodman Grant’s team of solicitors are able to draw bespoke commercial leases to the specific advantage of dentists. Ensure you are not distracted from providing exceptional treatment by taking advantage of the huge benefits a bespoke commercial lease will provide. 

Nicola Lomas Goodman Grant Lawyers for Dentists

For more information call Nicola Lomas 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

 

Dental prostheses are like bespoke pieces of art that require skilled technicians to execute well. And so it follows that when dentists search for a laboratory to create their ceramic restorations, the first thing they need to look for is a supplier that can boast of adept and experienced craftsmen.

Dentists should keep in mind, however, that using a skilled worker only makes up half of the equation. Like commissioning a bespoke piece from an artisan, a satisfactory end product is also largely dependent on the amount of instruction the maker is given.

A client wouldn’t approach a jeweller and simply say, “I’d like you to make me a gentleman’s ring, and I’d like it to be gold.” In order for the client to receive a product that is faithful to what they had in mind, they would supply more information, such as the shade of gold they’d like, how heavily decorated the piece should be, and so forth.

In the same way, dentists cannot expect to receive an ideal prosthetic if all they extend to the dental lab by way of instruction is what kind of prosthetic they require, and what shade it needs to come in.

While it’s true that the technician also picks up a wealth of information from the impression that the dentist sends, not everything can be determined from the model derived from the initial cast. If for example the dentist would like a tooth brought in, or a certain translucency is required to match neighbouring teeth, then all this needs to be made known.

On the flip side, a good technician will also keep the dentist and the patient in mind at all times when creating ceramic prostheses. Whether the technician works in a small laboratory and handles every step of the restoration himself, or labours in a bigger outfit as part of a team whose members concentrate on specific stages of production, the end goal is always to create a dental prosthetic that is satisfactory for both the practitioner and the patient.

One of the main differences between a small and large dental lab is turn-around time – in the teamwork style of production, time-consuming step-by-step processes can be executed simultaneously, bringing about a more efficient process. If the team works well together, this system can function beautifully. The core team of technicians at Sparkle Dental Labs, for example, have been running solidly together for more than a year and have reached a kind of symbiosis with each others’ working styles, leading to excellent ceramic restorations with quick turn-around times.

But whether a dentist chooses to work with a small or large laboratory, the concept remains the same: with the combination of a skilled craftsman and detailed instruction, the creation of excellent dental prostheses can be expected.

For any additional information please call 0800 138 6255 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit:

www.sparkledentallabs.com

BIO:

Richard Shaw is a Senior Technician at Sparkle Dental Labs with over 25 years’ experience as a dental technician. He first started training in a dental lab in 1988, and has since then attended numerous courses on various lab techniques, including ceramic restorations and implants.

Colleagues will be familiar with the old adage, ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’. It ties in with the idea that if someone does something for you, you feel in some way beholden to them, even if they insist that they expect absolutely nothing in return. The psychologists tell us this is because we don’t like the idea of owing somebody – we feel that we should pay them back.

Of course the manufactures and suppliers are well aware the effect that a ‘free lunch’ might have on members of the profession, and certainly don’t hand out incentives without good reason. All well and good in everyday business, but when it comes to the healthcare professions, these practises can sometimes give cause for ethical concern.

You may for example be aware of the controversy that surrounds the medical profession, where the big pharmaceutical companies often go to great lengths to persuade doctors that drug A is better than drug B. You can see why the companies do it – a single doctor will make hundreds of prescriptions each year, which in turn could generate thousands of pounds of revenue for the company in question. But what about the patient? Are these new products really better, or are the doctors being mis-led?

Thankfully dilemmas of this sort of scale don’t really apply in dentistry, and the decisions we make don’t normally mean the difference between life and death. But nevertheless, we should ensure we are always transparent in everything we do. Are we recommending products because we truly believe in their effectiveness, or because it just happens to be the latest product the company rep has sold us?

At EndoCare we are the largest users of a certain NiTi system. The company we purchase this system from is certainly warm and friendly, but we’re never incentivised to use the product – we use it as we genuinely believe it to be the best product available. Because we believe this to be the case, when any of our specialists give lectures we say, ‘We use product A and we therefore recommend it.’ This doesn’t mean that we don’t recommend product B, but it means that as professionals, hand on heart, this is what we use and we believe to be good.

Cases like this are fairly black and white when it comes to ethics. We use the product, and recommend it to colleagues because we believe that it is an excellent product. But unfortunately these things aren’t always so clear-cut. This is especially true in cases where the products are all very similar with very little to differentiate between them. 

In these cases, to have the product recommended by a key opinion leader can make a massive difference to how the product is received. But at what cost? Are these people recommending products because they genuinely believe them to be the best on the market, or because they are paid to say the things that they do? Though we’d like to think that we can all tell the difference between those recommendations that are genuine and those that are not, these distinctions aren’t always obvious to everyone, and we can soon find ourselves in very difficult ethical ground.

As dental professionals it should be our duty to always ensure that we are always open and honest about any sort of incentive we may have received from the trade, however big or small. Though incentives don’t always take the form of ‘free lunches’ they do often include other inducements such as free lectures and free CPD. While there is nothing wrong with free CPD, we should always remember that nothing in life is ever truly ‘free’. We are offered these incentives in the hope that they may sway our opinion. Though we may be dental professionals, we are also consumers, and we should always approach these events with an open mind, understanding that companies aren’t just doing these things for purely altruistic reasons.

If we are to maintain our integrity as a profession, then we should be sure to be absolutely transparent in everything that we do, and the product recommendations that we give. Even if we are absolutely certain that we have not been influenced by a company’s advances, we should not shy away from making clear any dealings we’ve had – no matter how insignificant we believe them to be. This isn’t just to preserve our reputation as professionals, but ultimately to protect patients’ best interests as well.

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.

The area of cosmetic orthodontics is currently experiencing much growth and development. As our technology advances and our knowledge broadens, a broad range of appliances are available to enable the provision of fast-working, effective and minimally invasive orthodontic treatment.

Already known around the world for their development and training of the Inman Aligner, the team behind IAS (Intelligent Alignment Systems) recently brought their latest innovation to London. Holding a training course for Powerprox 6 Month Braces, the team explored both the concept and practical implementation of the device, taking delegates through each and every step of the process.

Renowned instructor in cosmetic orthodontics, Dr Rick DePaul, led the two-day course. Recognised for his work in the development of Powerprox 6 Month Braces and for being the world’s most experienced instructor for the appliance, Rick was keen to share his extensive knowledge with delegates and his passion for effective and minimally invasive dentistry quickly became apparent.

A mixture of professionals was in attendance, each with various different levels of past experience both in general dentistry and in orthodontics. The comprehensive training delivered ensured that all delegates could follow both the reasoning behind each step of treatment and the practical indications of them.

Rick opened the first day by determining the benefits available to practitioners once they were able to provide the new appliance to their patients. He highlighted that 6 Month Braces is not only a relatively low-stress treatment option, the patient demand is generally high due to its speed and effectiveness and it is a highly profitable solution for practices to provide.

Delegates were then taken through the four main steps that form the ‘pieces of the puzzle’, providing an efficient treatment strategy to be followed for optimum treatment outcomes every time. These steps included making sure that the patient’s primary complaint is dealt with every time, ‘beginning with the end in mind’, making space and removing any traps for the free movement of the teeth.

From here Rick went on to look at diagnostic criteria and case selection, recommending the types of cases delegates should attempt when first using the appliance in practise. He offered a wealth of practical tips and advice in each instance, keen to help delegates avoid making the same mistakes he had in the past when developing the technique. Rick also highlighted the benefits of using detailed X-ray images to predict the complexity of each case, and looked at patient communication, management of patient expectations and ways in which to reduce relapse with effective retention.

Day 2 of the training then focused on practical exercises, giving delegates the opportunity to apply what they had learnt in theory, practise their techniques and really get hands-on with the appliance. Led by Rick and Andrew Wallace, time was spent looking at bracket bonding for replacements and adjustments, as well as simple ligation. The use of powerchains featured prominently too, and delegates practised using them to rotate teeth to close space, sling-shots to treat anterior cross-bites and attaching them to buttons.

Other aspects of the hands-on day included how to approach spacing cases, open-bite cases, class II anterior cross-bites and combination cases, where a mixture of different techniques were required for the best results.

Tools designed specially by the IAS team were introduced to delegates throughout, including the innovative digital treatment plan aid, ‘Spacewize’. Particularly useful when calculating the amount of Interproximal Reduction (IPR) needed and where it is needed for individual cases, the feature also provides quick and effective case support as well as marketing resources for all certified dentists.

By the end of the course, delegates were impressed both with the delivery and content of training. Principal Dentist of Hillton Dentistry in Kent, Mahesh Patel commented:

“The course was fantastic. The content was broken down into sizeable chunks so that GDPs without extensive orthodontic experience could easily follow. Rick really took the myth out of orthodontics and I was so confident with the new skills I had learnt, that I have already begun discussing the treatment option with two of my patients, one week later.”

Richard Field, an active member of the BACD and dentist at Advanced Dental Clinic in Chelmsford added:

“6 Month Braces seemed like an excellent next step to expand my knowledge and to allow me to provide another treatment option to my patients. Rick is a great teacher, his enthusiasm is infectious and I would definitely recommend this course to my friends and colleagues.”

If you have ever considered expanding your treatment range with easy-to-use and highly profitable solutions in order to reduce the number of referrals you make, IAS has the answer. Whether you are interested in gaining certification for 6 Month Braces, Inman Aligner or ClearSmile, contact IAS today.

For more information on Intelligent Alignment Systems and upcoming training courses, visit www.inmanalignertraining.com, www.6mbrace.com, and www.clearsmilealigner.com

or phone 0845 366 5477

Patient consent is widely acknowledged as one of the ‘grey areas’ of dentistry.  As consent is a process rather than a definitive moment, a patient saying ‘yes’ once is not enough to support the entire course of treatment.

Patients should instead be given the opportunity to confirm their consent to continue at each and every stage of treatment. This needs to be documented so that patient consent can be demonstrated effectively in case of inspection or review. Details recorded should demonstrate how proposed treatment plans were explained to the patient and what information was provided. They should also show that the patient had the opportunity to ask questions about the treatment, and that they were offered all the information they requested.

While it may seem obvious, it is also worth noting at this point that every single treatment offered to a patient must be consented to before it begins, and not just the high-end procedures.

Regardless of the treatment, it is imperative that all records are as accurate as possible, and that they are updated each time a patient visits. Such reliable documentation can prove invaluable in case of a formal patient complaint, protecting you and your team from potentially expensive litigation.

The new Standards for the Dental team reflect the importance of acquiring a high quality of informed consent from each and every patient. The new outcomes are centred around patient communication and enhancing the experience provided, and they highlight the standard of care all patients have the right to receive.

The changes to the Standards came into implementation not long after the number of patient complaints rose an enormous amount. As you may have seen in the media recently, 2278 complaints were received in 2012 by the GDC, questioning dental professional’s Fitness to Practise, which represented a massive 44% increase from 2011[i]. And of course, worse case scenario in such cases can lead to removal from the GDC register and the end of a dental career, so it has never been so important to protect yourself from possible litigation.

Modern technologies offer several solutions to help ensure your records are clear and reliable and the concept of the ‘eSignatures’ has recently entered the dental market. The best systems available in the industry allow patients to provide consent electronically and in ‘real-time’, ensuring they understand what they are signing for. The patient can read through the details of any proposed treatment plans you have discussed, and then sign the bottom of the same page, with the added convenience of establishing an electronic signature for future use.

The eSignatures offer many more benefits both for you and for your patients, and the most obvious of these is the cost-efficiency for the practice. Of particular importance in the currently fragile economic climate, your financial situation should be enhanced wherever and whenever possible (of course without comprising on the quality of service provided.) By eliminating the need for paperwork and mail couriers for all of your patients, you have immediately saved the money it would cost to buy the paper or forms and print the records, while also having a much more positive affect on the environment. In addition, you don’t need to waste all that space storing hard copy paperwork – electronic documents take a lot less space!

The practice workflow can also be enhanced with the introduction of eSignatures, as patients can provide signed consent quicker and simpler than before. The best of the tablet-like eSignature pads available in the industry are easily portable and so can be used anywhere in the practice for maximum convenience. This also saves staff time and hassle, enabling the practice team to go back to concentrating on their patients and improving the service provided.

The last and possibly most important benefit of eSignatures is the protection and security they offer. For a start, electronic files are less likely to be misplaced or lost, and they can be protected by electronic passwords for more security for your patients. This protection also extends to you and your fellow clinicians, as quality records can be used to demonstrate that cases were handled correctly in the case of a complaint.

With several different technologies now available for eSignatures, a little research can highlight the most effective products. The eSignatures module from Carestream Dental for example, uses biometric technology to record the pressure points of a patient’s signature, time taken and angle of the pen, greatly reducing the possibility of illegal duplication. Approved by all the BSA and NHS Protect, this eSignatures module promises to offer the highest possible level of legal protection for both you and your patients.

So whether you are looking for an effective way to protect you and your team, or for a way of ensuring the safety of your patients’ data, eSignatures provide a solution.
 
 

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

Schick 33 is the latest addition to the modular Schick Digital Imaging System and is the perfect choice to take your practice into the digital age. Each system comes complete with cutting-edge DICOM digital radiography software, and you can even include WiFi for even greater freedom and flexibility within your practice.

Featuring the industry's highest image resolution and lowest learning curve, Schick 33 will change the way you see your images — and your practice.

Dr Tony Druttman, a specialist in Endodontics at London Endo Ltd says:

“I have used Schick digital sensors for over twelve years starting with CDR, moving onto Elite and have for the last two years been using the Schick 33 sensors. The image quality with this latest technology surpasses anything that I have used before. I see many radiographs taken by referring colleagues using a variety of sensors and technologies and nothing compares in quality.

