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OCT
16
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The Cost Saving Clinic at this year’s BDIA Showcase

The Cost Saving Clinic at this year’s BDIA Showcase

 

Whether you already run a dental payment plan at your practice or you’re considering launching a plan for the first time, award winning Patient Plan Direct invites you along to its Cost Saving Clinic at this year’s BDIA Showcase @ The NEC, Birmingham – 19th to 21st October.

This 15-20 minute investment of your time, could prove to save your practice thousands over the coming years.

Why visit the cost saving clinic?

If you already offer a payment plan…

If you work with a plan provider other than Patient Plan Direct that supports and administers your existing payment plans, we’re confident we can demonstrate how your practice could significantly cut the costs of running your plan and increase your practice profits, even if you opt to continue working with your existing provider.

Irrespective of the type of plans you offer patients (Full care, Maintenance, Membership, Hygiene only) or which provider you currently work with, we can share with you a range of options and methods to help you cut your plan administration costs!

 

If you’re thinking about launching a payment plan…

You may be looking to launch a payment plan simply to nurture patient loyalty or offer patients a convenient means of accessing their regular care, or you may be looking to launch plan as a means of transitioning to practice privately, stepping away from the NHS.

During your clinic appointment we’ll share with you the important considerations when selecting which plan provider to work with and tops tips on ensuring you maximise the profitability of your payment plan, whilst building a successful base of plan patients and offering the right range of plans to suit your patient demographics and oral health requirements.

Where and when is the cost saving clinic?

We’ll be hosting our cost saving clinic at stand E16 on all three days of the BDIA showcase exhibition.

You can pop along to our stand at any time, where one of our business development team will be more than happy to conduct our cost saving clinic exercise, which won’t take any longer than 15-20 mins.

If you would rather chat through the exercise in a little more privacy or away from the hustle and bustle of the show, one of our team will be more than happy to take you for a coffee (or something a little stronger) outside of the exhibition hall.

Whilst you’re welcome to simply ‘roll-up’ to our clinic at any time, to avoid disappointment we recommend you pre-book an appointment before the show. To do so, simply drop our team an email or give us a call to let us know which day and time works best for you and we’ll reply to confirm your appointment.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Tel: 08448486888

What do you need to bring along?

If you already offer a payment plan, please bring along your latest monthly plan schedule / report provided by your existing provider, or at the very least a note of the administration fees you’re currently charged and details of the plans you offer patients.

If you’re considering launching a dental plan for the first-time, you don’t need to bring along anything other than an appetite to understand how to launch a successful and profitable payment plan 

See you soon!

We look forward to seeing you soon. In the mean time you can discover more about Patient Plan Direct and how we’ve helped other practices on our website http://patientplandirect.com/case-studies/

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4289 Hits
OCT
13
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Developing your skills in implant dentistry

Developing your skills in implant dentistry

 

 

Have you recently qualified and seeking to enhance your knowledge and skills in implant dentistry?

In partnership with Straumann, the ITI is proud to present the highly regarded ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course. Now in its tenth year, the FID is a comprehensive programme specifically designed to assist delegates towards meeting the requirements of both the GDC and the FGDP Training Standards in Implant Dentistry for a safe and predictable start in implant dentistry.

This modular course, divided into six modules of two days each, covers all the essential materials needed for assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning, plus the opportunity to gain one-to-one practice mentoring in the clinical environment. Taught by some of the most experienced implant dentists in the UK, including Prof Nikos Donos, Dr Shakeel Shahdad and Dr Nikos Mardas, it delivers a wealth of implant experience combined with the ITI philosophy to deliver an evidence-based curriculum in a continuously peer-reviewed format.

Delegates have full access to the renowned ITI Online Academy – a ground-breaking e-learning platform that meets the needs of implant dentistry professionals by complementing and backing up the modular course’s didactic teaching. FID has its own dedicated Campus on the ITI Online Academy with learning modules, lectures and treatment examples all part of the FID curriculum.

There are a number of options for further training after the delegates have completed the FID course. Delegates can choose to continue on the ITI Training Pathway: the UK & Ireland Education Programme, offering a wide range of Straightforward and Advanced level courses. Beyond the ITI many UK Universities also offer formal certificates, diplomas and MScs in Implant Dentistry. The FID is recognised by the University of Bristol as Approved Prior Learning (APL) for their MSc in Implant Dentistry and on completion of the FID, delegates have the option to apply for entry directly into the second year of the MSc. There is also the option of self-guided preparation for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Diploma in Implant Dentistry (Dip Imp Dent RCSEd).

Don’t miss out on your chance to take a significant first step on the ITI Pathway!

Early Bird Discount - Book before 31st October and save £900!

All delegates who book before 31st October 2017 will benefit from a £900 discount off the full course fee of £6,000 +VAT (£5,100 +VAT).

Book a free place for one of your practice staff on either a Dental Nurse or Treatment Coordinator course when you book your place on the ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course!

Calling all past FID delegates – If you refer a friend on to the FID 2018 course and they enrol and pay the deposit, you will receive a £50 John Lewis voucher!

Places are limited to a maximum of 24 delegates so to reserve your place or for further information please call the Straumann Education Department on +44 (0) 1293 651270 or visit iti.org/uk.

Start date: 20th February 2018 with modules running through to 19th September 2018

Venue: ITI Education Centre, Crawley

CPD: 78 hours of verifiable CPD

Materials, lunch and refreshments are provided

www.straumann.co.uk

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straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

 Twitter: @StraumannUK

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4961 Hits
OCT
10
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Fraud

Description goes Fraud - don`t be caught red handed.

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8595 Hits
OCT
05
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What is stopping your landing page converting sales leads?

When running a marketing campaign we are told that landing pages are an extremely important part of the sales journey. This is still a true statement and something we always make clear to all our clients.

In this blog, I want to look at what happens when once you have a landing page created but it still isn’t converting in the way you desire, what mistakes are being made with the page and where could it be improved? I have identified a few reasons why the page may not be performing as you hope...

Social Proof

Reviews and testimonials are incredibly important. Reviews or testimonials will act as social media proof, so when a customer is looking to purchase, they will often look to others for cues concerning whether to make the purchase or not. So making the excellent reviews or testimonials prominent is certainly a good start to improving your landing page.

Being Clear?

Is your landing page actually clear enough? Have you explained what your business offers and how it is unique? Your landing page should always contain a clear description of what your company actually offers! The copy needs to be clear and not overly full of jargon and too many words.

Too Much Text!

Remember you only have 5 seconds to convince the person clicking on the site. This means the landing page must be focused on one single objective, which is clicking on your call to action (CTA). As I said before it needs to stay clear and direct. Not too much text but enough to get the message across. Focus on the benefit: this is what you will get by clicking here.

What is your USP?  

It is vitally important that you have a very clear and exciting USP. An exciting Unique Selling Proposition leads to people clicking on the CTA because they want to know more. Explaining your USP can work well either using a bullet list or a short, informative video, that gets the message across and leads to the results you desire.

Too many details.

If on your landing page you present a form in which you want your potential clients to share their details, make sure you ask only for the information that is really essential. If you want to send the prospective client a white paper about selling their dental practice, you only need a name and an email address. Focus on getting the essential details and achieving the result of someone engaging with your business.

Always be testing.

The only way to know that the content is persuasive, the video or images work and how successful the form is, you have to keep testing and tweaking the page. On a an optimised landing page, every aspect, should be tested to ensure you’re using the right option to maximize your conversion rate.

Thanks for reading and we hope you have picked up a few pointers to improve one of the most important sales funnels in a modern business.

 

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4189 Hits
OCT
03
0

Another legend is born; the Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Ø 2.9mm implant

Another legend is born; the Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Ø 2.9mm implant

Small, strong and enduring, and completing the Straumann portfolio for narrow space indications, the Ø 2.9mm implant brings all the Bone Level Tapered (BLT) advantages to narrow interdental spaces.

 

The Straumann Bone Level Tapered (BLT) Ø 2.9mm implant is the implant solution for narrow interdental spaces or ridges. The smallest in the Bone Level Tapered range, it completes the portfolio for narrow space indications and integrates seamlessly with the reliable Straumann® Dental Implant System.

Benefitting from the clinically-proven BLT design, it has a parallel body with full-depth thread and three cutting notches for self-cutting in underprepared sites. Its apically tapered design delivers excellent primary stability in soft bone and fresh extraction sockets as it adequately compresses the underprepared osteotomy and allows the clinician to effectively master the patient’s anatomy, even when limited, and protects the anatomical structure with its round tip.

As well as the tapered implant body, all Straumann BLT implants possess the powerful combination of Roxolid®, SLActive®, Bone Control Design™, CrossFit® connection and prosthetic diversity.

Roxolid®

Roxolid has enabled Straumann to create smaller implants than ever before, thus reducing invasiveness, by preserving bone and minimising the amount of bone grafting required. Roxolid is a high performance alloy, specifically designed to offer higher strength than pure titanium, making these smaller implants possible. Smaller implants increase the range of treatment options available to the clinician and patient acceptance will be higher when less invasive treatment options are offered.

SLActive®

The SLActive surface allows fast and predictable osseointegration, enabling safer and faster treatment and higher treatment predictability in challenging protocols. Clinically proven to provide safer and faster treatment in 3-4 weeks for all indications, it increases safety during the early healing phase and leads to a superior structural and functional connection between the implant and vital bone.

 

Bone Control Design™ and CrossFit® connections

Bone Control Design optimises crestal bone preservation while the CrossFit connections simplify handling and increase confidence in component positioning, ensuring precision against rotation and long-term flexibility.

 

Prosthetic diversity is ensured by compatibility with the full range of Straumann prosthetic components, including the unique oval design for optimal soft tissue management in smaller spaces.

 

The BLT Ø 2.9mm implant is indicated for single-tooth restorations of the central and lateral incisors in the mandible, and lateral incisors in the maxilla.

 

And coming soon… single use instruments will allow you to place the BLT Ø 2.9mm implant with sterile, disposable burs, drills, taps and profilers, ensuring your instruments are always sharp and minimising the cost and inconvenience of sterilisation.

 

For more information on the range of Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant solutions, please contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit straumann.co.uk.

 

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

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OCT
03
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Dentsply Sirona announces expanded distribution in Great Britain

 
The Company is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with Wright Health Group Ltd. For more than 30 years Wrights, the Dental Supply Company, has been a significant partner for Dentsply Sirona, selling the Company’s consumable range.
 
This new agreement, effective October 1st 2017, will expand the market opportunity for Dentsply Sirona’s leading brands and integrated solutions. Wrights will now, in addition supply Dentsply Sirona’s equipment portfolio that includes CEREC®, Treatment Centres, Imaging, Digital Laboratory Solutions, Instruments and full service support for the complete range.
 
These additions to the distribution agreement will enable Wrights to offer full digital workflow solutions to all of their customers in Great Britain, and combined with our existing equipment partners will create a more integrated offering to Dentsply Sirona customers.
 
 
 
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3595 Hits
OCT
03
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Dentsply Sirona World in Las Vegas proves a huge success among the more than 7,500 attendees from the dental industry

Dentsply Sirona World in Las Vegas proves a huge success among the more than 7,500 attendees from the dental industry
 
 
Speakers and participants alike described Dentsply Sirona World 2017 as an event in a class of its own. From September 14 to 16, 7,500 attendees- from 50 different countries- and 110 speakers met in Las Vegas to enjoy not only inspiring presentations, but also an A-list entertainment program. One particular highlight of the sold- out event was a live implant procedure – thousands of dentists and other dental professionals had the opportunity to watch Dr. Neal Patel place an implant in real time during General Session.
 
Bensheim/Salzburg, September 27th, 2017. Right at the start of the event visitors were treated to a genuine highlight: just a few meters away from the audience, Dr. Neal Patel performed an implant procedure in a sectioned-off area of the industry exhibition site which, thanks to a live stream, was watched live by the 7,500 participants. The procedure was performed using a surgical guide that was produced on site. This unique experience was well received by attendees.
 
Common success by drive for innovations
Dentsply Sirona CEO Jeffrey T. Slovin took appeared on stage to explain the driving factors for Dentsply Sirona’s success. “At Dentsply Sirona, it’s all about changing lives for the better. It’s about having an impact. Our success in developing solutions that meet the needs of dental professionals worldwide is a result of a commitment to product innovation and high quality service and training. This wouldn’t be possible without knowing why we do what we do. When you know your WHY, your priorities become clear. We are truly dedicated and passionate about changing the lives of dental professionals and patients.”
 
The array of sessions within the 11 different educational tracks promoted lively discussion on a wide range of subjects relating to dentistry and dental technology, including Business and Practice Management, CEREC, Endodontics, Imaging, Implantology, Office Design, Orthodontics, Periodontics and Hygiene, Prosthetics and Lab, Restorative, and Special Markets and Topics. The range of educational tracks meant that attendees could customize their educational experience.
 
An exceptional atmosphere thanks to the impressive entertainment program
The inspiring sessions and numerous exhibitors weren’t the only factors that made this year's event unforgettable; the celebrity entertainers help mold the Ultimate Dental Meeting into a league of its own. The appearance by Oscar-nominated actor, musician and producer Will Smith was one of the major highlights. Throughout the course of his diverse career, Smith has gained a wealth of experience that has been fundamental to his professional success. In an interview and Q&A session, he talked about these experiences and also gave valuable tips on setting both professional and personal goals.
 
In addition to the inspirational appearance by Smith, the legendary stand- up comedian Jeff Dunham dished a hilarious standup bit, which included his charismatic ventriloquist dummies.
 
Friday morning, to ensure that guests were fit for the second day of presentations, the enthusiastic Beachbody™ trainer Joel Freeman offered a workout in the morning for a wide range of age groups. And if that wasn’t enough, the Out of This World Fun Run welcomed hundreds of guests dressed in intergalactic costumes for a morning run down Las Vegas Blvd.
 
With his refreshing attitude towards corporate culture and innovation, later on Friday morning, TED Talk speaker and bestselling author Simon Sinek offered practical guidance for motivating staff and also discussed the properties that define a good management style. He first gained fame back in 2009 with his simple yet impressive model for inspirational management personalities and has since impressed audiences the world over. His TED Talk video on this subject has been viewed by 31 million people and was produced with subtitles in 45 languages; it is the third most popular video on TED.com. The first-class entertainment also continued into the evening. Visitors got the chance to experience the Grammy-winning band Imagine Dragons during a concert exclusive to Dentsply Sirona World attendees. The group rocked the stage to conclude the day on a musical high!
 
The success story is set to continue in 2018
The success of this year's Dentsply Sirona World was overwhelming and the event has already been confirmed for next year. From Sept. 13 to 15, 2018, dentists and experts from the dental industry and opinions leaders from around the world are invited to Orlando, Florida, to push forward new technologies, build on existing success and, ultimately, improve patient treatments.
 
 
 
About Dentsply Sirona:
Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies, with over a century of innovation and service to the dental industry and patients worldwide. Dentsply Sirona develops, manufactures, and markets a comprehensive solutions offering including dental and oral health products as well as other consumable medical devices under a strong portfolio of world class brands.  As The Dental Solutions Company™, Dentsply Sirona’s products provide innovative, high-quality and effective solutions to advance patient care and deliver better, safer and faster dental care. Dentsply Sirona’s global headquarters is located in York, Pennsylvania, and the international headquarters is based in Salzburg, Austria. The company’s shares are listed in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol XRAY.
Visit www.dentsplysirona.com for more information about Dentsply Sirona and its products.
 
 
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4408 Hits
OCT
02
2

Social Media isn’t the Real World

Social Media isn’t the Real World

No one can have missed the inexorable rise in the use of social media for virtually every kind of interaction we experience in the modern world. From a few users 10 years ago there would appear to be now virtually every corner of the globe unaffected by it (except for maybe some long lost Amazonian tribes – lucky them).

