At the recent BDTA Showcase, we had some great meetings with potential advertisers. The GDPUK Team really enjoyed exhibiting at the show, it was a great experience, something we would like to repeat.

Last week, I sent a number of follow up emails after the Show and made phone calls. By the end of the busy week, I started thinking about why companies from the dental trade should advertise with GDPUK and why we should be part of their marketing plan. I have to admit, it is not a question I have thought enough about but over the weekend, I got my thinking cap on.

So this weekend, after my feet and body had recovered from Showcase, I started to think about the question in the subject line, below are 8 reasons that GDPUK can be used as an effective marketing tool, please feel free to add to them and hopefully we can get a feel for what we are doing well or not offering enough of! All feedback would be appreciated!

1.    We have thousands of members using the site every day – GDPUK is the largest online community of dentists in the UK. Dentists proactively look for information on GDPUK to inform their decisions.

2.    Target Audience – If you want Dentists as customers, we can prove that your target audience is using the GDPUK site every day

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

4.    Word of Mouth. The UK’s most influential dentists will talk about your brand on the forum – Create the right message on GDPUK and this will spread to other social media sites, creating improved awareness and recognition of your brand.

5.    Benefit from our knowledge of the Dental Profession – We’ve been around for over 15 years, we understand how dentists think and react, this means we are well placed to support you with your aims and we can share our insight into the dental profession.

6.    Marketing on the site can be done in a number of ways; introduce a new product, improve brand awareness, special "GDPUK" offers, data collection, sample requests, focus groups

7.    Accountability. We give our partners, a full report on the number of clicks received every week, plus the number of impressions the ad receives. This is an effective way to see how the ad performs.

8.    Adaptability. Unlike in the printed media, ads can be changed; partners can experiment with a number of messages over the period they have booked.

No matter what business or industry you’re in, if you deal with Dentists, then GDPUK has to be part of your marketing plan. Social Media is now part of the dental landscape and it’s important that you can get your message across and be part of the discussion.

By reading this, we hope you now get a better understanding of how we can help with your marketing plans, if you would like to know more, please get in This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Jonny on 07786571547. 

NEW Advanced Defence Gum Treatment cuts gingival bleeding by 50.9% (p<0.001) in just 4 weeks when used after brushing¹.

Johnson & Johnson is pleased to announce the launch of Advanced Defence Gum Treatment, the newest mouthwash in a range that addresses specific oral care conditions.

Plaque is the major cause of gum disease^2,3. Used as an adjunct to mechanical cleaning, Advanced Defence Gum Treatment helps to treat gum disease, as it is formulated with LAE (Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate) technology, which forms a physical coating on the pellicle to prevent bacteria from accessing and attaching to the pellicle proteins, interrupting plaque biofilm formation and maturation¹.

An alternative to chlorhexidine-based remedies, this twice-daily mouthwash is clinically proven to treat gum disease as an adjunct to mechanical cleaning. It has been shown to significantly reduce gum disease at 2 weeks (p<0.001) and cut gingival bleeding by 50.9% (p<0.001) in just 4 weeks¹.  

In addition, Advanced Defence Gum Treatment is designed not to cause staining⁴ and has a crisp mint taste.

The arrival of Advanced Defence Gum Treatment mouthwash strengthens the Advanced Defence range from Johnson & Johnson Limited, which includes Advanced Defence Sensitive and Advanced Defence Cavity Guard.

For more information on LISTERINE® Advanced Defence Gum Treatment, please contact Johnson & Johnson Limited on 0800 328 0750 or visit http://listerine.co.uk/products/advanced-defence-gum.

ENDS  

References:

1. Bleeding Index Reduction DOF 1 - 2013 (LAEBBA0001)

2. The pathogenesis of human periodontitis: an introduction. Page RC, Kornman KS. Periodontology 2000 1997; 14: 9-11.

3. http://periobasics.com/?p=1022. Accessed 26 September 2013

4. DOF 2 - 2013 (UNKPLT0006)

UK/LI/13-2141

So.. its all over. That’s it for another year.  

Farewell BDTA Showcase ....   Sadly true

Farewell BDA problems. ....   Sadly untrue

I find myself intrigued by the numbers. About 4000 dentists attend, and about 14000 ‘others’. It seems there is a massive networking opportunity here, and perfectly positioned at the centre of the country, and yet barely 20% of owner dentists attend. I wonder what would make it a “MUST” – maybe a GDC standard?

To those of you who did indeed support our industry, well done.  Your investment in the future of good dentistry, at your risk, using your money [well maybe with a little help from a finance company] speaks volumes for the ethics of dentists.  If you did not make that purchase decision, perhaps you were put off by a pushy salesman who reckoned he or she knew it all?

When the new Government contract comes around, you will be fully IT’d up … won’t you?  Do it now, build your IT Ark  BEFORE the storm.

It was also of course an opportunity for some big organisations to get down and dirty. 

The GDC stand saw a steady  passing of interested people, many of them DCPs …  I wonder if like me you feel nervous going up to them – should you be anonymous just in case?  Can they really call you to account for just ‘having a go’ at the stand? I sincerely hope not.

GDPUK of course ‘trailblazingly’ set the standard for shiny shoes - but I never did find an answer to how to get shiny white crocs in the surgery!  It was THE place to meet and chat though.  If there was a centre to the Showcase, the GDPUK stand was it.  Just like it’s the centre of open opinion now. And if you have one, about anything, please come online and jot it down.

Talking of pushy salesmen, the BDA missed a trick in Birmingham, choosing instead to simply whip up a bit of spin with their racket by issuing yet another “All part of the grand plan” statement, care of the Chief Executive and PEC Chairman.  Good on you, lads.

Dodgy salesmen eh? You can smell that reptilian oil from a mile off.

With thanks to Matt at The Telegraph for the image. The original may be found at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/?cartoon=10371411&cc=10345727

Delegates impressed by Nuview’s innovative products at BDTA Dental Showcase 2013

Delegates at this year’s BDTA Dental Showcase were impressed by the innovative products displayed by Nuview. Visitors had the chance to experience the superior quality of advanced visualisation systems such as the Carl Zeiss OPMI Pico and Pro Ergo dental operating microscopes.

The name Carl Zeiss is known across the world for its high quality products. Its range of microscopes and loupes offer the highest precision, which vastly improves clinical results in all areas, not just endodontics. The OPMI Pico microscope has been ergonomically, ensuring clinicians can work with a healthy posture.

Also showcased at the event was Nuview’s range of Continu infection control solutions. Continu is a fully HTM01-05 compliant water based solution that achieves a 99.999% reduction of harmful microorganisms in under 30 seconds. The range includes surface disinfectants, instrument and equipment cleaners, as well as hand cleaning solutions.

Carl Zeiss microscopes and loupes are sold exclusively in the UK by Nuview.

For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.nuview.co

Toothpick.com has recently been announced as one of this year’s entries in the Smarta Top 100 Business Awards. Launched in November 2012, the company has been acknowledged within the Top 10 ‘Most Innovative Businesses’ category.

In partnership with O2, The Smarta 100 Awards (http://www.smarta.com) aims to celebrate innovation and finds the best 100 businesses in the UK. This year’s entrepreneur judges of the Top 100 include Ben Dowd (Business Director, O2), Holly Tucket MBE (Co-Founder and CEO, Notonthehighstreet.com) and Piers Linney (Dragons’ Den and CEO, Outsourcery).

As the only dental-focused business to be included within this category, Toothpick.com has been recognised for strongly supporting the growth of dental practices within the UK with an aim to provide transparent access to patients with a live online booking system.

All the winners of Smarta 100 have been invited to the awards ceremony, taking place in central London mid-November. The overall Business of the Year and winner of the £10,000 grand prize will be announced on the night alongside the winners of each category.

To put online dental appointment booking on the map place your vote here http://www.smarta.com/smarta100/2013/toothpick/

For more information about Toothpick visit www.toothpick.com/get-listed, call 020 77681851 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Facebook: /ToothpickDental

Twitter: @toothpick

The team at JETPIK is excited to announce its brand new Smart Floss unit will be on show at the BSDHT’s Oral Health Conference & Exhibition on 15 and 16 November at ICC in Birmingham.

As a special deal for BSDHT delegates, JETPIK is being offered at a 50% discount throughout the event.

Offering an unbeatable cleaning action that pulsates 20 times per second to tackle stubborn areas, laboratory tests show that JETPIK Smart Floss is twice as effective at removing plaque biofilm from human teeth as a high pressure water irrigator.

The ‘Go-with-Water’ design of JETPIK combines the essential power of floss with clinically proven water and air irrigation to allow floss to reach all areas of the mouth, even below the gum line and between teeth.

JETPIK Smart Floss improves overall oral health and assists in combating gum disease. In addition, for patients who wear braces, JETPIK offers the ideal oral hygiene solution.

JETPIK was launched in the UK last month at Dental Showcase, where the team on the stand was kept busy demonstrating its benefits.

Commenting on the launch, Richard Van Peebles, JETPIK’s Business Development Manager, said: ‘We were delighted by the turnout, and we’d like to thank everyone who visited us. Next on the agenda is the BSDHT event, where we’re very much looking forward to showing delegates why JETPIK is so special.’

To see JETPIK in action for yourself, please visit their stand.

For further information, please visit www.jetpik.co.uk or call 01268 544588.

Raise Money at the Ice White Charity Xmas Party!

The Ice White Charity Xmas Party is back! Bigger and better for 2013, Dr Nilesh R. Parmar invites you all to jump on board HMS President, permanently moored along London's Embankment, on Sat 14th December 2013 and help raise money for this year’s charity - Operation Christmas Child (OCC).

Following the success of last year’s inaugural?event, which saw hundreds gather to?celebrate the start of the festive season and raise money for charity, Nilesh is excited to see the return of the Ice White Party. This year you can expect all of the same entertainment plus much more, as Ice White promises plenty of champagne to sip, live entertainment and the return of the raffle, where guests can win some fantastic generously donated prizes. Plus, there’s an after party ‘til 4am at Carriage 34, a new members club near Waterloo.

OCC is the world’s largest children’s Christmas project, run by the charity “Samaritan’s Purse”; sending gift-filled shoeboxes around the world to underprivileged children. Despite the abundance of shoeboxes sent to OCC each year, the shipping donation of £3 is often forgotten. Nilesh commented, “All funds raised at the Ice White Charity Xmas Party will go towards shipping costs. So if we raise £3,000, that’s 1000 shoeboxes we can help send to children in more than 150 countries and help them experience the true joy of Christmas.”

Kindly sponsored by Digimax, Manan Ltd, NSK, Enlighten, Quick Straight Teeth, Navigation Wealth Management, Bredent, The Riverbanks Clinic and Genuine Solutions Group, tickets to this exclusive event are £10. Don’t miss out... reserve your space on the Facebook event page or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and don’t forget to wear white (or silver)!

Donations are greatly appreciated and can be made on the night or via the Just Giving website https://www.justgiving.com/icewhitexmasparty2013

A quantum leap in curing light technology

Kerr is delighted to announce the launch of the Demi™ Ultra LED Ultracapacitor Curing Light System at the BDTA Dental Showcase on Stand N14.

Representing the latest technological advancement in dental curing from the Kerr Demi™ brand, it is the first curing light to free dentists from both batteries and cords, while offering the unmatched performance and reliability of a Demetron curing light.

Committed to providing the very best for its customers, Kerr asked potential purchasers what they were looking for in a new curing light. In line with the responses, the product offers:

• A non-degrading power source

• Battery-free and cordless operation

• Rapid recharge in 40 seconds or less

• Uniform depth of cure

• Low heat generation without compromising cure time (C.U.R.E. ™ technology)

• Simple and intuitive operation and maintenance

• Unit swap should failure occur

• Warranty extension

• Accidental damage cover.

For more information, please call Kerr on 01733 892292, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

http://www.kerrdental.com/kerrdental-curinglight-demi-ultra

or visit www.kerrdental.co.uk

Food for thought from the Bank of England:

In the week where the UK dental industry was tied up at the NEC, the Chief Economist of the Bank of England gave a question and answer session to the world using the medium of Twitter. It appears he made a good job of it. Some commentators criticised the fact that the answers were standard PR fare, but others realised he did, in fact, release some crucial financial information.

Other companies in the world of high finance feel forced by their regulators to only release critical news via official channels. Twitter does not count as "official".

So did the Bank of England break its own and other regulator's rules? Newspapers were once new, as were radio and TV, the world realised these were tools of communication, and engaged with those media.

Let's turn to the consumer field, where large retail and customer facing companies use Twitter and other social media to enhance their customer service operations. They have teams of people, sometimes responding 24/7, to show that they are giving the best customer service and that they are listening. Ask a few people at Dental Showcase, I did, and they all have a story. "My train was cancelled, I had paid through the nose in advance, and I missed a very important meeting, what will the railway operator do about it?" Or " My heating is broken, we have a small baby, an engineer to fix our heating in seven days time is not good enough".

Do have a look in the social media - those two comments are only a small example of the complaints aired daily, and addressed to the relevant companies. In those cases Virgin Trains and British Gas did reply, and fixed the problems rapidly. The responding company hopes the complainant returns to the same social medium to say how great the service recovery was.

So, back to dentistry.

Dental practices and their teams do face the social media and partake, they take the risk that a complaint may be aired, but they know they must respond to this, and respond seriously.

However, some of the dental industry are scared of GDPUK, on whose website you are reading this blog. GDPUK gives dental professionals a platform to tell their colleagues [and only that limited group]  when they have had great service, and that sort of comment is rewarded by a magnified, greater uptake of that service. I know this is a true fact.

As well as sharing all sorts of news, information, questions and experiences, some dental professionals use GDPUK to tell their colleagues when they feel they have had bad service. Sometimes the complaint is only about what is perceived as poor service. The effect of this can be magnified, in the world of the isolated dental professional, when two or three other fellow professionals appear and confirm they too have had the same less than perfect experience. This is the power of the internet in the modern world, we all know it allows us to rapidly compare prices, compare services, and read reviews. Surely the winning technique for the dental companies, and other small businesses the world over, is to monitor those media, and if a problem occurs, respond in that medium, and try your best to give the best service possible. This could be a winning formula and may lead to positive results, and positive feedback, which in turn will create more sales.

I am convinced the modern companies who adopt this approach will be the winners in the long term. Censorship cannot win, but open-ness will.

Refs:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/bank-of-england/10388036/Bank-of-Englands-chief-economist-says-2014-rate-rise-very-unlikely-in-AskBoE-Twitter-chat.htm

Blog image by Gord Fynes, @gordasm. With thanks.

Dental Focus ® draws the crowds at the BDTA Dental Showcase

The team from Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ proved a hit at this year’s Dental Showcase, with delegates keen to find out how to make the most of their dental website marketing.

Dental Focus ® CEO Krishan Joshi aka the Master was joined by his trusted team of marketing experts including Naz aka the Scientist, and Alfie aka the Guru.

With over 12 years’ experience in dentistry, the Dental Focus ® team are renowned for creating powerful, compliant websites that work, with many sites now featuring Google friendly blogs, fast-action mobile websites and LIVE appointment booking.

With 538 dental websites already to their name, the Dental Focus ® team pride themselves on providing trusted, reliable results to help put your dental practice well and truly on the Google map.

To find out more about how you too can make your practice website a success, contact the team from Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ today.

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

The Dental Directory impresses delegates at the BDTA Dental Showcase 2013

The UK’s largest dental dealer The Dental Directory did not disappoint at the BDTA Dental Showcase, offering a wide range of practice solutions with surgery furniture, sundries and larger pieces of clinical equipment, including digital imaging.

The stand also included an impressive display of working chair packages and a decontamination area complete with Prestige Medical washer disinfectors and autoclaves.

This year’s event also saw the launch of The Dental Directory’s brand-new “Win a Mini for 2014” promotion, run in partnership with DENTSPLY. With a deadline of 17.00 on the 20^th December 2013, delegates were excited to find out how they could be in with a chance to win one of the most desirable small cars on the market today.

The prize draw is open to Dental Professionals that are residents of Great Britain (being England, Wales and Scotland). Full terms and conditions apply, available upon request. To find out more visit: www.dental-directory.co.uk.

As the independently verified best priced dental dealer, The Dental Directory is the UK’s leading supplier of dental materials, equipment and sundries. With a range of innovative products at affordable prices, The Dental Directory stand was a fantastic showcase for the very best dental products on offer today. The Dental Directory stand also offered a haven for all delegates with complimentary refreshments in the purpose-built Hospitality Suite.

The Independently Verified Best Priced Dealer!

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on

0800 585 586, or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

Delegates learnt with DENTSPLY at the BDTA Dental Showcase 2013

DENTSPLY gave delegates at this year’s BDTA: Dental Showcase the chance to attend a series of lectures and hands on sessions presented by some of dentistry’s leading names.

Across the three-day event delegates had the chance to discover some of DENTSPLY’s innovative products and find out how they can be effectively put to use in a dental practice. The sessions proved so popular they were standing room only.

Thursday’s sessions focused on preventive treatments and were presented by Mel Prebble and members of the DENTSPLY team, including Steve Clarke of DENTSPLY’s UK Service Centre, who demonstrated the best methods of maintaining a Cavitron® ultrasonic scaling unit and its inserts.

The Friday and Saturday sessions focused on restorative and endodontic dentistry, with classes led by Dr. Ian Cline and Dr. Mike Horrocks. These gave delegates the chance to learn more about DENTSPLY’s endodontic file systems, WaveOne™ and ProTaper Next™, as well as Ceram.X nano-ceramic composite.

DENTSPLY is committed to the continual development of dental clinicians’ abilities and the popularity of this year’s sessions at the BDTA Dental Showcase affirmed how highly valued DENTSPLY’s training is by dental clinicians.

Contact us at www.dentsply.co.uk or 0800 072 3313

Earn rewards against purchases at www.dentsplyrewards.co.uk

Access webinars and products demonstrations and earn CPD at www.dentsplyacademy.co.uk

DENTSPLY impresses with ProTaper Nextä at BDTA: Dental Showcase

DENTSPLY was the talk of this year’s BDTA: Dental Showcase, with many delegates keen to find out more about its new endodontic file system, ProTaper Nextä.

Visitors to the DENTSPLY stand were impressed with the features that make ProTaper Next stand out from other endodontic files, particularly its unique swaggering movement. This motion is due to the file’s patented, off-centred, rectangular cross section which creates a larger space for the removal of debris, whilst also optimising canal tracking and reducing binding.

Delegates were also interested to learn about SDR®, the perfect companion to ProTaper Next, a Smart Dentine Replacement bulk fill material indicated for core build-up, designed to save time and successfully restore an endodontic treatment.

Members of the DENTSPLY team were on hand to discuss any questions or queries that delegates had.

Contact us at dentsply.co.uk or 0800 072 3313

Earn Rewards against purchases at dentsplyrewards.co.uk

Access webinars and product demonstrations and earn CPD at dentsplyacademy.co.uk

On the 12th October, guests gathered at the exclusive “Eight” private members club in the City for the inaugural Burmaball. The ball, which organisers hope will become an annual fundraising event, was organised in aid of Burmadent, the dental charity set up to help dental volunteers provide care to the people of Burma.

The ‘Burmaball’ has been 10 months in the planning, ever since dentist Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen and his wife Sharon Bierer returned from their first trip, during which they provided dental care to 1200 orphans and local people in the area of Lake Inle.

During this trip, Henrik and Sharon, who were accompanied by Lesley Naismith, support manager at Software of Excellence, had the idea for the Burmaball and on their return they enlisted the help of fellow Charity trustee Brian Weatherly (President, Software of Excellence).

10 months later, with 140 guests and a long waiting list for tickets, Sharon feels the effort has all been worthwhile. “Our aim was to raise awareness of the charity and its aims. We were also keen to raise enough money to cover the cost of a mobile unit, which will enable volunteers to bring desperately needed dentistry to the more remote tribal peoples.”