“I use size 1 and 2 sensors and this allows accurate positioning and total versatility to obtain accurate and meaningful images of the adult dentition with minimum discomfort to patients.

“Getting the best quality information that I need as an endodontist is of paramount importance to my work both for diagnosis and post-operative evaluation. The images I can show my patients enable them to see clearly and therefore understand more easily either what needs to be done or what has been done. The software is easy to use and very versatile.

“Finally there is no point in having the best technology without having the best support. I have had that consistently and continue to receive a high level of support from Clark Dental. Their response is always efficient and effective. It gives me the peace of mind to know that I have quality and reliability with technology on which I depend so heavily.”

Intuitive Schick 33 software allows you to see and save images the way you and your colleagues want. Interactive image enhancement allows you to quickly adjust image quality and sharpness, while Schick 33’s clinical-specific mapping feature allows you to automatically default to presents for different clinical disciplines. You can even save and share personalised settings for complete flexibility across the practice. 

With an image resolution of 33 line pairs per millimetre, Schick 33 from Clark Dental is the truly industry-leading intraoral digital imaging solution. If you already own Schick products, upgrading to include Schick 33 is easy. You can also trade in your existing digital imaging system up to 50% with Clark Dental’s new trade-in programme for even better value. To find out more, contact Clark Dental today.

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

As self-employed earners, it can be said that associate dentists appreciate the value of money a little more than the salaried employee.

Since you have the capacity to increase earnings the more effort you put in, you naturally see and feel your own value, which in turn can be applied to your life choices. Whether it be for essentials such as weekly shopping or any luxury purchases, value is at the top of the list of your priorities.

Now, you can easily get the value you seek in everything else from your accountancy and tax solution of choice.

figurit is a specialist tax solution created exclusively for dental associates. With this new online system, you can easily have your tax returns filed and your business transactions reviewed by experts. And figurit not only completely understand all of your specific tax needs, you receive a good number of benefits for the fees you pay as well.

figurit provide the following as a one-off exercise when you join, among many other benefits:

• A full review of your previous year’s tax return
• Thorough assessments for any missed tax saving opportunities
• Assistance with setting up your own business bank account (if you don’t already have one)
• A 30-minute personal induction onto the Year 1 Customer Care Program

The low monthly fees include the preparation of your annual profit and loss and tax return in the required format, and secure online access to your financial documents and files. All returns are completed within four weeks, so as long as you supply the information needed in good time, you don’t have to worry about ever filing your taxes late.

The whole package also offers an array of additional annual benefits valued in the excess of £400 a year, all of which you get absolutely free. These include:

• Insurance that protects you against the costs of any HMRC investigations
• An interim tax estimate and planning review
• Easy-to-use online bookkeeping software for more accurate financial records

The figurit team also has helpful account managers who deal with the HMRC on your behalf, taking the hassle away from you. And the package offers an annual consultation with an expert financial advisor who can provide guidance on pensions and investment opportunities for those who are interested.

Because they’ve been servicing the dental trade for quite a while now, the team behind figurit can also provide specialist knowledge such as a full and comprehensive list of what you can and cannot claim as business expenses, and how to record these accurately so you end up with maximum tax savings.

As the only accountancy and tax package exclusively for dental associates that provides this much in added benefits, you can count on figurit to make your financial life not only easier but also more profitable. Now that’s true value for your money.

For more information on our specialist accountancy and tax package

exclusively for dental associates, visit www.figurit.co.uk

Bad breath has always been something of a taboo subject in society. In a recent survey of 2024 people[1] only 29% of respondents said they would tell someone if they had bad breath, while 71% wanted to be told if they were suffering.

Research in the Netherlands in 2005 revealed that halitosis constituted “one of the 100 biggest human overall exasperations,”[2] and a retrospective study conducted over a seven-year period (February 2003-February 2010) by the University of Basel in Switzerland reports:

“In 83.4% (of subjects) bad breath took its toll on one’s social life, manifested to varying degrees of inhibition, insecurity, isolation, withdrawal, reduced social contact, problems in relationships, less talking by an unwillingness to speak or by keeping a distance to others.”[3]

Bad breath is an emotive topic and may need a considerate and sensitive approach. The implications for a patient may go beyond those of simply addressing a physical problem and move into the realms of their personal and social life with possible psychological effects.

But because of the intensely personal nature of the problem, patients may also be reserved about discussing halitosis, and dentists may find themselves in the position of being unsure of whether their advice will be welcomed or not.

According to a study conducted at La Sapienza University of Rome, “What is said, and especially the way of saying it, may play an important role in patient's acceptance of the information without producing, or reducing to a minimum, the undesirable side effects on the patient-professional relationship, and on the personal dynamics of the patient him/herself.”[4]

In the Basel study “almost every patient (94.5%) tried self-remedies to combat bad breath. These included chewing gum, sweets or mouthwashes which had a masking effect but no influence on the cause of bad breath (Quirynen et al. 2002).”[5] Perhaps this can be taken as an indication that those who do suffer from bad breath, albeit quite shy to openly discuss the problem, will welcome recommendations for effective remedies that they haven’t tried.

Meda Pharmaceuticals product CB12, developed at the University of Oslo, offers this, using a combination of low concentrations of zinc acetate and chlorhexidine to neutralise and prevent the production of Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs), combating bad breath and offering relief for up to 12 hours.[6]

Treatment of, and relief from, bad breath can have implications that extend beyond addressing the physical cause of the problem.  Although a visit to the dentist is unlikely to ever rise to the top of the ‘favourite things to do’ list, it may make an important difference to a patient’s enjoyment of life.

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

Please visit www.cb12.co.uk

Having listened to your feedback and identified the need for a handmix liner/base solution, 3M ESPE has re-launched Vitrebond Powder & Liquid Glass-Ionomer Liner/Base.

Indicated for lining and basing applications under composites, amalgam, ceramic and metals, Vitrebond powder & liquid offers several benefits to you and your patients.

You can control the mix ratio of powder/liquid to create your preferred consistency, enabling you to dispense just the amount you need.

Vitrebond liner/base also provides extra protection for patients by preventing microleakage under the restoration[i] and releasing fluoride into the tooth for caries reduction[ii].

Providing the advantages of a liner/base and the flexibility to achieve your preferred consistency, Vitrebond powder & liquid from 3M ESPE is back.

For more information, call 0845 602 5094 or visit www.3Mespe.co.uk

3M ESPE and Vitrebond Powder & Liquid are trademarks of the 3M Company.

Continuing to support clinicians in cosmetic dentistry, Enlighten Smiles are proud to announce dates for Renamel® - The London Sessions, an extraordinary 2-day programme dedicated to Renamel®, the outstanding composite material used in over 70% of AACD Accreditation cases.

Taking place in Central London on 27^th & 28^th June, Renamel® - The London Sessions will be hosted by industry experts Jason Smithson and Corky Willhite, both internationally renowned for their courses in composite resin artistry.  

Comprising of engaging lectures and hands-on sessions delegates will gain an enhanced understanding of Renamel’s® superb properties, including long-term wear resistance, natural translucency and outstanding colour stability, making Renamel® - The London Sessions the perfect opportunity to build their skillset and start enjoying successful and profitable minimally invasive dentistry.

Book your one or two day tickets for ‘Renamel® - The London Sessions’ now by contacting Payman Langroudi at Enlighten Smiles on 020 7424 3270 or click here. 

Facebook: Enlighten

Twitter: @EnlightenSmiles /@drpay

Pinterest: Enlighten

Simon Reynolds, Commercial Director of Patient Plan Direct, explains his recent conversations with a dental practice and discusses whether some dentists are paying double for access to some services and support.

I had a very interesting conversation with a dentist the other day. He had asked to meet with me as he recognised that some of the ‘inclusive’ support elements his plan provider offered in addition to the payment collection and patient insurance were the kind of areas he already had access to through his BDA membership or through his annual membership with the DBG for just a few hundred pounds per year. 

"I’ve realised that I’m paying an excessive administration fee to my plan provider which gives me access to some relatively generic advice and support in certain areas I just don’t need. The vast majority of these things I don’t utilise and I have no choice but to pay for the privilege of the access being available. The other annoying thing is that some of the events and support that I feel may actually be worth while often cost in addition to the monthly fees I pay!"

Does this ring true at your practice?

In my experience, many practices aren’t even aware of the exact fees they pay to their plan provider. I came across a practice recently that was paying 32% of the income generated through its plan in fees to its plan provider!

If you haven’t already heard of Patient Plan Direct, we’re the fastest growing plan provider in the UK and we’re experts at helping practices either introduce a plan for the first time or transfer their plan provision across to us from another provider smoothly and effectively. We have the proof and the processes to ensure patient retention when switching provider needn’t be a concern.

We charge a flat and transparent fee of just £1.00 per patient per month including worldwide A&E cover. This can prove to be 2 or 3 times more cost effective than other providers!  Our fees include the appropriate support from a dedicated business development manager to ensure you get the most from your plan.

Don’t pay more than necessary to offer your patients a dental plan. Discover Patient Plan Direct – plan provider of choice for the BDA’s practice of the year 2013.

If you would like to discuss an attractive and beneficial option under no obligation! Simply give me a call 07540706323 or drop me an email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The BACD will hold its 11^th Annual Conference ‘Life LIKE Aesthetics’ on 6^th – 8^th November 2014 at the ACC Liverpool. As one of the highlights of the dental calendar, delegates can look forward to an exciting three days of high quality education and networking opportunities.

Thursday 6^th November will include exclusive hands-on sessions, with delegates able to join one of three separate courses running across the day. These will be run by renowned clinicians Dr Didier Dietschi, Dr Lee Ann Brady and Dr Rahul Doshi, and present a fantastic opportunity to learn from established experts in their field.

On Friday 7^th November there’s even more to look forward to as the main conference kicks off in style. After the opening ceremony two main lecture streams will run in parallel with Dr Didier Dietschi presenting on no-prep comprehensive smile rehabilitations, while Dr Christian Coachman will lecture on ‘The smile designer: a new speciality beyond conventional dentistry’. Both of these extended sessions will run over the entire course of the day, while delegates will also have a chance to attend sessions on clinical photography, BACD members’ pearls, and an ‘Introduction to cosmetic dentistry’.

After a busy day’s lectures, Friday night is gala night, with the return of the BACD’s famous gala dinner and dance. With an exciting evening of fun and entertainment in store, the gala dinner is the must-attend social event of the year, and is a great place to meet new people and make new friends.

If that wasn’t enough, on Saturday 8^th November, the BACD Annual Conference reaches its climax with an incredible packed day of lectures spread over five separate conference streams. In the main hall, Dr Lee Ann Brady will share her top aesthetic tips and techniques, while in the next hall Dr Tif Qureshi will speak on the subject of tooth wear. If business management and marketing are more your thing, Hall 4A is the place to be as a succession of well-known speakers will take to the stage including Mark Oborn, Tracy Stuart, Kevin Rose and Steve Cartin. There will also be a return of the BACD Accreditation workshop other lectures on digital solutions and vacuum forming among others.

The BACD Annual Conference really does represent one of the best educational conferences of the year. As well as great education from renowned mentors the BACD conference is excellent for sharing hints and tips with fellow members and for gaining valuable new knowledge that you can take away and apply in your practice the very next day. Delegates to last year’s event have commented on, ‘Learning you can take straight back to the practice’, as well as, ‘Great networking with colleagues,’ and, ‘If I could only attend one meeting in a year it would be this one!’

As with all BACD conferences, ‘Life LIKE Aesthetics’ is an event not to be missed, so check out the BACD website for early bird discount offers. To find out more, contact the BACD today!

For further information 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.bacdconference.co.uk

SafeSeen Touch – Making a Complicated Job Easier

Providing a complete compliance suit, SafeSeen Touch is a compact tablet designed to help dental professionals enhance their patient consent acquisition, security and CQC compliance.

Paul Kaye, Director of QuiqSolutions, has been working with SafeSeen Touch to ensure the CQC module meets the demands of the industry.

“It seemed like a perfect marriage – our CQC understanding and IT skills combined with the SafeSeen Touch team’s dental experience and expertise,” he says.

“As a result the tablet contains a module that highlights the aspects of CQC relevant to dental practices, helping them implement effective audits and action plans to enhance and evidence their compliance. It’s making a complicated job much easier.

“The module is also very scalable, so information is provided at group, regional and national level and as a collaborative platform, it offers a very useful management tool for dental co-operatives and networks.”

For more information, please visit www.safeseentouch.co.uk, call 0845 576 2833 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Zesty celebrates London’s best Dentists

Zesty announced the winners of its 2013 Awards, celebrating the best London has to offer. From family clinics to orthodontic specialists, Zesty recognised London’s premier award winning practices and expert Dentists.    

Congratulations to all the winners:

• Best Practice – Progressive Dentistry, Principal Dentist Nissit Patel.
• Best Family Practice – The Fulham Dentist, Principal Dentist Dr Sarveen Mann.
• Best Hygienist – Henriette at Open Dental Care.
• Best Dentist for Teeth Whitening – Dr Favero at Favero Wimpole Clinic.
• Best Practice for Nervous Patients – The Gentle Dentist, Principal Dentist Dr Antonia Paolella.
• Best for Restorative Dentistry – Dr Punit Shah of Dazzle Dental Care.
• Best for Orthodontics – Dr Neil Counihan of Victoria Dental Care.
• Best for Cosmetic Dentistry – Dr Thang Nghiem at Ultra Smile.
• Best Holistic Dental Practice – The Neem Tree, Principal Dentist Dr Smita Merha.

Zesty is a new marketing channel for healthcare professionals. Sign up to register your practice and start receiving new patients straight away!

Simply email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.zesty.co.uk or call 0203 287 5416 for more details 

Dental Focus ® CEO Krishan Joshi has been announced as the first keynote speaker at this year’s Practice Management Conferences.

The events, run by Practice Plan, will be held in Bolton on 6 June, Oxford on 27 June and Edinburgh on 7 November, and promise to provide a wide range of relevant and engaging subjects that will help practices to succeed on all levels.