Dentistry has not been slow to embrace this revolution, and as a mechanism of disseminating information world wide, sharing new techniques, and even asking advice about a case, then it there is no doubt that is it hugely helpful. Accessing social media though our smartphones is perhaps the most common application of this media, and it is thought that phones are now become part of the way in which we experience life, and how we form our memories. Certainly, creating a virtual scrapbook on our social media persona that shares with other people is something that will help you look back on events perhaps differently to how you did in the past.

But I worry that some people don’t understand the dangers of social media enough. I’ve written about this before on this blog, and the majority of what I said then holds true now. But there now seem to be some people who take the whole social media thing to be a benchmark by which they should measure their own lives against. There is a relatively new Facebook group called ‘Mental Dental’ which was set up to help dentists with some of the challenging mental health issues that can occur in our profession. Personally as someone who has suffered mental health issues in the past, I think it’s a pretty crass title, but the ethos of the group is actually a pretty good one. Whilst much of the time it might be seen as a moaning forum, there are some quite worrying threads that appear from time to time, and it may be that having this type of forum is beneficial to those wanting to ask advice, or just offload anonymously.

However, one of the recent threads that drew my attention was a post about how a practitioner felt he or she was so unsuccessful when compared to all the other dentists who were posting their personal and professional successes all over social media. This concern was so great in this practitioners mind that they were considering leaving the profession because of it. There has always been a degree of ‘Keeping up with the Jones’s’ in all aspects of our lives, and until one becomes satisfied with themselves as a person, there might always be a tendency to search for success via the medium of materialistic gains. However, what struck me in this case was what appears to be the sheer despair this person was feeling, and all as a result of what some people post on social media.

Social media to this person had become the real world, and the posts of amazing composites, perfect implants, and then fast cars, and exotic holidays was seen as the absolute reality of other peoples lives. The superficiality of such posts is obvious to many, but not to others who may already be suffering from a change in their perception of the world due to the mental health issues that appear to be quite common in our profession. It might not be so easy to ignore these sorts of posts when someone is feeling depressed by the profession, and the damage that this can then do could potentially be quite serious.

There seems to be a lack of humility generally on social media that is behind these types of posts. Whilst it is everyone’s right to post what they want and when they want, certainly the ‘Look at Me aren’t I great’, or the so-called ‘Humble brag’ type of posts sometimes serve only to sometimes make other people feel negatively toward the poster, or more worryingly, negative towards themselves. There is no background to a social media post usually, so the context is completely lost. Does the poster EVER have a bad day? Do they Ever have things go wrong in Clinic? Have they ever worried about their Health/Finances etc.? Given the tone of many of the posts we see, the answer to all the above appears to be no.

It’s important then to keep in mind all that happens on social media is NOT necessarily true, and that we should look more deeply into posts like this. It is vitally important that we should all keep in touch with the real world around us.

Social media is here to stay, but it needs taking with a large pinch of salt at times.

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Recent Comments
Richard Charon

Social Media isn’t the Real Wo...

Hi Simon, Probably a timely reminder to us all and yet... you have touched on an interesting aspect that certainly affected me fo... Read More
Wednesday, 04 October 2017 11:52
Arthur Cooper

Social media can sometimes be ...

Simon. While there is a lot of truth in what you say, that is only a very small part of what gdpuk represents. We have all learnt ... Read More
Wednesday, 01 November 2017 19:35
9755 Hits
OCT
02
0

CPR Training by @DentistGoneBadd

Hoe to survive CPR Training

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Can a practice principal really be liable for an associate dentist's criminal behaviour?

Can a practice principal really be liable for an associate dentist's criminal behaviour?

The question posed to the court was whether an employer can be vicariously liable for sexual assaults perpetrated by an independent doctor?

Between 1968 and 1984 Dr Bates was engaged by Barclays Bank to carry out medical examinations on potential and existing employees of the bank. Barclays at that time were undergoing a positive drive to recruit women into the bank and as a result a number of the individuals assessed by Dr Bates were women, some as young as 16.

Accusations against Dr Bates

The employees would go to Dr Bates’ home, where he had created a purpose-built treatment room. He would see the patients on their own with no chaperone present. They were required to undress to their underwear. The allegations against him included inappropriate breast examinations and digital vaginal or anal contact. Following the examination, Dr Bates would send a pro-forma document setting out the details of the examination to the bank. If the report was satisfactory the individual would be offered employment.

Dr Bates died in 2009, however in 2013 a police investigation was carried out which concluded that had he been alive, there would have been sufficient evidence against him to warrant a criminal prosecution.

Barclays’ vicarious liability

In 2016, 126 claimants sought damages against Barclays Bank in relation to the sexual assaults they had suffered. They claimed that the bank utilised the services of Dr Bates in the role of medical examiner in order to satisfy themselves that the person was fit to work for the bank and to confirm that they would be suitable for the life assurance policies in place.

In July 2017, the Hon Mrs Justice Davies ruled that, yes, the bank was vicariously liable for the actions of its self-employed contractor. The reasons she gave were as follows:

A two-stage test must be considered to determine whether or not a vicarious liability exists:

  1. Is the relevant relationship one of employment or “akin to employment”?
  2. If so, was the tort sufficiently closely connected with that employment or quasi employment?

When is a relationship “akin to employment”?

When the following criteria are satisfied:

– The employer is more likely to have the means to compensate the victim than the employee and can be expected to have insured against that liability;

– The tort (act) will have been committed as a result of activity being taken by the employee on behalf of the employer;

– The employee’s activity is likely to be part of the business activity of the employer;

– The employer, by employing the employee to carry on the activity will have created the risk of the tort committed by the employee;

– The employee will, to a greater or lesser degree, have been under the control of the employer.

 

The bank argued that Dr Bates was an independent contractor, and that he bore personal liability for the acts. Had the claim been made much earlier his personal estate would have been able to settle the claims.

 

However, to determine whether the relationship was “akin to employment” the judge applied the five criteria set out above:

– The judge concluded that whilst Dr Bates would have had indemnity insurance, that insurance would not have covered him for cases of sexual assault; his estate was distributed many years earlier.

– Employment was conditional upon the bank being satisfied on the basis of the medical examinations that the applicant was medically suitable for service. Dr Bates was the chosen doctor of the bank and he used their stationery.

– The purpose of the examination was to enable the bank to be satisfied that a potential member of staff would, health wise, be an effective member of the workforce. This was an intrinsic part of the business activity of the bank.

– The bank directed the employee where to go and gave no freedom of choice. They directed the doctor to undergo an examination, including a chest measurement! Many of the claimants, who were as young as 15 and 16 saw the doctor alone in his room and were asked to remove their clothing. The judge concluded that the bank created the risk of the tort (sexual assault) taking place.

– The fact that Dr Bates organised his own diary and carried out other medical activities did not negate the argument that he was under the control of the bank at the relevant time. The fact that the assessment took place at his home rather than the bank made no difference to this conclusion.

 

Tort closely connected with the employment

When considering stage 2, she concluded that the sexual assaults occurred during the course of a medical examination which the bank required the applicants to undertake for the purposes of securing employment. Dr Bates was trusted to do the work and placed him in a position to deal with the employees. This gave him the opportunity to abuse his position. The abuse was inextricably interwoven with the carrying out of his duties.

Would a practice principal be vicariously liable for the tortious acts of their Associates?

In short, the answer is yes. Whilst many associate dentists prefer to maintain their self-employed status for tax purposes (the Tooth Counsel has blogged on worker v self employed status on a number of occasions) the relationship that they have with the practice is almost entirely “akin to employment”. It is now common practice for associate dentists to appear to members of the public to be an integral part of their dental practice, bookings are made and diaries organised by the practice, patients and referring dentists are introduced to the associate via the practice, uniforms are often worn and the practice systems and stationery utilised. If an associate dentist commits an actionable tort against a patient or other member of staff whilst engaged by the practice, then the practice itself would be liable.

Whilst the principal of the “independent contractor defence” remains intact, this judgement sees the court extending the scope of vicarious liability significantly. Whilst the facts of the above case are extremely unlikely to arise in today’s society, particularly in a dental setting where nurses are present at all times when a dentist is seeing a patient, it is a valuable lesson to reinforce the view that the employers should not be complacent about the potential for poor behaviour by their independent contractors and the liability that may follow.

If you have any questions about this blog, or require advice and assistance in relation to your liabilities within the work place please feel free to email Julia Furley on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call us on 020 7388 1658.

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Recent comment in this post
Stephen Henderson

Unusual circumstances

Great summary of a curious case. The claimants came after the bank because it has deep pockets and the doctor is dead and his affa... Read More
Tuesday, 03 October 2017 07:22
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The British Dental Association and CloserStill Media have announced a major new collaboration.

The British Dental Association and CloserStill Media have announced a major new collaboration.

 

 

The British Dental Association and CloserStill Media have announced a major new collaboration, that will see the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show launched in May next year.

The new collaboration of the BDA’s British Dental Conference and Exhibition, and CloserStill Media’s Dentistry Show, will take place on 18 to 19 May 2018 at the Birmingham NEC and will be the undisputed leader in dental events.

The BDA Conference & Exhibition has been running for over 100 years and is the BDA’s annual flagship event for its members and the wider dental profession. The Dentistry Show, will have been running for 11 years in 2018. The new event will now become the key date in all dental professionals’ diaries with over 10,800 visitors attending the two day event.

The new event will be free of charge and open to all.

BDA Chief Executive Peter Ward said:

“We’re committed to offering our members and this profession the biggest and best event in the dental calendar. This collaboration with our friends at CloserStill Media will take our landmark event to the next level.

“Our British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show is now the one date every dentist needs in their diary. And we’ve opened the doors to the whole profession, to give them all access to the latest innovation, education and quality CPD.

“Our members are our number one priority. On top of one unmissable national conference, we are working to ensure they have access to more exclusive events in more locations across the UK.”

Alex Harden, Event Director of The Dentistry Show said:

“This is an exciting investment for us all. Between us, the team now running The Dentistry Show and The BDA Conference have been responsible for running some of the UK’s fastest growing events over the last two decades. Our combined experience, sector knowledge and significant commercial and marketing resources will be focused on delivering for both exhibitors and the audiences for these powerful brands.” 

 

 

 

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Perfect partners

Perfect partners

 

 

It is with great excitement that A-dec announce a new partnership with Henry Schein in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, which will mean that A-dec’s range of exceptional dental solutions will now be available through Henry Schein.

 

As the world’s largest provider of healthcare products, and one of the most well-known names in dentistry, Henry Schein has the resources and expertise to bring A-dec products into more practices across the country. Known for its comprehensive selection of products and services, including value-added solutions for operating efficient practices, Henry Schein is the perfect partner for A-dec.

 

With a range of renowned dental chairs and high quality clinical solutions, A-dec is one of the most trusted brands in dentistry all over the world. A-dec means quality, reliability and absolute functionality and the team in the UK is looking forward to working with Henry Schein’s longstanding customers, and helping them improve their lives in day-to-day dentistry.

 

To find out how this partnership could benefit you, or to get a closer look at A-dec’s fantastic range of dental solutions, contact the UK team today.

 

For more information about A-dec Dental UK Ltd, visit

www.a-dec.co.uk or call on 0800 2332 85

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Dental Software by @DentistGoneBadd

Dental Software

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Abracadabra!

Abracadabra!

 

No matter how good you are at delivering local anaesthesia, the chances are that your patients will still be very fearful of the procedure. Well, there’s a way round it! The Wand is a computer controlled anaesthetic delivery system that pushes the anaesthetic solution of your choice through a needle.  The rate and pressure of delivery is what allows you to get your anaesthetic to where it is needed without much of the traditional discomfort/pain that is associated with using a syringe.

The lightweight handpiece is a 15cm plastic tube that is held in a comfortable pen grip, providing an increase in tactile sensation and control. For the needle phobic patient, this will dispel all their preconceptions of dental treatment, but it would be a waste to limit its use to such a small group. All patients will be grateful for you minimising the discomfort of local analgesia. Most patients report to not actually feeling a thing when The Wand administers its magic!

The Wand is now distributed exclusively by Dental Sky.  To request a demo please call 0800 2944700 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

www.dentalsky.com/wand-dental

 

 

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More predictable implant placement – every time

More predictable implant placement – every time

 

 

Dr Neel Patel and Dr Vinit Gohil, both Specialists in Prosthodontics, explain the benefits of guided surgery, why they use it routinely and how anyone involved in implant dentistry can incorporate guided surgery and its benefits into their everyday practice.

The increase in predictability and accuracy that digital dentistry enables is now well-documented, and we have been taking advantage of this for some time at our practice in Oxford with the use of guided surgery and implant placement. Although until now we have been incorporating conventional impressions and study casts in the planning stages of the guided surgery workflow, the development of intraoral scanners facilitate an entirely ‘digital’ workflow. In addition to investing in an intraoral scanner for digital impressions, we hope to also incorporate a 3D printer into our practice, thus completing the entire workflow digitally.

Why guided surgery?

Although it might seem obvious, the key to successful implant-supported restorations is the correct placement of implants with respect to the supported restoration. It is well-documented that both biological and hardware complications are commonplace in implant dentistry, and unfavourable implant positioning will greatly contribute to this. Optimal plaque control and maintenance of the peri-implant tissues is critical, and the transition between the implant, abutment and restoration need to be ideal in order to facilitate this.

Where possible, we plan for screw-retained restorations and prostheses, as not only does this help facilitate maintenance of our patients’ implants and restorations, but can also help minimise complications as access to both the peri-implant tissues and abutment screws is always possible.

Optimal implant positioning also avoids the need for complex custom abutments, suprastructures and angled screw systems, thus relatively simplifying the restorative phase and can also reduce the overall cost.

The majority of our dental implants are placed with a guided surgical template where possible, even straightforward ones, as the guided surgical template ensures that the implant is placed in, or very close to, the position it was planned to be in. Many of us who have placed dental implants will be able to relate to the occasional difficulties in getting the dental implant to be placed exactly within the prepared osteotomy. Using a guided surgical template can reduce the margin of error significantly when compared to ‘freehand’ or non-guided placement.

Restoration-guided implant placement

The ideal workflow involves being able to visualise the proposed definitive tooth position, shape and form. This can be either a conventional diagnostic wax/tooth set up, that has been scanned and formatted into a surface scan (.STL file) or even a digital wax/tooth set up. Both of these can be imported into many of the available implant planning software together with the patient’s 3D CBCT images. The surface scans (.STL files) and CBCT images are aligned together through a process of segmentation (partitioning of the digital images into multiple objects) and merging (superimposing identical surfaces together). Although it may sound complicated, both these processes are easily done with a few clicks of the mouse in coDiagnostiX and other planning software.

The dental implants can be precisely planned with reference to the proposed restoration/tooth position, and the software can be easily manipulated to not only change the implant position, but also visualise potential abutment designs and relationship of proposed implant positions to vital structures.

Designing the guided surgical template is also straightforward in most cases. However, at this stage, all the information a laboratory would require to design and print it can also be transferred across to them with the press of a button.

The next step is to trial the surgical template in the patient’s mouth to make sure it fits correctly, and although uncommon (provided the planning is accurate), it can be easily adjusted and modified if required to obtain a stable and precise fit. The surgical procedure involves using the guided surgical template at every step of the osteotomy preparation sequence, followed by placing the implant through the guided surgical template.