The black tie event was an eclectic mix of glamour and tradition, with Burmese dancers providing a traditional welcome for guest of honour Burmese Deputy Ambassador, Daw Ei Ei Tin and Syed Kamall, the MEP for London and Master of Ceremonies. Games, an auction and a raffle, featuring some amazing prizes such as holidays in Portugal and Italy, helped to keep the donations flowing and following a sumptuous south east Asian dinner, the evening concluded with dancing until the small hours, to music provided by Brian Weatherly’s band ‘The Viceroys’ and a professional DJ.

There are three separate trips already booked up until December, Burmadent is growing into a successful and influential dental charity. The Burmaball will only help in disseminating this message throughout the profession.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with Burmadent or wishing to donate to the Charity, please visit www.burmadent.com

Win a Mini Cooper for 2014!!!

The Dental Directory, in association with DENTSPLY, is offering two lucky customers the chance to win a brand new Mini Cooper for delivery in early 2014.

Spend £250 (excl VAT) on a single order of DENTSPLY products* between the BDTA Dental Showcase (17^th October) and 5pm on the  20^th December for your chance to win. 

Simply place your order of DENTSPLY products through The Dental Directory’s:

-         Telesales team.

-         Local Business Consultant.

-         On The Dental Directory website: www.dental-directory.co.uk

Or order from your DENTSPLY Sales Representative or on the DENTSPLY Rewards Website: www.dentsplyrewards.co.uk (as long as your order is billed through The Dental Directory you will automatically be entered into the draw).

For even more chances to win a Mini Cooper, visit The Dental Directory (G22, H14/15) or DENTSPLY (G07) stands at the BDTA Dental Showcase 2013.

For every £500 you spend during the BDTA Dental Showcase only, you will receive not two, but three entries for the exciting prize draw.

It could be you driving away with one of the most iconic cars ever made, so make sure you don’t miss out.

The prize draw is open to Dental Professionals that are residents of Great Britain (being England, Wales and Scotland). Full terms and conditions apply, available upon request. Competition closes at 17.00 on the 20^th December.

* Excluding anaesthetics and pharmaceuticals and Terms and Conditions on application

 The Independently Verified Best Priced Dealer!

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on

0800 585 586, or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk.

DPAS walks for charity

Over twenty representatives from DPAS put their best foot forward on 29 September when they took part in the 10km Mouth Cancer Awareness Walk 2013. The team included members from all departments, including the majority of the management team.

The event, now in its 8^th year, saw Team DPAS join many other fundraisers for a 10km walk around Hyde Park in order to raise awareness of the symptoms of head and neck cancers. In total, over 600 people took part and Team DPAS managed to raise over £1,200, with donations still being received.

Sam Brice, Marketing Manager at DPAS, said: “Mouth Cancer kills one person every 3 hours in the UK because of late detection. The work that the Mouth Cancer Foundation is doing in terms of education about screening and public awareness of the symptoms is tremendous and such a high profile event can only help to create a better understanding of the disease. DPAS is proud to be associated with this organisation.”

To add your donation to this worthwhile cause, visit the DPAS fundraising page: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TeamDPAS

For more information on the Mouth Cancer Foundation, visit: http://www.mouthcancerfoundation.org/

@dpas_ltd

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the BACD Annual Conference – an exciting three-day event designed to offer the very best in education for all members of the dental team. This year’s Annual Conference will take place on the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th November at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, and will include a packed lecture schedule featuring some of the most highly regarded names from across the dental profession.

On Saturday 9^th November, delegates can look forward to an extended lecture from the event’s keynote speaker Dr Galip Gurel. In his presentation, “Esthetic Dentistry in the Digital Era” Dr Gurel will investigate minimally invasive approaches in modern dentistry, and will examine how to make best use of digital technologies to improve communication between team members for the best treatment outcomes.

Introducing Dr Galip Gurel

For many years now Dr Gurel has been recognised as a leading figure in dentistry, and has a long list of honours to his name. He is the founder and the honorary President of EDAD (Turkish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry) and he was the President of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED) in both 2011 and 2012. He is a visiting professor at three universities: New York University (USA), Marseille Dental University (France), and Istanbul Yeditepe University (Turkey). He is also author of “The Science and Art of Porcelain Laminate Veneers” which was published in 2003, and has been translated into 10 different languages.

Away from his academic career, Dr Gurel also runs a private dental clinic in Istanbul, which he established in 1984. It has grown significantly over the years, and is now a large practice group employing a mix of specialists, associates and two different in-house laboratories, with a team of 34 people.

Esthetic Dentistry in the Modern Era

“In today’s dentistry, correct diagnosis followed by one of the selected treatment plans has prime importance,” says Dr Gurel. “Most of the time it necessitates a highly focussed team approach to execute the treatment. There are many different people involved in the treatment process – dentists, specialists, technicians – so it is important that there is a strong emphasis on good communication.

“Nowadays we are all living in a world surrounded by many digital technologies, and most of these technologies are being used by many of us for our daily activities and communication. In my lecture we will look at how to integrate these digital technologies in to our daily dental practice to ensure excellent communication between the patient, dentist, specialist and the laboratory in order to ensure the best end result.”

As well as exploring the use of digital technology in dentistry, Dr Gurel will also investigate the latest minimally invasive techniques, and how to incorporate them into the treatment planning process.

“A key part of my lecture will be to emphasise the importance of being minimally invasive,” continues Dr Gurel. “Even though the main goal should be excellent form and function, one should never sacrifice any extra healthy tooth tissue more than necessary. In order to reach this goal, in complex cases, specialities such as orthodontics and periodontics should definitely be a part of the treatment planning. For this reason good communication between dentist and specialist is even more important as it will ensure that the patient loses the minimum amount of natural tooth structure.”

In an expansive and wide-ranging lecture, Dr Gurel will speak at length on how technology can be used to enhance modern dental practise, and provide a better experience for the patient. As with all lectures at the BACD Annual Conference, delegates are guaranteed to come away with plenty of hints and tips that they can apply to their work the very next day.

“I hope that delegates will leave my lecture having learnt a great deal about ‘Esthetic Dentistry in the Digital Era’,” concludes Dr Gurel. “My lecture will include strategies for communicating with the patient and ways of presenting the design to the patient in 3D before the treatment even starts. We will then discuss getting the team together, and approaches for predictable, precise and repeatable tooth preparation. Finally, we will discuss how to make best use of modern CAD/CAM technologies, and how to use these technologies to best effect.

“I am really looking forward to my lecture at the BACD Annual Conference. I look forward to seeing you all there.”

This year’s BACD Annual Conference will be held on Thursday 7^th, Friday 8^th and Saturday 9^th November 2013 at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel. 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.bacd.com

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the major health issues of the day and the principal cause of death for communities throughout Europe[i]. According to NHS statistics[ii], chronic heart disease affects more than 2.6 million UK residents - approximately 0.6 million more men than women – and accounts for over 88,000 deaths annually, primarily from heart attacks.

CVD is a generic term encompassing a number of diseases of the circulatory system and the four main forms are coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease and aortic disease. Nearly half of CVD-related deaths in the European Union (EU) are due to CHD, followed closely behind by instances of stroke[iii].

Considering the widespread devastation it is causing, it is interesting to note that cardiovascular disease is largely influenced by lifestyle; with contributory factors ranging from an individual’s weight, diet and levels of physical activity to smoking habits and even stress. In effect, cardiovascular disease is - to a degree - avoidable. Further to this, research is increasingly coming to light demonstrating another link that brings control or even prevention of the disease back to the individual – oral hygiene.

A Scottish health survey[iv] has indicated an increased risk of heart disease for individuals who don’t undertake an adequate, regular oral hygiene routine. Of nearly 12,000 participants in the eight-year study, those with the poorest oral hygiene (who rarely or never brushed their teeth) were found to be up to 70% more likely to develop heart disease than others who brushed their teeth twice a day. They also had increased frequency of markers of low grade systemic inflammation. The results suggested that poor oral hygiene might increase the risk of developing CVD by means of periodontal infection.

Another study[v], a collaboration between the University of Bristol, Ireland’s Royal College of Surgeons and the State University of New York, has looked into the association between oral bacteria and heart disease. In particular, the researchers found the oral bacterium Streptococcus gordonii to be a plausible agent for CVD. Chronic oral disease, such as periodontitis, provides a pathway for the bacteria to access the bloodstream, where they can interact with platelets and induce aggregation. The study found that the S. gordonii could contribute towards unwanted blood clotting and the development of infective endocarditis.

Although heart disease remains the biggest killer in the UK, there is some good news on the horizon. The rate of deaths from coronary heart disease has been slowly but surely declining for the past three decades throughout much of Northern and Western Europe; and mortality rate following stroke is also decreasing[vi]. Heart attack related deaths in England have cut in half since 2002[vii] while public health targets, including reducing premature death from CVD by 40% by 2010, have been met[viii].

Interestingly, oral hygiene habits and oral health in the UK have likewise shown improvement in recent years; with the latest Adult Dental Health Survey establishing that 75% of adults brush their teeth at least twice daily[ix]. However, much fewer numbers use adjunctive interdental cleaning methods - just 22% floss, for example - and this could account in part for the high instances of plaque[x] which was found in two out of every three adults.

Clearly, tooth brushing along with fluoride toothpaste - although an excellent start - is not enough and it falls to the dental profession to help patients to maintain their own oral health with encouragement and advice. Patient education divides into three main aspects: which oral hygiene products are best for the individual patient to use, how to use them, and why it is so important to do so.

Most patients are aware of string floss for cleaning the interproximal spaces, but few are keen to use it and they frequently cite a lack of time or claim they forget to floss. In the majority of cases, patients struggle to use string floss properly and are more liable to give up quickly. In addition to this, research has thrown considerable doubt on the effectiveness of string flossing on reducing interproximal caries[xi] or inflammation.[xii] Perhaps it is time to give other interdental cleaning techniques a higher profile?

One method of quickly and efficiently cleaning between the teeth and below the gumline is the oral irrigator, also known as the Water Flosser. Easy to use and suitable for most patients, including those with braces or restorations, the leading Water Flosser can reduce gingivitis[xiii] and bleeding[xiv] and can help to minimise probing pocket depth[xv]. In particular, the Waterpik® Water Flosser is superior to dental floss at reducing gingival bleeding,[xvi] inflammation,[xvii] and plaque[xviii] with multiple patients including orthodontics, implants, and mild to moderate periodontitis. In fact, evidence shows that the Waterpik® Water Flosser removes up to 99.9% of plaque biofilm from any treated area of the tooth in just three seconds.[xix]

Through sound education on both the risks associated with poor oral health and the right tools for effective oral hygiene, we can help patients to prevent or control oral disease and help minimise the risk of developing or exacerbating chronic systemic disorders.

For more information on Waterpik® Water Flossers please speak to your wholesaler or visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik® products are widely available in Boots stores and selected Lloyds Pharmacies.

In such a fast-paced modern world, change and evolution are inevitable. The dental industry is a prime example of this, with new ideas, materials and clinical techniques constantly emerging in all areas of the profession and from all over the world.

Aesthetic Orthodontics is one such field that has seen and is still experiencing significant advancement, particularly with the growing emphasis on aesthetics.

Today, limited outcome ‘aesthetic orthodontics’ involves almost invisible appliances, maximum patient comfort, and minimal preparation on the existing teeth. The Inman Aligner established itself as one such option several years ago, and it soon became renowned for its ability to promote minimally invasive dentistry.

As the UK pioneer and the world’s most experienced clinician with the Inman Aligner, Dr Tif Qureshi is proud announce that the company behind the appliance is developing and expanding.

“This is something we have been thinking about and planning for a very long time now but we always want to work with the best people,” he says. “The Inman Aligner has built a great reputation for offering one of the best short-term aesthetic orthodontic training courses available, and this provided us with an effective platform to work from.

“As anyone who has attended one of our courses will know, our instructors are not driven by the motivation to ‘sell’, and so have always been very honest and have highlighted the limitations of the appliance as well as the many benefits. Having studied these restrictions for some time, we are soon to introduce to the UK two more systems that have the ability to treat cases not suitable for the Inman Aligner.”

Using the same ethical and planning principles, the team are soon to add IAS ClearSmile Aligners and IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) to their repertoire. Both new treatment options are more than suitable for all GDPs to offer, are easy to work with and use simple mechanisms to achieve the best results. They are designed to be as discreet as possible, and offer safe and comfortable orthodontics for all. Requiring similar protocols with regards to occlusion setup and digital treatment planning, the new systems also ensure that more patients can be treated effectively with the same ethical systems.

“Both systems will incorporate our existing company philosophies and ethics,” explains Dr Qureshi. “The training for each will also be delivered in a similar format, as we believe that the better the training is, the better the treatment outcomes will be. The same essential ‘Spacewize’ software that comes with the Inman Aligner will also help enhance practitioners’s digital treatment planning with the new systems, ensuring successful results from their first case by allowing real digital anterior arch planning.”

Looking at IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox), Dr Qureshi is keen to highlight that the team are working with the best in the business to provide comprehensive training for clinicians.

“The training for IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) will be headed by the famous Dr Rick DePaul – by far and away the best instructor in short-term-orthodontics [STO] around the world. Widely attributed as the originator of STO and indirect tray systems and highly praised among the US dental community (dentaltown US is a good example), Rick is recognised for developing and perfecting the concept. Committed to ethical and thorough training, he also works with a similar teaching style to those we have already been employing, so we are delighted to be working with him. In addition, Rick has been teaching STO for over 10 years – far longer than anyone else in this field.

“As such, the training for IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) will be hands-on and will demonstrate how to use and adjust the appliance for optimal results. As with the Inman Aligner, all GPDs taking the course will also have access to on going support through the online forums, which professionals can utilise to gain any bespoke information or advice they need.”

The IAS ClearSmile training will also be supported by these online forums, which practitioners can use to post photos of their cases and seek guidance both from fellow clinicians and directly from the experts. This is particularly useful for initial cases and for those that require a more complex treatment plan.

“With all three short-term-orthodontic appliances, clinicians will be able to offer fast, safe and highly effective treatments to more patients. The Inman Aligner is probably the simplest of the appliances, but there are cases that it is not suitable for, so IAS ClearSmile and IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) are the natural progression from here. For some time we have been helping clinicians with cases using similar products, and now we are delighted to provide a fully structured service encompassing all the comprehensive training and continual support practitioners need. The real difference here is that rather than people just jumping on the band wagon of STO, the true originators of the Inman Aligner technique and the true originator of all 6 month-style systems have combined to form the best team with the most experienced teachers around. We also have Specialist Orthodontists on our forums to assist with advice on cases that are outside the remit of GDP orthodontics, and better suited for referral.”

Now incorporating all three orthodontic appliances, the overall company will soon re-brand to Intelligent Alignment Systems (IAS), from whom you will be able to source all the information, advice and guidance you could need. Demonstrating just how far the world of Aesthetic orthodontics has come, these courses are tailored specifically to your needs, whether or not you have previous training or experience in this field.

Find out how you can provide convenient, safe and effective orthodontic treatment for your patients today.

For more information on the training courses available from IAS,

please call 0845 366 5477

The concept of moving continuously along the path of personal development should be at the heart of every professional’s motivation in the work place. Keeping up-to-date with changes in industry information and refreshing key skills is vital to progress up the career ladder or remain knowledgeable of an existing position. Relying solely on expertise learnt during training or in the early stages may not be applicable to today’s working environment and could cause issues to arise.

Patients have a right to expect their dental professional to be capable of delivering high quality dental care that is current and meets industry standards. In 2002, the GDC made it a requirement for dentists to complete 250 hours of CPD during a five-year cycle and in 2008 it was made a requirement for dental care professionals to complete 150 hours during the same time frame. Despite it being a requirement, 1,947 DCPs failed to declare if they had completed the required number of hours during their first full five-year cycle of CPD[1]. These individuals will be contacted by the GDC and informed of the next steps. If they fail to comply they could risk losing their registration and their ability to practice.

No one should ever stop learning. As the practise of dentistry continuously evolves, dental professionals should make a conscious effort to develop their skills and understanding as new techniques, standards and equipment emerge. To be most effective, learning should become a natural part of a dental professional’s routine, so it is not seen as a requirement or a chore. CPD should be seen as a gratifying experience throughout which dental professionals should want to strive to achieve best practice and enhance their existing knowledge. It is a chance for dental professionals to stay stimulated, to keep pace with others in the profession and to maintain public confidence. If a dental professional stands still and does not move along the path of CPD, they will get left behind. If at any point a dental professional finds that completing the required hours of CPD has become a drag, they should consider changing their provider, because they are not reaping the full benefits that completing CPD can bring.

Starting the CPD journey has never been easier. Accessing thousands of articles, lectures, videos and webinars can now be achieved through the growing selection of online CPD providers. These e-Learning facilities have enhanced the concept of CPD through their simple to navigate websites, which have been designed to make completing CPD enjoyable for the user and to make the requirement so much more than just a ‘box-ticking’ exercise.

The flexibility these sites offer dental professionals is vast. Instead of attending timetabled lectures and reading books to log CPD hours, a dental professional can now complete their core and verifiable CPD from home, on the commute or at work when they catch five minutes during their busy schedule. This can be done by accessing the internet using their desktop PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone and logging on to their chosen provider’s website. This allows subscribers to log their hours of learning at a time convenient to them.

To log CPD and to keep track of learning, these sites offer users the ability to create a personal development plan. This allows dental professionals to plot how they will complete their CPD over the next five years. Subscribers will be able to determine their own personal goals, keep objectives in mind and ensure they achieve all CPD requirements as set by the GDC. Creating a personal development plan is unique to the individual, but there are of course three core topics that must be covered. Medical emergencies, disinfection and decontamination and radiography and radiation, are topics that a dental professional needs to complete, but when it comes to choosing what topics to study to achieve the required number of hours for verifiable CPD the list is endless. The creation of a personal development plan aids with keeping focus and helps keep documentation in order.

There are many providers of CPD out there, but one of the leaders in online learning is ProDentalCPD. Their website contains over 50 subject areas for subscribers to delve into, providing unlimited online access to CPD, including core and verifiable topics. And now they have made completing hours of verifiable CPD even easier with the launch of their new bitesize CPD bundles. These bundles gather together articles from over 2,000 authors in one accessible package, for both subscribers and non-members.

To develop your knowledge of the dental industry with ease, log on today to make ProDentalCPD your online provider of core and verifiable CPD.

To learn more, contact ProDentalCPD on 0114 282 3509, or visit

www.prodentalcpd.com

When looking to build a dental practice, many will turn to their local planning expert in order to negotiate changing the use of the building to D1. However, it is not always the case that they will be the best person for the job. The usual misconception is that because they are local they will be familiar with the planning authority and know who the ‘key players’ are. Many believe that this will benefit the project by speeding up the process of gaining planning permission. Though this can sometimes be the case, it will not always be the right choice as a non-specialist’s knowledge of D1 use buildings will be limited. The right expertise and a background in dental practices is essential when embarking on a project of this nature, so a non-specialist should not be gambled upon.

Although a specialist planner may not be familiar with the local authority, they will be very familiar with dental practices and will understand all of the requirements that a D1 use building must negotiate.

A key issue that many forget about, is that it is not just a case of getting through planning, part of the process includes getting approval from the Highway and Environmental Health Officers, who form part of the statutory consultee process. If they believe that the project may not be viable they have the right to raise an objection to the development, this can terminate the project. It is clear that although there is a lot of emphasis on planning, much attention must be paid to all statutory consultees. This will include looking at aspects such as parking and access, if you can’t fulfil these requirements you won’t have a project.

This is why it is advisable to make sure that you research all areas of the project before you start spending a lot of money. Looking at policies regarding D1 use is not an expensive task, which means that grasping a good idea of the fundamentals is possible before any serious money is spent.

It is advised that projects go through pre-consultation, especially if you are unsure if they meet all requirements. This can act as an opportunity to see how flexible the local authority will be when it comes to changing the use of the building. If you have ticked all of the boxes and you are sure that you will be granted change of use, then you may decide to go straight for a full application. However, if you are close to meeting the policies that the local authorities stipulate then it is worth going through pre-consultation. For instance, if you have four parking spaces but the local authority wants you to have five, pre-consultation will be a chance to find out if the local authority will negotiate on this aspect.