As CEO of the award-winning Dental Focus ® team, Krishan has been working in dentistry for over 13 years, and can draw upon a wealth of research and experience on how to create dental practice websites that work – providing a real, tangible return on investment to help your business grow.

So, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn from a genuine expert in the field of online dental marketing. If you want to make the most of your dental website, then make sure you attend one of Krishan’s lectures at this year’s Practice management Conferences. To find out more, contact Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ today.

For more information call 020 7183 8388, or visit www.dentalfocus.com

Henry Howard Finance is pleased to be able to offer dental practices an exciting new option to help patients fund their dental treatment.

With 0% finance available up to 36 months, patients will no longer have to save for treatment, and will be able to access immediate funding at the touch of a button. This means necessary treatment can start straight away and patients will no longer have to delay potentially life-changing dental treatment.

Already, the Henry Howard Finance scheme is proving to be a success. One satisfied client said:

“The patient finance is far more efficient than any other in the market. I have proposed £60k of patient finance in the last 3 weeks and had 100% acceptance. The last agreement was proposed, accepted and I had documents within 4 minutes of acceptance during an out of hours application.”

To find out more about how your practice could benefit by offering a unique 0% finance option to patients, contact Henry Howard Finance today.

For more information, call 01633 415239 or visit www.henryhowardfinance.co.uk

Following similar campaigns for medicine and pharmacy, (no I hadn't noticed either), last week NHS England launched the dental call. It was trumpeted with documents with the admirable aim of improving dental care and oral health, but the large caveat is this must be done with a reducing budget and a £30 billion black hole in the NHS funding stream. One wonders if loosing dentistry from the NHS might infill some of the cavity.

We are told that the NHS dental budget is £3.4 billion per year and that private dentistry makes up £2.3 billion in provision, although some may dispute that. £653 million from patient charges is included in the total budget and is an important part of the contribution. In view of what the government is prepared to pay on other issues, one wonders why it is needed at all, but of course patient charges are a controlling factor of the demand.

Much is made of the Dental Local Professional Networks that have recently been established, but no mention of the chronic underfunding of this, which might explain why so few of us will have noticed their existence to date.

The NHS belongs to the people is the strap line, but not sure the way politicians interfere with it, make any of us feel like the owners.

The document attempts to describe many strengths in the current system and improve access. At a recent GDPC meeting I asked Elizabeth Lynam , head of dentistry at the DoH would there be funding for more patients to register if a reformed registration and capitation model attracted more than the 56% currently visiting practices in a 24 month period, no was the answer.

So if access is to increase, that too must happen within the existing budget. Not so much a call to action as a call for charity from the profession.

As a committed LDC official, I am disappointed that there is not a single reference to local representative committees, nor a mention of them being stakeholders. Perhaps with the manipulation of levy collection ongoing by NHS England maybe they won't be for long anyway?

We are asked to respond to the questions by the 16th May 2014 and that our answers will be independently analysed, we are not told by who,( I am lead to believe it may be an American institution, so much for tendering) but it will make a change for independent analysis when we are deprived that within the pilot programme. A strategic framework for commissioning will be published along with a report.

There is pride on the excellent data on disease and activity NHS England hold but those that witnessed the destruction of the Dental Practice Board will believe this information far inferior to what was previously known.

Again there is a plan to best use tax payer’s money and develop a workforce that is appropriate for the future, a bit rich after what graduates are facing in the lottery of FD placement. But world class has been replaced by exemplar commissioner so perhaps reality is dawning at Whitehall. I wonder where the "tools" to enable a consistent care pathway are being kept.

Remarkably the document admits they need to know how to measure excellence and despite telling us how good the data is they have, they admit they lack data to benchmark performance nationally. I know what I believe of these two versions on data.

In its section on health inequalities it talks about a "seldom heard" group, I got quite excited when I thought it might be the many critics of DoH and NHS England but it turns out to be patients facing barriers to accessing care.

There is a clear message they we carry out our care at times convenient to us, and that patients want extended hours after work and at weekends. Not sure what evidence base there is for this, but the direction of travel is clear.

Much is made of the OFT report of 2012 despite massive criticism from the profession and the BDA. So not much notice taken there then, and of course they trumpet this call to action process is being supported by the BDA. Damned if you do and the same if you don't .

There are also indicators to the shape of general practice of the future, they want to move away from working in isolation and support larger teams in the interest of better care, and develop special interest in primary care. The end of single handed practice and tiered delivery of care for those with the badge to do it is just a review away perhaps?

It is followed by a list of questions deliberately moulded to either restrict answers or get the ones they want, but none the less I would encourage all to let them have the "action" by going to

www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/calltoaction/dental-call-to-action/

Whilst I understand enthusiasm for this is not great and we are being herded along with the medics, we should not under estimate the importance or messages contained.

Eddie Crouch

“Areas where I sit at work are now empty… I'm having a hard time going on.”

“I spend my days fighting off folks who torment me because of this.”

“I am so desperate! I’ve tried almost everything in this world and I still can't find a solution to the problem.”

These are but a few of the many quotes, posted by real people under user names, that can be found in various online forums on the topic of bad breath.

Most people find the subject of halitosis so uncomfortable that a public survey reveals only 9% would speak directly to a colleague about their breath, while a mere 14% would give subtle hints such as offering a mint. The rest would prefer not to mention it, or would avoid the sufferer altogether.[i]

When people who are painfully embarrassed by bad breath feel that there’s no one else to turn to, they may rely on the anonymity of the internet for answers. Online, they can discreetly search for remedies and methods they have not tried; they hide behind aliases to open up about how much bad breath has affected their lives.

According to the web analysis tool Keyword Eye, the terms “halitosis” and “bad breath” have been searched 4,400 and 3,600 times respectively through Google UK alone in a span of less than a month.[ii] And typing in the words “halitosis treatment” on the aforementioned search engine brings up about 1,640,000 results.[iii]

There is a lot of advice on bad breath to be had online – the problem is much of it can be ineffective, invalid, laughable, and in the worst cases, potentially harmful.

One example of a popular internet remedy for bad breath is gargling a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) daily, with recommended dosages and dilutions varying from site to site. Most health care professionals who contribute to these online forums advise users against swishing H2O2 in the mouth[iv], especially when doing so unsupervised.

Another example of a bad breath remedy that can be readily found online is to eliminate certain foods from your diet. Some forum users suggest eschewing carbs and grains, several say avoid dairy at all costs, and others still recommend abstaining from all kinds of meat and acidic foods such as coffee, fruit and fruit juices.[v]^,[vi],[vii]

Chronic halitosis sufferers who have been battling the condition for years can be eager for any kind of guidance, and advice like this may be easily taken too much to heart, putting their long-term health at risk with an unbalanced diet.

Some websites offer misleading information as well – such as that bad breath comes from the gut and can be treated with oxygen therapy[viii], or that the true cause of halitosis can be diagnosed by new age exercise and acupuncture[ix].

While it’s true in about 10% of cases that bad breath can be the result of an underlying medical condition, 90% of the time, foul mouth odour is simply that – a problem that resides in the mouth. Patients led to believe that their halitosis comes from elsewhere in the body can end up following the wrong therapies and treatment plans.

Other sites go so far as to claim that doctors and dentists purposely refrain from actually helping patients in order to keep them coming back.[x] Not only are websites such as these selling what are most probably ineffective solutions for halitosis, they also promote distrust of dental care professionals, and can lead patients to abstain from consulting a dentist about their problem.

While there are many pages that give good counsel for getting rid of bad breath – several recommend proper brushing, interdental cleaning and tongue scraping, for example – there is an equal number that offer ineffective and harmful information. And when chronic sufferers have tried all the sensible advice to no avail, the improbable suggestions may begin look rather attractive.

While it may seem common sense to dental professionals, vulnerable halitosis sufferers who view these pages through a combination of desperation and unawareness can bring their oral health to imbalance by trying remedies that can do more harm than good.

People who chronically suffer from bad breath shouldn’t be left to research their own bad breath solutions without proper guidance. Dental care professionals must always try and educate patients on good oral hygiene, and for persistent bad breath, recommend products that actually work.

Products that contain chlorhexidine and zinc, for example, have been demonstrated to effectively neutralise the Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs) that cause foul mouth odours. CB12 has these ingredients in a patented formula that is superior to that of 18 other mouthwash brands,[xi] and has been proven effective for at least 12 hours.[xii]

Reading through online public forums, the hopelessness and despair of some chronic halitosis sufferers truly show. Dental care professionals are in the best position to help ease such pain by helping their patients become more vigilant about proper oral hygiene. And recommending a truly effective product such as CB12 can help not only the patients’ physical condition, but their emotional and mental states as well.

For more information about CB12 and how it could benefit your patients, please visit www.cb12.co.uk

Welcome to our latest blog on advertising on the GDPUK site. Below are some questions, facts and thoughts for you to consider.

• Would you like the opportunity to reach thousands of Dentists every day? If the answer is yes, we average 3,000 visits a day to the site.

• GDPUK is viewed as a form of social media for Dentists, with many seeing the medium as the hub of UK Dentistry, can you afford to miss out?

"GDPUK is an invaluable resource for any dentist from newly qualified to retirement. The advice, both clinical and non-clinical, is second to none and it a great place to share ideas." Ian Dunn, 2012

• GDPUK has 3,000 visitors a day to the site, everyday of the year. To put it in context, the Dental Showcase had 4000 dentists visit over 3 days in 2013!

• We work with many of the leading dental trade businesses, they recognise GDPUK as central to their marketing strategys.

”The advent of the internet and social media have turned marketing opportunities on their head. We feel GDPUK’s utilisation of web forums for the dental industry, blended with industry comment, are the way the modern dental professional interacts with their peers and learns about the products and services that could be of use to them.” Fay Higgin, TePe UK 2013

• Our site have been running online marketing campaigns for over 10 years, we have expericence and the knowledge on what makes a successful campaign for our clients, please get in touch to learn more

• Helps your budget work harder when marketing to Dentists. Reach your target audience on their network at exactly the point when dentists are actively seeking advice / guidance to make an important decision for their practice or career.

• We can help grow your business in a number of ways; banner ads, product news, press releases, brand awareness, product launches, full accountability of results, run surveys and data collections.

• In a 2013 GDPUK survey, we found that on average our members spend around £48,000 on dental sundries or supplies every year. (from 200 participants)

Get in touch to find out how we can work together.

Advertising on GDPUK.com starts from £300 + vat. Space available in March.

For further information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0161 270 0453

www.gdpuk.com/web

We look forward to working together soon!

What can CHALLENGE do?

• CHALLENGE will argue and lobby powerfully in support of the dental profession’s position as the key providers of oral health care in the UK. The process of building a new dental service cannot be done in secret.
• CHALLENGE will organise forums and events in which key players can be given the chance to air their views and break through the logjam created by the BDA and the Department of Health both of whom have excellent reasons to exclude others from the debate.
• Carry out field research among the profession to establish their opinions, hopes and fears. This is not a feature of any of the work being carried out at the moment. Suppressing the voice of the dental profession is unforgiveable when it is the profession as a whole that will be required to carry out whatever emerges from the discussions, using their businesses and the human resource they control. That voice must be heard loud and clear.
• CHALLENGE will listen to the voices of those whose work is strongly linked to the dental profession and industry but not part of the established professional hierarchy. The dental industry supports the dental profession in a symbiotic relationship – each needs the other. The importance of that element of the industry needs to be recognised.

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Key principles underpinning the CHALLENGE approach to a new GDS contract in 2014/5

Any new system must concentrate its efforts on delivering –

·         Improved oral health for the population as a whole

·         An oral care system that patients understand and can trust

·         A profession that can take pride in its work

These are the simple but important features of a successful contractual arrangement between the dental profession and the Government.

In addition, CHALLENGE would say that the following issues are just as important -

·         A system where the roles of the state and of individual service providers  are crystal clear

·         A system in which the NHS and non-NHS system work in combination, not in opposition

·         a system in which the profession is encouraged and empowered to act professionally

Whatever emerges from the discussions between the profession and the NHS must be able to demonstrate that it has matched these issues with due sensitivity to the needs of both sides. Both sides need to recognise the need for fiscal control and integrity and both sides need to understand that if high clinical standards are required then the funding has to be there to support those standards.

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Chief Dental Officer for England issues a ‘Call to Action’ to the dental profession to help find workable solutions to the contractual problems that have beset the NHS general dental service since the introduction of the last set of contractual changes in 2006.

You’re a bit late getting to the party, Barry, but now you are here you will be pleased to know that your old adversaries CHALLENGE have been resurrected and are looking forward to joining a robust debate alongside you.

Barry, you will remember, but for those who are too young to recall, CHALLENGE was a political pressure group set up in the wake of the 2006 contract debacle. They argued long and strong for major changes early in the life of the new contracts. They even made a significant appearance in front of a Parliamentary Health Select Committee back in 2008. The three founder members were Eddie Crouch, John Renshaw and Ian Gordon. These are well known names with a long track record of standing up for GDPs in the one-sided battle with the Department of Health. The same three professional leaders are still the face of CHALLENGE.

The call for action from the CDO provides us dentists with quite an intriguing headline, especially coming from one of the most obdurate supporters of the status quo. Barry Cockcroft comes to the vexatious arguments over the way the NHS GDS and its various contractual formats work for patients and for dentists after telling anyone who would listen - for years on end - that the service is in great shape and patients are deliriously happy with the way they are treated.

Well, if Barry wants to hear from the profession, CHALLENGE is willing to take up the cudgels once again to promote and articulate the message we hear coming from all the GDPs we listen to on a regular basis. In the near future we will be running our own listening exercise to gather up data on how you see the contract and how you feel you have fared in the eight years since it began. We also need to know your concerns about the pilots being run at the moment and the possible shape of a new service that may emerge.