We feel it is important to use the guided surgical template for every part of the osteotomy preparation including placement of the dental implant (where available), and not just for the pilot drill, as advocated by other guided surgery systems. As we have mentioned already, getting the dental implant to be placed exactly within the prepared osteotomy can be challenging, especially in softer bone and sites with difficult access. The guided surgical template will ensure that your implant is guided into the same place as the osteotomy and more often than not, if planned appropriately, the angulation does not need to be constantly checked (especially with adjacent implants).

We believe restoration-guided implant placement with guided surgical templates will become commonplace in implant dentistry and form an integral part of the patient treatment workflow.  Nearly all implant practitioners utilise 3D CBCT imaging to help aid assessment of implant sites, adjacent anatomical vital structures and to plan proposed implant positioning. It is now even routine to incorporate the proposed restoration/tooth positon with a radiographic template and in the absence of one, even easier to import the required information through ‘segmentation’ (data separation) and ‘merging’. With all this information already present, all it takes is a couple of small steps to transfer this vital information into a guided surgical template which, when planned appropriately, will allow the implant to be placed precisely where it was planned to.

Straumann Restoration-Guided Implant Placement Course

Through our postgraduate teaching and lecturing experience, it has become apparent to us that many clinicians are nervous about taking the next step that would allow them to incorporate guided surgical templates into their practices and implant workflow. As such we have  teamed up with Straumann ITI to provide a two-day course on Restoration-Guided Implant Placement including the use of coDiagnostiX planning software, guided surgical templates and the Straumann Guided Surgery system.

The course is aimed at clinicians who are competent in implant dentistry and would like to incorporate guided implant placement into their everyday practice, and those clinicians that are just getting into implant dentistry and would like to incorporate the concept of Restoration Guided Implant Placement for their patients. Most of the course will be dedicated to live demonstrations and hands-on experience of the coDiagnostiX planning and guide design software. On the second day, each participant will complete the entire coDiagnostiX planning and guided surgical template design process, prior to learning about the Straumann Guided Surgery system and using it to place implants with a guided surgical template.

We appreciate there is a learning curve in using guided surgical templates, and although they are by no means a substitute for surgical experience, we feel they can greatly enhance the overall treatment outcome. For us, one of the main advantages of restoration driven implant placement with guided surgical templates, is the ability to plan for screw-retained restorations and prostheses with optimal implant positioning. This ensures that our patients’ implant restorations and prostheses are ‘retrievable’, facilitating future maintenance and hopefully minimising the risk of subsequent complications.

We usually only have one opportunity  to get it right with implant placement, and it is important we do so as it is well-documented that the implant position will influence numerous factors that will ultimately determine the success and longevity of our patients’ implant treatment in the long-term.

The Straumann ITI Restoration-guided Implant Placement course takes place on 3rd November 2017. For more information or to book your place, contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit http://www.cvent.com/d/ctqnvx

straumann.co.uk

therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

 

==================================================================================================================================================

 

Dr Neel Patel

BDS MFDS MClinDent MPros

Neel is a registered Specialist in Prosthodontics, and after graduating from the University of Bristol in 2002, he worked both in the Community Dental Service and General Dental Practice, and also held hospital posts in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He subsequently completed 4 additional years of specialist training in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute during which he obtained the MClinDent in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, with Distinction, and the Membership in Prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.

Neel received a scholarship from the International Team for Implantology (ITI) to undertaken a 2 year full time Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at the Center for Implant Dentistry at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. He has gained extensive experience in all aspects of restorative, aesthetic and implant dentistry including complex treatments and managing the failing dentition. His special interests include the use of digital technology in dentistry, in particular with guided implant placement and 3D planning, and the management of complications with dental implants.

Dr Vinit GohilIn addition to his private and referral practice limited to restorative and implant dentistry, he is also involved in post-graduate dental education and lectures both locally and nationally on topics related to implant dentistry and fixed and removable prosthodontics. Neel is a registered speaker and mentor for the UK & Ireland Section of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and part of the Straumann Clinical Mentoring Programme for other dentists starting out in implant dentistry.  He is co-director of the Oxford ITI Study Club and is part of the UK & Ireland Young ITI Committee.

Vinit Gohil

BDS MFDS MClinDent MPros

Vinit is recognised as a specialist in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics by the General Dental Council. He graduated with honours from the Guy’s, King’s & St Thomas’ Dental Institute, King’s College London. Following graduation he undertook 3 years of hospital-based further training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric and Restorative Dentistry. Vinit also gained experience in sedation and special care treating anxious and medically compromised patients.

He subsequently completed 4 years of specialist training in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute, during which he obtained the MClinDent in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, with Distinction, and the Membership in Prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. During his training he gained extensive experience in all aspects of restorative and implant dentistry including complex rehabilitations and managing the failing dentition.

He now principally works in private practice in Oxford and his clinical practice is limited to implant and restorative dentistry. His main clinical interests include management of failing crown and bridgework, rehabilitation of patients with dental implants utilising digital technology, removable dentures and dental implant complications.

In addition to his private practice, he is also involved in post-graduate dental education and lectures both locally and nationally on topics related to implant dentistry and fixed and removable prosthodontics. Vinit is a visiting lecturer at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute where he is involved in teaching post-graduate dentists and is an examiner for the UCL Diploma in Implant Dentistry. Vinit is also involved in teaching on the MSc in Dental Implantology at the University of Bristol. Vinit is also a registered speaker for the UK & Ireland Section of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and co-director of the ITI Study Club in Oxford.

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Breaking the News

Breaking the News

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GDPUK is 20 years old.

GDPUK is 20 years old.

 

Today is the 20th anniversary of the first posts by four members of GDPUK, by email.


Yes, that is how we started, unbelievably before Google and Facebook!

I do love telling this story, and I'd like to share it with you. I was online from 1996, in those days it was dial up with those nostalgic modem sounds. The web was much more simple in 1997, and I taught myself, as many of you did, how to write a web page, rudimentary html, including how to upload it and make it display. I was interested in email communication, and before the ease of modern social media, email lists were the best method, using an internet protocol older than the WWW.

I was a member of an American dental group, IDF, which is still going, but it was very US centred, not particularly useful for a UK dentist. In April 1997, I got the idea of founding a mailing list for UK dentists, and thought about how to get a group together. The BDJ was the way forward.

So, I wrote a letter on my word processor software, posted to BDJ that month and carried on with work and my family. This was the pace of life only 20 years ago. Then in June, [only 8 weeks later :) ] I received a postcard [!!] from the editor of BDJ, saying yes, we will publish your letter. So, in the second August magazine, my letter was published, three colleagues replied, and we got started in the September. Here is the Medline link to that letter .... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9293127

 

I must have the hard copy somewhere, ready for the GDPUK museum!!

We are celebrating the anniversary of GDPUK with our Conference in November. Early bird discounts available here https://www.gdpuk.com/conference/ I am looking forward to an interesting and unique day in Manchester - meeting colleagues old and new... all are welcome.

Looking forward to a celebratory drink with you all at the end of that day… cheers.

Thanks for reading and helping GDPUK grow for 20 years.

 

Tony

 
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Switch and save

Switch and save

Change payment provider today and save up to 60%

GDPUK are always looking to help you reduce costs without compromising the quality of your patient care. That’s why we’re delighted to announce a new partnership with nexpay.
 
Who are nexpay?
 
Nexpay is a leading UK based payment consultancy and management company, officially licensed by Visa and MasterCard for the provision of card payment services.
 
Why nexpay?
 
Card payment services can be very costly to dental practices. Nexpay can reduce your monthly bills by up to 60%. That could mean an annual saving of several thousands of pounds.
 
GDPUK and nexpay - partners in payment
 
We’re so committed to helping practices like yours that we’ve established a joint mission with nexpay. Our ambition is to save members of the site over £1M in card processing fees. And we’ve already started.
 
Putting our money where our mouth is
 
406 dental, run by GDPUK founder Tony Jacobs has been the first to make the switch saving a massive £2,526.96 over a new contract term.
 
Tony said “We always want to save without compromising on service. After a full market comparison, nexpay offered extremely competitive rates, which ensured that 406 dental had no hesitation in switching.”
 
Who could benefit from this price comparison?
 
Dental practice owners, dental practice managers, dental corporates and any business owners who take card payments.
 
How it works
 
 
2) nexpay will review your existing account, undertake a full market comparison and produce a report that shows you the potential new tariff savings.
 
3) Simply decide if you’d like to start saving on your payment services.
 
Proactive merchant management
 
Nexpay has dedicated people who are passionate about payments and security. Just like GDPUK they work proactively to provide you with the best possible service. Together, we will review your account on a monthly basis to make sure you are receiving the best rates.
 
You’ll then receive personalised reports that outline your savings and have access to in depth reporting confirming how your account continues to benefit. Please click to read more on the GDPUK website, where you can fill in all your details via a contact form. Click here for further informationWe’re so excited to be able to announce nexpay as a partner. We believe that, together, we can benefit the whole GDPUK community.
 
Thanks for reading and supporting GDPUK. 
Jonny
 
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Complete Dentures for Dummys by @DentistGoneBadd

Complete Dentures by @DentistGoneBadd

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Single-use drills for Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implants

Single-use drills for Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implants

 

The Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant features the Straumann® Bone Control Design™ and the CrossFit® connection together with its corresponding prosthetic CrossFit® components from the Bone Level product portfolio.

The implant has an apically tapered and self-cutting design which, when combined with our Roxolid material and SLActive surface, make it particularly suitable for anatomically and clinically challenging situations like those involving soft bone or fresh extraction sockets where higher initial stability is required.

The Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant now includes a surgical protocol using single use drills, profile drills and taps designed for flexibility and efficiency. Single patient drills always comes sterile, sharp, ready to use. After the surgery, simply dispose of the single patient instruments and save your clinic the time for reprocessing and space for storage.

For more information on our range of Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant solutions, including the new single use instruments, please contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit straumann.co.uk.

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

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Improved oral health to reduce the risk of diabetes - Deborah Lyle

Concurrent with the prevalence of obesity and a rise in physical inactivity, around 422 million people worldwide now have diabetes. As one of the leading causes of death across the globe, The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for action to raise awareness and help reduce the risks of type 2 diabetes, improving access and the quality of care for people with all forms of diabetes.[1]

In the UK, the number of people with diabetes is increasing rapidly[2] and in order to stem this rise, readily available diabetes education with an emphasis on the prevention of type 2 diabetes is urgently needed. The other pressing issue is that an estimated 630,000 people in the UK have undiagnosed or untreated type 2 diabetes2 and the longer they live without intervention the worse their health outcomes are likely to be.

As dental professionals will be aware, diabetes occurs when the body is unable to efficiently metabolise glucose circulating in the blood stream due to either inadequate production or the impaired effectiveness of insulin.[3] If the body is unable to process the glucose in the blood and levels remain elevated for long periods (hyperglycaemia), permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels can occur.[4] In addition, if blood sugar levels are poorly controlled salivary flow can decrease and encourage bacterial growth and/or dry mouth, which may lead to ulcers, soreness, halitosis, infections and tooth decay.[5] Uncontrolled diabetes can also impair the function of white blood cells and cause reduced blood flow around the body including the oral cavity, where the gingiva and teeth can become weak and more susceptible to infection.[6]

Over the last two decades, the profession has seen more and more evidence to suggest that diabetes heightens the chances of developing periodontal disease[7],[8] and increases periodontal destruction.[9] It seems that the link between these two chronic diseases is more complicated that we first thought, as a further study also reveals that periodontal infection can adversely impact glycaemic control[10],[11] making it more difficult for diabetic patients to control their blood glucose levels. In fact, a recent systematic review tentatively suggests that when periodontal treatment is maintained for at least three months it can improve the general health of type 2 diabetic patients by affecting glycaemic control.[12]

Of course, it is important that dental professionals understand diabetes in order to be able to adequately inform, advise, monitor and plan treatment for patients already with the condition and for those that may be at risk of developing it. As with most serious diseases, successful treatment to reduce the risk of complications depends on swift diagnosis – but, regrettably, it is possible for individuals to have abnormal blood glucose levels for some time and be fairly asymptomatic. Equally, it can sometimes be hard for people to notice the early symptoms of diabetes or they may simply disregard the warning signs and put them down to fatigue, stress or the side effects of medication. The dental practice, however, has been recognised as a suitable location for identifying patients with pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes.

Research conducted in the last year has revealed that a considerable number of patients with severe gum disease have undiagnosed diabetes. A study at the University of Amsterdam confirmed that periodontitis is an early sign of diabetes and, therefore, could serve as a valuable risk indicator to help prevent more severe complications. [13] Similarly, as patients attend the practice routinely, practitioners are ideally placed to discuss diabetes. If a patient mentions dry mouth, ulcers or increased thirst, or indeed any of the other early signs or symptoms of diabetes such as feeling more tired than usual or using the bathroom a lot, losing weight without trying or blurred vision,[14] dental professionals should advise them to visit their GP for screening.

As well as making patients aware of the risks of diabetes and possibly helping to identify undiagnosed or untreated cases, dental professionals can also arm patients with the skills and guidance they require to make a positive impact on both their oral and general health. This includes offering dietary advice and helping them to enhance and maintain excellent oral health. Practitioners can also teach brushing techniques and recommend consistently effective adjuncts like the Waterpik® Water Flosser, which has been clinically proven to be twice as effective as dental floss for improving gingival health.[15] In fact, the Waterpik® Water Flosser can remove plaque biofilm from treated areas in just 3 seconds[16] and can significantly reduce gingivitis and bleeding for patients with diabetes.[17]

The escalation in the prevalence of diabetes is posing a challenge to all aspects of the healthcare system. However, with the promotion and education of patients to raise awareness of the risks of diabetes, as well as strategies to improve both general and oral health, patients could potentially live longer, happier lives with fewer complications.

 

For more information on Waterpik International, Inc. please visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik® products are available from Amazon, Costco UK and Superdrug stores across the UK and Ireland.

 

 



[1] World Health Organisation. 10 facts on diabetes. April 2016. http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/diabetes/en/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[2] Diabetes UK. Number of people with diabetes reaches over 4 million. January 2016. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/News/Number-of-people-with-diabetes-reaches-over-4-million/?gclid=COXU-J6E5dICFcUp0wodA3AGmQ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[3] Disabled World. Diabetes: Types, symptoms and treatments. https://www.disabled-world.com/health/diabetes/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[4] NHS Choices. Hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Hyperglycaemia/Pages/Introduction.aspx [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[5] Awatif Y et al. Oral Manifestations and Complications of Diabetes Mellitus. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2011 May; 11(2): 179–186. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121021/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

 

[6] Rajkumar D et al. Diabetes and periodontal disease. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012 Aug; 4(Suppl 2): S280–S282. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3467897/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[7] Dr. Guglielmo Campus et al. Diabetes and Periodontal Disease: A Case-Control Study

 Journal of Periodontology March 2005, Vol. 76, No. 3, Pages 418-425 , DOI 10.1902/jop.2005.76.3.418 (doi:10.1902/jop.2005.76.3.418). http://www.joponline.org/doi/abs/10.1902/jop.2005.76.3.418 [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[8] Ira B Lamster et al. The relationship between oral health and diabetes mellitus. The Journal of the American Dental Association. October 2008, Volume 139, Supplement 5 Pages 19S-24S. http://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)63883-6/fulltext [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[9] Mealey BL. Periodontal disease and diabetes. A two-way street. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006 Oct;137 Suppl:26S-31S. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17012733 [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[10] Mealey BL. Diabetes and periodontal disease: two sides of a coin. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 2000 Nov;21(11):943-6, 948, 950. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11968145 [20th March 2017]

[11] Taylor GW et al. Periodontal disease: associations with diabetes, glycemic control and complications. Oral Dis. 2008 Apr;14(3):191-203. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18336370. [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[12] Teeuw W J et al. Effect of Periodontal Treatment on Glycemic Control of Diabetic Patients. A systematic review and meta- analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb; 33(2): 421–427. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809296/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[13] Teeuw W J et al. Periodontitis as a possible early sign of diabetes mellitus. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care 2017;5:e000326. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2016- 000326. http://drc.bmj.com/content/bmjdrc/5/1/e000326.full.pdf [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[14] Diabetes UK. What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes? https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabetes-the-basics/Diabetes-Symptoms/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[15] Rosema NAM et al. The effect of different interdental cleaning devices on gingival bleeding. J Int Acad Periodontol 2011; 13(1):2-10. https://www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/clinical-research/dental-floss-vs-water-flossing-reduce-gingival-bleeding-rosema-2011/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

[16] Gorur A et al. Biofilm removal with a dental water jet. Compend Contin Ed Dent 2009; 30 (Suppl 1):1 - 6. https://www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/clinical-research/water-flosser-removes-plaque-gorur-2009/ {Accessed 20th March 2017]

[17] Al-Mubarak S et al. Comparative evaluation of adjunctive oral irrigation in diabetics. J Clin Periodontol 2002; 29:295-300. https://www.waterpik.co.uk/professional/clinical-research/diabetes-patients-reduce-plaque-gingivitis-al-mubarak-2002/ [Accessed 20th March 2017]

 

 

 

 

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Buy Cheap, Buy Twice - Chris Wahlers

It is true to say that most of us love a bargain. If a product or service can be acquired for less than its recommended retail price, it can bring a sense of achievement that makes us feels good. Consumer scientists have suggested that not only do our brains react positively to appealing items but also to the prospect of grabbing a bargain. However, when we become excited about a bargain it can also interfere with our ability to clearly judge whether it is actually a good deal or not. Most people have experience of purchasing a cheap item, only to find themselves trudging back a month later to replace it with a more expensive brand. Essentially, there are some things that there is no point in scrimping on.