This isn’t such a concern if it can be proved that the building is in a sustainable location that has good public transport links and easy access to public parking, this may mean that you can negotiate less parking spaces on site. Obviously, this isn’t such a concern in places like central London where there are rarely parking spaces.

Every local authority will have a different core strategy or local development framework. There are also national planning policy guidelines that must be considered, but there will be certain aspects that local authorities will have as their prime considerations. One example of this is trying to gain change of use from a ground floor retail unit in a shopping centre to D1. The local authority may deem the unit to be in a primary shopping centre and will want to keep a certain percentage of the properties under A Class usage. For instance, some London boroughs insist that 75% of primary shopping parades remain as retail units. Therefore, if a Change of Use to D1 were to take the number below this percentage it would not get planning permission.

The loss of retail units is a particular concern in London, so negotiating this can be quite tricky. One way of reaching an agreement with the local authorities is to keep the frontage of the unit as partly retail, this can be done by having product displays in the front window of the practice and proving to the local authorities that you are selling to the general public as well as patients, though this still requires a change of use application to be submitted and approved.

All local authorities must work within set guidelines for determining applications, these range from 8 weeks for minor proposals to 12 weeks for major developments.  The application may take in the region of 2 weeks to register before the clock starts ticking on the determination period. An applicant should not presume that their application will be decided quickly and allow plenty of time. Pre-application advice can take up to 6 weeks depending on the Council’s workloads and are not given priority over full applications, as full applications are monitored by central government and councils (in some cases) are fined if they do not meet the deadlines.

When it comes to hiring a planning consultant, local isn’t always the best option. Though they may have a greater understanding of your local authority, they will not necessarily understand the pitfalls and unique requirements associated with gaining D1 use of a building. It is wise to seek the assistance of a specialist company like Roger Gullidge Design who has an in depth understanding of the ins and outs of designing a dental practice, which is backed up by more than 20 years of experience.

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

FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND A GDS CONTRACT

A GDS contract runs to several hundred clauses over approximately one hundred and fifty pages.  Not all of the provisions are relevant to each practice, and a contract might state ‘Reserved’ in the case of a number of the provisions. This would be the case where the contractor is an individual, and the PCT omitted provisions that apply to partnerships or dental corporations. In some contracts the PCT will omit the clauses which relate to additional and further services where there are none.

Clause 65 should contain the address of the practice, and the surgery’s normal hours should be incorporated in Clause 75, with Clauses 77 and 78 dealing with the vital issue of the number of UDAs that are allocated. It is sometimes the case that all these points, as well as others, are incorporated in a separate Schedule 5 at the end of the document. A PCT may also include specific quality standards in a Schedule 6.

There is a pro forma GDS contract, but each document is individual to both the practice and the PCT; it should never be assumed that there are no deviations from the standard form. In the case of corporate contractors, the NHS may incorporate a totally new provision, either in the main body of the agreement or one of its schedules, to the effect that a change of control within the company will require the approval of the NHS or necessitate the contract being put out to tender. The impact of European regulations on the procurement of public service contracts has been reflected in the careful review of applications by dentists for their sole provider contracts to become corporate ones, and the determination will reflect individual circumstances.

Nevertheless, there are provisions that will be unchanged and can be expected to be present in all GDS contracts. Part 1 deals with the definitions and interpretations and is useful in explaining the meaning of terms used in the document. 

Clause 12 of Part 2 is pivotal, it prevents any transfer of the performer’s rights under the GDS contract unless in accordance with the agreement. The one exception that is specifically stipulated is sub-contracting. The effect of Clause 12 is to ensure that the GDS contract cannot be used to distort competition in the provision of NHS dental services, and also to favour the existing contractor against other possible service providers.

Sub-contracting is covered in Clauses 198 – 200, essentially it is permitted where it is reasonable in the circumstances and if the sub-contractor is properly qualified. These clauses may be useful if the contract is to remain in the name of the individual but performed by his company, and may be considered as an alternative to having the contract vested in the company on incorporation. Notice must be served on the NHS in accordance with Clause 199, and it may seek a formal contract variation.

Otherwise, save for the provisions of the contract which deals with the inclusion of a new partner, the contractor named in Schedule 1 of the GDS contract is the contracting party and is unable to dispose of his rights to it or entitlements under it. The partnership provisions are the subject of a recent NHS Commissioning Board instruction to its local area teams, explaining the process and the relevance of checking the partnership’s registration with the Care Quality Commission. This has caused some consternation in the sector, engendering additional work for the CQC, and may be a question of ‘watch this space’.

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

www.goodmanlegal.co.uk

A NASDAL and ASPD MEMBER

Coming across a Dental Practices that has not been properly incorporated is a problem that is becoming increasingly common.

The erroneous incorporation of a dental practice is a ticking time bomb which can have dire consequences for the practice owner when it detonates.

Having had the ability to trade as limited companies since 2006, it wasn’t until 2009/10 that incorporated dental practices began to appear in more significant numbers. Four years later, many of these practices are now being put on the market, only to discover that they have not been incorporated correctly.

The generic name for this situation is, “Flawed Incorporation”

There are a number of mistakes that can be made in the process of incorporation. Often the reason for the practice not being incorporated properly is down to unsuitable legal advice – or in many cases a lack of any legal advice whatsoever.

One of the most common problems is that practices with an NHS contract will purport to incorporate the practice without asking the PCT permission for a new contract to be issued in the name of the limited company. This lands the practice in a situation where although it has been incorporated, the NHS contract is still in the name of the individual practitioner. There are a number of problems with this. The idea of incorporation is that the assets owned by the dentist are transferred to the limited company, however, all NHS contracts state that they can not be transferred. So, without the consent of the PCT the purported transfer of the contract is a fundamental breach, which gives the PCT the right to terminate the contract.

Another problem is that when the time comes to sell, the owner won’t be able to sell their shares in the limited company because the NHS contract (usually the biggest asset) is still in their personal name, which means that this asset still belongs to them, even if the principal may have believed that it transferred and that tax savings have been claimed on this basis since incorporation.

Another common problem is the failure to notify practice funders, usually the banks, of the proposed incorporation of the practice. The transfer of goodwill without bank approval will be a breach of the terms of the borrowing and would allow a funder to call in the loan.

One wonders how much the tax saving would be considered to be worth in that scenario?

If the incorporation is flawed, then it may well be necessary for it to be unravelled in order to sell the practice. The importance of having the very best legal advice cannot be underestimated when looking to incorporate your practice. This is why it is advisable to seek the assistance of a legal firm like GoodmanGrant, who practice exclusively in the dental industry and are able to provide a tailor made service that suits each practice’s individual needs. The experience and knowledge of a specialist is unrivalled, and their comprehension of every key detail that needs to be addressed will ensure a successful incorporation.

As if the above issues were not enough, yet another risk that a practice runs by not following a proper procedure and ensuring that the right documentation is in place is that the Inland Revenue may decide to investigate. The number of Inland Revenue investigations is on the rise and if they discover that there is no written evidence of a transfer of the assets, no mention of what should happen to the property, no valuation of goodwill they may not recognise it as a proper incorporation. This will mean that the practice will have to pay back any tax it has saved, defeating one of the principal reasons for incorporating in the first place.

Making any professional move requires the time and advice of a specialist. In order to effectively and correctly incorporate a dental practice one should make an effort to seek the assistance of a dedicated dental law firm. With a wealth of knowledge and experience that directly relates to the dental sector you can be sure that when the time comes to sell your dental practice there won’t be any unwelcome surprises!

John Grant of GoodmanGrant 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.goodmanlegal.co.uk

A NASDAL and ASPD MEMBER

Regulatory compliance is no easy matter, and it is a task that gets more and more difficult. Not only is there the burden of the CQC for practices based in England, but there are also other bodies such as the HSE, DoH and various local authorities. Even your practice website comes under the scrutiny of regulators, with not only the CQC and GDC taking an interest but the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) too.  

Given the depth and complexity of regulations within modern dentistry it is no wonder that many people won’t know where to start. With so many details to cover and boxes to tick it can be easy to make a mistake, or neglect something in the rush of getting to scratch.

Compliance support

Thankfully, help is out there and when it comes to dental compliance, there are a number of well established companies working within dentistry that have all the skills and experience to help pass any inspection with flying colours. There are a wide range of support services available and whatever help you need, there is something out there for you. Some companies will offer dedicated compliance help-lines to answer any queries you may have, while others can run interactive hands-on workshops at your practice to help your team familiarise themselves with assessment protocol and what might be expected on the day.

Helping you prepare

Some companies will even be able to run mock inspections where a certified assessor will visit your practice, and assess every area of regulatory compliance. Once the assessment is complete they will then compile a report, based on their findings and highlight areas of improvement in order to bring your practice in-line with the latest guidance and legislation.

Practice assessments can prove to be a great benefit to your team, and even if you’ve passed an inspection in the past, they give you peace of mind. So, when your real inspection comes around, you and your team will be less stressed, and completely confident that your practice is in the best shape possible to pass.

What to look for

There are many different compliance support companies out there, and it can be hard to distinguish between them. In the world of compliance, experience counts for a lot. Not only does experience show that a company has been working in the field for a long period of time, but it reflects the company’s ability to respond to changing regulations over the years.

The very best companies working in compliance will be able to demonstrate a proven record of success over many years, and will also work closely with regulators to ensure they are always up to date.  

In terms of practice assessments, a compliance support company should be able to cover all relevant areas, including:

• Premises and Access
• Fire precautions/procedures
• Business Continuity
• Information governance including Data Protection
• Radiography including IRR99 and IR(ME)R2000
• Infection/Decontamination including HTM 01-05 compliance
• Foreseeable medical emergencies including resuscitation, emergency drugs provision, equipment and protocols
• Training, documentation and certificates
• Waste management/disposal, documentation and storage
• Practice policies and written procedures
• Audit of clinical records and patient outcomes including quality measures
• Record keeping

Post-assessment reports should also be detailed and clearly constructed to give you all the information you need to bring your practice up to scratch. In cases where you may need further support, the best companies will advise you on relevant services and steps you can take.

Complete peace of mind

Though it has become something of a cliché in recent years, compliance really shouldn’t be seen as a ‘box-ticking’ exercise. The practice teams that deal best with compliance are those who maintain a proactive approach and who are able to draw upon a range of compliance support services when they need them most.

Almost all dental practices will need the help of a compliance support company at one point or another, but even if you don’t need one now, it can prove incredibly reassuring to know that when you do, companies such as dbg are always on hand to give you complete help and support.

Compliance isn’t easy – it’s not supposed to be – but you don’t need to face it on your own. In the busy, world of dentistry, peace of mind is absolutely priceless. By choosing to work with a dedicated compliance support company you can be sure you will be in the best position possible come inspection day.

 For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

*England only

Promising to educate and inspire every member of the dental profession, The Dentistry Show 2014 returns for another exciting two-days at the NEC in Birmingham.

World-class lecturers will dominate the Hygienists & Therapists Symposium by speaking on informative and motivating topics. Among them is Professor Avijit Banerjee. He is Professor of Cariology and Operative Dentistry at King’s College London Dental Institute at Guy’s Hospital and a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London and will speak on ‘Preventing Dentistry “MI” Way: The Team Care Approach’.

He says, “I am lecturing about the roles of dental care professionals, namely hygienists and therapists, in the care framework of minimum intervention dentistry. I will focus on identifying problems with patients through risk assessment and developing patient-centered pragmatic prevention regimes that are achievable by the patient, with the professionals' help. I will show how administration of remineralising agents and practising non-operative prevention is the key to successful long-term oral health maintenance, and how the future, developing role of the dental team must not be under-estimated.”

Avijit believes the whole team has a vital role to play in MI dentistry and that modern dental practice should not be underrated. “The whole team can take away an understanding of the term MI Dentistry and where they fit in to the MI care plan framework. I hope delegates will also garner a better appreciation of the methods used to detect and diagnose dental disease, specifically caries in this instance. In addition I will speak about risk assessment and working with the dentist, developing and appreciating the pragmatic prevention programme for the individual patient, playing to their strengths and behaviour changes.”

To end the inspirational lecture programme a panel of experts will lead a discussion on the impact of Direct Access, one year on from when the changes took place. This is an excellent chance for delegates to voice their opinions, share their thoughts and ask any questions.

Also brand new to 2014, delegates can sample the latest products and techniques in the exciting four hands-on workshops situated across the trade floor. Delegates can also seek professional advice and support from representatives of governing bodies in the Professional Hub. Throughout the whole weekend delegates can top-up their vCPD within the various lecture streams and particularly within the new and improved CORE CPD Theatre. And to round off the first day, delegates are invited to join the organisers, exhibitors and supporting organisations at Heart Your Smile’s “Circ de Sourire” – a vintage night of fun and fundraising. 

For the first time The Dentistry Show is running alongside Dental Technology Showcase at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday 28^th February and Saturday 1^st March 2014. The collaboration of the two events is sure to provide excellent networking opportunities for the whole dental team.

With a great deal on offer for every member of the dental team, The Dentistry Show 2014 is cannot be missed. Registration is now open, so book your free place to attend the most highly anticipated event of the year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

For more information, and to register for your free delegate passes, please visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5269 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dedicated to providing the highest quality of education to all dental hygiene, therapy and nursing students, the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy has recently introduced a brand new facility.

Sponsored and supplied by Eschmann, the Academy has installed a brand new and totally unique decontamination training suite. Much to the delight of both staff and students, the new facility will enable students to learn all the decontamination processes effectively and safely, as no instruments processed will have been used on patients, but on training (plastic) teeth only.

Experienced and qualified dental colleagues from around the local area will also be able to utilise this suite in order to meet their continual training needs, in line with GDC regulation.

Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Paul Hayes, said “The Dental Academy is, without any doubt, one of the jewels in the University’s crown. It is enormously satisfying that this new decontamination training room is available to our students and to the wider community to meet their CPD needs. We are extremely grateful to Eschmann who sponsored this facility and have been valuable partners in its creation. We are sure that what has been created here will play a significant part in preparing our students for life in primary care, and it is my great pleasure to declare this facility open.”

Professor Hayes and Peter Abrahamowicz from Eschmann then pulled the ribbon to officially open the fantastic new suite. All students, University staff and Eschmann representatives in attendance clearly shared in the excitement of the event.

Director of the Dental Academy, Dr Sara Holmes said, “All of us at the University are delighted to have such a great facility. Our courses focus on three stages of training – theory, simulation and reality – and this decontamination training suite enables us to follow these steps while keeping both our students and their patients safe.”

Of the partnership between the University and Eschmann, Clinical Director John Weld said “We have been working with Eschmann for a few years now – the support they provide has always been very good, particularly considering the volume of patients who visit the Academy.”

Sara Holmes added, “We have formed a very good relationship with Eschmann, and therefore a very powerful partnership. This is a testament to all the professionals involved in this project, and is a great credit to the team from Eschmann.”

The experts at Eschmann were equally as delighted to be involved in the project, and were pleased to have contributed to the very grassroots of dentistry. David Gibson, Marketing Manager from Eschmann says, “As the first and only one of its kind in the UK, this is a truly ground-breaking educational initiative, which we at Eschmann are delighted to be a part of. We want to help these students learn about decontamination in the right way, so that they have the practical skills to work safely and effectively in the dental industry. Although this is our first joint venture with a leading establishment, we hope it will not be the last and is a model we can look to repeat elsewhere in the UK.”

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

A third of cosmetic treatments booked online!

Recent booking data analysis by Toothpick (toothpick.com) has identified that online appointment booking is fast-becoming a must-have service within the dental practice, revealing that half of all live bookings (50%) [i] made are done so outside of surgery hours (Mon-Fri, 9am – 5pm).

This ever-increasing statistic represents a dramatic shift in the way patients perceive dentistry and the options available to them, as their personal time is being spent researching cosmetic treatment and trawling practices for last-minute appointments whilst sitting in the comfort of their own home.

The analysis also uncovered that over a third of these bookings (37%) were made for cosmetic consultations. With around one in ten general dental practitioners now signed up with toothpick.com and the average practice offering cosmetic treatments, online appointment booking is proving to be an ideal platform to promote these services.

Mintel’s ‘Dentistry MBD 2013’[ii] recent report also supports these statistics, reporting significant growth in cosmetic dentistry over the last five years, increasing to £1.3 billion in 2013, and highlighting that there is likely to be as much as 21% growth in the next five years.  Such findings are further evidence that by opening your doors 24/7 with an online appointment booking system, your practice can generate additional revenue and become more profitable whilst working the same surgery hours.

Additionally, this electronic revolution offers an obvious solution to prevent last minute ‘white space’ in the appointment diary, as Toothpick’s analysis confirmed that over 1 in 5 (21%) bookings are made within 24 hours of the practice putting them online, successfully making unfilled gaps in the diary visible to potential patients and ensuring they’re quickly occupied.

See the results for yourself and try online appointment booking for FREE* today, with a no-obligation, no-risk trial. If it’s not for you, don’t worry – you can choose to cancel for free! For more detailed information visit www.toothpick.com/get-listed, call 020 77681851 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Facebook: /ToothpickDental

Twitter: @toothpick

[1] Toothpick booking data analysis, online bookings, Jul-Aug 2013

[1] MINTEL, 2013. Dentistry MBD August 2013. London.

You know that change I mentioned last time  which is now is well and truly upon us ?  And to all you menopausal old geezer and gals, that is not what I refer to!

The green shoots of spring have begun their turn toward autumnal decay.  The nights draw in and so the darkness of Winter is approaching. There is a mistiness in the air. A murky shadow in the developing gloom. As the last light of the sun flickers, the web glitters with the silky net, ready to capture any unsuspecting prey.

The 9-legged predator that is GDC Standards has landed amongst us. But this is but a side story of evening reading material. Let me put that to one side as a “must” read !  The REAL story lies further down the street where the growing conditions are notably worse.

And so it is the case that The BDA departed the early part of 2013 brimming with the green shoots of optimism that a new era was beginning. Strategic Plans and New Membership structures had been planted seeded and watered. Sods of change had been ceremonially and publicly turned. The sun shone , it must have seemed, permanently upon the righteous, hereinafter known as The PEC Men.

And yet …

The year appears to be closing with the gloom of the unexpected. There has been a withering of such promised growth. This tale of dento-horticultural disaster is only emerging under the spotlight that is networking via GDP UK.  Were it not for such a group, you could cheerfully read the musings of the Chief Executive and believe that not only is everything green that is growing, but also that the Indian summer of new membership has produced some fine blossom, thank you.

In a perverse way, sometimes it takes a shock to resuscitate a dead body. One must hope that there is a defibrillating effect upon the Wimpole Street cognoscenti of the truth that is multiple redundancies and a major drop of in income, allied to an urgent need to realign the BDA business model. That’s shrink and contract to you and me.

Let’s just hope that the Dept of Health does not see the BDA’s 15% budget cut as leading the way forwards for the 2015 contract values.

The upcoming BDTA Show in Birmingham is cause for professional celebration of the industry that supports our work. Now that’s planting a positive idea, people.  Go spend the £200 you saved on your BDA membership on some decent kit.

Perhaps this time, there might also be an opportunity to disseminate news and discussion about the BDA on a wider basis.  If you are going, why not use your visit to drop by the GDP UK stand and catch up with the facts, and failing that have a good old gossip anyway. You won’t get much out of the BDA if current events are anything to go by! And make the most of it – who know what will happen to the Conference next year?

This tale of the unexpected may be the birth of a "new" BDA. At the very least we should hope that the BDA is "Renewed".

Let us all hope one shock is enough.

Now ... must check that list of my subscriptions for next year ...

In the same way that a film director rarely receives as much attention as the stars of the film, the dental technician almost always performs his or her wizardry behind the scenes. The dentist takes an impression with a disposable tray, despatches it to the laboratory, and then fits the prosthetic without giving too much thought to what happens in between. 

While the patient can perhaps be forgiven for taking little interest in the creative process, the dentist’s own role is almost certainly enhanced by a greater understanding of that of the technician.