If we as a profession are to make any real impact other than making a lot of noise and blowing out a lot of hot air, we need your input to validate what we are saying. When that chance comes along please take the few moments it will require to put down, for our benefit and for the benefit of all your colleagues, exactly how you feel about the situation you find yourself in.

If Barry wants action, CHALLENGE says let’s give it to him!!

John Renshaw

CHALLENGE

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For most people, the concept of an urban e-topia, a futuristic paradise where everything is streamlined, simplified and perfected by technology, has only ever been the subject of sci-fi novels. But if we take the time to look closer, glimpses of a modern, ideal society much improved by technology can be seen at this very moment.

From bringing down crime through the use of geographic information systems to diagnosing lung diseases bedside with biomarker analysis tools,[i] technology currently works in unseen ways to improve many aspects of modern urban living.

In healthcare, the emergence of commonly used terms such as eHealth and mHealth (or mobile health) signify how technology has changed the way we manage our physical wellbeing, especially in developed countries where internet and mobile usage are now as common as plumbing and heating.

One measurable way in which eHealth and mHealth improves the quality of healthcare is through enhanced appointment accessibility through online booking sites and applications.

Ready access to necessary health services has been known to impact the overall physical, emotional and mental status of a patient. Naturally, accessible healthcare improves the prevention of disease and disability, the detection and treatment of health concerns, and the overall quality of life.[ii]

In a Californian study, children who had easy access to healthcare scored about 8 percentage points higher on a quality of life survey than children who reported want in care — a difference that the researchers described as ‘clinically important’.[iii]

In Cheshire East, a pilot platform allows elderly patients to book and schedule their care requirements with multiple providers through a centralised system. So far this has been estimated to cut about 20% in staff time, and reduce the cost of delivering elderly care services.[iv]

Aside from making it easier to book and receive primary care, eHealth and mHealth also helps patients make informed decisions about the quality of service they choose.

Because the level of primary care they receive can greatly affect their physical wellbeing, healthcare consumers rely on information about potential service providers more than consumers in other sectors do.[v]

In the desire for what is perceived as credible and easily digestible knowledge, word of mouth recommendations by friends and relatives and e-word of mouth (eWOM) via online reviews serve as major sources of information.[vi]

Not only is eWOM a good business driver for practices who keep their patients happy, it can also serve as a great motivator for practices to continually improve their quality of care and ensure that patients receive the best possible service at all times.

Another way in which technology improves the provision of primary care is by significantly cutting wasted time and money that DNAs bring about. Missed appointments, which are estimated to cost the NHS millions of pounds annually,[vii] can now be greatly reduced with automatic text and email reminders sent to patients.

A good example of the efficacy of this technological system is Barts Hospital and the London Hospital NHS Trust, which saved nearly £1m in 2011 by using an automatic appointment reminder text service.[viii]

Taking all these points into consideration, it’s clear that an effective technological platform that provides easy booking, access to information and appointment reminders – such as Zesty – can greatly benefit both patients and care providers alike.

With services such these, we may soon reach a kind of healthcare e-topia – where anyone with internet access can take better control of their health and improve their quality of life in the simplest, most direct way possible.

Simply email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.zesty.co.uk or call 0203 287 5416 for more details of our Free Trial

[v] Robinowitz DL, Dudley RA. Public reporting of provider performance: can its impact be made greater? Annu Rev Public Health. 2006;27:517-36. Review. PubMed PMID: 16533128.

Obtaining valid consent from patients prior to any treatment is fundamental to the proper provision of dental care. It is not only ethical, but also a legal requirement of all dental professionals around the world. Failure to obtain informed patient consent can leave a clinician vulnerable to criticism on a number of accounts, not least those of assault and/or negligence – which can lead to criminal charges, civil actions or disciplinary proceedings, therefore affecting the professional’s reputation, confidence and possibly even their ability to practise.

For consent to be valid it must be informed, competent and voluntary. The patient must be given all the relevant information about proposed treatments, as well as the opportunity to ask questions of their dental professional. Even with all of this, the patient retains the right to withdraw their consent at any time during treatment, so it is essential that accurate and thorough records be kept throughout the entire process.

This seems to be an area that many modern professionals find indistinct and somewhat worrisome. After all, if the patient can change their mind at any point during the process, is there really such a thing as ‘consent’? How do clinicians prove that they were given the information they needed to make an informed decision?

The key here is to document the patient’s permission to continue with treatment, at each stage of the treatment plan. Robust note-taking should record conversations between the professional and patient including any patient concerns or questions and how these were addressed, and then a signature should be obtained to provide evidence of the patient’s consent to begin. Providing written treatment plans are paramount to the process, and additional communication tools such as videos, animations and further written explanations can be an effective way of portraying the benefits and risks of treatments.

That said however, no practitioner wants to spend half their day filling out the paperwork to evidence their patients’ consents. So how can it be documented effectively yet conveniently?

During the recent BDTA Dental Showcase, the developers of the SafeSeen Touch offered a solution. Discussing delegates’ concerns and deliberating over the various rules and regulations in this area of the profession, the team demonstrated how the tablet could help.

Designed to enable patients to read through their treatment plan and update their medication list or personal details, the SafeSeen Touch also enables patients to provide an e-signature for effective and valid consent. In addition, the compact and easy-to-use device contains practice checklists, sign off protocols, training and update requirements, helping to determine the practice’s compliance in all areas of CQC.

So if patient consent is an element that worries you at any time, know that there are ways of avoiding potential problems. Particularly in light of the recent rise in patient complaints made to the GDC, it has never been so important to protect yourself from potential negligence litigation. Ensure valid consent from all your patients, and enjoy the peace of mind it brings.

For more information, please visit www.safeseentouch.co.uk, call 0845 576 2833 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Finding a suitable contractor can be hugely beneficial when building or refurbishing a dental practice. 

If you are looking to build a brand new dental practice, or refurbish and refresh your existing business, you will have an idea of the sheer amount of work such a project involves.

Particularly when starting from scratch, feasibility studies are paramount to ensure the economic viability of your project, while architectural drawings may be required to demonstrate structural and building methods, elevations and drainage. Planning permission also needs to be granted by the Local Authority in order for any structural or sometimes even cosmetic work to begin, and there are some very strict rules and regulations that must be adhered to.

Particularly if you are running or working in a practice full-time already, such a project can demand a huge amount of your time, money and effort, and so enlisting the help and support of a contractor can make the difference between success and failure.

It is important however, that you work with a contractor who has all the relevant expertise and experience.  An in-depth understanding of the building regulations is of course paramount, along with knowledge of planning permission, listed buildings, disabled access and a healthy respect for the environment.

You would also expect your contractor to ensure that all work is carried out using JCT (Joint Contracts Tribunal) contracts, as these are recommended and approved by several organisations like the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and they ensure correct documentation to benefit and assure all parties. There have been recent changes to the JCT contract regarding payments made to contractors that are onerous if you get it wrong – a good project manager will advise you on the details of this.

Thorough and up-to-date knowledge specifically of the dental industry is also crucial in order to ensue all the CQC and HTM 01-5 outcomes are complied with. Such contractors will be able to advise on aspects such as efficient use of space and most suitable equipment, all the while ensuring designs allow for optimum workflow.

Providing architectural design services specifically within the dental industry is Roger Gullidge Design. From concept feasibility studies, to planning permissions, building regulations and project management, the team offers a wealth of expertise to ensure the efficient success of your build or refurbishment.

So whether your project involves building a brand new surgery or refurbishing an  existing dental environment, it pays to get help from a professional contractor with specialised knowledge of the industry. They can not only help you avoid the common pitfalls and problems with property development, but they can also give you peace of mind, knowing that nothing will be overlooked.

Roger Gullidge Design is a specialist design and project management consultancy specialising in the dental sector. Call 01278 784442 for more details or visit: www.rogergullidgedesign.com

On-going education is integral not only for your continued registration with the GDC, but also to ensure you provide a high level of service to all your patients. It is also essential that your training is relevant both for your practice and for the patients you see, in order to maximise on the potential benefits.

It is widely accepted that patients today have a much better understanding of the various dental treatments available, and as society focuses more and more on appearances, modern patients expect high quality aesthetic finishes to every treatment they undergo.

Having identified this trend among her own patients, Dr Lee Gemmell from Denmark Street Practice in Gateshead took Dr Brian Franks Facial Aesthetics Training Course on Medical Micro-Needling three years’ ago.

“I wanted to learn some different skills for my practice and this was a field in which I knew very little about,” Lee explains. “I started to look into the courses that were available and realised that it could easily be integrated into my practice.

“I chose to take the training course with Dr Brian Franks because he is a dentist, like myself, and I thought that his course would be more relatable to my practice. I also liked how the courses were limited to five delegates, as I thought this would provide a more personal and individualised experience.
 

“The course day itself was split into ‘bite-size’ chunks – the course covered all the essentials, leaving me with a sound knowledge of the topic. With time to cover everything in detail, it didn’t feel rushed to fit everything in, and I found that I could focus on doing a few treatments well, and then attend more advanced classes once I’d have practised my skills. 

“I have now taken a number of training courses with Dr Brian Franks, and they all share similar qualities – thorough content, clearly outlined learning objectives, friendly delivery and efficient progression. The result ensures you gain a good, sound base with which to approach treatments in practise. The courses also give you confidence and you feel inspired after attending. Dr Brian Franks even provides ‘after-care’ for no further charge after the initial course, enabling you to contact him with any queries you may have with regards to a specific case.  It is comforting to know that this support is available.

“I would definitely recommend Dr Brian Franks Training Courses to other GDPs, and have done so on several occasions.  It's not just about learning the techniques; it's about giving you the confidence to go it alone back in your practice. Instructors Brian and Jan have obviously worked very hard on putting the courses together, which is evident from the smooth-running training days to the information that is provided for delegates to take away with them. I am already building a busier client base week-on-week, and it is great to see patients returning time after time for further treatments.”

If you are looking to expand your treatment range in the popular area of Facial Aesthetics, you really need look no further than Dr Brian Franks Training Courses. Whether you want to develop the skills to provide Dermal Fillers, Botulinum Toxin, Medical Skin Needling or Facial Peels amongst others, Dr Brian Franks offers in-depth training to ensure you have the confidence to use your new techniques straight away.

For further information, please visit www.drbrianfranks.com, call 020 8 446 6518 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In this age of litigation, everyone it seems is worried about being sued and losing their livelihood. For dental professionals in particular, this fear is increasingly pronounced. After all, it only takes one small complaint from a patient and whether you’re innocent or guilty, chances are you will come out the other end questioning your whole career.

All of this means that newly qualified GDPs are now terrified of doing many procedures, having gained little in the way of practical experience while at dental school. While they will certainly know about communication skills, vicarious liability and compliance, some may have only completed a single bridge or root canal treatment before qualifying.

And what are they to do now? Gone are the gung-ho days where dentists could try everything in the first few weeks of practice; the potential repercussions if something doesn’t go according to plan are just too great. It would seem then, that the old adage of ‘See one, Do one, Teach one’ – where students learn by actually practising – has gone forever.

Changing attitudes

So what happened? What has brought about this sea change in the way we approach dentistry? Well for one thing, our society is certainly more litigious than ever before. Compensation or ‘claim culture’ has been with us for many years now, and there will always be someone out there keen to make a fast buck. Not only that but many people these days are very quick to place blame, even when there may be no blame to be found. Often the question of right or wrong doesn’t come into it – if people feel wronged then they believe it is their right to complain, even if it means reporting a complaint directly to the GDC.

But the problems don’t just stop there. In the past treatment options were far more limited than they are today. Our job as dentists was primarily focussed on caries control and treating patients for pain. There were also far fewer specialists back then, so there was much more emphasis on the general dentist, and the skills that each dentist had to offer.

These days however, there is a completely different picture. For a start, the treatments that we can provide are far different to those we were able to offer in the past. Many of these new treatments are focussed on beauty over health. While there is of course nothing wrong with providing patients with brilliant, beautiful smiles, we need to recognise that this has fundamentally changed the relationship we have with patients. This has gone hand-in-hand with a changed role for the NHS that again marks a shift away from the way we did dentistry in the past.

Increasing demands

There can be no doubting the fact that new technologies and treatments have been a fantastic boon for the dental profession. Whether it be fantastic ceramics, microscopes or the latest 3D CBCT scanners, very few would argue that these advances haven’t benefited patients and the profession in one way shape or form. With the latest tools, technology and techniques we can see more, and so we can treat more than ever before. All of these advances have meant that the private sector has grown significantly in recent years, as patients spend more on treatments that make them look and feel better about themselves.

However there is one major pitfall here and it is to be found in the form of patient expectations. Because patients are spending more, they are also expecting more as a result. Costs have gone up and patients expect a perfect cosmetic result every time. They don’t always fully appreciate that there are some factors that are just beyond our control – and many dental treatments just aren’t designed to last for life.

Interesting times

Robert F. Kennedy once said, ‘We live in interesting times’. I really don’t think there is a more appropriate quote to describe the dental profession today. On the one hand, we live in an age of opportunity – we have access to better tools and technologies than ever before that allow us to provide an outstanding level of care. Yet on the other hand, there is a darker side to dentistry, one that challenges us on a daily basis, and threatens to undermine the work that we all so love.

With the ever-increasing burden of compliance, assessments and the threat of litigation, in many ways we live in an unpleasant time to practise dentistry. Colleagues are becoming disillusioned with a system whereby admin work and needless regulations trump good common sense and giving patients the time they deserve.

It would seem that fear today, is one of the biggest threats to our profession. Many colleagues now are too afraid to step outside their ‘comfort zones’ for fear of failure or the repercussions litigation might bring. And yet one can only wonder what the future of dentistry in the UK might be. Currently, if a dentist is tried for negligence, he or she is judged by what one’s peers would do. In the States however, such cases are judged by specialist standards. If these same rules were to come to the UK would GDPs want to perform anything but triage unless they had further postgraduate training? The thought just doesn’t bear thinking about, and would certainly herald the death of the generalist GDP!