 

For example, over the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of patients going abroad for dental treatments. Admittedly, some procedures such as dental implants can be cost a third of the price in some countries when compared to the costs of private treatment in the UK; however, there can also be added costs involved and they may not always be monetary. Experts explain that patients should research overseas clinics, practitioners and treatments carefully and think about every eventuality before embarking on any type of medical procedure abroad. It is not that treatment abroad is necessarily of a lower standard or that clinicians are less competent than those practicing in the UK, the difference lies in the potential for additional risks or difficulties that could be faced if a complication crops up.

 

Firstly, many patients arrive in the country on the day of their treatment is due to take place with very little prior consultation or time to establish a clinician/patient relationship. There could be a language barrier making it difficult for patients to understand how the procedure is going to be carried out, what they should expect and any aftercare instructions. As well as these potential risks, there may also be hidden costs involved such as add-ons or unexpected travel and accommodation to consider if things take longer than expected. Fundamentally, however, if a problem does arise or if the treatment is not successful, the practitioner that carried out the work is not nearby to call upon and it can be extremely expensive to return for any remedial work or for a clinician in the UK to put it right.

 

Another serious issue that is encountered in the dental industry is the amount of illegally supplied and possibly harmful medicines, products and devices that could potentially enter the UK supply chain. In 2015 alone, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stated that £15.8 million worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and devices were seized in the UK. This figure was almost twice as much as those recorded in 2014, providing clear evidence of a grave and growing concern.[1] Fraudsters tend to concentrate on low cost, high turnover, high demand products and these counterfeit items are, in most cases, packaged to a high standard making it difficult for them to be distinguished from the genuine article. Consequently, dental materials and instruments have been known to reach treatment rooms posing a significant risk to health and safety. The MHRA warns practitioners to remain vigilant, advises them think very carefully about where they obtain medical devices and medicines from and to check that products are CE marked and authorised by a notable body.

 

The old saying, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” is a wise one. A good deal or a bargain could end up costing you or your business far more than just a few pounds. For instance, some practices might be tempted to cut costs on consumables or disposable items that they use in high volume. However, products such as single-use gloves should also be purchased from a reputable supplier with certification to ensure that they are fully compliant with the relevant regulations in the UK. Cheaply manufactured gloves could potentially rip, leak or fail on application and pose significant risks to health and safety as well as your professionalism. Similarly, gloves that have not been manufactured or processed properly could cause a reaction or skin irritation leading to downtime and loss of revenue.

 

On the other hand, if you order your examination gloves from Unigloves you will have the reassurance that they have been manufactured by experts that believe in delivering safety through quality. The Vitality Range from Unigloves may not be the cheapest, but they could be the most cost effective. These single-use gloves are of premium quality, specifically designed for the dental sector to provide unrivalled barrier protection, strength and comfort. Furthermore, Unigloves employ additional steps and stringent standards to ensure that every glove complies with all the relevant parts of the Medical Devices Directive and the Personal Protective Equipment Directive.

 

Don’t be enticed into buying cheap products or consumables as not only could you end up buying twice, it could also end up costing you dearly in terms of hygiene, protection and safety as well as your clinical reputation. Dental practices that keep standards consistently high and provide safe, quality dental care are the ones that are most likely to keep their doors open and maintain a healthy client base.

 

For further information about Unigloves products, please visit www.unigloves.co.uk

 



[1] Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 2015. Press Release: UK leads the way with £15.8 million seizure in global operation targeting counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and devices. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-leads-the-way-with-158-million-seizure-in-global-operation-targeting-counterfeit-and-unlicensed-medicines-and-devices {Accessed 5th April 2017]

 

 

 

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Changing for the Better - Alpesh Khetia

When it comes to our jobs, security and stability are often paramount concerns. We must weigh our responsibilities and commitments that need to be taken care of. In ensuring a secure future, we dutifully plan our careers, with projections for where we will be in five, 10, even 20 years from now.

There is nothing wrong in that, but the problem becomes when all that we have considered tried and true leaves us jaded and burned out.

Suddenly, our comfort zones are a source of discomfort.

Leadership development and CEO coach and consultant Lolly Daskal provides advice on the best plan of action for people who are mulling changing their jobs after many years[i].  

Her recommendations include to make a list of things that we love to do and pare it down to determine what is best for us; leverage our experience, because it is a rare quality that can only be acquired over the years; compile a competency inventory of your outstanding qualities, both work related and not; seek the advice of a career counsellor who can help us focus on targets and suitable jobs; and also ensure that our resume is current, well designs and tailored to the needs of employers.

Daskal also cites the importance of proactive networking to acquire a strong set of contacts, and to make sure to keep in touch with those within your target industry. She believes that it is up to each of us to act to change every day, because a desired career will not simply fall into our laps. It is also essential to remain positive, and be able to “sell” ourselves in an interview by recounting our achievements.

We may still resist the beckoning for change due to fear.

“It's ok to be afraid. But not ok to let those fears stop you from following a new path that might make your life a heck of a lot better in many ways-personally and financially,” wrote work and career expert Kerry Hannon in forbes.online[ii].

“One refrain I hear time and time again from successful career switchers: ‘I never second guessed my decision. I only wish I had done it sooner.’”

Having the courage to face our fears may pay dividends. Take the example of a dental associate who has carved out a career in a principal-owned practice. There are no particular issues with their job, but they wish to try a new challenge that will bring fresh rewards.

It may entail working among a professional team, supported by top-quality equipment and resources. Fitting the bill on that count is Rodericks Dental, an expanding group of dental practices in the UK that prides itself on delivering excellent patient care and providing professionals with on-going opportunities for training and development.

It may be the place where you can find fresh inspiration and a place to grow. The grass can be greener on the other side, you just have to be prepared to take the first step.

 

For more information please visit www.rodericksdental.co.uk/careers, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01604 602491 and ask for Christina Regan in our Dental Recruitment Team.

 

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/rodericksdental,

Twitter @rodericksdental and LinkedIn

 



[i] Forbes / Personal finance. Kerry Hannon. 6 ways to conquer your fear of career change. Link https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryhannon/2011/03/26/break-on-through-6-ways-to-conquer-your-fear-of-career-change/#63a8e58beb11 [Accessed June 2017]

[ii] Fast Company. Lolly Daskal. How do I make a career change after 15 years in the same job? Link https://www.fastcompany.com/3046977/how-do-i-make-a-career-change-after-15-years-in-the-same-job [Accessed June 2017]

 

 

 

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Time to share - Richard Lishman

The stock market is a volatile environment at the best of times, but since the Brexit referendum and Trump’s election as US President, the market has been subject to an even higher level of turbulence than usual. This began to show before the results were even announced, but as soon as Theresa May declared that article 50 would be triggered in March 2017, the pound fell further against the euro and the dollar. This had an inverse effect on the FTSE 100, which climbed to a high of 7,000 before falling in October as concerns emerged over whether the Bank of England would increase interest rates.

Although it didn't take long for this inverse relationship to peter out, with both the pound and FTSE increasing at one point, we have since seen a range of interactions between currency and equity markets – including the FTSE 100 hitting a record run. The shock result of a hung parliament in the snap election naturally exacerbated the situation, with stock prices shown to increase and plummet in equal measure. Until Brexit negotiations are complete, it is likely that the uncertainty and volatility will continue.

For dentists with investments in the stock market, it has no doubt been a tense time, though experts predict that it might actually be the long-term actions of the government that will prove to be the most pertinent to investors’ outcomes. Investment director for personal investing at Fidelity International, Tom Stevenson also adds, “It will pay to keep an eye on your long-term financial goals and to place your investment eggs in a wide variety of baskets.”

While this is not new information, as those of you with an existing portfolio will know, it is certainly a useful reminder about the importance of a balanced portfolio; one that will no doubt prompt many of you to revisit your investments. As always, when rebalancing your portfolio, you will need to consider the level of risk versus reward of each asset – in other words, are your investments still working in a way that maximises returns and minimises losses? If recent events have caused an element of under or overexposure in certain assets, then now might be the time to either spread your investments among different classes of assets, or proverbially prune away any that are underperforming and putting the rest of your portfolio at risk.

It is worth remembering, however, that while certain shares may not be performing at their best at present, this may not be the case several months, or even years down the line. The reality is if you want to make money, you have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. True, stocks are often regarded as a riskier investment opportunity in comparison to others, but they are also notorious for outperforming assets such as bonds or savings accounts, usually achieving an average return of around 10-12 per cent over the long-term. One could argue, then, that the risk is worth it if it produces good results.

However you choose to proceed with your portfolio it is always worth seeking the advice of a specialist Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), especially if your investment commitments are part of a much larger financial plan. A company like money4dentists can help you nurture and manage your portfolio so that it produces the best results over time in line with your needs and aspirations.

 

Equally, if you are new to the equity market and thinking of making an investment, specialist advice is always advisable. An IFA can work with you as little or as much as you need to advise on what kind on investments would suit your personal goals. There a number of different services available, including:

 

  • Execution only: You instruct the IFA to buy and sell your shares at a given time and at a given price.
  • Advisory: You ask the IFA for assistance in deciding when to buy and sell shares and at what price. If you are a major investor, the IFA may take the initiative and contact you to discuss potential transactions.
  • Discretionary: You give the IFA power to buy and sell your shares when they think they can obtain the best deal for you.

All in all, there are good investment opportunities to be had in the stock market, despite everything that has happened, and in many instances will be a matter of ‘riding out the storm’. If you have concerns about your investments, need help rebalancing your portfolio or are thinking of dipping your toe in the water, contact an experienced IFA today.

 

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

 

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Don’t fear the dentist -Christopher Cox A-dec

It’s no secret that many people are scared of the dentist. Indeed, reports suggest that as many as half of the adults in the UK suffer from dental anxiety[1] – approximately 20 million people across the country.

Trying to ascertain precisely why people are scared is an impossible task, as everyone has a different reason, stemming from their personal experiences, but we do hear similar stories from time to time – sometimes it’s the fear of anaesthesia, or the fear of needles, the sound of the dental drill or the thought of choking. Often, it’s simple embarrassment that causes a patient’s anxiety, or the awkwardness of being forced into close proximity with a stranger. Maybe it’s because that stranger will be wearing a mask and loupes, and wielding instruments that our brains tell us will hurt – or it could be the sense of powerlessness that people feel when they are tipped back in the chair.

No matter the underlying reason for their fear, the implications it can have on a patient’s oral health can be serious. If a patient is too scared to attend regular appointments, they run the risk of developing dental caries, gum disease or worse. And, if left unchecked or untreated, even relatively minor problems can develop into more complicated issues that require more invasive treatment – the thought of which will simply dissuade the patient from visiting the practice in the future.

As such, it is important for dental professionals to address the dental anxiety issue and implement different methods in practice to assuage patients’ fears and concerns – and there are many techniques that can be employed to achieve this. Perhaps the most important – and the approach that should be adopted in every practice – is ensuring that patients are made to feel at ease from the very moment they enter the practice. This can best be done by making sure the reception area is welcoming and manned by friendly, attentive and empathetic staff. Interpersonal skills are incredibly important, both for the reception team and for the clinical personnel, to ensure that patients are treated in a way that helps them relax.

The physical environment inside the practice can also play a major role in helping patients overcome their fears. By designing the practice in a way that makes it appear welcoming and relaxing, rather than clinical or forebodingly sterile will immediately change a patient’s perception. Many modern practices are taking design cues from spas and hotels, rather than hospitals or laboratories, to create an aesthetic that encourages patients to relax before they are called into the treatment room. Such changes can be made easily and without great cost, whilst still remaining mindful of the essential cross-contamination protocols that must be stringently followed in all practices.

Similarly, many practices are beginning to play relaxing music in both the waiting and treatment areas to not only detract from the typical healthcare setting but to also mask the common sounds of dental equipment that may cause anxiety. Television screens that relay calming scenes or interesting videos are also an effective way to ‘distract’ patients from their fear and can be used to great effect in both the treatment room and elsewhere.

In the surgery, where a patient’s dental anxiety is likely to manifest most acutely, there are a number of different ways to help keep patients relaxed. Some practices have introduced a dental ‘panic button’ – which allows patients to signal to their dentists that they need a break. These small devices help put the patient back in control of their own situation. Furthermore, there are products available that can help reduce the noise of a dental drill, eliminating the sound that is so often associated with dental fear. These devices fit onto headphones and emit an inverted wave that limits the sound of the drill.

On top of this, dental chairs are increasingly being designed to offer exceptional comfort for patients. This can truly encourage them to relax – and, in conjunction with relaxing music, distracting screens and noise-cancelling technology, can produce significant results. What’s more, modern chairs can be adjusted smoothly, without jerky movements or mechanical noise, which allows any work to be conducted calmly and comfortably.

Similarly, a flexible delivery system that can be manoeuvred away from the patient’s head will remove from view any instruments that might cause fear, while still allowing the practitioner to access what they need with ease.

A-dec is renowned for designing dental units that offer practical, reliable solutions to everyday issues. The range of chairs and delivery systems, such as the A-dec 500, offer unparalleled ergonomics for both the dental team and patient, and can transform the look and feel of your surgery.

By combining some or all of these different approaches, dental professionals can help patients overcome their dental anxieties. Indeed, the use of effective interpersonal skills, distraction techniques and comfortable, effective equipment can all work together to lessen the fear of the ‘dreaded’ dentist.

 

For more information about A-dec Dental UK Ltd, visit

www.a-dec.co.uk or call on 0800 2332 85

 

 



[1] Oral Health Foundation: National Smile Month, Facts & Figures. Link: http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/facts-figures/ [accessed 08/06/17]

 

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Persons having significant control- Rebecca Wilding -Goodman Grant

The requirement to keep a register of people with significant control, or the ‘PSC register’, was introduced on 6 April 2016. Since then, all UK private limited companies – including incorporated dental practices – are legally required to maintain a statutory register with information about the people who have significant control or influence over them.