The product will generally be a crown, bridge or abutment created from an amalgam of glass and ceramic, a combination which has proven strength and longevity in the mouth and also offers a close aesthetic similarity to natural tooth enamel. Various techniques are used to build the prosthetic in liquid layers applied with a small brush, with each layer being allowed to cure before the next is applied. The ceramic formula can be varied to exactly match the shade and translucency of the contiguous teeth. 

It would be easy to regard dental technicians as the junior partners in restorative dental treatment, but this would be a false premise, as without their skills most treatments would simply not be possible. Nevertheless, in spite of their vital role, laboratories throughout the UK are expressing concern at the fall in the numbers of trainee technicians entering the profession in recent years. 

While there is no doubt that becoming a dental technician is the first step on a worthwhile and rewarding career which has a direct impact on raising the quality of other people lives, it requires highly specialised skills.

The situation is compounded by the lack of UK training institutions which offer courses in Dental Technology. Even institutions that offer courses are often not fully subscribed, and their intensity leads to a high dropout percentage; for example, 35 students enrolled on the Dental Technology course at Lambeth College in September 2011, and only 12 survived until February 2012 – a dropout rate of almost 66%.

As is frequently the case with professions requiring practical skills as well as applied theory, recent graduates often have difficulty in finding sympathetic initial work experience, and an abrupt entry into the pressurised environment of a commercial laboratory, followed by a failure to work fast enough or to a consistent standard, also leads to staff losses. When all these factors are taken together, there is a strong probability of an industry-inhibiting shortage of skilled dental technicians in the coming decade. 

In an attempt to remedy the situation, Sparkle Dental Labs Ltd has entered into an alliance with the UK Department of Education to allow its own, existing team of dedicated and experienced dental restoration and prosthetic technicians to deliver hands-on training to a new generation within a commercial laboratory environment.  It is hoped that early exposure to the deadlines and rigour of completing actual commissions, on budget and on time, will assist more students to ‘stay the course’ and build their careers in the longer term.

Dental laboratories and technicians are the beating heart of restorative dentistry, and should it miss a beat the impact on both patients and clinicians would be severe to say the least. As the number of trained technicians is threatened, Sparkle is acting in both its own and the public interest to safeguard the existing skills base and the dental and oral health of society generally. There are particularly high hopes that the growing cooperation between Sparkle laboratories and educational establishments will begin to stem the decline and underpin the future for restorative dentistry in the UK.

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
 

Mustafa Mohammed is the Managing Director of Sparkle Dental Labs Ltd. and Genix Healthcare. In this article he explains the vision behind turning an old warehouse in Leeds into one of the UK’s up and coming dental laboratories.

Experience the very best in reliability, comfort and style with the brand-new A-dec 400, available from Clark Dental.

The A-dec 400 is designed to deliver pure comfort for you and your patients, bringing together form and function for less complexity and more style, all at a competitive price.

The Radius-style delivery and support modules rotate quickly and easily to deliver a truly ambidextrous configuration. And when you add robust construction, contemporary styling, and the legendary reliability of the A-dec brand you have a dental unit that represents the best long-term value available on the market today.

For bespoke styling to suit your practice, you can choose between A-dec’s sleek seamless, or plush sewn upholstery options, all of which are available in a range of designer colours. You can also choose from A-dec’s three dental light offerings and factory-installed ancillaries that can be integrated into the delivery system and pre-wired for the touchpad controls.

To find out more about the brand-new A-dec 400 dental unit, 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

Dr Ramesh Siva worked closely with Clark Dental during the refurbishment of his practice, Albion Dental in Lewes. During the course of the project Clark Dental completely refitted two surgeries and a new decontamination room. Dr Siva says:

“When embarking on a project such as this, it’s important that the contractors you use are reliable. I decided to opt for Clark Dental, firstly because I had experience with them from my time at Bridge Dental, but also because of their name, and because they are known for the quality and reliability of their work. Quite simply I knew that I could rely on them, and they have an excellent track record of success.”

The team at Clark Dental have over 30 years’ experience providing turnkey surgery designs to dental practices across the UK. Using the latest computer aided technology, the dedicated Clark Dental team can guide and support you through every stage of your project from consultation to completion and ongoing support.

To learn more about how Clark Dental is the smart choice in surgery design, contact the Clark Dental team 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

Dr Riaz Yar and Dr Craig Barclay worked with Clark Dental to create The Square Advanced Dental Care – a dedicated specialist referral centre in Hale Barns.

Dr Yar says:

“The whole design process went very smoothly indeed. Clark Dental created some initial plans that were presented to us on 3D computer design software that really gave us a good feel for how everything would look. We were then able to provide feedback and make changes until we came up with something we were all really very happy with.

“Throughout the whole project Clark Dental’s Managing Director Richard Beal acted as our project manager, and really took a lot of stress out of the whole process. This meant my business partner Dr Craig Barclay and myself could focus our time more effectively and oversee things rather than getting ourselves caught up in every single detail. Clark Dental supplied and fitted everything in the practice from the dental units to the X-Ray equipment, and were also responsible for bringing in and managing sub-contractors as required. They literally dealt with everything and took a great burden off our shoulders. I highly recommend them!”

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

Eighty dentists and their partners took to the dance floor and raised £2,485 for the BDA Benevolent Fund to help their colleagues who have fallen on financial hardship.

As part of the Fund’s Be Active Campaign, a dinner dance was held at the Cardiff Village Hotel in April. It was organised by Dr Ann Rockey, Chairman of the Fund, and Dr Pam Norman, South Wales Trustee for the Board of Trustees of the Fund.

Dr Ann Rockey says, “Pam and I wanted to undertake an event for the Be Active Campaign in South Wales that would bring the branch together, as well as fundraise. Our colleague Andrew Matthews royally entertained us with an array of songs from the 40s and 50s. We had a very successful and enjoyable evening at the dinner dance. We are very grateful to all the companies and individuals that kindly sponsored the event.”

The Fund brings hope to dentists who are struggling financially by providing one-off or regular loans and grants.

The registered charity relies on donations to carry on with the vital work it does and relies on the Profession’s help.

For more information about the BDA Benevolent Fund
call 020 7486 4994, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 or visit www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk

All enquiries are considered in confidence.

Registered charity no. 208146

Alpha Omega – so much more than meets the eye

Alpha Omega is the worldwide dental organisation that promotes professional excellence through family, fraternal and Judaic values. With Chapters located across the globe, Alpha Omega represents many thousands of dentists and dental students, and welcomes new members of all ages and backgrounds.

As one of the longest servicing members of the Alpha Omega London Chapter, Harris Sidelsky has been attending regular meetings for over 30 years. In September 2013, Harris will succeed Linda Greenwall as chairman of the London Chapter. Looking to the year ahead, Harris hopes to build on the excellent work done by his predecessor, and increase still further the number of activities and events Alpha Omega members can look forward to in the year to come.

“To follow Linda Greenwall is a challenge,” admits Harris. “She has built a tremendous legacy, and has been a superb chairperson. Over the last year the London Chapter has grown in its activities, its membership and its educational programmes. What we’ve managed to achieve in this past year really has been superb. The challenge then for me, and the other committee members, is to continue to build on our successes and do even more than what we’ve done in this last year.”

Providing high quality postgraduate education has always been one of the main focuses for Alpha Omega, and the programme for 2013-14 is no exception. “We have the complete lecture line-up planned already,” continues Harris. “Everything we have planned will be practically focussed and oriented, and the aim is that whatever we present, practitioners will be able to use it the very next day.

“The first lecture we have planned will be on the morality of porcelain veneers, and the marketing of cosmetic dentistry. Mervyn Druian will present on the pros and cons of porcelain veneers and Akiva Tatz will then speak what he considers to be the ethical position. Our second lecture will feature Avijit Banerjee, Professor of Cariology and Operative Dentistry. He will be discussing minimally invasive dentistry and pitfalls when making a diagnosis – when to drill, and when not to drill. It should prove fascinating. Other lectures in the series include a session on dental lasers with Elay Maden, as well as a presentation from Crispian Scully CBE on oral medicine and the issues that confront us. Our fifth lecture in the series will examine digital dentistry with Daniel Edelhoff, while our final lecture will be with Jonathan Lack, speaking on grafts in periodontics.”

As well as a highly anticipated series of evening lectures – all of which are free to Alpha Omega members – there will also be the annual Annenberg lecture day in June 2014. This year’s lecture will feature Jack Griffin. Jack is known currently as one of the most knowledgeable and entertaining speakers on the American circuit, and as Harris is keen to point out, that’s not all:

“As well as our packed lecture programme I’m really excited to announce the launch of our brand-new study clubs,” continues Harris. “For me this really embodies the whole mentoring side to our organisation. To start with, we have lined up four dentists to do practical demonstrations in their offices. Mervyn Druian will run a session on marketing and patient communication, Linda Greenwall on bleaching, Malcolm Schaller on implants and Michael Sultan on molar root canal therapy. These sessions should be really interesting and will give our younger or less experienced members the opportunity to learn from experts in their field.”

As part of its family-centred ethos, Alpha Omega holds numerous social events throughout the year. These are a great opportunity to network with colleagues, make new friends, and generally have a good time! This year in particular Harris is keen to include even more social events than in previous years and has already arranged a number of exciting events in line with Jewish festivals Hanukkah, Sukkot and Purim.

“It really is an exciting programme that we’ve got lined up for the coming year, and we’re still adding more to it now,” continues Harris. “One of my main ambitions as chairman is to drive up membership and increase the amount of participation in our lecture events. I hope that by putting together a really strong and diverse programme I can re-enthuse people about Alpha Omega and the basic principles that we represent.

To me, Alpha Omega is so much more than ‘just another dental society’ – it’s not just a place you go for lectures! For me, Alpha Omega is all about family; it’s about sharing in friendship and always being ready and able to provide help and support. If I can re-enthuse members about these key principles in my time as chairman, then to me, that will be a job well done.”

For more information on the Alpha Omega London Chapter, visit www.alphaomegauk.co.uk

Many events have changed the practice of dentistry over the years, creating a highly efficient and much more comfortable visit for patients, with an increasingly more aesthetically pleasing outcome. Dentists and technicians alike have worked hard to improve various techniques and materials in their strive for excellence, aiding the continual development of the profession. Particularly within the areas of restorative and prosthetic dentistry, the industry has seen some huge advances in the last few decades.

For example, the humble crown has a fairly long history; the well known, all-porcelain ‘jacket’ crown (PJC) was first patented in 1889. As the name suggests, it consisted of rebuilding the tooth with a porcelain covering to create the restoration. Though improved over time, the PJC was used extensively well into the 1950s. [1]

The introduction of ‘porcelain-fused-to-metal’ in the1950s greatly improved the strength of crowns, with lost-wax fabricated metal copings addressing the issue of marginal fit.[2]

Many would now argue that one of the most influential developments in the history of dentistry has been the application of digital technology. Conceptualised in the 1970s by Francois Duret, computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacture (CAM) has totally transformed the way both dentists and technicians approach the creation and manufacture of restorative and prosthetic devices, especially single- or duel- tooth restorations.

The enhanced and refined CAD/CAM equipment available on the dental market today, present a wide range of benefits to both dentists and technicians in their every-day working lives. The latest impression scanning equipment produces crystal clear images in either 2D or 3D, ensuring optimal consistency and predictability and offering a level of detail and accuracy that otherwise would have been well beyond reach. Dental professionals can now create restorations of a high quality that fit the patient correctly first time ­– tolerances of within ± 25 µm now ensure a perfect fit, with no space between teeth, or between tooth preparation and restoration, both of which have the potential to cause infection or decay. The lack of metal content means that x-rays can penetrate the structure allowing dentists to keep track of potential decay. Add to this improved comfort, reduced intrusion and shorter assessment times, and it isn’t difficult to see why such procedures are so popular and encourage patient satisfaction.

Modern CAD/CAM technology is also designed to improve the professionals’ workflow, as well as enhancing the patient experience. Special features such as high-angulation scanners and light guidance systems enable professionals to capture the images they need with little preparation. Mass production with individual customisations is another advantage of digital impressioning, as each restoration can be reviewed and adjusted to meet the necessary requirements in a fast and cost-efficient way.

The most effective CAD/CAM systems can then be fully integrated into the practice management software, dramatically increasing accessibility and efficiency throughout the practice or laboratory. Such programmes also facilitate communication between the dentist and technician, as impression scans and images can easily and securely be sent between the two, for truly successful collaborative cases.

With the equipment to scan, mill, design and place restorations all in one place, modern CAD/CAM technology ultimately offers dentists a choice – they can either create restorations chairside for a quick and efficient treatment process, or they can send their images straight to their technician for manufacture in the lab. This flexibility ensures all dentists can work they way that best suits them and their patient. From technicians’ points of view, the easy-to-use equipment allows them to provide a broader range of services, without excessive retraining costs.

However the CAD/CAM equipment is used, it is a highly effective way of developing the business and driving the practice or laboratory forward. Systems such as the CS Solutions from Carestream Dental, bring all the facets of scanning, designing, milling and placing restorations into one portfolio. Available as stand-alone technologies or as a fully integrated solution, the equipment will help streamline your processes and ensure your whole team works as efficiently as possible.

Compact and easy to use, the impression scanners require no trolley so are easily portable around the premises, and USB connections ensure images and data can be transferred to any computer or workstation. Ergonomic designs and simple interfaces further increase ease of use, and professionals can create superior restorations in a matter of minutes.

Only a few years ago, the idea of ‘digital dentistry’ was very much something of the future. Well that time has now come, and CAD/CAM technology is one of the most effective tools to drive both dental practices and laboratories forward. Are you a part of the revolution yet?

For more information on CS Solutions or bespoke advice on CAD/CAM technologies, please call the experts at Carestream Dental

on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

As a qualified dental professional, you will appreciate the need to continue learning throughout your career. This isn’t important just for the sake of GDC revalidation – it’s also essential to maintain clinical standards, and ensure you provide the best level of care for your patients.

No matter your CPD training requirements, it is important that you find a training provider that offers learning solutions that are flexible, and fit with your busy working schedule. Many providers will be limited in offering just one type of training, however many of the best providers will have a range of options to meet your every need.

Face-to-face options

One increasingly popular solution comes in the form of off-site training. This extremely cost-effective approach brings together dental practice teams at a central location for an intensive day of CORE CPD training. These will often include hands-on practical sessions, and can be a great way of team-building as they bring together all members of the practice to share in learning and role-play activities.

If off-site training isn’t convenient then many training providers will also offer on-site training that can take place at your practice. This can be particularly useful if you are unable to give up a whole day to training, or if it is inconvenient for your team to travel. Many practice teams find this type of training especially useful for the fact that training can be tailored directly to the practice environment. For example with Infection Control training, there might be questions or issues pertaining to your specific practice setting that the training instructor will be able to address.

Learning online

Beyond face-to-face options, one type of training that has seen a massive boom in recent years has been in the form of online learning, also known as e-learning. This is perhaps the most flexible of all training options, and lets you learn at a time and location that is convenient to you. Not only that, but many e-learning platforms will offer a wide range of learning modules which you can choose from, so you can tailor your learning to areas of particular interest to you.

As a further benefit a number of e-learning providers now offer a ‘Personal Development Plan’ (PDP) as part of their package. This allows users to tailor their CPD training like never before, improving on weaknesses, building strengths and adopting a reflective approach to learning outcomes. Not only that, but many of the best e-learning platforms will also include a CPD tracking element so you can always keep an accurate log of CPD completed, and what you yet need to do to complete your cycle.

Learning need not be a chore

To make the most of your CPD, you should always look to invest in providers that offer the very best quality of learning content. In order to ensure your learning is truly effective – that your training ‘sinks in’ – you should also consider the way your training is delivered.

While many providers will claim to offer high quality CPD content, few can claim to offer a high standard of delivery that is both informative and engaging. After all, if you aren’t engaged with your learning – if the presenter is boring, or unenthusiastic – then you won’t be getting the most you can get out of your training.

In terms of online training, you should also consider the variety of learning materials on offer. The best providers will include a diverse range of content to help you learn that will extend beyond just written articles to also encompass videos, webinars, audio recordings and other interactive elements as well.

All this goes to show us how it isn’t just the content that matters – it’s also the presentation!

Quality control

While there are certainly many different training providers out there, few offer the breadth and diversity of content that is offered by many of the most established names. By choosing a high quality learning provider with many years of experience in dentistry, you can be sure your training will be flexible, relevant, informative, and engaging. 

At dbg we really are passionate about helping you meet your CPD requirements, and continue to expand your learning throughout your career. Whether you are new to the profession, nearing retirement, or anywhere in-between, we believe we offer a comprehensive range of training courses and learning options to meet your every need. To find out more, why not give our team a call today, and find out for yourself just how we can offer you the complete training solution, and so much more besides.

For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

Dr Oliver Harman is now coming to the end of his two-year MSc in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry, with only a couple of weeks before the dissertation section of the course. Designed to advance practitioner’s skills in this area, the course is provided by renowned education provider Healthcare Learning: Smile-on in collaboration with the University of Manchester

The second half of the MSc course has provided everything I have come to expect. The latest modules have taught me a lot about how much I still have learn, and it has been an exciting and at times challenging journey.

Module 4 was an introduction to the research and evidence-base behind everything we do. This was completely new to me as such an area was not included in my initial training to become a dentist, and with this came my greatest challenge from the MSc course. While it was extremely interesting to delve into all the research associated with the practical work I do, it was a real eye-opener – for all the things I didn’t know! When I first qualified, I was told how things worked, shown how to do them and that’s what I did; so this was a whole new way of thinking. The test for this module was a particularly rude awakening, as I realised just how much there still was to learn. I am however very pleased to report that I did pass the module after some hard work.

Having considered myself a fairly experienced clinician, I was surprised to find sections of this course quite so challenging. That said, I think it was invaluable to go back to basics and to be able to form my own opinions directly from the evidence-base available. I experienced a different style of teaching here as well – it was clear the course instructors were training us for bigger things. This module in particular encouraged a high level of thinking and reasoning, which has already had a huge influence over the way I practice dentistry.

By the time we reached module 5, I was somewhat relieved to return to the wet-fingered dentistry I am reasonably comfortably with. In this section we looked at how to perform back fillings correctly and how to achieve highly aesthetic results.

Module 6 then covered more advanced techniques and involved a lot of implant work. This I found exceptionally useful as it forced me to go beyond the basic understanding I already had and it gave me a really good grounding in implantology, as well as covering complex restorative areas too. For the first time, I think I can now honestly say that I actually understand occlusion – if anyone can!

While I appreciate the Manchester University’s methods of teaching are not the only ones, this MSc course has been superb, especially when it came to occlusion. The course strengthened my clinical foundations, covering all types of treatments and providing practical advice for day-to-day procedures. Patient communication was an especially helpful area to go over, and covering the potential risk factors has helped strengthen my treatment plans.

I have also been thoroughly impressed with all the academics leading the course, who really know their stuff and have been fantastic instructors. A good balance between the research, hospital and general dentistry has also been presented.

Now nearing the end of the MSc, I am keen to take a much more minimally invasive approach to cases wherever possible. This has been reflected in my practice and we have started to focus on providing more advanced cosmetic and restorative treatments, with enhanced treatment planning procedures. We also now have an in-house implantologist, and the MSc has certainly helped me build this relationship.

For any professionals thinking of undergoing a Masters course, I think it is important to evaluate your personal situation before you start. I have found that running a busy practice while taking on the extra workload from the MSc difficult at times, so I would say such an endeavour would be best suited to those running more established practices, or to associate dentists with fewer responsibilities. I also take my hat off to the clinicians on my course juggling a busy family life as well, particularly those with young children!

A good support system is vital when undertaking this type of course – designed to test you and develop your skills, the workload can understandably put you under pressure. I am fortunate enough to have a very understanding wife, who has stepped in to help with the daily goings-on of my practice, and I can’t thank her enough for her support. It’s all about finding the balance between your passion to learn and your current commitments.

As the old saying goes, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’. To quote Socrates in Plato’s dialogues, the course has ensured that now ‘I know that I do not know’. As I come to the end of the formal training of the MSc and look towards my dissertation, I can say without a doubt that is has changed the way I practice for good. It has been an excellent course and I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

To find out more about the MSc course, please call 020 7400 8989 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For many years Nobel Biocare has been at the forefront of dental CAD/CAM technology. Drawing on the groundbreaking work of Matts Andersson, we have continued to push the boundaries with our innovative NobelProcera® system – the pinnacle of what is achievable today.