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.

The use of antibiotics in the treatment of periodontal pocketing ?5mm exposes patients to the unnecessary risk of antibiotic resistance.

The global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to grow today, as more new strains of resistant pathogens are continuously found. Though ‘superbugs’ such as MRSA and C. difficile have seen some decline thanks to stringent control systems in the healthcare setting, newer threats such as MSSA and multi-drug resistant E. coli and N. gonorrhoeae continue to emerge.[i]

In the Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report published in 2013, it was stated that evidence clearly links the widespread use of antibiotics to the selection of resistant organisms.[ii]

The fight against AMR needs to be a consolidated, global effort, as the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy published in 2013 recognises. As prescribers of antibiotics, dental care professionals have a major role to play in the implementation of the strategy’s main points of action:

• Improve the knowledge and understanding of AMR
• Conserve and steward the effectiveness of existing treatments

Improving the knowledge and understanding of AMR is important for both professionals and patients alike. Wide-reaching awareness movements such as the annual European Union Antibiotic Awareness Day helps spread AMR awareness among the public and can consequently curb the habit of automatically requesting antibiotics with no clinical indication.

Conserving and stewarding the effectiveness of existing treatments is also a shared responsibility that involves correct diagnosis, proper prescription and patient understanding and compliance.

There are several ways in which dental care professionals can cut down on the prescription of antibiotics. For example, an FGDP press release sent out last November 2013 reminded dental practitioners that the majority of uncomplicated dental swellings can be resolved by drainage of the associated abscess, and that dental surgical skills should always be considered before defaulting to antibiotic prescription.

Another example in which routine antibiotic prescription can be cut down is in the treatment of periodontitis. Most dentists and dental hygienists will automatically prescribe metronidazole or amoxicillin as adjuncts to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of advanced gum disease. But in light of the grave threats of AMR it may be time for other therapies to be considered.

Dental care professionals who are looking for effective non-antibiotic adjuncts to periodontal treatment can turn to effective alternatives such as PerioChip®, a small, rounded device indicated for insertion in periodontal pockets that are at least 5mm deep.

There is no alternative product in the market that can match the high local concentrations of chlorhexidine that PerioChip® delivers. The broad-spectrum antiseptic in this formulation is clinically effective at eliminating 99% of subgingival periopathogenic bacteria without the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Dental care professionals have an important role to play in the fight against AMR. By looking to their clinical skills and considering antibiotics only when absolutely necessary, the overuse of the drugs can slowly be stopped, and AMR arrested in its rapid and alarming development.

For more information or to contact the team behind PerioChip®, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0800 013 2333

Professor  Machtei is currently the head of the Rambam HCC School of graduate dentistry and chairman of the department of Periodontology

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln

Ok its crunch week, and the quote I have used here seems apposite to the issues at stake in Wimpole Street this Friday, 21st Febrary.

The Probe carries its coverage of the Big Lie discussions which carry on from  Dr Kilcoyne’s leading campaign . The letter in the Daily Telegraph stirred the waters.

The effect of The Probe is to relight the fires of this burning issue in a very welcome manner. The consistent spin of the official replies is becoming eye crossing.

There is general worry that the tripartite comfy zone that is the table around which the BDA, the DH and NHS England sit is looking increasingly as though it is actually a defensive set up to protect their interests, at the cost the care of the patient by dentists.

And so this Friday, as BDA Members YOU have a chance to make YOUR voice heard.

If you cannot attend this EGM, please ensure you vote by proxy. Crack on now because it is a carefully defined legally binding process.  You cannot just phone a mate the day before.

Now is the chance to fire up your Representative Association.  Put a rocket up their collective arses if you will.

There will not be a second chance before Contract Reform hits you between the eyes.

It is a well worn quote of Napoleon Hill, but still, it applies.

“Whatever you want, oh discontented man, step up, pay the price – and take it.”

Good luck to our illustrious and historic Profession – it is not too dramatic to say that a large part of the future of the present generation of GDPs hangs on what happens this Friday.

Having seen some momentous advancements in the world of technology, the dental industry has witnessed many significant changes in the past decade. From clinical procedures to practice management and decontamination protocols, new equipment has been introduced and developed to enhance and streamline every aspect of the profession.

As a result, daily processes within the dental practice have become more accurate, more effective and much more efficient, enabling professionals to deliver the highest standard of patient care and service ever seen, while also encouraging heightened practice profitability. 

The relationship between modern equipment manufacturers and the profession has had a huge influence over the quality and aptness of this technology. In order to produce machinery that meets the ever-changing demands of the dental industry, modern equipment manufacturers constantly engage with the profession to identify exactly what is required, and how it is required to function.

Such feedback from those in practice enables manufacturers to create and refine their products according to exact specifications, ensuring the final product is as high quality and as suitable for the modern profession as possible.

Executive Director if the BDIA (formerly the BDTA) Tony Reed comments,

“Effective R & D involving the end user is an extremely important part of product development and these relationships and partnerships play a vital role in the creation of innovative, quality products. By working closely with the dental team, manufacturers are able to tailor their products to provide cost-effective equipment that meets the needs of both the profession and the patient.”

For this reason, some manufacturers test prototypes of their new equipment in realistic environments before going into mass production, as Eschmann did recently when trailing the brand new LittleSister SES 3000B autoclave in dental facilities across the UK.

Jayne Younghusband, Practice Manager from Victoria Dental Practice in Darlington, was one of many involved in the 12 week trial. The good service she received from Eschmann in the past contributed to her taking part in the trial. “Having worked with Eschmann nearly two years’ ago to replace our entire decontamination room, we already had experience of the high level of service we could expect throughout the trial,” she says. “The LittleSister itself looked fantastic and was of a convenient size to allow easy placement within decontamination room. We did have a couple of issues with the machine, which was exactly why Eschmann wanted to trial the product in practice in the first place, but all minor concerns were quickly overcome. As such, we would definitely work with the team from Eschmann again in the future!”

In some cases, manufacturers like Eschmann who supply equipment directly to the profession are also able to provide new opportunities for practices to try equipment they previously haven’t been able to. From Kirkgate Dental in North Yorkshire, Jennifer Pearce says: “We were delighted to take part in Eschmann’s product trial as we had not previously had such equipment in the practice, and this provided an opportunity to see how easy the autoclave was to use, and which instruments it would be best suited to for our practice.” With professionals using such technology for the first time, Eschmann were able to ensure that the autoclave was easy to use and that the instructions were simple to follow, ensuring further clarity for all their customers. 

Claire Hinchcliffe, Senior Dental Nurse and Decontamination Lead at Dental Directions in Sheffield, confirmed this. “The new autoclave was absolutely brilliant – a clear upgrade from the previous model we had been using, well-made and easy-to-use. The instruction manual was also very clear and concise, and an engineer even talked us through it prior to installation.

“With an 8-surgery practice we have a high demand for efficient decontamination equipment, and this trial was an effective way of testing this machine in action,” adds Claire. “Any minor concerns or problems we came across were resolved quickly by the team at Eschmann, and we were so impressed by the LittleSister that we are already considering purchasing one for ourselves when it goes on general sale!”

The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy also trialled the LittleSister as part of the brand new decontamination training room supplied and installed by Eschmann. Of the LittleSister, the University Decontamination Technician Michael Tyler says: “This was a great piece of equipment for the students to have access to, as it helped them understand the stages of successful decontamination better. Other than a minor issue which had already been identified and addressed by others trialling the LittleSister, we had no problems at all, and we are very much looking forward to using the new autoclave with the students going forward.”

As a student-focused facility, it was particularly important for the University team to have access to fast and comprehensive technical support. “We are always happy to work with Eschmann in all areas of decontamination as they are always highly receptive, and genuinely interested in the feedback we provide, which is want you want from an equipment manufacturer. I believe we will therefore continue working with them in the future.”

Following such feedback from those who trialled the autoclave, Eschmann was able to make all the necessary final tweaks before mass production, ensuring the equipment will be as capable and efficient as possible. By involving the profession in the early stages of equipment manufacture, companies such as Eschmann ensure the best possible service and equipment is delivered every time.

For more information please visit www.eschmann.co.uk, or call 01903 753322

“I have been involved with implants and restoring them since 1986 when I went to Malmo on my first implantology course,” says Professor Paul Tipton. “During this time I have seen many changes in techniques, systems and expectations.

“Nowadays patients require not only a long lasting functional stable implant, but also an aesthetic one that can be delivered immediately – hence the rise of immediate loading cases and provisionalisation.”

As a Specialist in Prosthodontics, Paul Tipton has restored thousands of dental implants in a career spanning almost 30 years. But while he may have used almost all of the major implant systems available today, which system would he use in his own mouth?

Unfortunately for Paul, this was the very question he found himself asking, after a fractured crown left him weighing up his options.

“Imagine my anxiety when just over a week ago whilst eating a chicken sandwich I encountered a foreign body in my mouth,” continues Paul. “It was my upper left lateral incisor crown, fractured off at gum level!

“Upon looking in the mirror I saw no ferrule and my mind was settled: no RCT, crown lengthening with bone removal and post crown; it was to be root removal, immediate implant, definitive abutment and reline the original crown over the top, followed by occlusal adjustment.

“I had this done the very next day by two colleagues well versed in implantology and my implant system of choice. I now await my final restoration in 6 months’ time.”

But what system did he choose?

“There was only one implant for me,” says Paul. “After 28 years in implantology I chose Nobel Biocare for its longevity, ease of use, success rate, and innovation.”

For more information contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300 or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

To register for the Nobel Biocare Online Store go to:

store.nobelbiocare.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

PFM Dental, Goodman Grant Solicitors and Patient Plan Direct are running a series of retirement seminars across the UK in 2014. Considering the calibre of guest speakers you can be sure that you’ll leave the day feeling far greater equipped to tackle the challenge of selling your practice and starting your well deserved retirement.

The inaugural January seminar in Leeds was a huge success and we expect this to continue throughout the duration of 2014 as each month bring another instalment in the series at locations all across the country, details of which can be found on the GDPUK dental calendar.

What can you expect?

The seminars will cover the key issues facing dentists at retirement:

• Financial planning at retirement
• Goodwill valuations and the marketplace
• Should I sell to a corporate?
• The legal aspects of selling a dental practice
• The accountancy aspects of selling a dental practice
• The influence of a dental plan in selling our practice

The full day course offers verifiable CPD and lunch is provided.

All participating speakers are dental specialists; solicitors, accountants, valuers, wealth managers and plan providers.

The delegate fee is only £50. Book early to avoid disappointment. We hope to see you there!

Past delegate comments:

“Very informative and helpful” | “An excellent day – thank you” | “enjoyable productive day, very helpful” | “The speakers were genuine specialists”.

For further information and to book a place contact:

PFM Dental - Heather Willis This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0845 241 4480

Goodman Grant – John Grant This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0131 834 3705

PPD – Simon Reynolds This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0844 848 6888

February - Manchester 21st

March - Birmingham 21st

April - Holborn 25th

May - Newcastle 23rd

June - Southampton 20th

September - Liverpool 19th

October - Oxford 23rd & 24th

November - Watford 21st

From aesthetic brackets to IPR ortho-strips to aligner patient kits, The Dental Directory’s Orthodontic Product Catalogue carries an amazing variety of materials and brands that can suit all of your orthodontic treatment needs.

This dedicated range from The Dental Directory was compiled after talking to many orthodontists, and represents the very best when it comes to variety, quality and value for money.

You can order any of the orthodontic products available in the catalogue at your convenience – via website, phone, fax or the Desktop Directory ordering system. And as with all other products from The Dental Directory, every order placed before 4 pm is despatched the same day, free of delivery charge.

If you haven’t spoken to your Dental Directory representative about their extensive orthodontic range, call today and find out how the UK’s largest independent dental dealer can help you deliver the best orthodontic treatment to your patients.

The Independently Verified Best Priced Dealer!

For more information, contact The Dental Directory Orthodontics on

01376 391 291, or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk.

The ability of a dental practice to function as smoothly as possible is of the utmost importance. Standardised commercial leases and the numerous pitfalls and problems that they bring can often hinder dentists in their work, making them waste time and money unnecessarily.

With standard leases, there is a very real danger that the specific requirements of a dental practice can be overlooked, and in some cases actually forbidden under the terms of the contract.

For example, the need for practices to store X-ray machines and various drugs is clear. However, it is possible for a standard lease to prohibit the storage of these items.

Another restriction that a standard commercial lease can enforce is the prohibition of sharing the property with a third party, which can be a problem when considering associate agreements. With a potential restriction on who can occupy the property, simply hiring an associate can unwittingly lead to a breach of contract.

A standard commercial lease can even allow an unexpected and unavoidable rise in rent any time the landlord so chooses. Dentists are usually not required to register for VAT, as you supply an exempt service. However, a standard commercial lease can leave the landlord free to charge VAT whenever they like.

Any time you break the rules of a standard lease even if simply functioning within the normal confines of a dental practice, you risk unexpected termination of your agreement and the emotional and financial burden such an event can bring.

Instructing a commercial lawyer with specialist dental knowledge will offer a solution. A bespoke lease will address your specific requirements as a dental practice and amend the terms a standardised commercial lease overlooks or prohibits. This will provide a successful and hassle free contract, so you can focus on providing dental treatment, rather than worrying about legal matters.

Using bespoke commercial leases can be a sensible way to avoid wasting time and money. From ensuring that the storage of vital dental equipment is allowed to enabling associate agreements and making sure there is no unexpected rise in rent, the benefits of a bespoke lease are clear.

Goodman Grant has a reputation for providing quality legal advice within dentistry. With this crucial and specialist knowledge, Goodman Grant’s team of solicitors are able to draw bespoke commercial leases to the specific advantage of dentists. Ensure you are not distracted from providing exceptional treatment, and take advantage of the huge benefits a bespoke commercial lease can provide.