Despite this having been made a legal requirement over a year ago, it remains the case that many dental practitioners who own either all or the majority of the shares in an incorporated dental practice have failed to file their PSC documentation correctly with Companies House. This is putting many dental professionals at risk, since failure to comply with these new regulations is classed as a criminal offence and may result in either a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years. As such, it is crucial that all dentists who are identified as the director of an incorporated practice complete the correct paperwork immediately.

 

Firstly, any and all PSCs must be identified – these are individuals who:

1.    Hold directly or indirectly more than 25 per cent of the company’s overall shares

2.     Hold directly or indirectly more than 25 per cent of the company’s voting rights

3.    Hold the right directly or indirectly to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors of the company

4.    Are in the position to exercise significant influence or control over the company

5.     Have influence or control over a trust or firm where they satisfy points one to four and have the right to exercise or actually exercise significant influence or control over the trust or firm.

In most cases, this will be either the company’s sole director – the practice’s principal. Once all PSCs have been registered, their details must be recorded on the company’s own in-house PSC register. It is crucial that this be kept up-to-date and accessible, since it will likely be considered in any due diligence checks if the company is being sold in the future. The register must include:

 

·      The individual’s name

·      Their date of birth

·      Their nationality

·      The service address

·      Their residential address

·      The nature and extent of their control of the company

 

Once the information has been collected and logged, it should be filed with Companies House as part of the annual Confirmation Statement. Since the deadline for this has now expired, it is essential that all information be passed to Companies House as soon as possible, to ensure that there are no legal repercussions for the company.

Similarly, it is essential that the director keeps their company’s PSC register up-to-date. They must amend the register if anything changes and is responsible for updating the information at Companies House when the next Confirmation Statement is made.

 

If you believe that there is no one in the company that meets the specific criteria of being a PSC, you must still fill out the register and submit it to Companies House, with the addendum: The company knows or has reasonable cause to believe that there is no registrable person or registrable relevant legal entity in relation to the company. It is vital that the register is not left empty.

These rules apply to all companies, regardless of whether it is dormant or not. They do not apply, however to unregistered companies, trusts or Limited Liability Partnerships – so it is important for dental professionals to fully understand the nature of their company and ensure that the correct documentation has been made.

It should also be remembered that all PSC information should be kept for at least ten years after an individual has stopped being a PSC of the company – and their details will be kept by Companies House indefinitely. This is an important consideration, particularly for dental professionals who have not filed their PSC registers on time and have recently lost a significant part of the company. It will be necessary in this instance to include the details of any previous PSCs, even if they have already left.

If you are unsure about any aspect about the PSC register, or need assistance completing your register, contact the team at Goodman Grant Solicitors, who will be able to assist you.

 

Rebecca Wilding from Goodman Grant Solicitors – contact on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

For more information, visit the Goodman Grant website at www.goodmangrant.co.uk or call us on:

Leeds office: 0113 834 3705

London office: 0203 114 2133

Liverpool office: 0151 707 0090

 

 

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The endodontist’s toolbox - Mark Allen COLTENE

Recent research has suggested that the majority of patients would opt for endodontic treatments that would preserve their natural teeth rather than having them extracted and replaced with dental implants.[1]

Indeed, with a consistent success rate of approximately 90 per cent,[2] modern endodontics is the most effective means of treating and maintaining patients’ natural teeth. And a person’s natural teeth are an indescribably precious commodity. They provide better function than implants and are infinitely more effective than bridges and dentures. Taking masticatory efficiency as an example, it has been shown that fully dentate patients have a far greater bite force than both implant patients and those with dentures. This allows for far better quality of life and helps sustain a healthy, balanced diet – as well as boosting self esteem – making these treatments a far better course of action to preserve an individual’s natural teeth rather than replace them.

As we are all aware, endodontics is a GDC-recognised specialism and, as such, requires training beyond a standard BDS degree. This training lasts for a minimum of two years, after which a practitioner will have acquired the necessary skills to provide safe and efficient endodontic treatments. Despite this, less complicated endodontics are an option available to GDPs and, thanks to the quality of training available – not to mention the standard of endodontic products now on the market – the results that can be achieved by those who have not undergone specialist training are impressive.

Indeed, the tools that are necessary to perform endodontic procedures can make all the difference between a successful treatment and a failure – making it very important for any professional undertaking endodontics in their practice to be aware of the items they need for best practice.

For example, it is necessary to use a front surface reflecting mouth mirror to prevent the double image of the fine detail in an access cavity that can occur with a conventional mirror. Also, the use of endolocking tweezers is advised, in order to safely transfer small items between practitioner and nurse. An endodontic probe is similarly vital, in order to detect canal orifices.

Practitioners should also make use of rubber dams. These are important in providing an isolated operatory field free from oral contamination, as well as preventing patients from accidently swallowing or inhaling small root canal instruments.

While it may seem like a relatively minor consideration, it is also important to use suitable protective coverings for the patient’s clothes – since the accidental spillage of sodium hypochlorite can lead to complaints and even litigation.

An endodontic practice will also require a long-cone parallel radiographic system. This has been shown to be the most effective form of radiography for endodontic cases, since it allows practitioners to capture an undistorted view of the teeth and surrounding structures. Another benefit is that this system easily allows repeats, allowing for a more accurate assessment of periapical healing.

Of course, digital radiography is now being used to exceptional effect and many modern systems can be preset specifically for endodontic requirements. This technology also allows practitioners to view scans almost instantaneously, effectively streamlining the diagnostic process and allowing for a better standard of care.

Obviously, endodontic treatments are conducted on an incredibly small and complex level. Therefore, magnification is particularly useful and many practitioners opt for using dental loupes or surgical microscopes in order to complete even more intricate procedures.

A practitioner must also choose an appropriate endodontic handpiece. As always, it is vital to find a handpiece that will suit an individual’s ergonomic and clinical needs – one that will be reliable and effective and, crucially, cost effective. Low-speed models, with precise torque control and auto-reverse are ideal for endodontics, as are models with ‘micro’ heads to improve operatory visibility.

Along with this, practitioners must choose a file system that they can rely on to achieve excellent canal shaping and debridement. Often, it is the quality of the file that determines the overall success of the treatment, making the choice of instrument incredibly important.

The new HyFlex EDM NiTi file from COLTENE is an excellent example of a high quality endodontic file. With over 700 per cent higher fracture resistance than previous files, this product allows for precise and reliable canal shaping, shorter treatment times and better overall results.

 

When it comes to endodontics, dental professionals should have a varied toolbox at their disposal, comprised of the best products available. With these in hand, patients can receive first-class treatment and pain relief.

 

To find out more visit www.coltene.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01444 235486

 



[1] D. Re et al. ‘Natural tooth preservation versus extraction and implant placement: patient preferences and analysis of the willingness to pay.’ British Dental Journal 222, 467 - 471 (2017) Published online 24/03/17. Link: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v222/n6/full/sj.bdj.2017.271.html [accessed 24/05/17]

[2] British Endodontic Society. Further information: Can the treatment fail? Link: https://www.britishendodonticsociety.org.uk/patients/further-information.html [accessed 24/05/17]

 

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Manufacturers versus independents: Laying down the truth - David Gibson

I stumbled across an article recently unveiling the shocking number of motorists that shun their main dealers for ‘fast-fit’ outlets and independent garages. As I read about the millions of car owners that opt for what they consider to be the cheaper option, I couldn't help but draw a comparison to annual validation and testing with decontamination equipment. As with cars, many believe that independent companies offer a better, more cost effective deal, but in many instances this simply isn’t the case.

At Eschmann, for instance, we provide servicing, testing, validation and user training as part of our Care&Cover protection at no extra cost. Our service can help to save money as well as provide peace of mind. However, savings don't mean a thing if the job isn’t done properly, as it will only cost you more later on down the line. Whoever you use to look after your decontamination equipment, make sure you don't get drawn in on price alone.

Instead, consider the quality of the service and the reputation of the company. For instance, have you heard good things from other customers? Do reviews point to consistent results? Are they reliable? These are the sorts of questions you want to be asking yourself when considering your testing and validation needs – though of course the cost is important too.

There’s also a lot to be said about utilising the expertise of a technician with specialist knowledge instead of one who has been trained in a variety of different makes and models of equipment. As well as expert skills and a more-in-depth understanding and knowledge of the nuances of the product based on familiarity, you can count on the fact that standards are much higher when provided by the manufacturers themselves. If you had a Porsche, you wouldn't risk leaving it in the hands of a generic mechanic when you could take it to a Porsche dealer, so why would you do the same with your decontamination equipment?

Like a specialist car technician, manufacturers of sterilisers, washer-disinfectors and ultrasonic cleaners know exactly what to look for and where when working on your equipment. As such, they are able to carry out the necessary checks much more efficiently and to a consistently high standard. They will also have the specialist tools and validated test devices designed specifically for their equipment, ensuring accurate, certified results that you can rely on. If nothing else, I would say this is reason enough to utilise a manufacturer’s own engineers, particularly as you receive an official manufacturer’s stamp on your paperwork at the end of it highlighting that you’ve used their professional services.

It is also important to take into consideration what would happen if you used an independent company and needed replacement parts for your equipment. There are a number of tests that have to be performed (all of which can be found within HTM 01-05 guidelines) so there is always the possibility that follow up work might be required to ensure equipment is fully compliant. You need to know that the parts are original and high quality, not spurious and possibly cheap parts bought from elsewhere. If you have cover with the equipment manufacturer, who has a team that can provide prompt nationwide coverage, repairs are also more likely to be completed quickly and effectively, at no extra cost.

Again, you wouldn't take a Porsche to any old garage for repairs or replacements, not when you’ve got experts ready to go with the right parts at the dealership, and it is just as important to do the same with your decontamination equipment.

All points considered, I think there is a very strong case for going direct to the manufacturer for your servicing, training, testing and validation, though of course the choice is yours. As long as the company you use follows the manufacturer’s guidance on how validation should be carried out, you will meet the mandatory requirements. If there is one thing I know, though, it is that doing the bare minimum has never done anyone any favours, so make your choice wisely!

 

For more information on the highly effective and affordable range of decontamination equipment and products from EschmannDirect, please visit www.eschmann.co.uk or call 01903 753322

 

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What’s in a smile? Payman Langroudi

As dentists, our number one priority is the health of our patients’ teeth and mouths. But to our patients, their smiles mean much more to them than just their health. Of course, this is important too – no one wants dental pain or disease but, more often than not, dental health and hygiene ranks lower on our patients’ list than it does ours.

This is evidenced by the huge rise in cosmetic dentistry in the UK over the last several years.[1] In general, these procedures have little impact on the health of a patient’s smile. Obviously, as dentists, we must always have those considerations in mind, we must factor in the long-time health of the patient before we proceed with a crown or a whitening procedure, but for our patients, all they want is the aesthetic result.

This is, perhaps, because our smiles are considered to be one of our most important features – certainly one of the most influential. Indeed, the appearance of our smiles, of our teeth, can greatly affect the way other people perceive us. In one study, it was found that decayed and poorly maintained teeth led to more negative judgements over four different personality categories – social competence, intellectual ability, psychological adjustment and relationship satisfaction. On the other hand, those people who had whitened teeth were judged far more positively across all four categories.[2]

As we know, physical appearance plays a key role in human social interaction, and our teeth are one of the most important features that help shape the perceptions of others. This is evident in building romantic relationships, where it has been proven that attractiveness plays a key role – and our teeth even more so. Indeed, it has also been found, in a survey conducted by Match.com, that our teeth were the number one physical feature on which both genders judged their prospective partners.[3] In terms of overall attractiveness, teeth ranked second, only behind personality.[4] Indeed, most participants commented that bad teeth would be the most likely reason for declining a second date.

 

What’s more, good dental appearance is often regarded as important in our professional lives. Research has found that having whiter, straighter teeth is seen as a demonstration of wealth and status and makes a person look more successful and employable. It is also perceived to reflect the standard of education a person has received, with people with a better dental appearance being seen as better educated and more intelligent.[5]

When looking for a job, it is believed that having a whiter smile will also help impress employers, with a good smile often being a key factor in getting a new job. It may also help when the opportunity for promotion comes up and is a sign of professional and personal success.5

Evidently, then, having an attractive smile is an important feature in terms of the way other people perceive us, but having white teeth also helps improve our own self-esteem and confidence.[6]

As such, dentists must be prepared to be able to offer their patients these additional treatment options. As we all know, today’s patients are vastly different from those 20-30 years ago – they are far more discerning, for starters and they understand that their smile can be improved in a way that will give them a head start. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why we have seen a marked increase in the number of people requesting cosmetic dentistry – and, in particular, tooth whitening.

Tooth whitening is an effective way of improving the appearance of a patient’s smile, giving them the result they’re looking for. For the practitioner, this procedure is a good way of enhancing their practice’s remit and improving profits – especially when the barriers to entry for whitening are so low. Importantly, however, it is necessary for professionals to use products they know will provide their patients with the best results.

Enlighten Whitening understands the importance of a person’s smile – and is the only whitening product that can guarantee a whiter shade. This is particularly important for patients, who know what a white smile means and want to see the results.

There’s much more to a smile than meets the eye, from our patients’ health to their perceptions of themselves and the way people judge them in a wide variety of different social scenarios. As dentists, we must always look after our patients’ oral health, but we should also consider these other factors and ensure our service caters to our patients’ needs. With tooth whitening, as an adjunctive procedure that can be included as part of regular treatments, all of these considerations can be met. 

 

For more information, visit www.enlightensmiles.com, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the team on 0207 424 3270

 



[1] LDF: Dentists’ income up thanks to cosmetic dentistry. Published online: 30/03/2015; link: https://www.ldf.co.uk/blog/dentists-income-up-cosmetic-dentistry/ [accessed 14/06/2017]

[2] S. Kershaw, JT Newton, DM Williams: The influence of tooth colour on the perception of personal characteristics among female dental patients. Published online: 15/02/2008, British Dental Journal 204, E9 (2008) link: https://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v204/n5/full/bdj.2008.134.html [accessed 14/06/2017]

[3] USA Today: Match.com What singles want: Survey looks at attraction, turnoffs. Published online 05/02/2013; link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/04/singles-dating-attraction-facebook/1878265/ [accessed 14/06/2017]

[4] Oral Health Foundation: National Smile Month, Facts & Figures. Link: http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/facts-figures/ [accessed 14/06/2017]

[5] Female First: The power of white teeth. Published online: 03/04/2013; link: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/the-power-of-a-white-smile-286820.html [accessed 14/06/2017]

[6] J. Martin et al. Personality Style in Patients looking for tooth bleaching and its correlation with treatment satisfaction. Braz. Dent. J. vol.27 2016; link: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-64402016000100060 [accessed 14/06/17]

 

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Kunal Shah reviews the Filtek One bulk fill restorative from 3M Oral Care.

What are the three key properties you need in a composite and does Filtek One meet all these? 

I look for easy handling, relevance in every day clinic and aesthetics. Filtek One delivers on all three. It offers a wide range of applications and I find it useful in every day practice. As a nano-filled composite, it’s very strong, which provides confidence in its capability. It’s also brilliant for minimally invasive dentistry, which I think is where the profession is headed.

 

What do you think of the aesthetics that can be achieved with Filtek One? 

The aesthetics are very good, especially after polishing and finishing.

 

What do you think of Filtek One in terms of handling / ease of use / speed of workflow? 

Filtek One is super easy to handle – it’s up there with one of the easiest bulk fill products to use. It’s particularly good where access to the restoration is difficult or if you are dealing with a deep cavity, which removes an element of stress for the dentist. The simple workflow also means the cavity is open for the shortest amount of time for a stronger bond and increased patient comfort. Further still, Filtek One is available in different delivery methods – I prefer the capsules – which makes the process easier again.