By harnessing the unrivalled power of NobelProcera technology you can generate real and sustained growth for your dental laboratory business. While some laboratories may choose to invest in their own system, we also offer the option to take advantage of our NobelProcera Scan Centre Network – a group of specially selected laboratory partners based across the UK and Ireland.

This hand-picked network gives you all the flexibility of the NobelProcera system, without the need to invest heavily in your own lab-based CAD/CAM equipment. Each laboratory in our network is able to provide you with Bars, Abutments and Bridgework/Copings, created to the highest standard using our leading NobelProcera technology.

The process is simple:

• Step 1: Send your model to one of our Scan Centres, being sure to communicate any specific requirements prior to shipping.
• Step 2: The Scan Centre will then scan your model using the NobelProcera scanner. The experienced Scan Centre technicians will then design an individualised solution using NobelProcera software.
• Step 3: The design is then sent directly to one of our leading NobelProcera production facilities. There, the individualised solution will be produced according to the CAD data sent by the Scan Centre.
• Step 4: The ready-to-use solution is returned to the Scan Centre, ready for shipment.*

By taking advantage of our unique Scan Centre Network you can avail yourself of all the benefits of advanced CAD/CAM technology without the additional capital cost.

All materials used by our NobelProcera Scan Centre Network are fully biocompatible, and are tested and verified for authenticity. Our screw-retained restorations are compatible with all Nobel Biocare interfaces and we offer a choice of versatile restorative solutions available for all major implant systems. Options include:

• A selection of framework materials including high strength zirconia, and alumina for high translucency. We also offer base metal alloy cobalt chromium for a cost-effective option and titanium for a strong lightweight solution.
• IPS e.max® CAD – full-contour crown, monolithic, time-efficient, 20 shades.
• Telio® CAD – full-contour long-term acrylic temporary, 6 shades.
• A range of abutments including screw-retained and individualised options in both titanium and zirconia.
• Implant bridges in a range of materials including zirconia for high-end aesthetics and titanium for high-stress uses.
• Titanium implant bar overdentures, for fixed and removable restorations.

Whatever your restorative need, Nobel Biocare has a range of excellent tailored options designed to help you offer your customers the best and most efficient solutions available. To learn more about how you could benefit from using the NobelProcera Scan Centre Network, contact Nobel Biocare today.

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

*Screws are provided free with bars and abutments, however bar attachments are an extra cost.

Running a dental practice is by no means an easy task – there are so many different aspects to consider from staff, to regulatory compliance, to managing the accounts. As a practice owner or manager, you may feel that you have everything under control, but are you making the very most of your practice?  

Sometimes, you need someone to come in from the outside to help you realise how your practice is actually performing, particularly if that someone can offer bespoke and highly effective advice. The team at 7Connections have all the experience and expertise they need to analysis your practice, identify all your strengths and weaknesses, and then help you implement any changes necessary.

The Discovery Day is designed for just this – one of the team will come to your practice, evaluate your systems, protocols and overall business strategy, and then provide fresh ideas on what and how to enhance the practice for increased productivity, profitability and success.

Beverley Carlyle, business manager at Ballynahinch Dental Practice in Northern Ireland, recently enlisted the expertise of 7Connections partner Chris Barrow, who ran a Discovery Day with her and her team.

“I have worked with Chris in other practices in the past when I contacted him to visit the team at Ballynahinch Dental Practice,” says Beverley. “I saw him turn those practices around so I already had a lot of confidence in him as a business coach – what he does really works.

“As a practice, we were looking to increase our turnover and check how viable our business actually was, so we were keen to take part in the Discovery Day with Chris Barrow and the team from 7Connections.”

Chris visited the practice only weeks ago to led the Discovery Day, combing through each and every aspect of the business to show the team exactly how the business was performing, what areas could be improved and how.

“The Day itself covered every area we hoped it would, providing us with a fresh and far more accurate perspective of how the practice was performing. Claire, the practice principal, and myself took part in the whole day, while other members of our team such as our hygienists were also able to get involved when they were not with patients.

“It also set us up very well for the full service coaching. I had already recommended that we go ahead with this stage, and before the Discovery Day was even over, everyone in the practice was in full agreement. All the team thought Chris was great, although he wasn’t how everyone expected – he didn’t wear a suit and he was very down-to-earth and highly approachable!

“Talking about the strengths and weaknesses of your business can feel very personal, and many people can feel embarrassed about discussing such matters with people they don’t know.  I think it is so important for the team to feel comfortable with their business coach in order to really evaluate the practice, and find out where changes and improvement can and should be made. Chris and the team from 7Connections took the time to listen carefully to what each team member had to say, making everyone feel very comfortable and ensuring that we were all on an even level with each other.”

With any business coaching or support, it is of course important to make the very most of the opportunity, and as soon as possible. Beverley was delighted to find that yet again, her team was able to take practical and realistic tips from the Discovery Day, which could be put into practise straight away.

“From working with Chris this time and from my experiences of working with him in the past, I have found that improvements are made to the practice immediately. As soon as you start implementing the systems and strategies Chris suggests and helps put in place, you start seeing results. You also have very realistic expectations which is great, as Chris is very to-the-point and always says it how it is.”

For those practices thinking about working with a business coach, Beverley is keen to highlight the benefits to be enjoyed from such a venture.

“For any practices considering enlisting the extra business support, I would say don’t hesitate! The benefits you receive as a result of an unbiased analysis of your practice ensure the investment is a highly effective one. For all those practices who think they can do better but aren’t sure how much better, or how they might achieve that, I don’t think they can afford not to work with a business coach.”

“I also think there are a lot of practice owners, managers and principals out there who don’t really know or understand the current performance of their business – although many would say that they do. Sometimes you need the extra experience and the honed-in expertise of a coach to get a totally accurate picture and really understand how you and your team can improve the business.

“In addition, it is important to tailor your business strategies to meet the demands of both the industry and the local community. Unless you go to every single exhibition, show and conference, and visit every single online forum, you can’t possibly know what is happening in every aspect of dentistry. The business coaches from 7Connections do – as a team they do attend the shows and the lectures and take part in online discussions, so they can pass on that knowledge. They have also seen what works and what doesn’t, and can offer new ideas to help us enhance our business and reach our full potential.”

So if you think you could benefit form a little extra business support and advice, contact the team at 7Connections today – you might gain more than you think!

For more information about 7connections business coaching

please call 01647 478145

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

Designed For You – Protecting Patients and Safeguarding the Dental Team The SafeSeen Touch

The area of ‘compliance’ has caused much concern within the dental profession in recent years. As many of the rules and regulations have changed to meet the evolving needs of the industry, practices have been expected to not only meet the requirements, but to also demonstrate how they do so.

While this has widely led to an increased workload for principal dentists, practices of course still need to run efficiently and cost-effectively. Particularly for smaller businesses with little free space to store records, electronic management solutions can provide the answer many practice owners are looking for.

Having been involved in dentistry for more than 30 years, the Directors of SafeSeen recognised the challenges arising from the new compliance directives. They also saw that an increasingly litigious patient-base could easily lead to problems for dental professionals, should any issues surface with regards to treatment.

As a result of their extensive experience, the SafeSeen Directors developed the SafeSeen Touch – a compact tablet that acts as a complete compliance suite. Designed to enhance compliance, improve patient communication and ensure informed consent, the innovative device offers an ideal and contemporary solution for any dental practice.

Containing all the information both professionals and their patients need with regards to CQC, HR and consent regulations, the tablet can be used to show all aspects of the practice’s compliance. From infection control and prevention protocols, to the management of medicines, maintenance of equipment and clinical and staffing records, everything can be documented on the tablet. Ensuring all practice staff have access to the latest protocols and procedures can be a time-consuming task within any practice, and is often easily forgotten about during the busy day-to-day goings on. With all the details stored on the SafeSeen Touch, all team members can check queries at any point during the day with minimum hassle.

As an electronic device, it is also quick and easy to update records and all data can of course be backed up so as to enhance security and reduce the chance of losing any information.

Boasting high quality graphics and with treatment plan information readily stored, the device is also the perfect communication aid, as images and visual explanations can be used to ensure patients fully understand their proposed treatments. With a high level of comprehension comes well informed consent and patient / professional relationships are enhanced. Patients also gain an improved understanding of what is required by them in order for treatments to succeed, which encourages high patient compliance as well as informed consent. Once properly informed, patients can then sign the tablet directly, and the e-signature can be used for future convenience.

Storing a record of what exactly is shown to each patient, the device even offers protection should any patient complaints arise. When the time comes for the CQC inspection, practices can also demonstrate their compliance to all outcomes from the tablet, emphasising their organisation and attention to detail.

In addition to all this, the SafeSeen Touch helps ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the practice, incorporating programmes to help organise and manage routine tasks. While being independent to any other software manufacturers in the market, the SafeSeen Touch is compatible with any existing practice management systems, ensuring it can be easily integrated into any practice. The size and format of the tablet also means that it can be used anywhere on the premises, maximising access and flexibility for all members of the dental team.

The SafeSeen Touch is designed to ease the workload. With all records and proof of compliance in one safe place, they are easy to monitor and of course provide a great platform for all staff to work from on a daily basis, giving the principal dentist one less thing to worry about.

The SafeSeen team will even visit the practice before installing the tablet, offering a consultation of the general protocols already in place and showing how these would apply to the SafeSeen Touch. The team will also provide training for all staff so that the device can be used effectively from the moment it is set up.

So regardless of the size or speciality of your practice, this innovative tablet could make a huge difference to you and your team. Catering to all your CQC compliance, HR and patient consent needs, the SafeSeen Touch could be key to your continued success.

For more information, please contact Chloe Booth on 07825 201657 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Modern dentistry is as much a business as it is a profession dedicated to providing high standards of dental care. To maximise business potential it is only natural that you should seek to make cost savings in as many areas as possible. This may include making savings through reducing wastage, or doing things in a more time-effective way. It may also include cutting costs directly with suppliers, or raising the price of certain treatments in line with demand.

Make the most of your business services

Business services are one particular area of concern for many practices, as the cost of dealing with many different service providers can soon spiral out of control. To combat this, organisations such as dbg harness group buying power in order to negotiate substantial discounts with providers. These discounts often more than pay for the cost of membership alone, and when taken across a number of business services can make a significant impact on the practice accounts.

Credit card processing is one area in particular where dental practices can save huge amounts by joining a buying group that offers credit card processing with a lower negotiated fee. Depending on the size of your practice, the number of surgeries you run, and the level of treatments you offer, these discounts can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds. Many different providers will offer discounts on credit card processing. But it does pay to shop around and find the provider offering the best discount. Over the course of a year, even a very small difference in percentage rate can make a massive difference.

Waste management is another area where significant cost savings can be made. Finding the right company to work with here can be tough, and in the ideal world waste disposal companies should be experienced specifically in dentistry, and be able to offer complete peace of mind. Thankfully, there are providers out there offering discounted rates through membership and these discounts can be applied a number of different waste disposal packages for a complete flexible solution.

Finding extra savings

Aside from credit card processing and waste management, there are many other areas in which savings can be found. Telecommunications is one example where, percentage discounts are available for dbg members, and similarly, a number of document shredding providers also offer discounts for flexible document destruction solutions. Further savings can also be made when arranging practice insurance (including locum cover), accountancy services, energy, patient plans and recruitment services.

Another avenue through which savings can be obtained is in the area of employment law. Some companies will offer template contracts and legal forms completely free of charge,  of which they can be tailored to your meet your practice’s needs. These can range from employment contract templates to legal documents covering maternity leave and even employment disputes. Services such as these don’t just provide a saving in the short term. But in the long term if a problem should arise, you can potentially save thousands of pounds by having a set of contracts that can’t be questioned in a tribunal or court of law.

Help is at hand!

As all dental professionals will know, running a successful and profitable dental practice is no easy task. With so many different contractors to organise and working relationships to manage sometimes just finding a good business service provider alone is hard, and this is without even taking into account factors such as cost.

Finding a provider that offers a range of beneficial business services could save your practice money and valuable time as well.  With a little research, and some careful planning, there are certainly many savings to be made and discounts to be had out there. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

Your practice doesn’t need to be in great trouble in order to benefit from business support. You might think you and your team are already doing a pretty good job, staying in the black, receiving few patient complaints and providing a quality service to the local community.

While this may be the case, it is also true that a few tweaks here and there to the management system or daily protocols may enable you to provide an even better service, or enjoy a larger turnover.

A business coach works with you to streamline and improve your practice processes and help you and your team work as efficiently and productively as possible. They can also help you define your future aims and goals as a practice, ensuring you have realistic expectations and practical systems in place to help you achieve those goals in the future.

Michelle Malone is a Practice Manager at Apex Dental Studio in Elgin, Scotland. While Michelle and her team had their own ideas on how to take their practice forward, she made the decision to source some outside guidance and make sure they were on the right track from the beginning.

“Since taking on an associate last year and a local NHS practice taking on extra patients we wanted to re-evaluate our practice to make sure we were offering the best service, while of course running an effective and profitable business,” explains Michelle. “We also needed ways to attractive new patients – while we had our own ideas about what we could do, we wanted to call upon the expertise of someone who could advise us on what really would work, and identify what needed changing.

“As a result we sourced the help of a business coach. We needed someone with the skills and experience to get straight to the point, and to make sure we were headed in the right direction.

“The coach visited our practice for a day, and it was great to receive advice designed specifically for our practice and our team. I also think it was great that the team were addressed directly with any issues and praise, rather than just hearing it through me.”

A good business coach of course has both experience and skills in a wide variety of areas, from finances, to staff training and treatment coordination. As one of their main aims was to bring in new patients to grow the practice, Michelle and her team were keen to focus on their marketing strategies.

“We wanted to concentrate on how we could take the practice forward as a team and really develop the business in the long-term,” says Michelle. “We had only recently started utilising social media for marketing and we knew that we needed an up-to-date website. Our business coach was able to work from our fundamental ideas and designs, and suggest ways of making them more effective for us. He was able to offer some fantastic advice on potential marketing campaigns – particularly with regards to how long they should be run for, which treatments we should promote, where they should be run and who we should be targeting.

“During the day, Nicci, our practice owner, and myself did have some one-on-one time with the coach to go through the business strategy. In these situations, I think it is important that you work with a professional you feel comfortable with and are really able to talk to. We were lucky to work with such a person, and we did in fact cover many areas that we hadn’t planned to bring up, which was really helpful. In the end however, we focused mainly on the KIPs of the business and how to apply these successfully, as well as how to implement effective marketing strategies.

“In the afternoon, our staff had the opportunity to air any of their own questions. Everything from ethical sales to patient communications and treatment coordination was brought up, and I think it was brilliant for each member of our team to get all the answers they needed.

“Since that day, we have begun employing the new protocols and ideas put in place that day, and we found that being able to contact our coach for on-going support has been a huge benefit to us. There is hard work still to be done, but the day with an expert definitely helped set us in the right direction.”

These ‘Discovery Days’ are designed to be the starting blocks of a long and successful practice. Such services are provided by leading business consultants at 7Connections, who will come to your practice and evaluate every aspect from a professional and practical point of view, before helping you and your team implement new ideas successfully.

If you think your practice could use a little refinement in order to really thrive, a business coach might just be the answer.

For more information about 7connections business coaching

please call 01647 478145

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

I have always been passionate about dentistry and providing the very best level of care for my patients. After several years of growth, it was time for my partners and I to look for new premises for our practice, Portmore Dental. At this time the banks were unwilling to lend and we were struggling to obtain finance. One of our partners was also just about to retire, and we all felt that we really needed help with the admin side of our business.

There are just so many regulations in dentistry now. We didn’t have the time to look after CQC and all the admin work as well as doing our day-to-day dentistry. We’re all dentists and we love our jobs, but all the other stuff outside of dentistry was becoming a major burden.

Thankfully, we discovered The Dental Partnership, and their CEO Justin Stewart. The Dental Partnership came in and took over all of the admin side from the CQC to the HR. This has helped us all focus on providing high quality dentistry and growing the business while they handle all the rest. It’s been a year now, and I’ve been totally released from all the administrative burdens. It’s been a massive weight off my shoulders. When I’m finished with clinical work for the day, I’m finished with work for the day, and that’s a really good feeling.

Before we started working with The Dental Partnership we didn’t put very much effort into marketing. We were so consumed with CQC compliance and ‘ticking all the boxes’ that marketing wasn’t really on our agenda. As a result our new patient numbers were quite low, and not what we might have come to expect.

When we started working with The Dental Partnership, Justin and his team were keen to help us develop our business through marketing. The help they have provided has been invaluable. Since they started working on the practice marketing our new patient numbers have doubled!

The Dental Partnership is different to any other corporate. They don’t employ associates for a start, and they are very clear that they work with dentists as partners. This means I have a share of the practice’s profits because I am a partner. If the business does well then I will do well as well because I share in the profit.

I’m very happy we decided to work with The Dental Partnership. If I’m honest, I don’t think I would still be working in dentistry if we hadn’t taken this step. All of the ‘outside’ stuff – the admin, the legislation – it was all becoming too much for me, and I was becoming really disillusioned with my career. I want to help people with dentistry; I don’t want to push papers around all day.

By working together with The Dental Partnership we can now all focus on dentistry, and we are certainly all enjoying our work a lot more. From a personal point of view I can say it’s given me a new lease of life. I am enjoying dentistry once again and I have far more time to focus on the things that really matter.

For more information call 020 8255 2022 or visit www.tdpgroup.co.uk

About the author:

Eben Van der Walt is a Partner at Portmore Dental Practice, Weybridge, Surrey. Eben qualified from Stellenbosch University in June 2000. After relocating to the UK, he joined the Portmore Dental Practice in 2004. His special interests include Aesthetic Dentistry and Endodontics.

In the competitive world of online dental marketing, it can often be a challenge to develop a website that really stands out from the crowd. In 2010, Dr Wyman Chan of Smile Studio London decided to work with the team at Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ to create a fresh new website to attract new patients and showcase his work.

‘I’ve had my own website for over ten years,’ says Wyman. ‘But about three years ago now I decided it was time for a change. This led me to Dental Focus ® – a team of online marketing experts who work exclusively in dentistry. Having seen some of their work, I was confident that they were the right team to work with to create my new website and I had got to know their CEO Krishan Joshi over the years so I knew they were a team I could trust.’

To get the project underway, Wyman and his PR & Social Media Director Amy Cuthbertson worked with Dental Focus ® to develop concepts for the new website, while Amy also developed some unique artwork for the project.

‘The plan right from the very start was to create a very striking design that looks different to all the other dental practice websites out there,’ continues Wyman. ‘Amy also worked together with Dental Focus ® on the concept artwork and the design. Together we had a lot of input on the final website design – everything from the font and the general “look” and feel of the website to the content.

‘Once the initial design had been completed we were shown examples which we looked at and provided feedback on. Changes were then made to the design until we were all completely happy and satisfied that the website looked exactly as we wanted it to.

‘So far the feedback we’ve received has been very good indeed. Patients even come in and comment on the design – they say it looks nice, professional and elegant. They particularly like the fact that it’s so clear and easy to read.’

Though the main design of the website has now been completed, there is still much work yet to do.

’Now the website has been launched we’re working very hard to boost our Google ranking,’ says Wyman. ‘As part of our efforts to boost our Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Amy is writing blogs for our website, and we post at least five a week. We are also working closely with Dental Focus ® to develop other ideas to draw visitors to our site and so push our website up the page rankings for key search terms such as “London Tooth Whitening”. It’s hard work, but we’re getting there!’

Whether you need help with social media, SEO, or you’d like to create a brand-new website from scratch, the team at Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ have all the skills and expertise to help make your practice an online success. As Wyman concludes: ‘Dental Focus ® are very professional, very helpful – a wonderful team.’ 

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

How much is a good dentist really worth?

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. 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 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 therefore one must be better value or the other a clear 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.

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, a group of specialist practices.