Nicola Lomas Goodman Grant Lawyers for Dentists

For more information call Nicola Lomas 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
 

An area of increasing concern in modern dentistry is that of ownership, with so many different options, which is the right one for your practice? Historically, the only legal way that dental practices could be  owned was under either individual ownership or by a partnership. Though there were a few dental corporates in existence this is a relatively new phenomenon. Laws were changed in 2006 to allow dental practices to become limited companies and since then we have seen an increasing number of incorporated dental practices popping up.

However, the idea of incorporation brings with it a plethora of legal requirements which must be successfully negotiated and can only be done so with advice from a reliable legal firm. The significance of comprehensive legal advice in this situation can not be underestimated. Without access to well informed guidance a dental professional will be left exposed to complications that can be difficult to break free from.

These problems are often the result of confusion or the practice owner being misinformed as to what the requirements are to incorporate a dental practice. The legal position on allowing dentists to incorporate is that a non-dental professional can own shares in the company (which can be as much as 100%), but the law states that at least half of the directors of the company must be registered with the GDC. For example, you could have a husband and wife run the practice as a limited company. This scenario is perfectly lawful as at least 50% of the directors of the company are dental professionals. A dental practice with a majority of non-dental professional directors will not be lawful and in fact, is a criminal offence.

Though accountants may be under the impression that by suggesting their client incorporates they are doing them a huge favour and saving them a lot of money, the reality is that their lack of knowledge of dental regulations may cost their client much more, and not just financially!

Usually problems will occur as the result of advice from accountants or lawyers who do not have a good understanding of the dental industry.

The ownership of a limited company can be contrasted with a situation where partners or expense sharers are the principals and where, for a partnership to be legitimate, all partners must be registered dental professionals. A partnership consisting of individuals not registered with the GDC is not only unlawful, it is also a criminal offence. By trading unlawfully a dentist can get himself or herself into trouble with the GDC and will run the risk of being prosecuted.

The dental industry possesses its own unique characteristics and regulations that make it quite distinct from other professions. It is for this reason that when deciding upon your business structure, the advice of a qualified and experienced specialist is sought. Whether searching for an accountant or a solicitor, the very best advice can only be obtained from a specialist who has a firm understanding of dentistry’s legal demands. By seeking advice from someone who lacks a sufficient understanding of the industry, the dental professional is running the risk of problems developing which can jeopardise the future of their practice.

There are a number of specialist legal firms operating in the UK and although using any specialist is better than no specialist, it is still important to search for a firm of distinction. It is worth looking for a legal firm that is a member of either NASDAL (National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers) or ASPD (Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists), Goodman Grant is a specialist legal firm that is a member of both organisations and its solicitors have a combined experience of more than 75 years.

A lot of the time the problem of unlawful ownership goes unnoticed. However, it is now becoming an increasingly common problem. This is because it is only when the owner is looking to sell that their flawed incorporation forms a barrier preventing them from doing so. With the ability to incorporate having been introduced seven years ago, for many the time has now come to sell, only to discover that they can’t. This problem is quite difficult to fix and can be costly. The irony is that to have sorted it out properly in the first place would not have been expensive, nor would it have been difficult with the right help.

John Grant of Goodman Grant Lawyers for Dentists  - a NASDAL member

For more information call John Grant on 0113 8343705 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.goodmangrant.co.uk

A NASDAL and ASPD MEMBER

Nobel Biocare long history of innovation continues with the launch of yet another new product...

creos™ xeno.protect is a biodegradable non-crosslinked collagen membrane designed for use in guided bone and guided tissue regeneration procedures. With excellent handling properties, extended barrier function and high tensile strength, creos xeno.protect produces reliable clinical results, time and time again.

Experience the difference

Dr. Paul Worskett from Amblecote Dental Care, West Midlands, has experienced the benefits of creos xeno.protect first hand. He says:

"I recently used the creos membrane for the first time. My case was the placement of two NobelReplace^® tapered fixtures in the upper anterior region. Due to a shortage of bone buccally, and for aesthetic reasons, I augmented the area, a standard GBR technique using creos as the covering membrane.

“This was the first time with this product and I have to say it was very easy to use. It has an almost paper thin consistency which means it is easy to cut, shape and manipulate. Placement and handling was a lot easier than some membranes I have used in the past and complete flap closure was possible without relieving the periosteum. This was, I am sure, appreciated by the patient in terms of reduced swelling and discomfort postoperatively. At suture removal follow up a week later, I found the tissues to be in excellent condition and the patient was very happy. I will certainly use this product again and look forward to further success in the future."

In keeping with all Nobel Biocare products, creos xeno.protect is manufactured to the highest standards, with a strictly controlled and standardised manufacturing process. The following benefits of creos xeno.protect will help build clinician confidence:

Unique handling

creos xeno.protect is extremely easy to use because it has a minimal increase in size when hydrated and is easy to unfold and reposition, for a predictable placement.  Importantly, creos xeno.protect does not cause any confusion in a clinical setting as it has no functionally preferred side. This means the product can be placed with either surface facing the defect, with the same excellent results.

Easy to fix and suture

Thanks to the dense network of interwoven fibres, creos xeno.protect is a naturally strong and tear resistant material that exhibits high mechanical strength to prevent the migration of bone graft material. This high mechanical strength makes it easy to fix and suture.

Extended barrier function

For resorbable collagen membranes, efficient biodegradation is crucial for treatment success and final outcome. Nobel Biocare’s creos xeno.protect has been designed specifically to provide high stability over a prolonged degradation period. This, combined with 100% tissue compatibility, and the pure, non-crosslinked nature of creos xeno.protect make it the ideal choice for bone and tissue regeneration procedures. Furthermore the product also demonstrates excellent revascularisation behaviour, with fast and predictable healing for optimal clinical outcomes.

The natural choice

Designed to be the natural choice for guided tissue and guided bone regeneration procedures, creos xeno.protect is composed of highly purified porcine collagen fibres inter-mingled with elastin fibres to form a strong and tear resistant network. This fibrous network creates a favourable environment for bone regeneration at the defect site by preventing the migration of undesired cells from the surrounding soft tissue, and allowing the in-growth of osteogenic cells.

To learn more about the market-leading qualities of creos xeno.protect, contact Nobel Biocare today on 0208 756 3300 (option 1) or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

Data on file, Matricel GmbH

Roger Gullidge has more than 20 years experience in providing interior design and architecture services to the dental practice sector and beyond. After training, Roger completed various projects in the USA before returning to the UK to work with several design consultancies before setting up Roger Gullidge Design. Roger is a keen advocate of using well-designed spaces to create a positive environment for living and working

In his spare time Roger enjoys rock climbing and undertaking expeditions as part of the British Cave Research Association (BCRA), jive dancing and spending time with his young family.

The dilemma of the ‘one stop shop’

More and more we are seeing that equipment suppliers are offering building and design services to compliment the sale of their products, making them a ‘one stop shop’. Though this presents the client with an easier and sometimes more financially comfortable way of completing their project, it isn’t always the best option. On the other side of the fence, an equipment supplier offering these services may also find that if not performed properly in all areas it can cause them problems. One way of making it safer is to seek the assistance of an independent third party who can oversee the project and avoid the traps that can occur on both sides of the arrangement.

Usually the case is that dentists choose to go with the equipment supplier and their ‘one stop shop’ service because not only is it simpler, they have also formed a bond with them. The dentist may have been using them for some years and feels familiar with them because they have received a good service in the past. Although there are a number of success stories from people who have used this service, not all projects will end as favourably. To look at it bluntly, the aim of equipment suppliers is to gain the custom of a potential client, by including the other services they stand a better chance of sealing the deal. The problem with using this service is that there are a number of pitfalls that can be fallen in to.

Firstly, the services the equipment supplier provides may not be coming from the company directly; they will subcontract to other companies of their choosing. The experience and knowledge of this company can be a cause for concern and the client should make the effort to investigate who the company are and make sure that they are completely happy with using them. It is important to understand that in the event of something going wrong the client will not be able to go to the equipment supplier for support because they may well be dealing with a separate company.

Another aspect that needs to be made sure of is that you have got planning permission and building regulation approval before any work begins on the project. Unless there is someone checking, you will not know whether the subcontractor has done the work or not. By having a third party monitor this you can be sure that no work will begin before it is safe to do so.

It should go without saying that staying in control of finances is vital, but some clients can become confused because they are not organised. There are several financial categories that must be carefully watched over. The first concerns planning and building regulations, the cost of this applies to the applications and inspections associated with getting approval; this will be paid directly by the client.

The next set of fees concern construction and this will usually be paid through an existing financial arrangement with a bank. Finally, there is covering the cost of the equipment, this will often be paid on finance. Making sure that you have control of these payments is of paramount importance. The equipment supplier may speak directly with your financial supplier, but the client must seek to stay in control of this. Sometime the terms and conditions can request that the deposit is followed by 90% of the payment a certain amount of days prior to installation. The client must make sure that this 90% refers to only the equipment and not the entire project; this has happened before and will happen again. To stop this from happening you should enlist the assistance of someone who can certificate building payments to your bank or building society.

Enlisting a third part will not just benefit the client, it will also help to protect the equipment supplier. If the client isn’t happy with every aspect of the project (and this could be something that a building subcontractor has done) they may withhold an equipment payment because they are under the impression that they are only dealing with one company. If the equipment supplier handles everything under their own name, the client has the legal right to withhold payment. Therefore, it is advisable to offer the client separate companies for each aspect of the project. If offering separate companies, the best way to go about this is to have an experienced project manager oversee the activities of all companies. Companies such as Roger Gullidge Design will be able assist with this, as well as managing some of the other legal aspects of the project. One such area regards protocol should disputes occur further down the line. The advice of an experienced and knowledgeable third party will mean that informed decisions will be made and offer the best protection should and discrepancies occur.

The bottom line is that success (for both sides) when using a ‘one stop shop’ service relies on certification, separation and having someone who can organise the entire project. There are a number of pitfalls that can appear during a project and the assistance of an independent third party can plug these holes.

Roger Gullidge Design is a specialist design and project management consultancy specialising in the dental sector. Call 01278 784442 for more details or visit: www.rogergullidgedesign.com

Teeth whitening is an important part of modern dentistry, and is proving increasingly popular with patients who seek a simple yet effective way of improving the appearance of their teeth. While in the past patients had a limited selection of products to choose from the launch of several new products in the UK has made teeth whitening both more accessible and more affordable than ever before.

One such new product is offered by WhiteWash Laboratories, with the company’s Professional Whitening Strips representing the latest innovation in whitening technology. These mouldable plastic strips contain the optimum amount of mint flavoured whitening gel to safely and effectively whiten teeth.

“Every patient who took part in the trial was more than happy with the results we were able to achieve,” says Brad. “Results ranged from an improvement of three shades over the 14-day treatment, to in some cases an improvement of up to nine or ten shades! The only patient who wanted their teeth even whiter was an elderly lady we treated who was in her 70s. The problem in her case wasn’t so much the shade difference we achieved, but the fact her old upper crowns were so significantly lighter than her lower teeth – even though we took her lower teeth up 7 shades from C4!”

While teeth whitening certainly has a lot to offer patients in terms of creating whiter, more attractive smiles, it also has other benefits to offer besides. One benefit that many practices find is that whitening can often lead patients on to other cosmetic treatments. At the very least it encourages patients to engage more closely with their oral health.

“Teeth whitening definitely makes people more aware of their teeth,” says Brad. “They want whiter, brighter teeth, and they want to keep their teeth that way once their treatment is complete.

“From a practice business perspective this is great news for us, as it allows us to boost our oral hygiene product sales. Some patients will even then ask about other treatments to improve their smiles further still. For example we had one young couple who had really good results with the strips but who then decided to move on to tray whitening for even whiter teeth. We also had one patient who took part in the trial who is now considering investing in short-term orthodontics to straighten her teeth. That’s a major investment to come out of what was essentially a £50 box of Strips.” 

As Brad is keen to point out, whitening can be an important tool in the “business of dentistry”.

“As long as you approach the subject in the right way, I think patients are very open to the idea of teeth whitening,” concludes Brad. “Especially with something like Professional Whitening Strips, it’s a very reasonably priced product that achieves fantastic results for the price. Even just talking about the sorts of options that are available with patients can set the ball rolling for other conversations further down the line. Thanks to this trial I am now able to far better focus my efforts when suggesting whitening options to patients. I also have a better understanding of what Professional Whitening Strips can achieve and I can offer this treatment confident that patients will be happy with the result.”

For more information call 0844 68 69 150, email

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.whitewashstrips.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Telephone 01376 573573

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

The postal address for administration is

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

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

Impressed by the numbers? Get in touch to find out how we can work together.

Advertising on GDPUK.com starts from £300 + vat

For further information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0161 270 0453

www.gdpuk.com/web

I told you January was interesting …

First we have a BDA EGM on the cards. Anyone who reads tea leaves must be thinking Friday 21^st of February is the new Ides of March. While the BDA turns in on itself in what some might see as a death roll, the world moves on and, boy, how fast!

The DFT numbers have been formally announced – see the link – and the big picture?  1 in 5 students have not got a job to look forward to – nice motivation if you can get it – NOT!  Approximately 240 out the UK Graduate bag of about 1100 have been ‘placed on a “Reserve List” I say approximately – the numbers are not entirely clear even if the big picture is.   What’s that – about 10% in the end? well, give or take.

Have we all been witness to a Coup d’Etat in dentistry – CoPDenD have quietly become the most influential body in dentistry. If you are a student on the receiving end, it must feel like a very unfair and cruel arbitrary selection process.

You know what sucks?  It is clear that CoPDenD would have you believe that the NHS and it’s public funding is the only kid on the block. They saw off Private Vocational Training and now have a monopoly grip on the peri-graduation phase of ones career. Is it me or does CoPDenD have a funny smell around it?

The size of the private dental market is now likely bigger than all of the NHS dental funding for dental care, both primary and secondary.