 

What do you think about the efficiency of the process when using Filtek One and Scotchbond Universal together?

The two products work brilliantly together. Scotchbond is a phenomenal product in its own right.

 

Is there anything about the product that you find challenging or would like to see improved / changed? 

Not really – I think it’s a brilliant product!

 

What would be your advice for dentists who are new to the product?

I would also advise others to start with a simple occlusal restorative case while you’re getting used to any new product.

 

What score would you give Filtek One out of 10?

I would rarely give any product a 10 out of 10. But I think Filtek One is an ‘8’ or a ‘9’. Compared to other bulk fill products with similar indications, I think it’s the best.

 

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Professional development for implant success - Nobel Biocare

The quote ‘life is a journey and not a destination’ can be applied just as well to your professional development. There is no end point when it comes to education in a professional capacity. This is particularly pertinent in the dental arena as it evolves so quickly, with new products, materials and techniques being developed all the time. To safely and competently care for patients, dental professionals must continually seek out new information to stay up-to-date. 

 

Implantology is a fascinating and innovative aspect of dentistry that is becoming increasingly popular with patients. Proactive patients are now aware of the choices available and are willing to seek out alternatives to more traditional treatments. Many are no longer passive in their approach to dentistry and are informed about the long-term benefits of dental implants following their own research online.

 

Walking the right career path

Professional learning is a career-long commitment, and so it is important that you choose the right pathway. Implantology opens up a whole new field of dentistry that was not available to professionals only decades ago. With the advancement of technology and techniques, it is now a popular specialty for dentists and their teams to pursue. 

 

Implantology allows practices to broaden their service offerings, meeting the rising demands of so many of their patients. With an ageing population, we can expect edentulism to become an ever more apparent issue in the coming years, and dental implants to become an even more in-demand treatment. This also provides greater opportunities for professionals who have the chance to develop their skill set and enjoy greater variety in their everyday work.

 

No longer confined to a classroom

In the digital era, students are no longer restricted to the classroom. There is now an array of teaching approaches that can be utilized to suit an individual’s schedule and preference. In a hands-on profession such as dentistry, a certain amount of face-to-face training with practical workshops is required so that you can try techniques and handle products before using them on real-life patients.

 

Further still, the world is becoming ‘smaller’ and so educational opportunities can easily be delivered from anywhere in the world, giving individuals the chance to learn from the very best. Peer-to-peer learning is a valuable educational tool as well, so establishing a professional network for support and guidance is crucial. Sharing of cases, discussion on products and materials, and learning from other’s challenges can help strengthen the learning process.

 

The right course for you

When it comes to choosing a course, your end goal will help you decide what educational program is the most relevant to you. Do you want to develop your knowledge through an academic course, or gain new practical skills for confidence treating patients in practice? The range of clinical education is now vast and so careful consideration should be given as to which will help meet your learning objectives. Examining the course structure, the aims and outcomes, method of teaching and who is involved in the course can also help you make a final decision.

 

Implant dentistry is of course very clinically focused, but it also has unique requirements in the practice management side of the business. Sales techniques, marketing strategy, patient communications etc. are just a few elements from the operations of running a practice that need to be managed. These too can be fast paced and in constant flux with new, improved ways becoming available all the time. Careful consideration should be given to what the practice currently has, what it wants to achieve and therefore what it might need in the future to encourage continuous growth.

 

A convenient learning portal

A structured platform with blended learning that incorporates all educational needs in one place, offers the best of all worlds for professionals looking to advance their skills. Mediums such as SmileTube.tv combine online modules with practical training to enable delegates to develop competency and confidence in their skills. Providing eight days of clinical hands-on training and access to over 130 continuous education credits, there is something for everyone. This all makes SmileTube.tv a cost effective and highly efficient postgraduate program for all clinicians interested in implant dentistry.

 

Education should be an inspiring, revitalizing and enriching experience. Selection of the right course is paramount to ensure engagement throughout and ultimately, ensure you achieve your learning goals.

 

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

 

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An Exchange of Knowledge - Nina Cartwright Carestream Dental

In today’s dynamic and demanding profession, staying ahead of the competition is a major challenge. Dental practices must react and respond to patients’ changing needs. One way to achieve this is through the exchange of information among peers. Knowledge sharing can create opportunities to maximise the team’s ability to meet the needs of patients, as well as helping to generate solutions and efficiencies that will give a practice its competitive advantage.

 

Exchanging useful information between two or more people is something most of us do every day – often without realising. For individual employees, knowledge sharing is talking to colleagues to help them get something done better, more quickly or more efficiently. By interacting and sharing information with others, an individual may enhance his or her capacity to define a situation or problem, and apply their knowledge so as to act and solve it. For a business, knowledge sharing is capturing, organising, reusing and transferring the vast and unique amount of information that resides within the organisation and making that data available to others in the business. Those that have successfully created a knowledge sharing culture quickly find that it becomes one of their most important assets, as well as providing the key to achieving the organisation’s vision and strategic goals.[1],[2]

 

The literature on the subject has a long tradition in suggesting that work groups engaged in active knowledge sharing demonstrate enhanced individual and group performance. Furthermore, information sharing behaviours among group members positively contribute to the group’s innovative capacity. The exchange of knowledge between dental professionals therefore offers practices the potential for increased productivity through staff development. The latest information and thoughts can be shared on various topics of interest or previous experiences, giving practitioners the chance to seek out answers to questions that they may have.2

 

How can information be shared?

Most knowledge sharing occurs informally, in day-to-day, unstructured communication. For example, it might be through a discussion about a specific case or the exchange of ideas regarding a product or procedure. But with the increased improvements in information technology and integration of dental software, there has been a paradigm leap in the way dental professionals are able to share information.[3]

 

Personal learning environments are rapidly evolving based on the use of social media that allows learners to create, organise and share content. Through cloud computing, information can be shared, including journal articles and abstracts. Critical analysis for group discussion can also be accessed easily and quickly through virtual learning spaces.[4]

 

One of the main benefits of cloud computing is the ability for multi-site access. For example, clinical records can be gathered by one clinician for a case that requires multidisciplinary treatment, so that all the clinicians potentially involved can access the material and give their input towards the treatment plan and its completion. In addition, cloud computing offers security against loss of information by equipment theft or damage to practice facilities. There is also a reduced need for processing, power and memory of the computers being used to view the information along with potentially reduced back-up costs.4

 

The internet and social media provide further opportunities for dental professionals to directly connect with their peers. Individuals can network with others who have similar values, interests and roles, and easily share and discuss their experiences. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs and YouTube are just some of the powerful social media sites available that individuals can use to connect with other people in the dental field. Through the internet, professionals can share ideas, swap case reports, ask for advice, discuss recent innovations and take in industry news, as well as creating deeper and more meaningful connections with colleagues.4

 

One of the latest, dentistry specific online portals is The Exchange from Carestream Dental. This highly interactive and convenient online solution is designed specifically for its CS R4+ practice management software customers. Complementing the already extensive support available from the provider, The Exchange offers an online platform for all CS R4+ users to utilise. It enables professionals to speak directly to other users, facilitating the sharing of top tips, practical advice and experiences among colleagues.

 

With smartphones, iPads and many other such devices available at our fingertips, dentistry is stepping into the world of online communities and social networking, along with the rest of the world. Dental professionals can benefit immensely from innovative online tools to enhance their online presence, learn from others and exchange useful information and knowledge with peers.

 

 

For more information please contact Carestream Dental on

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

For all the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl and Facebook

 

 

 



[1] Reid, F. (2003). Creating a knowledge-sharing culture among diverse business units. Employment Relations Today, 30 (3) 43-49.

[2] Li-Ying, J., Paunova, M., & Egerod, I. (2016). Knowledge sharing behaviour and intensive care nurse innovation: the moderating role of control of care quality. Journal of Nursing Management, 2-32.

[3] Pilling, M. (2011). Is your head in the clouds? Vital, 46-49.

[4] Bennadi, D., Thummala, N. R., & Sibyl, S. (2017). Dentistry in E-world. Journal of the Scientific Society, 44 (1), 2-6.

 

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Lighting the way for preventive dentistry - Robert Teague

As a dental professional, you will undoubtedly be aware that tooth decay is the most common preventable disease in the developed world, affecting approximately 36 per cent of the global population – which is approximately 2.6 billion people.[1]

In the UK, tooth decay remains a serious issue, with an estimated 31 per cent of all adults exhibiting some sign of carious decay.[2] Amongst the country’s children, the numbers are no better – with approximately one third of school age children presenting with some level of dental decay.2

As we know, tooth decay can have a wide range of negative ramifications for patients who allow the disease to progress unopposed – including infection, tooth loss and the formation of abscesses. In deciduous teeth, dental caries can negatively impact the development of adult teeth.

What’s more, tooth decay may also lead to inflammation of the tissues around the teeth – progressing to periodontal disease if left untreated. The importance of this cannot be understated, since periodontitis has been linked to a number of serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and, according to some sources, even cancer.

There can be no question, therefore, that tooth decay is a serious problem – one that must be addressed by the UK dental profession with earnest. Frustratingly, however, we all know what must be done to prevent dental caries; after all, the disease is entirely preventable.

Indeed, with good oral care and patient diligence, dental caries can be avoided altogether. While there is some research that suggests a genetic predisposition to the disease, there can be no denying that the main causal factor of tooth decay is a lack of thorough oral care and hygiene.

Unfortunately, many people in the UK are still unaware of the actual causes of dental decay – and do not understand the best methods of preventing it. As such, it is crucial that dental professionals do everything they can to educate their patients on the importance of regularly brushing their teeth and attending routine check ups – as well as treating their patients preventively rather than reactively.

Indeed, ever since the ‘Steele’ report that was released in 2009,[3] the onus on practitioners has been to promote preventive dental care, rather than focus on restorative treatment. This paradigm shift has forced dental diagnostics into the limelight and means that dental professionals are under a great deal of professional and public pressure to identify and treat symptoms as early as possible.

Unfortunately, dental caries is notoriously difficult to detect in its earliest stages, when the effects can be easily reversed or repaired. Normally, a patient will be diagnosed with tooth decay once they have attended a routine check-up and a carious lesion, along with the resultant damage it has caused, has been physically detected by the practitioner. The next step is to treat the tooth, normally by drilling away the infected material and filling the cavity with a restorative material. Unfortunately, the efficacy of such methods is being increasingly called into question, with evidence suggesting that the structural integrity of a filled tooth is significantly less than a healthy tooth. Some research even indicates that the strength of the teeth adjacent to a filled tooth will also be compromised.

Fortunately, new technologies are emerging on the dental market that will improve the precision and efficacy of dental diagnostics – and encourage enhanced preventive care. Visual technology, fuelled by the ‘digital revolution’, are proving to be especially effective, since both practitioners and patients can more clearly see the result of dental decay – improving clinical treatments and patient education at the same time. Indeed, visual technologies are having a positive impact on the profession by allowing information to be shared quickly and effortlessly between patients and dentists, enabling an overall higher standard of care.

One such technology is the all-new CALCIVIS imaging system, which uses an advanced bioluminescent (light-emitting) substance that, when introduced to the surface of the tooth, reacts immediately with free calcium ions, indicative of dental demineralisation – the early signs of dental caries. By detecting this reaction at its earliest stage, the CALCIVIS imaging system allows dentists to undertake and communicate simple preventive treatments including remineralisation therapy that reverse a dental caries prognosis.

Dental technology is advancing to the stage where it is now possible for practitioners to offer their patients effective, individual preventive care. As such, it is important for dental professionals to familiarise themselves with such technology to ensure they have the skills and tools necessary to help patients improve their oral health in the future.

 

For more information visit www.CALCIVIS.com

 



[1] Vos, T (Dec 15, 2012). "Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010.". Lancet 380(9859): 2163–96.

[2] Oral Health Foundation: National Smile Month, Facts and Figures. Link: http://www.nationalsmilemonth.org/facts-figures/ [accessed 23/5/17]

[3] NHS England: NHS dental services in England: An independent review led by Professor Jimmy Steele, June 2009. Link: http://www.sigwales.org/wp-content/uploads/dh_101180.pdf [accessed 23/5/17]

 

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Doing OK? HMRC is keeping a closer eye on you… Michael Lansdell

High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) are people whose investible assets exceed £10m. The latest figures from the UK show that the HNWIs population currently stands at 552,800 (and growing) and in 2014/15, they paid over £535,000 a head in income and capital gains tax (CGT).[i]

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been critical of how HMRC handles HNWIs however, and in a report issued in January claimed that not enough is being done to deal with tax evasion and avoidance within this group.[ii]

If this all sounds a million miles away from anything that dental practice owners should concern themselves with, don’t be fooled! The government wants to squeeze more tax out of more of the population and HMRC is now starting to look closer at those who are just inside the upper tax bracket. Many dental practice owners will find themselves in this category.

In 2011, the Affluent Unit was set up to look at individuals with incomes over £150,000 and/or a net worth between £1m and £20m. The Unit has almost doubled in size since it began, increasing its numbers of employees by 20 per cent. The Affluent Unit’s prime targets commonly include those who have property portfolios/bank accounts that are based offshore. You will also come under the scrutiny of the Unit if you habitually file self-assessment returns late and use (or have used) tax avoidance schemes.

An affluent individual is likely to have more complex tax affairs, so it is common sense that HMRC will want to take a closer look to ensure that everything is above board. The services of a specialist accountant are essential to help with tax planning so you can be confident that you are doing everything by the book. Lansdell & Rose has an expert team with extensive experience in advising dental practice owners on money matters.

If you own a thriving, busy practice and are not already in the high earners’ tax bracket, you soon will be! As HMRC expands its taskforces set up to claw back unpaid tax, you don’t want to be penalised for a mistake. Stay on its good side by working alongside experts to ensure your tax affairs run smoothly. The fact is that even if you are a higher or additional rate taxpayer, there are perfectly legitimate ways to reduce your tax bill while staying legally compliant.

 

To find out more, call Lansdell & Rose on 020 7376 9333,

Or visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk

 



[i] www.worldwealthreport.com

[ii] https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news-parliament-2015/high-net-worth-individuals-hmrc-report-published-16-17/

 

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Additive dentistry with the BACD

Now in its fourteenth year, the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) is aiming to make 2017’s Annual Conference the best yet. With a prestigious line-up of world-class speakers and three days of exciting and inspiring lectures, presentations and hands-on sessions, delegates will be exposed to the industry’s very best.

 

As such, the Academy is delighted to include, in this year’s line-up, an exclusive lecture by Dr Francesca Vailati.

 

Francesca first graduated in medicine from the University of Bari in Italy before pursuing her dental education at the University of Pennsylvania in the USA. Specialising in prosthodontics, she returned to Europe with an MSD degree and joined the Fixed Prosthodontic Department at the University of Geneva where she remains as a senior lecturer. She has contributed to many articles in the field of restorative dentistry and lectures worldwide on a variety of topics related to full mouth adhesive rehabilitation and implant prosthodontics. Her extensive experience and undoubted expertise will be brought to bear during her highly-anticipated session at the BACD Annual Conference, entitled Adhesive Additive Rehabilitation.

 

Speaking about this upcoming lecture, Francesca says, “Dental wear is a frequently underestimated pathology that, nowadays, affects an increasing number of individuals, not only for the excessive presence of acid in the mouth, but also because of parafunctional habits.

 

“Instead of leaving these dentitions to degrade further, a non-invasive (additive) intervention should be proposed, based on an increase of vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO).”

 

On this basis, Francesca will explain to delegates how they can plan and execute more comprehensive rehabilitations. She will introduce to them the detailed 3-STEP technique, which will help simplify clinical protocols and enhance results. “This includes diagnosis, data collection and treatment planning,” continues Francesca, “Which come together as a different way of approaching patients.”