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments carried out today. This simple and relatively in-expensive treatment offers a number of benefits to the patient that extend beyond just whitening teeth, as patients will find they also benefit from improved self-esteem and a desire to engage more proactively in their oral health.

A range of options

In order to make the most out of teeth whitening treatments, you should aim to stock a selection of different whitening treatments that you can offer to patients. In these highly competitive times, it is simply not good enough any more to offer just one treatment to patients or ‘whatever you have in the fridge’. This is because patients today are savvier than they’ve ever been. They want to look their best, and thanks to the rapid rise of the internet, are now more choice-conscious than ever before. As such you should aim to set your self apart from local rivals by offering a carefully selected product mix that caters for all needs and budgets – not just the high-end of the whitening spectrum.

Tray whitening

Most practices will be familiar with tray whitening. This has long been one of the most popular and effective whitening options, and there are many different manufacturers that cater for this market. Whitening gels are available both in Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide varieties and some manufacturers now also include natural ingredients in their whitening formulation in order to limit sensitivity and promote good long term oral health.

Whitening strips

Though tray whitening is perhaps the most well established whitening option, it does come with a number of drawbacks; not least the need to create custom trays for each patient, and the inconvenience (and lack of comfort) associated with wearing a tray for any length of time. To fill this gap in the market, whitening strips are an innovation that has really started to take off in the last few years. Plastic mouldable strips are coated in the optimum amount of whitening gel to safely and effectively whiten teeth.

Oral care products

To meet demand for complementary whitening solutions, it can also be useful to stock a range of whitening-related oral care products to meet expected patient demand. These products could include sonic toothbrushes or manual whitening brushes that can be combined with high quality whitening toothpastes and other such oral care products.

Product synergy

As well as considering the sorts of whitening products you are able to offer in your practice, you should also consider how the products can be used together – is there any form of synergy you can create to boost sales? How about whitening ‘gift packs’ or ‘mini makeover’ packages? What about offering whitening treatments to wedding parties? The key here is all about adding value to the ‘product’ that you sell, and then make sure your patients understand the value that is on offer.

For the complete whitening solution, WhiteWash Laboratories offers a broad range of excellent whitening solutions designed to cater for every need. These include Professional Teeth Whitening Gel, Professional Teeth Whitening Strips and a catalogue of innovative oral care products with high added value to drive sales and help your practice grow.

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.whitewashlaboratories.com

In such a fast-paced modern world, change and evolution are inevitable. The dental industry is a prime example of this, with new ideas, materials and clinical techniques constantly emerging in all areas of the profession and from all over the world.

Aesthetic Orthodontics is one such field that has seen and is still experiencing significant advancement, particularly with the growing emphasis on aesthetics.

Today, limited outcome ‘aesthetic orthodontics’ involves almost invisible appliances, maximum patient comfort, and minimal preparation on the existing teeth. The Inman Aligner established itself as one such option several years ago, and it soon became renowned for its ability to promote minimally invasive dentistry.

As the UK pioneer and the world’s most experienced clinician with the Inman Aligner, Dr Tif Qureshi is proud announce that the company behind the appliance is developing and expanding.

“This is something we have been thinking about and planning for a very long time now but we always want to work with the best people,” he says. “The Inman Aligner has built a great reputation for offering one of the best short-term aesthetic orthodontic training courses available, and this provided us with an effective platform to work from.

“As anyone who has attended one of our courses will know, our instructors are not driven by the motivation to ‘sell’, and so have always been very honest and have highlighted the limitations of the appliance as well as the many benefits. Having studied these restrictions for some time, we are soon to introduce to the UK two more systems that have the ability to treat cases not suitable for the Inman Aligner.”

Using the same ethical and planning principles, the team are soon to add IAS ClearSmile Aligners and IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) to their repertoire. Both new treatment options are more than suitable for all GDPs to offer, are easy to work with and use simple mechanisms to achieve the best results. They are designed to be as discreet as possible, and offer safe and comfortable orthodontics for all. Requiring similar protocols with regards to occlusion setup and digital treatment planning, the new systems also ensure that more patients can be treated effectively with the same ethical systems.

“Both systems will incorporate our existing company philosophies and ethics,” explains Dr Qureshi. “The training for each will also be delivered in a similar format, as we believe that the better the training is, the better the treatment outcomes will be. The same essential ‘Spacewize’ software that comes with the Inman Aligner will also help enhance practitioners’s digital treatment planning with the new systems, ensuring successful results from their first case by allowing real digital anterior arch planning.”

Looking at IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox), Dr Qureshi is keen to highlight that the team are working with the best in the business to provide comprehensive training for clinicians.

“The training for IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) will be headed by the famous Dr Rick DePaul – by far and away the best instructor in short-term-orthodontics [STO] around the world. Widely attributed as the originator of STO and indirect tray systems and highly praised among the US dental community (dentaltown US is a good example), Rick is recognised for developing and perfecting the concept. Committed to ethical and thorough training, he also works with a similar teaching style to those we have already been employing, so we are delighted to be working with him. In addition, Rick has been teaching STO for over 10 years – far longer than anyone else in this field.

“As such, the training for IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) will be hands-on and will demonstrate how to use and adjust the appliance for optimal results. As with the Inman Aligner, all GPDs taking the course will also have access to on going support through the online forums, which professionals can utilise to gain any bespoke information or advice they need.”

The IAS ClearSmile training will also be supported by these online forums, which practitioners can use to post photos of their cases and seek guidance both from fellow clinicians and directly from the experts. This is particularly useful for initial cases and for those that require a more complex treatment plan.

“With all three short-term-orthodontic appliances, clinicians will be able to offer fast, safe and highly effective treatments to more patients. The Inman Aligner is probably the simplest of the appliances, but there are cases that it is not suitable for, so IAS ClearSmile and IAS 6 Month Braces (Powerprox) are the natural progression from here. For some time we have been helping clinicians with cases using similar products, and now we are delighted to provide a fully structured service encompassing all the comprehensive training and continual support practitioners need. The real difference here is that rather than people just jumping on the band wagon of STO, the true originators of the Inman Aligner technique and the true originator of all 6 month-style systems have combined to form the best team with the most experienced teachers around. We also have Specialist Orthodontists on our forums to assist with advice on cases that are outside the remit of GDP orthodontics, and better suited for referral.”

Now incorporating all three orthodontic appliances, the overall company will soon re-brand to Intelligent Alignment Systems (IAS), from whom you will be able to source all the information, advice and guidance you could need. Demonstrating just how far the world of Aesthetic orthodontics has come, these courses are tailored specifically to your needs, whether or not you have previous training or experience in this field.

Find out how you can provide convenient, safe and effective orthodontic treatment for your patients today.

For more information on the training courses available from IAS,

please call 0845 366 5477

As one of the UK’s foremost providers of high quality verifiable CPD, ProDentalCPD allows dental professionals to benefit from using an e-learning platform consisting of over 600 modules and articles from more than 2,000 authors – many of whom are experts in their field. Users can view over 400 hours of peer-reviewed verifiable CPD (including all Core CPD) in text, video and audio formats.

ProDentalCPD has captured the attention of Dr Simon Wright, principal partner of Glencairn Practice Group and a senior lecturer in Implantology at the University of Salford. He has been using the resource for the last three years to ensure his colleagues are up-to-date with GDC registration requirements. Simon says, “It has started to become a big part of our practices. We get together as a team and work through the different modules, hundreds of journals, webinars, and quizzes.”

Learning used to be about attending lectures and seminars, but now it can be easily performed online using ProDentalCPD in a format that suits every individual and as Simon explains there really is something for everyone. “As an old fashioned dentist I have always liked the good old lectures, but ProDentalCPD seems to be able to keep my attention, and make me feel involved. There is so much material on this site is does not matter which type of learning suits you, there is something there for you.”

Simon and his staff are among hundreds of other dental professionals who have been converted to using ProDentalCPD because of the advantages it brings. With ever increasing time constraints, dental professionals find e-learning convenient and easy to use. “I know the design team have gone to a lot of effort to ensure it is easy to navigate, fulfils the requirements of the GDC, and is sympathetic towards the busy dental professional, who needs to be able to complete the modules and portfolio with the minimum of fuss. I am not sure if it is good luck or good management, but they have definitely got it right.”

Simon continues, “It fits in around us. We regularly grab five minutes here and there to read an article, or start a module, or alternatively we schedule an hour-long slot at our practice meetings to watch a webinar. We find it can be done anywhere, anytime, with whoever – just don't tell my wife!”

Dentists from across the world are using ProDentalCPD as it fits conveniently in with their busy lifestyles. And with the additional benefit of learning alongside Professor Tooth, Simon adds: “My computer has been transformed from a one-eyed beast that sucks my soul dry, into a quirky little tooth caricature wearing a gown that I can not wait to turn on and meet again. In both practices we have easily notched up hundreds of hours of verifiable CPD. The danger now is that our nursing team are beginning to out smart the dentists!”

To learn more about high-quality e-learning solutions, contact ProDentalCPD on 0114 282 3509, or visit www.prodentalcpd.com

For most people Christmas is a time of celebration, family gatherings and gift sharing, but for some dentists this particular time of year is dreaded.

The BDA Benevolent Fund works hard throughout the festive season to help dentists and their families who have hit a financial crisis, whether that’s through illness, bereavement or another event that has turned their world upside down.

Christmas has become an exceptionally hard time of year for Sarah* since the sale of her practice in 2009 resulted in an unfair suspension. Her earnings dropped from £100,000 to £18,000 when she was forced to look for work elsewhere.

She says, “After being in a practice for 20 years and classing some of the people
I treated not just as patients, but as members of the family, I was obviously very upset. My reputation was completely decimated overnight.”

After losing her job, Sarah was left struggling to pay for her three children’s education fees and the mortgage on the house. She managed to find work as a locum in a hospital, but as the savings from the sale of her practice and her credit cards were used to pay for the family’s living expenses, she realised she couldn’t continue on such a downward spiral. Sarah turned to the Fund for help in 2010. While this offered Sarah and her family a lifeline, Christmas still remains a particularly difficult time of year for her family.

She added, “Christmas has been particularly hard for us. The children used to get
a nice big Christmas present, but instead we had to sell things to be able to afford essentials. Last Christmas was a real struggle. Nobody comes round for Christmas anymore, because we can’t afford to host it. It’s my eldest son’s 21^st birthday this year as well, so we will probably put whatever we can afford into his birthday, rather than into Christmas. It’s going to be a hard one.”

Sarah admits that without the Fund’s help she may well have had their house repossessed, resulting in her family being left without a home. She added, “I’m doing all I can at the moment to pay back the Fund and if I was to win the lottery tomorrow they would get a great big lump sum. I’m really thankful for all the help they have given me.”

Please will you make a special gift this Christmas to help vulnerable dentists get through the festive period? 

To make a donation go to www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk or send a cheque to:
‘BDA Benevolent Fund’, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS.

For more information about the BDA Benevolent Fund

call 020 7486 4994, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 or visit www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk

All enquiries are considered in confidence.

Registered charity no. 208146

*This dentist’s name has been changed to protect their identity

Nearly every day I get an email - Get to page ONE of Google. It goes into the same folder as collecting my inheritance from my lost relative in Nigeria. It is rubbish and should be treated like spam.

First of all no one can guarantee to be on the first page of Google unless you have a paid campaign and these days in dentistry you are looking at over £1000 per month to have any chance of getting to page one on sponsored advertisements. Secondly people seem to have gone crazy and want a quick win - they forget Dentistry is a relationship business and relationships take time.

You want more patients? It is simple, just ask your existing ones. I know you have heard this before but do you actually do it with EVERY patient? Tell them how much you like seeing and treating them. Tell them you have vacancies for patients like them and give them a few business cards. Do not leave it there, follow it up with an email reminding them. Most of them never think of telling their friends and family about you unless they get asked. We also send follow-up letters asking them if the treatment was comfortable, explaining the maintenance and guarantees on their work and again asking for referrals.

We look at our day list at our morning meeting - we all instantly see the names of the people we like to treat. Make it a point for the whole team to do this every day.

Now with more and more compliance there are companies out there who can automate this process for you. After every dental appointment they can email your patients and ask them to rate the service they achieved and even ask if they are happy to write a testimonial that can be placed on your website or Google reviews

You do not need a huge marketing budget. It just needs time to make sure your message is clear and you invest in different ways in reaching your target audience. A good campaign also gets them emotionally stimulated to buy or at least investigate your practice. Convert your raving fans into your marketing force.

James Goolnik is a practising Dentist and his book “Brush” donates 100% of the profits to Dentaid. He recently led a team of 8 dental professionals to Malawi to install two dental chairs, equipment and deliver skills transfer workshops from these proceed. He is a trustee of the charity “Heart your Smile”.

www.jamesgoolnik.com

DENTSPLY UK is delighted to announce that from September 2013, Olivier Collet will become the new Vice President and General Manager of its UK Dental Division.

Olivier has significant experience within the dental industry, beginning his career with a Swiss dental dealer in 1985, and moving on to join DENTSPLY Maillefer Switzerland as Interco Manager in 2000.

Olivier was promoted to Sales Director of DENTSPLY Maillefer in 2004, responsible for the worldwide Dental business. In this role he successfully created and developed a global sales network, increased sales volumes, explored diversification alternatives and prospected new Endodontic dental markets, latterly adding Surgical products to his portfolio.

Contact us at www.dentsply.co.uk or 0800 072 3313

Earn Rewards against purchases at www.dentsplyrewards.co.uk

Access webinars and product demonstrations and earn CPD at www.dentsplyacademy.co.uk

Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ has scooped an award as part of The Big Break 2013. The campaign, run by Bacs, offers prizes for companies who sign clients up to Direct Debit, and raises money for charity in the process. This year’s campaign will benefit no fewer than 100 charities and good causes, making sure they get a Big Break in 2013 too.

Krishan Joshi is CEO of Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’. He says:

‘It’s really exciting to have been awarded a prize from Bacs, and it’s testament to quality of service that we can offer. With over 500 dental practice websites to our name, we provide an excellent level of customer service and on-going support to all our customers. This prize is a great credit to our team who work extremely hard to keep our clients happy.’

Simon Reynolds, marketing manager at First Capital Cashflow adds:

‘It’s great to see clients such as Dental Focus ®, take advantage of promoting direct debit as a collection method. Clearly in this instance Dental Focus ® have been rewarded for their hard work and involvement in the Big Break campaign. Collecting fees by direct debit really is a win-win for all parties involved. The beneficiary enjoys improved cash-flow, reduced debtor days and streamlined administration, whilst the payer benefits from the convenience factor.’   

With over a decade of experience building beautiful bespoke websites for UK dental practices, the Dental Focus ® team have all the skills and experience to put your practice quite literally, on the Google map. To learn more, contact Dental Focus ® ‘Websites for your profit’ today!

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

GDPs who wish to offer orthodontic treatments in their surgery now have the support of your very own team of registered specialist orthodontists. LR Orthodontists are unique by being the only provider who is there for dentists throughout each and every case. They assign a named specialist orthodontist to each and every case for diagnosis and treatment planning.

Kerr is excited to reveal that a new curing light that meets all your ‘wants’ is to be launched in October at the BDTA Dental Showcase on stand N14 and will soon be available UK-wide.

Committed to providing the very best for its customers, Kerr asked potential purchasers what they were looking for in a new curing light. In line with the responses, the product offers:

• A non-degrading power source

• Battery-free and cordless operation

• Rapid recharge in 30 seconds or less

• Uniform depth of cure

• Low heat generation without compromising cure time (C.U.R.E technology)

• Simple and intuitive operation and maintenance

• Unit swap should failure occur

• Warranty extension

• Accidental damage cover.

Keep an eye out for Kerr’s upcoming announcement that will reveal the name of this exciting new light, even more benefits, and when and where you can see it for yourself.

To contact Kerr, please call 01733 892292, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.kerrdental.co.uk.

A report published last month by market research giant Mintel, forecasts strong growth across the industry in the coming 5 years and concludes that by 2018 UK dentistry will be worth £9bn, a 14% increase on its current value.

Leading dental marketing agency Manan Limited, who collected data from more than 600 dentists for their 2012 Dental Survey, shared their findings with Mintel, having been approached by industrial analyst and author of the report, Angus Handley. Manan’s data provided an insight into some key areas of the dental market, including dentists’ likelihood of increasing specialist service provision, the level of hygienist services currently available, and the profession’s adoption of new technology, such as online appointment booking.

The report gives detailed forecasts of how the next 5 years are likely to develop, particularly in the face of a new NHS contract, currently expected no earlier than 2016. Predicting slow growth in the private sector of only 2.5% (on a par with GDP forecasts) between 2014 and 2016, a more favourable economic climate and increased disposable income will lead to more patients accessing private care, causing a rapid increase in 2017 and 2018, resulting in an overall 5 year forecast of 14% growth, according to the report.

Similarly, cosmetic dentistry is also expected to benefit from the predicted change in the economic environment. The report concludes that once the financial barriers to cosmetic treatment are removed there is a healthy prediction of 21% growth over the next 5 years in this sector.

Manan has full access to the report and will be happy to discuss those aspects that pertain to their clients’ individual needs.

For more information visit www.mananltd.com

The team at JETPIK is excited to announce the UK launch of its JETPIK Smart Floss at BDTA Dental Showcase on Stand C06a.

 As a special Showcase offer, dental professionals who choose to make JETPIK available to patients through their practice will  have the opportunity to buy a new unit at a reduced rate to discover the benefits for their patients.

Offering unbeatable inter-dental cleaning action that pulsates 20 times per second to tackle stubborn areas, laboratory tests show that JETPIK Smart Floss is twice as effective at removing plaque biofilm from human teeth as a high pressure water irrigator.

The ‘Go-with-Water’ design of JETPIK combines the essential power of floss with clinically proven water and air irrigation to allow floss to reach all areas of the mouth, even below the gum line and between teeth.

JETPIK Smart Floss improves overall oral health and assists in combating gum disease. In addition, for patients who wear braces, JETPIK offers the ideal oral hygiene solution.

To see JETPIK in action for yourself, please visit Stand C06a or visit www.jetpik.co.uk for more information.

Nobel Biocare is dedicated to expanding the value of services offered to all its customers. As part of its on-going commitment, Nobel Biocare has developed a brand-new online store designed to make online ordering easier and more convenient than ever before.

Integrated within the Nobel Biocare website (www.nobelbiocare.com), the new digital store offers customers smarter, easier and more personal choices of the most comprehensive range of implant systems, drills, surgical components, surgery kits, and a wide range of prefabricated prosthetics, as well as everything you need for guided surgery. The online offering is also complemented by a comprehensive choice of patient education material.

Benefits of Nobel Biocare’s new online store include:

• Significantly improved speed
• Intuitive navigation, including a ‘quick buy’ function
• Personalised online product catalogue
• Convenient product filtering
• Previous orders available via purchase history
• Fast access to customer support
• Limited-time money-back guarantee for components purchased online

With over 1,700 products available, the new Nobel Biocare online store really is the perfect choice for all your needs.

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

GC UK is excited to announce the launch of their new and innovative e-Comic exclusively for Facebook fans and online community. With an aim to illustrate the significant advantages of using GC everX Posterior, readers will be able to view a new episode each week and benefit from exclusive product offers.

GC everX Posterior is a fibre-reinforced composite designed to be used as dentine replacement, in conjunction with conventional composite such as G-ænial Posterior for enamel replacement. The short fibres of GC everX Posterior will make it a perfect sub-structure to reinforce any composite restoration in large size cavities. Fibres will also prevent and stop crack propagation through the filling, which is considered to be the main cause of composite failures.

Click to view the latest episode of The Adventures of everX e-Comic

Phone: 01908 218999

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

Website: http://www.uk.gceurope.com

Twitter:         https://twitter.com/gcuk13

Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/GCUKLTD

Dental students in their final year at participating universities will get the chance to showcase their talents in a nationwide Dental Surgery Skills Competition. This inaugural contest is organised by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s (RCSEd) Faculty of Dental Surgery, and sponsored by DENTSPLY.

Students who wish to participate will be invited to apply through the RCSEd website. The first 25 eligible students to register from each school will get to represent their university in the regional contests.