So why is there not a flourishing private-public partnership in dentistry in which the shortfalls of NHS funded DFT are more than taken up by a commercial organisation?  If ever an opportunity for the FGDP to do something practical ever has been missed this must be it.  I’ll bet if SERCO or Compass were bidding, Private VT would be up and  running by now.

And now ... midway though a Manpower Review at the Higher Education Funding body…  the word on the block  is that a blanket 10% student cut across the board has been enacted with immediate effect.  The Twittersphere is lighting up this week as the well  hinted cuts are finally publicised.

Perversely, that actually sounds like some form of a solution.  Fewer graduating dentists are an inevitable consequence of reduced Government funding. Since we all know the Government IS broke, maybe this 10% cut will be in ADDITION to the chopping of two dental schools, which is being widely trawled.

That will in 2 years mean a broad reduction of about 270 students per annum - job done, CoPDenD’s DFT books balanced.

But where is the drive to use the vibrant private market to create educational opportunities which support and supplement the NHS funded basic training? Lots of willing weekenders but no structure.

In its small way, dentistry is now witnessing the effects of lack of public funding. If the profession of dentistry is a thermometer for public finances, the mercury is falling.  So be it. Can’t spend what we don’t have.  It is not entirely unexpected after all

But there is a £7Bn, and growing,  private market for dentistry.   In fact, year on year growth of 10% and more is anticipated.

There has to be a better way.  The big picture of publicly funded dentistry is gaining a degree of focus.  We need to ensure that private dentistry builds its own big picture, and fast.

How? By whom?

Questions a’plenty. Answers on a postcard please!  If 10% of you reply…

See you soon people. How much more news can there be?

https://www.bda.org/docs/EGM-Notice-2014-02-21.pdf

http://www.copdend.org/content.aspx?Group=press%20releases&Page=press%20release%20january%202014

http://www.dentalschoolscouncil.ac.uk/

http://www.hefce.ac.uk/

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

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

Simon Pictured below

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

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

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

In November 2013, the Resuscitation Council UK launched new guidance focussing on quality standards for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. However it has recently become clear that The Resuscitation Council now no longer provides advice on general medical emergencies within Primary Dental Practice settings.

Thankfully, dbg is here to help. Dbg has been working alongside dental practices for 25 years, providing invaluable help and support in areas ranging from engineering services to materials, compliance, and core CPD training.

To help practice teams keep up to date with the latest medical emergencies protocols, dbg has appointed medical emergencies expert Craig Nelson to join the compliance team.

Craig is a highly experienced Emergency Medical Paramedic and has delivered lifesaving emergency support to over 30,000 patients across a career spanning 21 years. Craig is also an IHCD qualified tutor, and for the last 8 years has dedicated himself to the education and training of ambulance paramedics and other medical professionals to ensure they deliver the highest standard of emergency care.

As dbg’s ‘Resuscitation Officer’ Craig will be utilising his extensive experience to help shape dbg’s medical emergencies and AED training. He will also assist members in light of the change in medical emergencies guidance standards, ensuring that all dbg members remain compliant through the introduction of new and innovative training content.

With dbg you can be sure that your training will be of the highest quality, with relevant and engaging content from professionals who are acknowledged experts in their field. This training will take place at your practice, and will give your team ‘on-site’ training on CPR, emergency drugs, equipment and up to date legislation. The trainer will also carry out and audit, and provide recommendations as per the Resuscitation Council guidelines.

To find out more about medical emergencies training and support, contact dbg today.

For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

GDPUK Launches UK Dental Calendar

At the beginning of the year, we launched a new feature on the GDPUK Site. This feature is the “Dental Calendar”. The Dental Calendar will be a central area for everyone from the dental profession to know what is taking place in the world of UK Dentistry. 

As long as you are signed into the site, anyone from the profession can add events, seminars, training and exhibitions to the Event List. We believe this is an exciting addition to the dental landscape. Firstly it is a great way of promoting an event and secondly it makes the profession aware of events taking place close to them or that there is a specific course taking place, that potentially they would not have been aware of.  We hope it can become a really handy resource for the dental community.

How to use?

Once logged into the site, the dental calendar tab drops down to offer the option of “adding an event” as the image below demonstrates.

Once the tab is clicked you can then add the event by following the form, which is easy to use and should only take a matter of minutes. Pictures, the date and location are simple to enter. Once added the event is then added to the event list and can be viewed by the whole dental community.

Currently events can be shared on Twitter and Google plus, which means that you can publicise the event to the wider dental world.

Going forward we will also use the twitter handle of @DentalCalendar to publicise when something is added to the calendar. Please get following!

Future Use?

The calendar will take some time to become established and used widely. Once it is used regularly, we envisage the calendar being used in a number of ways. 

• Featured events – for a small fee, organisations could feature their event on the calendar and ensure it gets maximum exposure.
• Ticket Sales – Places on courses could be booked and paid for on the GDPUK Site. GDPUK would act as a ticket agent and help an organisation with the sales of the tickets to a particular event.
• Specific Banner Adverts – There is an opportunity for a dental organisation to sponsor / associate their business with the calendar. To discuss the opportunity further please get in contact with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• For the upcoming Contract Reform Roadshow in Manchester on the 30^th Jan, the dentists attending have been registering through the GDPUK Site. This has so far attracted a few hundred registrations, a figure that is continually rising. More information can be found here about the roadshow. Feel free to register. 

Thanks for reading about the dental calendar. We hope you enjoy using the calendar. If you have any feedback about the calendar or have any further questions. Please get in touch. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To register for the largest dental community in the UK and full use of the calendar, please follow this link - https://www.gdpuk.com/forum/user/register

Blogs are an essential part of online marketing, and are an excellent way of building your practice ‘brand’ online. Not only that, but a well-run, regularly updated blog will also help to boost your ranking on Google. Search engines absolutely love new content, and blogs provide a simple and effective way to add new content and so boost your practice website’s Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

Picking your subject

Your practice blog can cover any subject matter relating to dentistry, though ideally should be geared towrads the treatments and services that you offer. Oral health topics are a great way of stimulating conversation and can also help educate patients on good oral hygiene habits. You may also choose to write on relevant stories in the press, or even practice news. All of these things help make your blog personal, and show that you and your team are real people as well as dedicated dental professionals.

Points to note

Any blog post your write should be a minimum of 350 words, supported by an image wherever possible. Your tone should be friendly yet professional, and the content you write should be unique. Never copy and paste material from another source as search engines hate duplicated text, and you will not be doing your practice brand any favours by copying material produced elsewhere.

To optimise your blog in searches it can help to include the associated keyword and location (if used) in the title as well as the body of the text. So for example if you are writing about dental implants, make sure that ‘dental implants’ features somewhere in the title. However, at the same time be careful not to overuse any particular keywords you are featuring in your blog post. Keyword stuffing is no longer an effective way of boosting search ranking and can be extremely off-putting to the reader!

Keeping things fresh

To keep your blog varied and interesting for your readers, you don’t always have to post just text and pictures. Infographics are a particularly good way of sharing information, and you could also consider adding interviews or videos to mix things up and keep your content fresh.

You might also like to consider writing blogs around testimonials. Instead of just posting a quote from a patient, why not build the testimonial into a news story about the patient’s journey to show how you helped them. You could even add in ‘before and after’ photos to support the story and show your readers the quality of the dentistry you can provide.

Get blogging!

If you haven’t set up a practice blog already, now really is the time to get one. A Google-friendly blog will not only help raise your profile online, but it will also help you to educate and engage with your patients in ways unlike ever before.

To help you make the most of your practice blog, it can be useful to work with a team of experts with experience in dental online marketing. Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ can guide you on every aspect of blogging from setting up your blog to link building, content ideas and social media.

For more information call 020 7183 8388, or visit www.dentalfocus.com

About the author:

Naz Haque aka the Scientist is SEO Project Manager at Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’. Naz has a background in mobile and network computing, and has experience supporting an A-Z range of blue chip brands from Apple to Xerox. As an expert in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Naz is passionate about helping clients build strategies to enhance their brand and increase the ROI from their dental practice websites.

Tim Caudrelier looks at how the introduction of a Non-executive or Interim Director can benefit dental practices of various size, structure and development.

Generally speaking, businesses fall into three categories, bronze, silver and gold. Those in the bronze group are the ‘Easyjets’ of the world – those who have the desire to offer their services or products at the lowest possible rate, who search for an ever-enhanced efficiency.

Gold businesses focus on being the best in whichever specific market they are in – the Virgin Atlantic’s who focus on their service / product and customers first, relying on the fact that profit will result from the quality provided.

Those in the silver group are sat in the middle, not entirely sure who their target market is, who they are serving or what their main focus should be in order to better themselves.

There are many dental practices in the UK, and indeed around the world, that express a desire to join the gold category and to become champion league practices opposed to simply increasing profitability. But in reality, there is a GAP between where they are now and where they want to or could be.

Any individual practice may believe their GAP is in their turnover or profit, but find that it is in fact in their:

• Business model
• Branding and brand standards
• Company culture
• Marketing
• Product range
• Customer relationship management
• Staff
• Or systems.

A solution to this can be the employment of a Non-executive or Interim Director.

What is Non-executive or Interim MD?

A Non-executive is a part-time role as opposed to the normal full-time Director of a company. A professional in such a role brings expertise, skills, contacts and guidance to the business, normally with the aim of driving growth, industry excellence or both.

Traditionally, larger companies have been more suitable for the concept of introducing a Non-executive. In recent years however, many smaller companies, start-ups and specifically professional practices have experienced the significant financial and performance benefits that Interim Directors can provide.

What are the benefits?

Firstly it is important to recognise that Non-executives really become a part of your existing management team, and therefore they are usually more integrated than consultants or even mentors. With their specified knowledge, broad experience and extensive professional networks, Non-executive Directors can deliver a spectrum of benefits.

• They provide crucial guidance at critical stages of business development that you may otherwise not be able to reasonably afford or financially justify.
• They fill particular skill gaps, which the owners or founders of a young company may have.
• They can help to prepare, structure and systemise your practice for efficient growth and management changes.
• They can set up the position so it is ready for the appointment of a new, permanent Managing Director.
• Having worked in this position in different businesses, Non-executives can offer sound advice when looking at proposed business plans and analysing options for growth and future investment.
• They are often more committed than business consultants or professional advisors as they frequently have a legal obligation to the business.
• They may already be a part of a network that facilitates sales, understanding the market or establishing suppliers. This can help develop strategic alliances within the profession and market sector.
• They have experience in structuring and creating performance environments specifically for dental teams to flourish.
• Remuneration for a Non-executive is often dependant on the practice’s performance, so you can be sure to get the very most from your money.

With all this in mind, a Non-executive Director should work both strategically and tactically to become the custodian of accountability within your business. Whether your practice requires a sequential approach with a narrow focus on the development of one area, or a wider and more holistic approach, Non-executives establish an effective strategy and help your business stick to it. This also involves ensuring proactive leadership, installing a suitable management structure tailored for your particular business, identifying your market positioning, promoting a clear set of brand standards and ensuring systems are in place to sustain such development.

A Non-executive does this with the desired end result in mind, consistently analysing your business’s progress and ensuring it is on the correct course at all times. In turn, this can have a very tangible effect on the growth of your business and its profitability, in a relatively short space of time. And as you can pass the responsibility onto someone else with the skills and expertise to ensure success, you can get back to what you do best – treating your patients.

For more information about 7connections contact Phillippa Goodwin on 07508 184 044 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On Thursday 5^th December, Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament. In his speech the Chancellor announced that the UK economy is to grow 1.4% this year – more than double the 0.6% predicted in March.

Though the recession has certainly been hard on many businesses, we are now starting to turn the corner and many of our clients are seeing their books filling up. As such we are in a position now where dentists can look to the future with some amount of confidence, as the economy starts to grow again, and the Chancellor has set out a number of small, but not insignificant, changes for the coming year.

Tax relief

ISA allowances will increase from £11,520 to £11,880 in April 2014. This is a relatively small inflationary increase, but one worth using. Any increase in tax relief is a good thing, and ISAs are a very tax-efficient investment. Note that half of this £11,880 can go into cash funds. This gives the guarantees and flexibilities to withdraw like a regular bank account but all the interest accrued is tax-free. It’s amazing how many dentists do not maximise their cash ISA allowances each year, and so are not taking full advantage of a very simple method of saving in a tax-efficient way.

Taxation and property

Tax avoidance was a key area of focus in this year’s Autumn Statement, and the Chancellor emphasised a renewed focus on employees posing as the self-employed. While it still remains to be seen how this will play out in dentistry, if you are unsure as to your employment status, and whether you are working within the legal framework set out by the HMRC then you should seek specialist financial advice.

Another interesting development in the Autumn Statement was the announcement that non UK-residents are to pay Capital Gains Tax on selling UK residential property. While this doesn’t necessarily directly affect dentists, it will hopefully deter more overseas investors and so in the long term, impact upon the inflated housing market in the UK. This may benefit first time buyers in the long term, and should level out the playing field when it comes to investing in property.

Business rates

The Government’s ‘small business rate relief’ scheme has been extended for a further year, while business rates have also been capped at 2% in 2014. Businesses can now also pay in 12 monthly instalments to help spread the burden, and aid in better financial management going forward.

These changes impact on 99% of dental practices in the UK, as nearly all practices are classed as ‘small businesses’ under HMRC guidance. It is quite surprising to note here that many dentists still don’t claim what they are fully entitled to in terms of business rates relief and other related schemes. For example if you own your dental practice freehold you can claim capital allowances on wiring, cabling, sanitation and so on up to a value of £250,000. This isn’t some obscure tax avoidance scheme – this is just following the HMRC rules. If you buy a dental chair then you can take account of this in your finances. After all, it’s a business expense, and a Chartered tax advisory firm can help you to do this.

Further points of note

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is weighty document. At 130 pages, there are a lot of points covered, and some more relevant to dentists than others. To help you fully understand the impact of the Autumn Statement, and make the most of your finances, it can pay to use to services of a specialist Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), with experience directly within dentistry.