 

By the end of this inspiring lecture, delegates will have been exposed to the differences between additive and subtractive dentistry, as well as being shown how to make an initial diagnosis on the cause of tooth wear. “Delegates will also understand the rationale behind the planning of a full-mouth additive adhesive rehabilitation,” says Francesca, “We will also look at a variety of treated cases, to realise the potential applications of this technique – and its applicability in different situations other than dental erosion.”

 

It is without a doubt that Francesca’s lecture will perfectly embody the focus of this year’s Annual Conference, “FAB: Function, Aesthetics, Biology” and will provide aspiring dental professionals an inspiring insight into non-invasive techniques.

 

Delegates will also be treated to an eclectic trade show throughout the three days of the conference, where they will be able to learn more about the very latest equipment and high quality materials that are available on the market. In the evenings, they will also be able to let their hair down and enjoy socialising at one of the BACD’s fantastic dinners. This is a great opportunity for professionals to meet new, like-minded colleagues and reconnect with old friends.

 

The BACD Annual Conference has always been one of the most highly anticipated events in the professional calendar and this year will certainly be no different! Booking is now open, so be sure to save your space today!

 

The BACD Fourteenth Annual Conference 2017

‘FAB – Function, Aesthetics, Biology’

9th – 11th November 2017

The Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London

 

For further enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com.

 

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More Danger than Prosecco? by @DentistGoneBadd

Prosecco

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Brits’ dental health in jeopardy as 1 in 20 admit they NEVER visit the dentist

Brits’ dental health in jeopardy as 1 in 20 admit they NEVER visit the dentist

 

 

Annual Oral Health Survey shows up to three million could be putting their dental health in danger as fear of the dentist and money worries lead to dental avoidance.

Britain could be reclaiming its reputation as the nation of bad teeth as a new survey from dental payment plan specialists Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals reveals over one in 20 admit to never visiting the dentist. Even more shockingly, 1% even admit they NEVER brush their teeth, which could represent over 500,000* of us!

For those who avoided the dental chair and visit the dentist less often than once every two years, 39% said they were too scared of the dentist or pain, and the same number claimed they couldn’t afford check-ups.

In a worrying socio-economic trend, over half of UK adults (52%) said they’d cancel a routine dental appointment if they had financial worries, despite check-ups costing as little as £20. Young people aged 18-24 were the age group most likely to cancel.

14% of those that don’t regularly visit the dentist said they couldn’t access an NHS dentist, while one in five were worried they’d uncover further issues that needed treatment. In contrast, 91% of those with a dental payment plan went to the dentist every six months. 

Despite rumours from across the pond that Britain’s teeth are some of the worst in the world, according to University College London and Harvard University, Britons dental health is no worse than our American counterparts, in fact, the average person in Britain is missing 6.97 teeth, while in America the average is 7.31[2].

But these emerging bad habits could spell bad news for future generations, with almost one in 20 (4%) parents of children aged 18 or under saying their child never brushed their teeth and 7% admitting they never took their child to the dentist. [3]

Shockingly, 43% of parents of children with a filling said their child had their first one aged seven younger. Almost a quarter of parents of children aged 18 or under whose child had a filling (23%) said  they had been given their first filling at five years or younger. 

The findings from Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals correspond with a report by the Royal College of Surgeons which showed record numbers of under-fives having rotten teeth removed. Findings also revealed that hospital extractions among pre-school children have soared by 24 per cent in just ten years[4].

Even babies are affected — last year alone, 47 children under the age of one had newly grown milk teeth taken out.

Commenting on the figures, Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy, Simplyhealth Professionals said “It’s clear from these findings that more work needs to be done to properly educate the British public on the importance of good dental health. Seeing your dentist regularly means that any potential dental problems can be spotted early on, reducing the need for invasive or expensive treatment. If you are worried about the cost of dental care, it is always worth talking to your practice to find out if they have options available, such as a dental payment plan or subscription plan, which can help you budget or spread the cost throughout the year.”

 

For more information on the survey results or Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals please contact Hannah Mepham This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Beth Heard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01273 712 000

 

 

The survey data

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 5,068 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th January - 2nd February 2017.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

For the children’s oral health section:

Parents of children aged 18 years old and under took part in this survey; and if there was more than one child in the family, we asked parents to answer based on the child whose birthday fell next.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4353 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 25th January to 2nd February 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

 

 

About Simplyhealth

In the world of healthcare, more than anywhere, experience counts. Since 1872 – long before the existence of the NHS – Simplyhealth has been helping people to make the most of life, by managing their everyday health needs.  That’s why today we ensure over 3 million people in the UK have access to the health products, services and support that they need, when they need them and at a price they can afford.

We’re the kind of people who live by our purpose: we’re here to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. We’re proud to be the leading provider of everyday health cash plans, dental payment and pet health plans. And whilst we may be 144 years old, we’re not afraid to innovate. Whereas once we were known purely for cash plans, we now offer a wide range of products and services with one thing in common: an unflinching desire to cater for peoples’ everyday health needs – now and into the future.

We exist to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. That’s our purpose. We use charitable partnerships to also deliver that purpose, going beyond our products and services, but very much aligned to our business strategy. As a result of our success, in 2016 we were able to donate £1.7m to our charitable causes, supporting 23 different charities including Revitalise, Music in Hospitals, Brainwave Centre and Auditory Verbal, touching the lives of thousands of people across the UK.

Our future success and performance will enable us to deliver our ongoing pledge to donate 10% of our profits to charity every year, supporting health-related charities that share a similar outlook to us and a dedication to helping people with everyday health challenges make the most of life.

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

For further information:

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

http://newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk/

@SimplyhealthUK

Facebook.com/SimplyhealthUK

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

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Helping you with a simple process to improve practice profitability

Helping you with a simple process to improve practice profitability

 

 

Patient Plan Direct is offering to help practices undertake a simple process, which could significantly improve your practice’s profitability and success.

The offer is to let one of Patient Plan Direct’s highly experienced business development managers to undertake a Dental Plan Health-check at your practice, reviewing the strategy and objectives associated with the dental plans you offer patients – checking you’re doing all you can to maximise the potential of your dental plan.

Irrespective of the current plan provider you’re working with (e.g. Denplan, Practice Plan, DPAS), this Health-check is completely free of charge and will leave you fully informed as to the best options of running your plan moving forward. At the very least you’ll come away with some fresh ideas and have a benchmark to assess the value your current plan provider represents.

For more details, Patient Plan Direct invite you to watch this short video:

 

 

 

 

To book your Dental Plan Health-check, simply email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Call 0844 848 6888

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Being a Dental Nurse for Dummys

Being a Dental Nurse for Dummys

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The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point

It has been a little while since I last wrote this blog. Various things have taken over as they tend to do in life, and the blog unfortunately was something that seemed to never quite get done. However, I’ve now found myself back in the writing frame of mind, and I still seem to have opinions that some will agree with and no doubt others will disagree with, so here we go with some more ramblings of a Yorkshireman.

I have still been keenly observing what has been going on with regards to the profession over the last few months, and there still seem to be the same old problems surfaces that always have. I shall be writing about all of these issues in the near future.

The GDC seems to still be a problem to many, and personally whilst it seems to be to have become more aware of its previous problems, I don’t think it can truly move on whilst the current chair is still at the helm. It is time for a registrant to be in charge again, and for Dr Moyes to be moved to some other Quango where he can’t oversee damage to the morale of an entire profession.

Social media is also still a hot topic, and the GDC have now issued a case study on this. Some of the profession are obviously of the opinion that social media is the real world, and seemingly lack the ability to see it in its true context. There is a lack of humility in the profession where social media is concerned, and huge damage can occur to people when they believe that all they see on their iPhone is the unadulterated truth. It isn’t.

The lack of a new NHS contract, or anything really concrete is also concerning. However, I have a fairly simple view on this. We must be deluded as a profession if we think for one moment that there is suddenly going to be a fantastic new contract that will give the patients and us everything we ask for. I will guarantee that any new contract will primarily be worded to the benefit of the DoH so that the dentists can be held responsible for whatever goes wrong with it.

I’ll write more on these subjects in the coming weeks. But for this blog I though I would concentrate on something that has seemed to be brewing for quite a time, and might actually be reaching a tipping point.

 

Indemnity.

Now, I can remember when my indemnity was about £1200 a year, and didn’t particularly change by much annually. But now, as a principal dentist working full time, it is £5800. This increase is over the period of about 10 years. We have seen an increase in both the activity of the GDC and especially negligence solicitors in this time, which it is claimed to account for the increase in our costs.

Indemnity is a little bit like car insurance in that you hope you will never need it, but it is a necessary evil to have. With the costs of legal representation being what they are, and the increase in the amount of cases being brought, it is not really surprising that costs rise year on year.

But how do we know how these costs are calculated individually? If you are a young driver with a fast car (which you will no doubt be flaunting on Facebook!) then you are likely to be a higher risk than an older person in a more sedate family saloon. This doesn’t necessarily translate to your dental indemnity though. It seems that the longer you are in the profession, the more likelihood you are to be sued and thus have higher premiums. Perhaps the reason for this is that when these practitioners retire, often the patients are found to have large amounts of remedial dentistry to be done. This may be the case, and I am aware of some dentists who have built up a good practice on rectifying this type of problem, especially when they perhaps encourage the patient to take some form of action against the previous dentist.

I’m not saying a wrong shouldn’t be corrected in that situation, but there do seem to be some dentists who are quite happy to throw colleagues under the bus in order to ensure they get the benefit of the patient charges to rectify the problems. Perhaps ‘There but for the grace of god go I’ would be an apt phrase to remind those considering this course of action. In addition, they will also find that their indemnity is going to increase also when this happens.

Because that’s how this kind of indemnity really works; the current members are paying for the claims that are currently being made and are going to be made in the future. In much the same way as the state pension works.  We can’t have an indemnity company suddenly have empty coffers, so they have a duty to ensure they assess the needs of the society to actively have the funds to cover their expenses. All of this is paid for by the membership.

However, this is where I spot a problem. There are some dentists who for what ever reason have higher indemnity costs. Whilst it always seems unclear why this is (as there is no apparent transparency in the fee structure when applied to an individual member), it is not unreasonable to consider that there might be an increased risk identified by the indemnifier. So they are basically saying there may be claims likely to be made against this person in the future. I have no problem with that in principle, but the issue comes when this person then leaves the society because the costs of indemnity have risen so high it is fundamentally unaffordable for them to keep paying.

What happens then? The costs of these future claims will be potentially met by the rest of the members who are maybe NOT doing the same sort of high risk dentistry as the member who has left. One can argue that this is a socially responsible and indeed professional manner in which a wronged patient can claim recompense. The problem occurs when there are more of the lower risk members paying for the expenses of the higher risk. Add into this situation that the societies offer ‘discretionary cover’, meaning that your claim only has the right to be considered by the society (and not actually guaranteed to be supported), then some people feel that they are paying an increasing amount of money for less than guaranteed and continued support in their time of need.

It seems to me that many of the members of the traditional membership societies are becoming increasingly worried about the inexorable rise in costs, and the discretionary nature of the support offered. I am aware of much conversation about the pros and cons of moving between the societies, and I’m also aware of the increase in membership of the Insurance based companies as a result of the concerns about this. One of the advantages of insurance based cover is the presence of a written contract, and the ability to make a complaint to the Insurance Ombudsman, which doesn’t exist with the discretionary membership. In addition, the insurance companies are also heavily regulated by the likes of the Financial Services Authority; the traditional indemnifiers however seem to have no regulator at all. The counter to this argument is that with discretionary cover the traditional indemnifiers can cover those who are not indeed members at the time of a claim, and for the benefit of the profession. I can recall this publically happening at some point in the past, and if I am not mistaken it was a human rights issue that became clarified as a result. However, just how many times has the discretionary cover been used in that manner, and not just to refuse cover?

The way I see it, we will reach a tipping point if something is not done soon to clarify more robustly the stance of the traditional indemnifiers, especially where their discretionary powers are concerned. I want to know that I have the support of the indemnifier in assisting me in my time of need, and not that at some point they decide to pull the plug due to a disagreement or just because it is easier and cheaper to settle (despite it being morally, ethically, and clinically wrong to do so). Does writing a blog of this nature give them grounds to refuse cover? Your guess is as good as mine since there is no real published criteria to know where you actually stand.

I can see there becoming a tipping point at some time in the future where all the good clients of the protection societies are no longer willing to put up with the uncertainty and the lack of transparency about the decisions made about any individuals’ costs and especially the discretionary element of support. These clients will leave, and since it is a requirement to have appropriate indemnity, there will be no shortage of new style companies happy to disrupt the market place and offer an alternative.

For example, what if the indemnifier needed a million pounds to cover its expenses and it had 10,000 clients? The cost per client is obviously £100 per client. But what if this indemnifier then starts to haemorrhage clients until it only has 1000? The cost per client is then £1000. These remaining clients are not necessarily going to be the high risk ones either, as it’s probably the case that those higher risk clients will have changed society much sooner in order to keep their costs down.

This is probably a gross oversimplification, and I’d actually welcome someone putting me right over this, especially from any of the defence societies. However, fundamentally what I see is an ever increasing demand on the resources of these societies, with a potentially decreasing number of members footing the bill, and those members not actually knowing if they will be fully supported by the society due to the discretionary nature of the membership. This is a prime situation for a tipping point to occur that changes significantly the whole model this operates under. This might be practitioners leaving, or it might be a re-evaluation of the business model to take things into account. However it is not something that can remain the unchanged as it appears to me unsustainable in the long term.

Before anyone says this couldn’t happen as the societies are so big and have so many customers, all I have to remind you of is Kodak not identifying the digital camera revolution, Encyclopaedia Britannica not recognising the  threat of the internet, and finally the inexorable rise of Uber in its disruption of how we utilise taxis.

All indemnifiers are also reliant on the need for legal cases to continue. By this I mean there is a symbiotic relationship between the defence and prosecution of dental cases, as without one side the other cant really exist the in the same way. Once a case is begun, then costs accumulate on both sides, and the legal profession feeds from this accordingly. These adversarial sides become dependent on one another, and in particular the defence side of negligence does not necessarily work under a no-win, no-fee basis in my experience and gets paid regardless of winning or losing (by our indemnifiers). Cynically, one would say it is therefore in the financial interests of those in the legal profession to have the current highly litigious situation in dentistry to continue, because there appears to be no shortage of work for them. The practice of dentistry becomes the raison d’etre for the existence of both the societies and those legal firms feeding it until we do something to stop it.

There may be protests from the indemnifiers of the tome of this blog; certainly I have taken no account of some of the truly awful issues that result in harm befalling patients by some practitioners. I am definitely of the opinion that we as a profession most certainly still need to put our house in order, and there is probably no room within it for some of the practices that some of our colleagues routinely feel are acceptable. However, unless you are part of the solution, then you are actually part of the problem, and I feel that there should be much more clarity evident in the world of indemnity, so that the profession can practice with the confidence that our patients need us to have when caring from them.

Otherwise, what’s the point in us continuing to serve our patients? That may well create a further tipping point…..of no one in the profession left to care.

Image credit - Guiseppe Milo under CC licence - not modified.

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Dental Confidence Survey by @DentistGoneBadd

Dental Confidence Survey

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Keep ‘Up To Date’ with Oral-B Seminars

Keep ‘Up To Date’ with Oral-B Seminars

 

Oral-B has released the dates for their next series of Up-To-Date seminars.  Each of these popular evening sessions will be comprised of two 45-minute lectures.