The regional heats will be held at Dental Schools from October to December 2013, where the students’ clinical dental skills will be judged. As a sponsor to the competition, DENTSPLY will be supplying the participants with materials they need for the skills tests such as burs, rotary endodontic files, composite material and light curing units.

The winners from each regional event will be invited to the final at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in March 2014. The final competition at the RCSEd will take the regional winners through various skill stations.

The winner of the Dental Surgery Skills Competition will receive an expenses-paid trip to America to attend the Chicago Dental Society’s Midwinter Meeting in February 2015, courtesy of RCSEd’s Faculty of Dental Surgery, as well as taking the accolade and pride in being the first winner to ever be named for the contest.

For more details on the competition, visit www.rcsed.ac.uk/dental-skills-comp.

Contact us at www.dentsply.co.uk or 0800 072 3313

Earn Rewards against purchases at www.dentsplyrewards.co.uk

Access webinars and product demonstrations and earn CPD at www.dentsplyacademy.co.uk

Botched &  Dire Advice

Well, its that time of the year when the smell of a drying wet dog permeates the house. The leaves are turning. The Fall is here as our colleagues across the pond might note.

The disturbing, but perhaps not unexpected, news this week is that the BDA are experiencing their own Autumnal Fall. This has of course galvanised the bar-room gaggle into snap analysis and quick fixing over a pint. Whoa Trigger. If only it were that easy!

It seems that the fancy new 3 tier membership has resulted in a wallet voting rush for web-BDA only. Which bit of the “Rollup, save £300” message did the membership FAIL to get?  The story goes that the wide-red-braced management consultant’s expected, cosy, even split of membership from “Basic” through to “Free Conference Tickets for all” levels has not materialised. Well, quelle surpise.

There has been what one must assume is a catastrophic fall in membership income, and already barely three months later redundancies are taking place.  Lifeboats and the Costa Concordia come to mind. Abandon ship, or merely muster at lifeboat stations? Time will shortly tell.

So what is the message here?   Some ¾ of the membership of about 18000 are understood to have elected for no personal contact with the BDA. That may be the reality of distant and isolate practice– one hopes… But of course it might be more of a vote of no-confidence.

But the 18000 HAVE signed up to 60 hours of vCPD [I wonder how many will actually take that up]. They HAVE signed up for library and journal access. And they HAVE signed up for soopah- doopah web access to 5000 pages of dental whatever. You could of course try Google for free and save another £300.

Perhaps more pertinent in these times - They HAVE signed up to Trades Union support.

Is it me?  The new membership have declined the offer of a free conference ticket, and by and large rejected the Expert practice and management support package and yet signed up in the main to the very bit the BDA hardly excels at – representation at government level.  Even then, in the basic package, all support will have to be ‘on line’. Joy.

The BDA seem to have shot themselves in the foot with this new membership and then left themselves with the only remaining task of running the marathon of representation. In rugby parlance, a hospital pass.

Maybe this new membership split IS a vote after all …

Maybe we will now have a Trade Union with balls. 

Protecting yourself

• Ensure the policy includes an ‘own occupation’ definition, meaning it will pay out if you are unable to carry out your specific job. If the policy states ‘any suited occupation’, it won’t pay out if you are able to carry out other types of work based on your knowledge and experience.
• Check the scheme offers ‘permanent’ protection, meaning the terms on which it is offered will remain unchanged until the policy expires or you retire, whichever comes sooner.
• Think about the right deferred period for your needs. Premiums are normally cheaper if you wait longer before benefits are paid, so you might choose to defer payments until other sources of income, such as sick pay, have expired or reduced.
• Review your policy regularly as it may be impacted by any changes in employment conditions and salary increases that occur throughout your career.

A 29 yr old lady, images displayed below, came to see me a while back and was quite depressed with her teeth which had been a hindrance, her whole life. Since she was younger her parents had brought her to see dentists and specialists to see what could be done and she even spent time in the dental hospital being passed from pillar to post.

She has a real skeletal issue which complicated her treatment and all the specialists wanted to fix this as part of any treatment plan. She understood that it was probably the best thing to do but she was unprepared to go through the surgery and at this stage in her life wasn’t keen to wear braces either. She wondered if there was anything I could suggest. She had no issue with her bite, she was only concerned with her appearance. Now this is where I stand up and say that I am on the patient’s side. If it were me I don’t think that I would go for the surgery if there was another option. 

Our first stage was to do a diagnostic wax up; this proved what we felt would be the case that we needed to move the teeth slightly in order to restore. My lab technician, Gary Rumbold of Eastwood Dental Services, cut off the teeth from the cast and repositioned them. He then poured up duplicate casts so I could explain the situation to the patient. Once I explained the treatment could be done with Invisalign and would only take around 6 months then she was good to go. 

The next stage was to take impressions for Invisalign and using the measurements from the cast I adjusted the clincheck so that the teeth were exactly where we wanted them at the end of treatment. We intruded the lower anteriors so as to alleviate the traumatic bite on the upper palatal mucosa and make room in the overjet for a small amount of anterior retraction .We did not adjust the posterior occlusion at all. This freedom to select which teeth to move and which teeth to leave alone is the single biggest advantage of the Invisalign system. Those of you VERY proficient with brackets and wires may have the same control but for the average GP this technology is fantastic. It allows us to treat cases we otherwise would have to leave alone and allows the patients the freedom to have what they want from orthodontic treatment.

Six months later, the teeth are in the right spot. We removed the attachments and took impressions for a new diagnosis. As you can see from the prep guides we were able to restore the smile with extremely minimal pres. You will also see that on the R side we placed a bridge without prepping the abutment teeth. This was a 360 degree coverage fixed bridge with no shoulder margin of any sort. The bridge is made out of emax press and although unconventional we felt that because of the massive overjet and a very compliant patient that it would work well. Given the choice we all agreed it was better to not damage the abutment teeth and see how things developed.

In this case we placed an extra no prep veneer at no extra cost for the patient to improve the finished result.

The patient was instructed to wear her essix retainer 24/7 for 6 months and every night thereafter. She was finished over a year ago and so far so good. 

I hope you like the case, for me it was a great example of how expanding my knowledge into orthodontics has dramatically driven my cosmetic dentistry business. I started with 6 month smiles and Invisalign in 2007 and have not looked back since. It is obvious almost every day that If I didn’t have that string to my bow I would have only done half the number of cases I have now completed. 

If anyone has any questions please shout or reply below!

All images shown with the clients permission. 

On 3rd July this year, Alliance Boots held their annual supplier conference, with all their major suppliers across the healthcare, beauty and baby industries in attendance.

Recognised as the Number 1 product for ‘Innovative Product Launch’ was CB12, acknowledged for its product uniqueness and the effectiveness of the marketing support utilised at the launch.

With ‘bad breath’ found to be in the top five most embarrassing conditions to discuss[i], CB12 provides an effective solution to eliminate both the physical and physiological effects for suffers. The winning mouth rinse formula neutralises the VSCs (Volatile Sulphur Compounds) responsible for malodorous breath, relieving suffers of symptoms for up to 12 hours.

Supplied by Meda Pharmaceuticals, the team are delighted to have faired so well against the industry giants, and would like to thank to all who helped make this possible.

To see what CB12 could do for your patients, please visit www.cb12.co.uk

Throughout my career I have been fortunate enough to be involved with helping to develop dental teams to meet their full potential. Whenever I meet the most successful teams I am always amazed at the motivation, energy and remarkably high morale that these dedicated teams demonstrate. I wonder what is their big secret?  Could it be high salaries, financial bonuses, job status, a secret magic elixir, a funky pill?

The simple answer is that all of the most successful practices that I’ve worked with over the years understand the five key internal motivators of their teams. These are:

• Achievement
• Recognition of achievement
• Growth and advancement
• Responsibility
• Enjoyment of the job

They achieve this by learning together and through learning together they discover how to play together.

Learning through play

It is a strange thing about our modern society that we consider play to be the opposite of work; we are either playing, or we are working. Very often playing is considered to be unprofessional, unhelpful and unproductive – but how true is this? 

Let’s take a step back for a moment and look at some of the challenges facing dental teams today:

• CQC
• CPD Cycles
• HTM 01-05
• Compliance

These are but a few of the many different challenges that are facing the profession, and the list can often seem endless. But I wonder, what would happen if we make these challenges fun, playful and exciting? Would the whole dental team be more inclined to get involved?

Experience tells me that by focussing on delivering training and compliance in a fun, interactive and inclusive way practice teams are more likely to take in important information and are more likely to engage with the whole process. Wouldn’t this take some of the pain out of compliance and CPD?

Whole brain learning

You may have experienced in the past the type of training that uses PowerPoint and nothing else, but what does this really teach you?  How much do you really take in? The very best CPD training encompasses a concept known as ‘whole brain learning’. This may incorporate imagination, pictures, randomness – all things associated with the right side of the brain – together with logic, reasoning and analysis that is associated with the left side. This type of ‘whole brain’ learning is particularly effective and as it’s been proven to show that information is taken in faster and is retained for longer. It has also been proven that this type of learning means that knowledge is also recalled more easily.

What this shows us more than anything is that learning doesn’t have to be boring! Training providers should encourage teams to innovate, and should embrace fun with their group activities in order to not only improve learning, but also to encourage better teamwork and cooperation between team members.

At dbg we enjoy creating innovative and engaging learning environments where all viewpoints and mistakes are acknowledged and valued as a way to learn; demonstrating how to conduct reflective practice as a team. Don’t forget as GDC registered professionals it is our duty to reflect and improve on our systems, policies and practices, and the CQC wants us to demonstrate this in its Outcomes. As such there is absolutely nothing wrong with learning in an interesting and engaging way – if anything it makes us better at our jobs.

Communication is key

When it comes to training, the very best providers will always listen to the views and needs of the practice team. This is because they will understand the challenges that you face on a daily basis and will fully appreciate that each and every dental practice is different and will work in different ways. Only by listening carefully and working together with you will your training provider be able to help your team achieve its full potential.

As Brenda Ueland once said:

‘Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force.  When we really listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being recreated.’

Committed to you

At dbg we are dedicated to supporting dental teams across the UK, providing complete solutions to help in every area of the practice. Crucially, our commitment to dental teams does not stop after CPD training; it continues with dedicated Practice Support Managers that want to help you and your team achieve your full potential. To find out more, contact dbg today. Membership is £330 per year, and gives you access to offers and discounts on all our services, as well as a free compliance helpline and free compliance software.

For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

About the author:

Claire Deegan is a Practice Support Manager at dbg, delivering training and supporting practices to become compliant. She has 20 years’ experience in dentistry and has a passion for team development and motivational speaking.

If you are looking to perform any construction work on your practice then you need to have considered Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM).  Having been introduced initially in 1994, CDM Regulations were re-introduced in 2007. It was hoped that the modified regulations would make it easier for projects to comply with health and safety responsibilities. This is not just for the sake of the builders, but also for the safety of the public. This is especially significant to anyone looking to refurbish their dental practice as more often than not, a practice will choose to remain operational through this period.

The aim of CDM Regulations is to improve the overall management and coordination of health and safety through every stage of the construction process. The goal of this is to reduce the number of both serious and fatal accidents that occur in the construction industry.

Where does CDM apply?

CDM Regulations apply to “The construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration or other maintenance (including cleaning which involves the use of water or an abrasive at high pressure or the use of corrosive or toxic substances), de-commissioning, demolition or dismantling of a structure”.[i]

A CDM Coordinator must be appointed by the employer if the project is going to last longer than 30 days or if it involves more than 500 person days of work. Though this sounds like a Planning Supervisor, the role of the CDM Coordinator is simply to advise and assist the employer as to how they can comply with the regulations.

It’s your responsibility

First and foremost, the sole responsibility of hiring a CDM Coordinator rests on your shoulders. CDM is a contract between the employer and the builder, it has nothing to do with your architect. An architect can advise you to sort out CDM, but if you don’t and a problem occurs because you haven’t sorted it out, it will be your problem. However, some Architectural Design Services companies, like Roger Gullidge Design will offer help during this process by suggesting possible CDM Coordinators.

Nowadays, all projects (unless very small) should be backed up by a JCT contract, which has a CDM section to make sure that you have it covered. This is a contract between the employer and the contractor. Through signing this contract you acknowledge whether or not you need CDM. If the JCT Administrator has written in to the contract that you require CDM and you choose to ignore it, there could be big problems if someone gets hurt.

The CDM Coordinator

Drawings of the project must be put together and then sent to the CDM coordinator. Once the drawings and information on the builder has been checked (part of the procedure is to check that the builder is up to date with his insurances/certifications etc.) there will be a meeting with the CDM Coordinator regarding the project. The CDM Coordinator will then fill in all of the correct government forms (they are qualified to do this) and the project can begin.

If you have employed your CDM Coordinator at the basic level he may visit the project once, though it is not law that they visit at all. If you have employed your CDM Coordinator for the top grade then they will normally be there for every meeting. If you are really safety conscious then it is advised that you go for the top grade.

A CDM Coordinator has the power to close the site down, this can be for safety reasons (builder has put up some scaffolding that may fall down etc.) or it could be closed because the contractors welfare is inadequate, i.e. it is too cold or there are not suitable facilities for them.

Be sure not to confuse a CDM Coordinator with a Health and Safety Visitor, though they may seem similar they have completely different roles. A CDM Coordinator checks the paperwork and will be present in meetings whereas a Health and Safety Visitor can visit the site unexpectedly to check your health and safety compliance. If the Health and Safety Visitor visits and discovers that you don’t have a CDM Coordinator, the project can be shut down until this is rectified

The benefits of a CDM Coordinator are clear, by helping you to make your project safer for both your contractors and the public by assessing safety, welfare and site conditions, the chances of you running into problems are significantly decreased. Though a CDM Coordinator has the authority to interfere and temporarily shut down the construction, they should not be seen as a foe. Their advice and assistance is purely there to benefit you and those who come into direct contact with the project, ensuring a safer and smoother project.

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

James and Sonya Hamill are a husband and wife team and directors of Blueapple Dental and Implant Team, a multi-award winning dental practice in Belcoo in County Fermanagh. James is also clinical director at the practice while Sonya is Blueapple’s practice manager. The practice offers a wide range of dentistry services but has a special focus on implant dentistry.

“Our location is really important,” says Sonya. “We’re in a very remote part of Northern Ireland, in a small village on the border with the Republic of Ireland. We have a broad catchment area and patients are widely spread out, so it’s essential to run a full service.”

Freshly crowned Private Dentistry Irish Practice of the Year 2013, Sonya takes a look back at how Blueapple Dental has developed and, working with a business coach, become the practice it is today.

Sonya and James first opened the business in June 2005 and appointed a business coach three years later following their first award win. “It was the early days of the Dentistry awards,” recalls Sonya, “and James had just won the first Best Young Dentist award for the UK.”

The practice had grown rapidly, moving from one surgery to two within six months of opening. “We’d started with lots of enthusiasm and ideas and we knew that we wanted to offer our patients a fresh approach,” says Sonya. “But we didn’t have the background knowledge, skills and training in how to run and develop a business properly. We just knew that up to that point everything was going great, but we needed another person to push us further and help us go through the ceiling that we had reached.”

At that time, business coaching was practically unheard of. “It’s so familiar to everybody now, but back then coaching was new to us and certainly new in Northern Ireland,” says Sonya. “James is very quick to identify something new or to think outside the box, so when a colleague mentioned that they had taken on a business coach and how he was changing their practice, we decided to give it a try.”

The business coach began by spending a day at the practice and giving detailed feedback on what he’d seen. Since then, coaching has been a resource that they can call upon whenever they need support and advice. “I’ve learned it is crucial to have that outsider perspective,” says Sonya. “He is constantly giving us reasons to stop and think about what we’re doing. Being a husband and wife team, it is probably even more critical to have someone that can cut through where emotions might cause our vision to become impaired.”

Part of the practice vision is to enter industry awards, as Sonya explains, “An award is a pat on the back for ourselves and our team because we really are doing something special. We may be in a tiny village in a corner of South West Northern Ireland, but that doesn’t stop us from maintaining standards that you’d find among the best and brightest anywhere else in the country.”

Gaining this recognition is not only good for the practice team but also for the business itself. “One of the main reasons for entering an award is for the team; they work so hard and we are continually resetting the bar for them to go further,” Sonya says. “Awards are also useful from a marketing perspective, and it’s good to keep challenging yourself and measuring your business to ensure you’re at a high level.”

Business coaching was a significant factor in the practice’s success in being named Irish Practice of the Year. “I looked at the business differently from the day that our coach came into it,” says Sonya. “He is an influence on our decision-making all the time, even when we’re not in direct contact with him. It’s very easy to become insular - especially in a practice like ours, which is relatively remote - and it’s important that you don’t lose sight of your place within UK and Irish dentistry.”

She continues, “With that level of business expertise to call on, you are constantly pushing yourself and keeping head of the game; and it’s that influence that has driven us to where we are now. It’s nice that people in the industry feel that our approach merits an award.”

Acknowledging the competitive nature of dentistry today, why does Sonya feel that their practice won the award? “I think it’s because of our emphasis on the patients,” she says. “That’s always been our mantra: making it as good as possible for the patients. We offer a welcoming, warm, non-clinical environment, where we know who they are and what they need, and I think that has marked us out. We are willing to go that extra mile for them - something that business coaching has taught us.”

Principals who would like their practices to achieve award-winning status might like to try business-coaching services such as 7connections, led by Chris Barrow, who has seventeen years of experience as a consultant to the dental profession. Together with Tim Caudrelier and Karl Taylor-Knight, 7connections has the experience and knowledge to help improve every aspect of your business from strategic planning, finances, branding and marketing, to the patient experience, operations and compliance.

For more information about 7connections

please contact Phillippa Goodwin on 07508 184 044

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

This October, the London Tooth Wear Centre^® is offering complimentary tooth wear consultations (while appointments last) as part of its Tooth Wear Awareness Month.

The aim of Tooth Wear Awareness Month is to raise national awareness of this growing problem.  The most recent statistics from the Adult Dental Health Survey, 2009 indicate that over 75% of adults and more than 50% of children show signs of tooth wear.  If we continue as we are, this is set to get worse.

The complimentary consultation will ascertain whether your patient is suffering from tooth wear, as well as offer advice to help prevent further problems if appropriate. The patient will also be advised to continue to consult with you for their routine care as appropriate.

The London Tooth Wear Centre^® offers an evidence-based and comprehensive approach to managing abrasion, attrition and erosion, utilising the latest clinical techniques and an holistic approach in a professional and friendly environment. It is headed up by Clinical Director Professor Andrew Eder, a Specialist in Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics. He is also Professor/Honorary Consultant at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute.

If you are concerned that any of your patients may be showing signs of  tooth wear, simply ask them to contact the London Tooth Wear Centre^® by call 0207 486 7180 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to set up an appointment for a complimentary consultation.

For more information as well as terms and conditions, please visit www.toothwear.co.uk

Providing an array of solutions to organise and simplify daily tasks, Carestream Dental really can help your practice enhance productivity and long-term success.

The CS R4 Clinical+ Practice Management Software is the complete package, combining every aspect needed for a thriving business. From the appointment schedule, to patient records, to patient communication and automatic reminders, the software keeps everything in one place for convenience and clarity.

For quick and efficient diagnosis, all impression images and scans can also be integrated into the Software, aiding treatment explanations to patients and optimising access to patient data for all authorised professionals throughout the practice.

Committed to eXceed – the successful business model that guarantees quality customer service – the team at Carestream Dental are also on hand to provide any additional advice or support you could need with your new software.

Streamline your business with the R4 Clinical+ Practice Management Software from Carestream Dental today.

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

Compliance support when you need it most

Running a successful dental practice is no simple task. With so many regulations to meet and compliance criteria to understand, it can be a daunting task to even the most organised of practice teams.

To help make your practice life that little bit easier, at dbg we offer a wide range of compliance packages designed to provide you with valuable support and assistance when you need it most. These services include our unique Practice Assessment, as well as our CQC Interactive Workshop and our range of Risk Assessment packages that help you meet all your legal requirements.