There are a number of companies out there, but not all are experienced in the unique needs that the dental profession brings. As a dentist you will likely earn a large amount of money over the course of your career. With the services of a specialist IFA you can make your money go further and work more efficiently for you.

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

This period of low interest rates in the UK combined with changes in society and demographics have had some long term effects which are far from coming to roost. Since the financial collapses of 2008, UK Government policies have been to minimize the economic shock; people have been protected by saving the banks from failure and also by continuing low interest rates. 

History tells us that economic policies designed to insulate from short term shock tend to come with a long term consequences. But no-one has thought about a cohort affected more badly by this economic effect, hard working young adults. They have to deal with high property prices and high rents, less secure employment together with rock bottom interest rates if they manage to save, but high interest rates if they have credit card or pay day debts.

Will there be friction between the younger generation whose lives are markedly different from their parents in so many ways? There hasn't been a revolution or even a rebellion, just a combination of changes of circumstance in society at large – greater access to further education, starting careers later on average, starting families later, so many important aspects of life have been shifted by a few years.

One piece of good economic news in the UK, along with growth of the economy, has been the gradual fall in the employment rate in late 2013 and early 2014. However, in UK dentistry, this seems to be in reverse, through unintended consequences, and the combination of many seemingly unaccountable people acting in what they think is the right way, but having a terrible effect on the lives of young dental graduates.

In our dental profession we are now seeing, possibly for the first time in history, unemployment of newly qualified dental professionals. What is now known as the Dental Foundation Training [DF1] scheme, which was commenced as an educational process to help young graduates move to the pressures of working as a trusted professional from those of a dental student. This scheme has now, over many years, become a requirement that dental graduates must complete before they can do any work within the NHS. They have to have a "performer number", obtained by joining then completing this scheme. 

Interestingly, graduates of dentistry from the EU do not have to gain this requirement in order to work in the NHS. However, in the present national foundation dentistry scheme, EU dental graduates have equal standing with UK graduates, and each year some of those from the UK miss out, and cannot work. They may reapply but can only enter the recruitment process twice. After that, if they fail to get through an interview and psychometric assessments, they can have no future career in NHS dentistry EVER.

In the interview process which started in November 2013, with results issued in mid January with no fanfare nor press release, it is estimated [and this is a SHOCKING figure] that more than 10% of UK dental graduates have been left with no employment next summer when they graduate.

What a waste of studying, hours of hard work and sacrifice. Students these days live from loans, those qualifying presently have student debts around £30,000 with potentially no prospect of working in dentistry. Last year, tuition fees rose to £9,000 per annum, so those qualifying soon will have debts of £60,000 or more, yet carry this risk of not having a job when they pass their university examinations and graduate. A further insult is the 18 month rule, where applicants have two chances to apply and go through the process. If then unsuccessful, the artificial rule that bars them from following their career in the UK adds to the injustice.

In addition, this pre-judgment of their chance of a career is insulting and morale sapping, to say the least, before even sitting for their final exams, which seems to relegate those exams, which are the true arbiter of whom is fit to practice, not this FD1 assessment.

Dental colleagues rightly ask where is the British Dental Association in all this? Cannot the dental schools do something – teams of staff there must be angrier than GDPs. And what about COPDEND, who administer this – you must know what is going on? Why can someone take the problem by the horns and change something to benefit UK dental graduates and exclude EU nationals qualifying elsewhere in the EU? Even if you believe there is a risk of breaking an EU law, surely that is better than wrecking the careers and morale of hundreds of young dentists, prejudging the results of their university finals?

The inter-generational friction I referred to earlier might surface in the dental school. Morale must have been affected by this unjust system, university staff must feel that action must be taken for the sake of those they educate. 

This is now the third year of this disastrous situation – something must be done, someone must take responsibility, and make the system fair for UK dental students.

1. COPDEND DF1 Policy statement: http://www.copdend.org/content.aspx?Group=foundation&Page=foundation_policystatement
2. GDPUK forum discussion: https://www.gdpuk.com/forum/gdpuk-forum/vt-national-recruitment-process-opens-9971 [this page requires a GDPUK login]

Dentistry has changed an awful lot in the last few years, and not least in the way we market our services to the general public. Most dental practices now have their own website, and many will also have social media pages where team members can interact with patients in ways like never before. But while the internet has clearly had many positive repercussions in the way we market our practices, it has also had a number of important consequences as well. This includes a shift in the way the public perceive our profession, and the value the public place in the services we have to offer.

Commoditisation culture

Anyone who is anyone these days will know that the internet is literally teeming with online retailers all trying to ‘out do’ each other to offer the most choice and the best value possible. The success of Amazon and the slow demise of the high street bookstore is but one example of how online retailers are fast become the go-to place for the best offers and the cheapest products.

But it doesn’t just stop with online stores. The internet is now the place to find the lowest prices for just about anything at all. Even insurance is a massive area of competition on the internet now, and I am sure colleagues will be familiar with the advertising campaigns that have been run by the likes of Compare the Market, Go Compare and Confused.

While of course there is nothing wrong with people trying to save money where they can, the problem arises when you consider the impact that this price-driven buying culture is having on dentistry. Quite simply our profession, and the services that we offer are becoming commoditised, and our patients are being encouraged to mistake price with value and quality.

Finding the real value in dentistry

If any proof was needed of the ‘commoditisation’ of dentistry, I recently stumbled upon a newly launched website: CompareMySmile.com. As you may expect, CompareMySmile does exactly as its name suggests – it allows members of the public to compare price estimates for dental treatment in locations across the UK. So, your average Joe Public can log on, type ‘Veneers in London’ and they will then receive a list of quotes from registered practices in the area.

To most dentists, the problems with CompareMySmile would seem clear. On one level, it pampers to the misconception that good dentistry is just a numbers game. If I can do a root canal treatment for £X and you can do a root canal for £200 less, then clearly the patient will opt to have the treatment with you and not me. After all, your treatment is cheaper, so if the product is identical then one is better value and the other a rip-off.

The worrying thing here is that many patients really do believe this to be the case. They don’t appreciate the value to be found in good dental treatment; nor do they understand the simple fact that not all dentists are the same, and not all dentists can provide the same standard of care.

As you would expect, CompareMySmile makes no attempt to dispel this myth. However it does go to great lengths to assure patients that the treatment they will receive will be of the highest quality. On the ‘Our Dentists’ page it clearly states that all its members must meet ‘strict criteria to ensure that only the UK’s most reputable practices become part of the CompareMySmile.com family’. These criteria require that dentists: 1) Are registered with the GDC, 2) Have completed 1 year’s accredited private or hospital based training, and 3) Have completed at least 75 hours of verifiable CPD in the last 5 years. I think these strict criteria speak for themselves!

Still plenty of work to do

As a profession, clearly we still have an awful lot more work to do. While websites such as CompareMySmile and GroupOn encourage patients to look at our work in purely financial terms, our efforts should be directed to showing patients what real value in dentistry is – that teeth are just too valuable to be treated as something that can be bought and sold.

Good dentistry is – and always will be – about forming strong professional relationships with our patients, understanding their needs and providing the very best standard of care possible. We are, at our heart, a caring profession, and if we let price become the determining factor in what we do, then that relationship will slowly start to fade.

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. 

For the last six decades, Eschmann has proven its dedication to the dental and medical community through extensive product research and development.

Its brand new autoclave, the LittleSister SES 3000B, has recently been trialled in 12 dental practices and facilities across the UK, in order to assess how the equipment performs in realistic dental environments.

Decontamination Technician at The University of Portsmouth Dental Academy, Michael Tyler, says: “This was a great piece of equipment for the students to have access to – the display interface was clear, it was very user-friendly during operation and with regards to maintenance, its design made identifying potential errors easy, and it handled a full load effectively and without problem.

“Having worked with them in the past, the team at Eschmann are always highly receptive and genuinely interested in the feedback we provide. We are very much looking forward to using the new autoclave with the students going forward.”

Now offering a complete solution with the new essential range of cleaning and disinfection products, you need look no further than Eschmann for all your infection control needs.

For more information please visit www.eschmann.co.uk, or call 01903 753322

As we move through the start of the year, the cheers of the New Year celebrations probably seem a distant memory. The great Oprah Winfrey calls the event “another chance for us to get it right”, and many people will have done the time-honoured commitment of making resolutions – perhaps to lose weight or give up smoking – but by now, many of those well-intentioned pledges will have been broken.

However, one resolution worth making, and sticking to, is ensuring your finances are in order. Financial planning is especially important when you are running a business, whatever the situation. Indeed, it is just as easy for a new company to rush ahead and overlook financial necessities, as it is for an established one to become complacent and lose sight of monetary efficiency.

Planning for the year ahead

The dental practice is no different from any other business and requires the same degree of consideration, and, as the new tax year looms, now is the ideal time to take stock and create that chance to “get it right”.

Maximising your personal and business tax-efficiency is certainly a good place to begin. With the 2013/14 tax year is almost over, now is the time to start planning for the year ahead. After all, the tax situation for you and your practice can change over time, so it is important to review all allowances, expenses and exemptions to ensure that each is being utilised to the full.

Points to consider

All salaries and investments are taxable above a certain level, but there are a variety of investment vehicles to choose from that are tax-efficient within the UK, depending on circumstances. This includes the Individual Savings Account (ISA) for individuals, which allows tax-free interest on savings.

Pensions are a hot topic now, especially with the Government’s new Workplace Pension scheme. If you have not already set up a pension scheme for your practice, it is important to find out when this will become obligatory for your business. Apart from the obvious end-value to an individual, pensions can also be tax efficient, as contributions attract tax relief not only for the member, but may also do so for the employer if they contribute.

In the main, the dental industry falls outside the scope of VAT, however purchases still attract the tax. With sole traders and partnerships taxed as individuals, it could be time to review the trading structure of your practice.

Insurance is another area to consider. Insurance cover is the foundation of sound financial planning.  While life, vehicle and property cover are obviously essential, protecting your income in the event of you being unable to work through sickness, injury or accident, is equally important.

Once your fundamental financial situation is sorted, you may care to think about more advanced forms of investment such as buying and selling shares. These “speculative” products can provide high rewards and offer excellent tax breaks, but they can also be more volatile and represent a high degree of risk.

Specialist advice

Clearly there are many facets to financial planning and it can be a complicated undertaking, fraught with danger for the unwary or inexperienced. If you feel that your finances are getting beyond your capability, or you are looking for more advanced products, it is time to call on a professional for help. The provision of financial advice is strictly regulated in the UK, so all advisers are highly qualified, highly trained individuals, able to look at your situation in an impartial way.

There are various types of financial adviser you can call on. However, only an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) will be in a position to look across the whole market to find the financial products that best suit your needs. They will look at your financial circumstances as a whole, consider your existing situation, your objectives for the future, and ascertain any existing or potential problems. They will then make suggestions for products based on any gaps they identify in your provision.

Many IFAs will focus on particular industries, so it is important you find an IFA with experience in the dental sector. money4dentists is one such company with a strong reputation for providing advice and guidance to those working in the dental profession. A member of the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists since 2004, and with over half a century of experience, the Birmingham-based company has an extensive understanding of the particular challenges faced by the profession.

Helping you reach your goals

In addition to providing a range of guides to help you manage your own finances, a specialist IFA can also offer a number of other services to help you reach your financial goals. These may include advanced financial planning and debt management through to preparing for retirement. They can advise on matters such as mortgages and loans, investments, and tax efficiency, and help you make the most of your money.

Financial planning is important at any time, but the New Year can give you the impetuous you need to “get it right”. Taking stock of your situation makes good business sense, and with the support of an IFA, especially one that specialises in your industry, you can be confident you are making the best decisions for the year ahead.

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 Social Media Phenomenon

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Around two years ago I wrote my first book called How Your Practice Can Survive The Recession, there is a section in it about Social Media, which I was somewhat dismissive of.

I have recently updated the book for several reasons but one of the most important reasons was that Social Media has now moved firmly into the mainstream of business and because of this, all dental practices need to take it very seriously.

My business now receives around 15% of all the enquiries I receive from either Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin, this is a massive change from just twelve months ago. Thats quite staggering, a year ago I could count the number of leads from Social Media on one hand, all that has now changed

It is also a fact that 50% of the U.K population spends at least one hour per day on Facebook. This creates a huge opportunity for your business, both advertising and posting in in general.

I regularly speak with my clients about the opportunities of Social Media and whether or not they should be active in this area, the answer is always a resounding yes.

However there is a problem, in order to have a healthy Social Media presence means you have to be active pretty much every day, its no point trying to get people to “Like” your page if you never put anything on it, and the majority of practices don’t, for one simple reason they simply don’t have the time.

So whilst Facebook, Twitter, Google Circles and LinkedIn may be free to use, they take up a great deal of time and that is the one thing that the majority of dental practices simply don’t have.

So you could give the task to one of your employees, but are you sure that (a) they will post items that are suitable and (b) will they have the time to post on Facebook and Twitter too as well as doing all the other tasks they have to achieve.

So you have a dilemma, you know that you should be regularly communicating with your patients and potential patients via social media, but neither you or your staff have the time to do it!

That’s where my company can help. Until recently I simply told my clients that they should be posting regularly on social media, but didn’t have a solution to the problem of creating the time to do so.

I can now offer a service to any dental practice, or indeed any company involved in the dental profession, whereby we will post on social media sites at least two times per day, Monday to Friday, to find out more about this unique service, go to my website http://www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk/social-media-dentists/ and you will be able to watch a video where we tell you exactly what we can offer you in this area.

I don’t know of any other organisation that offers this social media service, I suspect we may well be a trail blazer in this area.

So don’t waste any more time visit http://www.dentalmarketingexpert.co.uk/social-media-dentists/

Best Regards

Neil

If you would like us to increase your patient numbers, revenues and profits call me on 01767 626 398 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.