A wealth of experience

With over 20 years experience in dentistry, at dbg we have all the skills, knowledge and experience to assist you in every area of your practice. Our compliance support team have been working closely with regulators for many years. This means we are in a unique position to give you the very best guidance and support in any matter relating to compliance.

Using our expertise and understanding of all relevant compliance issues in dentistry, we have created our innovative Member’s Area, which is free to all our members. This powerful online tool is a useful for practice managers everywhere, and can be tailored specifically to meet your practice’s needs. One of its great features is that it allows you to complete an online self-assessment in order to gain a better overview of where the practice stands in relation to full regulatory compliance. It also provides useful tips and guidance on steps that can be taken to bring your practice in line.

Peace of mind, guaranteed

At dbg we understand that compliance is no easy matter, and with the ever-increasing burden of regulation, it can be a challenge to keep on top of it all. For complete peace of mind we offer a number of carefully designed compliance support packages, including full Practice Assessments, available from as little as £695 + VAT. Each Practice Assessment is conducted by one of our certified trained assessors, who will spend the majority of the working day in your practice, checking for evidence and giving practical advice on how to bring your practice in-line with all current guidance and legislation.

If you have an inspection coming up, then a dbg Practice Assessment can be a great way to help you prepare and make sure you have all key areas covered. It can also be useful to invest in a Practice Assessment on a periodic basis to ensure your systems are in good working order and check that standards haven’t slipped.

To compliment our Practice Assessment package, we also offer our brand-new CQC Interactive Workshop that we have put together to give practice team members a better understanding of CQC regulations and what to expect. This two-hour training course is an excellent way of bringing staff members together to ask questions and work through role-play scenarios to help put minds at ease.

Packages to meet your every need

No matter what your compliance need, at dbg, we have you covered. Whether you need help with HTM 01-05, CQC, or the HSE we have a service for you. Our Radiation Protection Service for example has been designed to offer you a cost-effective means of meeting all your obligations under IRR99 and IR(ME)R2000. The service gives you access to a Radiation Protection Advisor, a Medical Physics Expert, and also provides you with an online radiation protection file to guide you through all your legal requirements. We also offer associated engineering services to help you keep all your x-ray equipment in full working order.

Beyond radiation services we also provide a selection of bespoke Risk Assessment services. These include our Legionella, Fire, and Health & Safety Risk Assessments. Each has been designed with dental practices in mind, and to guide you towards full compliance with current legislation.

With you every step of the way

To help you meet your compliance needs, our experienced team are dedicated to providing you with outstanding service and support, and are always on hand to answer questions and provide assistance when you need it most. If there are key areas of your practice that you need further help with we can also recommend products and packages to help you meet your regulatory obligations, with discounted rates for dbg members. To learn more about our complete compliance solutions, contact dbg today.

 For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

Some patients require a little more help and encouragement with their oral hygiene than others and we as healthcare professionals must be alert to these individuals. Patients such as those with xerostomia, or dry mouth, for example, need to be particularly vigilant with their self-care routine.

Xerostomia is not a disease of itself, but a manifestation of another problem. It is typically found in patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer of the head and neck, or for individuals with diseases such as Sjörgen’s Syndrome, diabetes or HIV/AIDS. Older patients will almost certainly suffer dry mouth, not because of their age, but because they are most likely to be taking prescription medication of which dry mouth is a common side effect.

Effective oral hygiene is imperative for patients with dry mouth, as they are more susceptible to periodontal disease, dental decay and infections such as oral candidiasis.

A lack of sufficient saliva can leave patients with a constant dry feeling in the mouth and throat, burning sensation on the tongue, mouth ulcers and bad breath. They experience difficulties when eating, speaking and wearing removable dentures, and can go on to develop further destructive complications such as bruxism.

There are a range of dry mouth products that patients can try such as sprays and lozenges, as well as sipping water, use of sugar-free chewing gum and certain lifestyle changes. Alcohol, caffeinated drinks, smoking and chewing tobacco can all impact salivary flow and exacerbate dry mouth. Mouth breathing will also worsen the condition and patients should try to avoid acidic, spicy or sugary food and drink.

Patients with xerostomia are advised to adopt a thorough oral hygiene regime that includes interdental cleaning to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Most patients are familiar with dental floss, however compliance tends to be low and there are doubts amongst the profession as to its effectiveness against gingival inflammation and plaque control[i].

The Water Flosser is one of the most widely researched oral hygiene products available today. It operates via pressurised water flow through the tip, which disrupts and removes debris and bacteria from the targeted area. Patients with dry mouth often experience the first signs of tooth decay along the gingival margin, therefore effective cleaning of this area is critical to prevent disease. This is where the Water Flosser really comes into its own. In contrast with dental floss, the Water Flosser not only cleans between the teeth but also deep below the gingival margin, flushing out bacteria where other devices simply can’t reach.

One of the leading brands in the UK and worldwide is the Waterpik® Water Flosser. It has the backing of over 55 published clinical studies that demonstrate its oral hygiene benefits to patients, including those with braces, implants, crowns and bridges. Clinically proven superior to dental floss in the reduction of bleeding[ii] and gingivitis[iii], the Waterpik® Water Flosser also removes more plaque than dental floss from the marginal (33%)[iv], lingual (39%)^iv and facial (24%)^iv regions after just one use.

With its considerable advantages on offer, a Water Flosser is an excellent recommendation for any patient. Only through a combination of patient education and an evidence-based method of efficient plaque removal can we have confidence in the prevention of oral disease for all of our patients, whatever their age, lifestyle or level of health and wellbeing.

To learn more about the Waterpik® Water Flosser and the other products in the Waterpik® Range go to www.waterpik.co.uk.

ProDentalCPD is one of the UK’s foremost providers of high quality verifiable CPD for the whole dental team. Collaborating with more than 2,000 authors, ProDentalCPD brings members high quality courses that encompass activities such as online lectures, educational videos, webinars, articles and other interactive learning aids.

ProDentalCPD’s guiding philosophy is one of continuous improvement and a number of partnerships, such as the collaboration with the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), ensure that learning resources are relevant and beneficial. Fiona Ellwood is a BADN member and senior lecturer/ adviser in oral health education and preventative programmes, and clearly supports how ProDentalCPD strives to keep abreast of new developments in dentistry.  

“ProDentalCPD is very current, for example the GDC recently brought to the fore the topic of oral cancer and in response to this, ProDentalCPD developed a learning tool on this subject, so that its members are up-to-date,” says Fiona. “ProDentalCPD looks at market need – it is more than CPD and a lot of thought goes into the construction of the learning resources and their accessibility.”

Fiona’s firm knowledge and expertise has meant that she is also a member of ProDentalCPD’s strong editorial board. “The ProDentalCPD team researches topics in depth, drawing on knowledge from a host of leading professionals from the industry,” confirms Fiona. “I also find that ProDentalCPD appeals to the whole dental sector, as it provides some real cross-sector information.”

“It’s important to be mindful of having a multidisciplinary approach to CPD and using different learning methods,” advises Fiona. “ ProDentalCPD does not just have one delivery approach and this is a huge attraction for me and those I recommend the site to, as experience has shown that a variation in learning strategies provides more opportunity for learning to occur.” 

ProDentalCPD features over 400 hours of peer-reviewed verifiable CPD (including all CORE CPD) in text, video and audio formats. “I think there is a wide selection of appropriate modules for the whole team and more,” says Fiona.

 “It is useful for me to guide others towards the site too. A lot of my work focuses on bringing out the potential in others and to help and support them – ProDentalCPD gives me the tools to do this.”  

“ProDentalCPD considers the educational aspect of CPD, looking at what members want and are required to learn, and gives members a way to evaluate their learning – it does not just hand out a certificate. With the assessments comes the opportunity to revisit any areas when incorrect answers are given and members can retake different questions, which are related to the same subject.” “Equally ProDentalCPD have taken into account the view point of the GDC in relation to the quality of CPD being provided.”

As an educationist with a very busy professional life in dentistry, Fiona relies upon tools that help her to focus and structure her learning activity. The online Personal Development Plan (PDP) is one feature of ProDentalCPD that Fiona believes will keep her and the whole team focussed. “Personally, I wouldn’t be without a PDP,” says Fiona, “it is a very effective tool to use and makes learning much more efficient. At the beginning of the next 5-year cycle, I will to turn to ProDentalCPD and I’ll be using the PDP.”

ProDental CPD gives users unlimited access to the largest online collection of verifiable CPD in the UK from some of the most renowned names in dentistry. Not only this, but every dental professional can benefit from e-learning with ProDentalCPD as the modules are tailored to dentists, nurses, hygienists, therapists, technicians, practice managers and students. For all BADN members, you may also be eligible for a discount on your membership with ProDentalCPD if you sign up via the BADN website.

To learn more about high-quality e-learning solutions, contact ProDentalCPD on 0114 282 3509, or visit www.prodentalcpd.com

Coming across a Dental Practices that has not been properly incorporated is a problem that is becoming increasingly common.

The erroneous incorporation of a dental practice is a ticking time bomb which can have dire consequences for the practice owner when it detonates.

Having had the ability to trade as limited companies since 2006, it wasn’t until 2009/10 that incorporated dental practices began to appear in more significant numbers. Four years later, many of these practices are now being put on the market, only to discover that they have not been incorporated correctly.

The generic name for this situation is, “Flawed Incorporation”

There are a number of mistakes that can be made in the process of incorporation. Often the reason for the practice not being incorporated properly is down to unsuitable legal advice – or in many cases a lack of any legal advice whatsoever.

One of the most common problems is that practices with an NHS contract will purport to incorporate the practice without asking the PCT permission for a new contract to be issued in the name of the limited company. This lands the practice in a situation where although it has been incorporated, the NHS contract is still in the name of the individual practitioner. There are a number of problems with this. The idea of incorporation is that the assets owned by the dentist are transferred to the limited company, however, all NHS contracts state that they can not be transferred. So, without the consent of the PCT the purported transfer of the contract is a fundamental breach, which gives the PCT the right to terminate the contract.

Another problem is that when the time comes to sell, the owner won’t be able to sell their shares in the limited company because the NHS contract (usually the biggest asset) is still in their personal name, which means that this asset still belongs to them, even if the principal may have believed that it transferred and that tax savings have been claimed on this basis since incorporation.

Another common problem is the failure to notify practice funders, usually the banks, of the proposed incorporation of the practice. The transfer of goodwill without bank approval will be a breach of the terms of the borrowing and would allow a funder to call in the loan.

One wonders how much the tax saving would be considered to be worth in that scenario?

If the incorporation is flawed, then it may well be necessary for it to be unravelled in order to sell the practice. The importance of having the very best legal advice cannot be underestimated when looking to incorporate your practice. This is why it is advisable to seek the assistance of a legal firm like GoodmanGrant, who practice exclusively in the dental industry and are able to provide a tailor made service that suits each practice’s individual needs. The experience and knowledge of a specialist is unrivalled, and their comprehension of every key detail that needs to be addressed will ensure a successful incorporation.

As if the above issues were not enough, yet another risk that a practice runs by not following a proper procedure and ensuring that the right documentation is in place is that the Inland Revenue may decide to investigate. The number of Inland Revenue investigations is on the rise and if they discover that there is no written evidence of a transfer of the assets, no mention of what should happen to the property, no valuation of goodwill they may not recognise it as a proper incorporation. This will mean that the practice will have to pay back any tax it has saved, defeating one of the principal reasons for incorporating in the first place.

Making any professional move requires the time and advice of a specialist. In order to effectively and correctly incorporate a dental practice one should make an effort to seek the assistance of a dedicated dental law firm. With a wealth of knowledge and experience that directly relates to the dental sector you can be sure that when the time comes to sell your dental practice there won’t be any unwelcome surprises!

John Grant of GoodmanGrant 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.goodmanlegal.co.uk

A NASDAL and ASPD MEMBER

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

Since starting as a mailing list in 1997, GDPUK has evolved into one of the major digital publishers of Dental content in the UK. With around 6000 members regularly using the dental forum, plus a range of dentals news and blogs constantly being published, I want to look at the advantages of digital publishing, why we enjoy it so much and how the UK Dental profession is benefitting.

Instant news

As written in a previous blog, we have all become addicted to the latest news and information. As I write this blog, the football transfer deadline is looming with fans hoping their team will sign players or hold on to players. Fans follow the transfers on social media, through TV and on their phones either reading mobile sites or communicating with their friends. News is constant and moves at a quicker pace than ever before and dentistry is no different. GDPUK often publishes content in a matter of minutes, like yesterdays exclusive UK Graduate news. Publishing everything online means we have no print deadlines and can publish articles within a few minutes.

Content

A unique advantage of digital publishing is that you can constantly produce content. We do this through the news, blogs and forum. The forum has over 500 different contributors a month, which means that a range of opinions are expressed throughout the day and some fantastic, well informed debates take place. We have a number of bloggers as well, who write dental focused content for the site and this produces insightful, humorous and thought provoking blogs for the site. We also constantly publish dental news, with a number of exclusives pieces of news a year. This means that the content on the site is consistently evolving and staying fresh.

Interaction

GDPUK members’ interacting with each other is the lifeblood of the forum. Members enjoy engaging with each other on a regular basis, sometimes giving useful information, sometimes being critical, sometimes being provocative but all this interaction creates a sense of community. Members who read but do not post (lurkers) still get the feeling of being part of the community and read the posts on the forum with interest. Dentists are gaining information, insight, advice and education from the forum; we believe the ever increasing interaction between the members is great for the dentists and the profession.

Accessibility

As a digital platform the site can be accessed from anywhere. August a traditional holiday month in the UK was the busiest month in the history of the site, with our members accessing the forum from all corners of the world on a range of mediums. The eagerly awaited GDPUK app is nearly close to completion and this will give further accessibility to dentists who are looking for regular dental news & opinion on a tablet device. We believe that the site has become a central part of our member’s daily lives; they will check general news, social media and then GDPUK. This can be confirmed by a recent GDC report on Standards with the paragraph reading as follows on social media, “Social media covers a number of internet based tools which allow people to create and exchange content. It includes blogs, internet forums, content communities and social networking sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, LinkedIn, GDPUK, Instagram and Pinterest.” This small sentence from the GDC is a great example of how information is being accessed, 24 hours a day an this is certainly something the dental profession is embracing. Interacting with colleagues, suppliers and customers now happens through a number of mediums.

Numbers Show Interest

At GDPUK we are known for reciting stats and we pride ourselves on offering up to date numbers on how often the site is being used. We prefer to focus on unique visitors and number of visitors because they are seen as a great indicator of traffic to a website and that the content is interesting. The last 8 months has seen a huge rise in these numbers. Each unique visitor in the month is from a single IP address, the total visits in August show that each visitor makes an average of more than 4 visits per month, at an average greater than 4,000 per day. These stats show GDPUK has further cemented its place in the UK Dentistry landscape. We offer a unique place to receive news, information and opinion on the constantly changing world of UK Dentistry. The table below shows that the site has seen some great growth and we appreciate everyone’s support from the dental community. Keep spreading the word and we will continue to grow the resource and community together.

Passion!

As you can probably tell the GDPUK team is passionate about digital publishing and embracing the advantages I have listed above. Digital publishing is still evolving and that is why it is exciting to be part of. In the last few weeks we have improved the site further with a new modern template, plus introducing fresher advertising banners that give greater exposure to our advertising partners. As mentioned earlier in this blog we also hope to introduce a GDPUK App which further enhances our digital publishing pedigree.

How has digital publishing helped your dental business or dental practice? Maybe you do a regular blog or email newsletter? Do you agree that it has helped dentistry? I would love to hear your thoughts and how you see dental publishing evolving?

Check out some unmissable offers and super savings in NSK’s latest e-brochure, offering an exclusive sneak preview of our NEW products and some old favourites too.

First for innovation, this season’s e-brochure successfully showcases the NEW iCare + and iClave to guarantee the perfect hygiene regime for rotary instruments alongside the stunning new ultrasonic system VarioSurg3 and more robust surgical micromotor, SurgicPro +, plus so much more!

With fantastic offers on an extensive range of handpieces and small equipment, NSK really do have it all! Don’t miss out… view it here now.

For more information contact NSK on 0800 6341909 or visit www.nsk-uk.com.

Facebook - NSK UK LTD

Twitter - @NSK_UK

The Dental Directory is pleased to announce that Brent Sercombe has recently joined the company as its new Head of Sales.

Brent has a comprehensive career history of success in sales operations, encompassing  Cable & Wireless and Virgin Media Business. With previous experience in corporate change, start-ups and as an entrepreneur, Brent has a real passion for managing and delivering sales success in challenging business market conditions.

Though his past experiences are not based in the dental industry, Brent sees this as a huge advantage:

“Often people from within the industry are bought in, so to bring me in has been a big move for The Dental Directory and an exciting move for me! I feel the combination of the established, traditional, loyal and trusted business brand of The Dental Directory together with my experiences of sales improvement programs is a winning combination. There is little doubt that the industry is experiencing massive change and I am relishing the challenge of leading the sales effort for the company in this period of economic uncertainty. In my short time on board, it is clear that the organisation is very customer centric and thrives on reacting quickly and efficiently to customer demand. It was one of the core reasons for my decision to join. The other… there are great people working here !

The Dental Directory is one of the UK’s largest dental dealers, complementing its range of more than 27,000 different products with an incredible commitment to customer service which includes free next day delivery. With Brent Sercombe as its new Head of Sales, The Dental Directory is confident that it can build on its reputation and continue to provide the same outstanding service and variety of products to all of its customers.

The Independently Verified Best Priced Dealer!

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on

0800 585 586, or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk

If you are looking to develop your skills and expand your treatment range, then Intelligent Alignment Systems could be just the solution you’re looking for.

The system comprises of three main components – the Inman Aligner, Clear Smile and Six Month Braces – providing a one-stop-shop for appropriate GDP orthodontics, taught and supported by the Internationally leading short-term-ortho educators.

The Inman Aligner team has joined forces with the world’s best educator for short-term fixed orthodontics, Dr. Rick De Paul, and offer ethical training with treatments planned digitally and supported through linked forums. They are also offering ‘ClearSmile’, which is a new clear aligner system that facilitates control of a case with arch planning, with training to ensure you get the best out of the system.

Exhibiting at the BDTA Dental Showcase, the team behind the Inman Aligner will be available to show you exactly what these appliances could do for you and your patients. Regardless of whether you have previous orthodontic experience, comprehensive training is available with our exclusive hands-on course, as well as online training too.

So if you want to find out more about how the Intelligent Alignment Systems could enhance your skill-set, don’t forget to visit stand Q10 at the BDTA Dental Showcase 2013!
 

For more information on Intelligent Alignment Systems, visit http://www.inmanalignertraining.com or phone 0845 366 5477

On Friday 8^th November, Jason Smithson will take to the podium at the BACD’s 10^th Annual Conference. He will present on “The Dentist as Artist-Technician” – a highly anticipated lecture that will showcase just what can be achieved with the latest composite resin materials.

As with all of Jason’s lectures, delegates can expect a highly engaging presentation packed full of hints and tips that they can take away with them and apply the very next working day. He says:

“My talk will be suitable for anyone interested in cosmetic dentistry. Whether you are a student, or general practitioner – whether you are an Accredited BACD member or still working your way up to full BACD membership – there will be something for you in my lecture. Anyone who has seen any of my lectures in the past will know that hints and tips really are ‘my thing’, and I guarantee there will be something you can take away from each and every slide I put up!”

This year’s BACD Annual Conference will be held on Thursday 7^th, Friday 8^th and Saturday 9^th November 2013 at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel. 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.bacd.com

Launching at this year’s BDTA Dental Showcase, the innovative SafeSeen Touch is a complete compliance suite.

The device enables you to ensure and demonstrate your practice compliance in all areas of CQC, HR and patient consent. All information you and your patients will need is stored on the device, and programmes can then be accessed and viewed in high quality graphics.

For convenience, your patients can also create a secure e-signature on the tablet for any treatment consent required in the future.

Designed to maximise your practice workflow while meeting all the regulations, the SafeSeen Touch is a compact, portable and easy-to-use tablet for use anywhere in the practice.