Louis Mackenzie’s presentation is entitled ‘How to make fillings look like teeth!’  He will discuss the challenges in shaping posterior composites and carving amalgams and how restoring the complex optical properties of anterior teeth can be even more difficult. Detailed practical tips will be given for the easy, predictable anatomical shaping of posterior composite and amalgam restorations, using a unique step-by-step system designed at Birmingham Dental School. The lecture will also outline the fundamental principles of aesthetics, enabling delegates to optimise all clinical stages of direct anterior composite restorations.

Prof Trevor Burke’s lecture is provocatively entitled ‘The rise and rise and rise of toothwearology’.  Tooth wear, in the past, was treated by gross destruction of teeth using a turbine drill for crown preparations – a strange way to treat teeth which were already compromised! However, advances in bonding techniques have enabled the use of minimally invasive treatment using composite resin bonded to worn surfaces. Trevor will discuss the optimum bonding agents for this treatment, how to achieve an aesthetic improvement where needed – the concept of pragmatic aesthetics, and will indicate the rates of success which might be expected.

Clinical dental professionals are invited to attend this complimentary CPD accredited evening event at one of six locations:

 

London – 28th September 2017 – Hilton Hotel (Watford)

Newcastle - 12th October 2017 – Hilton Hotel (Gateshead)

Bristol – 2nd November 2017 – Aztec Hotel

Manchester – 9th November 2017 – Village Hotel (Cheadle)

Birmingham - 16th November 2017 – Crowne Plaza (Solihull)

Leeds – 23rd November 2017 – Village Hotel (South)

 

As well as two and a half hours of verifiable CPD every delegate is invited to enjoy a complimentary meal at the beginning of the evening. 

Registration and buffet is from 5.45pm with the first lecture starting at 6.30pm. The evening will finish at 9.00pm. 

Register online at www.dentalcare.co.uk/uptodateseminars.

For enquiries please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0870 2421850. 

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Is the GDC supertanker turning? by Keith Hayes

Is the GDC supertanker turning? by Keith Hayes

Last Monday 14th August 2017, I had another meeting with Jonathan Green (Head of FtP) and Matthew Hill (Head of GDC Strategy). 
It was a no holds barred meeting and I was free to ask any questions. I wasn't locked in dungeons under 37 Wimpole Street at any point! 
Here is the agenda of the 90-minute meeting, along with the GDC answers in blue. 

It raises some important considerations about what we need to do as a Profession. I think we need to think about the answers and discuss a strategy for the Profession. 

Continue reading
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Myths and reality at the BACD

Myths and reality at the BACD

 

 

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) Annual Conference will be opening its doors to delegates in November. In its fourteenth year, the BACD Annual Conference is, without a doubt, one of the most highly anticipated events in the professional calendar. This year focusing on ‘FAB: Function, Aesthetics, Biology’, the fully-filled, three-day event will be bringing together delegates from across the country for some of the most exceptional learning opportunities dentistry has to offer.

This includes a schedule of exclusive lectures, exciting presentations and inspiring hands-on sessions – all led by some of the profession’s leading lights. The line-up this year is better than ever and includes such names as Dr Nikos Mardas.

Nikos qualified in dentistry from Athens University and completed first a three-year postgraduate MS in periodontology and then a PhD at the Royal Dental College at the University of Aarhus in Demark.

He has experience in private practice as a specialist periodontist and has been appointed a senior lecturer at the Periodontology Unit at UCL, Eastman Dental Institute, as well as Senior Clinical Lecturer/ Honorary Consultant  in Periodontology at Bart’s & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry at the Queen Mary University London. He is also The Educational Delegate for the ITI UK & Ireland section. All combined, this means Nikos is one of the most knowledgeable periodontists working in the field today, and he will be bringing this wealth of understanding to the Academy’s Annual Conference in November.

Giving a lecture entitled Periodontal Plastic Surgery: myths and reality in gingival recession coverage, Nikos will be giving delegates an insight into the advanced concepts of modern periodontal plastic surgery. He says, “Periodontal plastic surgery refers to a great variety of procedures designed to restore form and function, and improve cosmetic disturbances around teeth and, increasingly, dental implants. Various flaps designs, soft tissue grafts and substitutes, together with micro-surgical techniques have been applied to correct different muco-gingival defects in a variety of clinical scenarios, ranging form gingival recession coverage to extraction socket management.

“My presentation will provide a summary of the evidence on the predictability of current treatment protocols for gingival recessions, utilising different techniques and biomaterials. I will be showing delegates different case examples and discussing the pros and cons of each to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of different techniques in every day clinical practice.

“I hope that delegates will be able to go back to their practice and diagnose different recession defects, understand their predictability and the difficulties encountered in their management and guide the motivated patient towards the most appropriate therapeutic approach, based on an estimation of local and systemic factors.”

With such a compelling topics, Nikos’s lecture will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the BACD’s Annual Conference and will give delegates the knowledge and insight they need to go away and improve their daily practice.

Of course, the BACD Annual Conference is not simply one of the best opportunities for dental professionals to learn more about the modern profession, it is also a chance to see what the dental industry has to offer. Delegates will be treated to a three-day trade show throughout the conference, where they can get information on the latest technology and products on offer.

What’s more, there will be plenty of time to network with like-minded colleagues at any one of the BACD’s planned social events, meaning delegates will have a chance to let down their hair and reignite their passion for beautiful dentistry in a more relaxed environment.

Make sure you book your place today to ensure you do not miss out!

 

The BACD Fourteenth Annual Conference 2017

‘FAB – Function, Aesthetics, Biology’

9th – 11th November 2017

The Hilton London Metropole Hotel, London


For further enquiries about the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry visit www.bacd.com.

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Call for registration!

Call for registration!

 

 

Free attendance to the ADI Members’ National Forum is just one of the many benefits of being a part of the forward-thinking organisation – and registration is now open!

The varied presentations will cover a range of topics including: peri-implantitis, bone manipulation techniques, immediate implantation, use of growth factors, full arch reconstruction, learning from failures and the varied and increasing role of the hygienist in implantology.

Speakers include Nik Pandya (“Is Pink the Biz for Successful Implant Therapy?”), Guy McLellan (“Nazalus Implant for Full Arch Rehabilitation”) and Nigel Jones (“What Ten Years of Oral Bisphosphonates Have Taught Us”). Dr Aneel Jabbar, who won the Poster Prize at the ADI Team Congress back in March, has been invited to talk on “The Microbiology of Peri-Implantitis: Similar or Distinct to Periodontitis?” Panel discussions throughout each programme are sure to be lively and will also give delegates the chance to ask questions.

This varied programme reflects how the ADI is committed to supporting all members of the dental implantology team. A number of company members will also be on hand with exhibition stands – so attendees can get a valuable insight into the latest exciting developments in the market – and after the Forum’s close, there will be informal drinks.

The Members’ National Forum is just one benefit of joining, others include: discounted rates for ADI Study Clubs, ADI Masterclasses and ADI Focus Meetings, as well as access to 50 free patient information leaflets, access to the COIR and EDI journal, the chance to become or find a mentor and access to the ADI Members-only Facebook Group, where you can chat online about current topics of interest in the dental implant world.

If you are not yet a member, join today and you can access the benefits immediately.

The 2017 ADI Members’ Forum is a special event that only comes around once every two years. Secure your free tickets today!

 

ADI Member’s National Forum 2017 – Manchester Central

Saturday 25 November

 

For more information please visit www.adi.org.uk/forum17

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DENTAID LAUNCHES NEW VOLUNTEERING TRIP TO ZAMBIA

DENTAID LAUNCHES NEW VOLUNTEERING TRIP TO ZAMBIA

 

International dental charity Dentaid has launched a new volunteering opportunity for dental professionals in the beautiful country of Zambia.

The team will travel to Zambia from June 9th – 23rd 2018. They will treat people in the town of Itezhi Tezhi and run outreach clinics in the surrounding villages, supporting the work of a Zambian dentist. Treatments will include fillings, scaling, extractions and polishing along with oral health promotion.

Itezhi Tezhi is on the edge of Kafue National Park, the largest protected area in Zambia which is home to an incredible array of wildlife including lions, cheetah, elephants, zebra and antelope. In addition to providing essential dental care for local communities the team will also have an opportunity to visit the park and stay in a safari lodge.

Dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and therapists are invited to apply to join the team of six who will spend a few days in Itezhi Tezhi Hospital before going to the surrounding villages to establish outreach clinics. Many of these communities are very remote and people would have to walk up to 120 miles to access dental services. Most people in the area work as subsistence farmers living in thatched mud huts, keeping cattle and goats and growing maize.

Other challenges faced by people in the area include wild animals stealing livestock, the quality and accessibility of education and healthcare, and lack of drinking water and employment. Many of the villages don’t have an electricity supply and our teams will be doing basic dentistry using portable equipment. Dentaid volunteers will also be asked to run oral health education programmes in schools and community buildings.

Volunteers are asked to fundraise £2500 to cover the cost of their flights, accommodation, travel within Zambia, meals on work days and to support Dentaid’s ongoing work around the world. The first night will be spent in the capital Lusaka where a visit to an elephant nursery is planned before the 5 hour journey to Itezhi Tezhi.

“We are so excited to be launching this new volunteering opportunity in Zambia,” said Dentaid’s overseas volunteering manager Jaqueline James. “This is a great new partnership working with a local dentist in an area where many people find it very difficult to access dental care. We are sure that our team will do an amazing job providing dental treatment and they will also get a rare opportunity to visit this beautiful national park and see incredible wildlife.”

For more details and to apply to join Dentaid’s volunteering trip to Zambia from June 9th – 23rd 2018 visit https://dentaid.org/missions/volunteer-zambia/  or call 01794 324249 to find out more.

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Coming soon from Patient Plan Direct

Coming soon from Patient Plan Direct

 

As part of Patient Plan Direct’s continued investment in its practice-branded dental plan solution, benefiting practices thanks to amazingly low plan administration fees, the plan provider has announced work is currently underway to launch a brand new and enhanced plan administration portal. The new online platform is being built with existing clients' feedback constantly in mind in order to offer an improved user experience and additional stats, data and information on plan performance at the click of a button.

The new platform will have a focus on embracing digital processes wherever possible, meaning that users will benefit from having less paperwork to deal with in their daily practice. Navigation will be simplified making usability even more intuitive to ensure that the portal is easily accessible for all staff members.

A dashboard area will provide a snapshot of insights into plan performance, providing users with an instant overview of the important facts that they need when it comes to their dental plan. Alongside this, there will also be handy 'to do' action lists with alerts in order to encourage optimum plan management.

Simon Reynolds, commercial director, commented: “At Patient Plan Direct, we are committed to maintaining our position as a highly cost-effective plan provider, keeping our plan administration fee as low as possible while also providing our clients with the tools and support to maximise plan income and profitability. This is why we are significantly investing in our online system for client practices, to ensure that they are receiving the highest-quality service at amazingly value.”

 

The new platform will be rolled out in early 2018. In the meantime, whether you already run a dental plan via another provider or you’re considering launching a dental plan, if you'd like more information about Patient Plan Direct’s practice-branded dental plan solution, boosting practice profitability, please visit www.patientplandirect.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 0844 848 6888.

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Straumann® launches n!ce™: a fully crystallised glass-ceramic milling block for single-tooth restorations

Straumann® launches n!ce™: a fully crystallised glass-ceramic milling block for single-tooth restorations

 

Building on over six decades of experience, Straumann® have developed a new, unique, proprietary, glass-ceramic material called n!ce™, which is coming to the market as fully crystallised milling blocks that can be polished and seated straight after milling with no additional crystallisation firing.

Glass-ceramic has become an increasingly popular material for restorations over the past few years as results are durable, aesthetically pleasing and relatively cost-effective for clinicians. Straumann say their product brings new qualities to glass-ceramic single-tooth restorations which deliver additional benefits to both clinician and patient:

 

 

  • The high-strength material, made of lithium aluminosilicate ceramic and reinforced with lithium disilicate, is indicated for all single-tooth restorations, even hybrid abutment crowns where walls need to be as thin as 1.0mm.
  • Smooth margin lines facilitate robust adhesion to the tooth.
  • Both clinician and patient save valuable time as no additional crystallisation firing is required after milling, making same-day single crown restorations a real possibility.  
  • Use of n!ce fits seamlessly into standard CADCAM workflows as it is compatible with the vast majority of commercially-available milling machines including Dentsply Sirona’s CEREC.
  • The biocompatible, aesthetic material can be polished to obtain a smooth, glossy life-like appearance or stained and glazed if needed.
  •  Available in two levels of translucency, and six shades for each translucency, restorations can perfectly match the VITA tooth shade guide.

 

For more information on n!ce fully-crystallised, glass-ceramic milling blocks, call 01293 651230 or visit www.straumann.co.uk.

straumann.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

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Crowns for Dummys

Crowns for Dummys

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6 Top Tips for dealing with difficult patients

6 Top Tips for dealing with difficult patients

At some point during your professional career you will no doubt have been faced with an unpleasant patient; you may have been unlucky enough to come across a few. However, in what circumstances can you refuse to treat them?

Alternatively, what if a patient refuses to be treated by you or someone in your practice? What if the reasons for such a request are or could be discriminatory?

At a time when instances of every day discrimination and sexism are rife in all walks of life, it is not hard to see why some dentists and doctors feel like they are walking on egg shells. This week BBC Radio 4 Today Show presenter John Humphrys, asked the tennis player Johanna Konta a series of questions regarding her origin, culminating in, ‘So, what are you?’; questioning whether she was truly British. Johanna Konta has represented Great Britain at the Olympics and the Fed Cup. She has been a UK citizen for almost half her life. Chancellor Philip Hammond, has been criticised for allegedly saying driving a train is so easy 'even a woman can do it'. We’ve even seen uproar over the “sex” of a fictional character with two hearts.

But is there ever a situation where someone’s nationality or sex can affect their ability to perform their role? 

Refusing to treat a patient

With so much regulation in place and a fear of patient complaints being escalated to the GDC, you may feel as if patients hold all the power. However, there are situations when you are entitled to refuse to treat a patient. Below are 6 legitimate reasons for refusing to provide treatment:

1.   When a patient questions your clinical judgment. If a patient questions your clinical judgment or expresses a lack of confidence in your abilities, we would recommend you stop treatment immediately. At this point explain to the patient that it is important they have confidence in you as their treating physician and that to carry on treating them would be unethical. Try not to take this personally, and certainly avoid arguing the toss with the patient; this could result in a complaint against you. Everyone has different views and personalities and whilst you and the patient may clash, there will no doubt be another dentist who gels with the patient.

2.   When there has been an ‘act of God’ If a dentist is hospitalised or suspended, or there is an emergency, such as a flood in your practice, it will be impossible for you treat the patient at that time. Keep the patient updated and make alternative arrangements where possible, otherwise the patient may go elsewhere.

3.   When a patient fails to pay a bill or continuously misses appointments If a patient fails to pay bills or continuously misses appointments, then you should give them a warning that this conduct will not be accepted and future similar conduct will result in them being removed from the Practice. Put information on your website regarding the circumstances in which treatment may be withdrawn.

4.   When there is a conflict of interest. Whilst, this is unlikely to arise that often in a dental practice, there may be circumstances, for example where a patient is pursuing a claim against your colleague, where it would not be appropriate for you to treat. If the patient comes to you and you know about the claim, there could be a perceived conflict and it would be better not to treat the patient at all. However, if you are part way through treatment, you should highlight to the patient that you are aware of a potential conflict and let the patient decide whether they wish for you to continue treatment.

5.   When a patient is violent or abusive If a patient is violent, or even threatens violence, to you or any of your staff, depending on how serious this is you may wish to call the police. In terms of treating the patient in the future, you should assess the situation and why the matter escalated. For example, was it honest misunderstanding that has got out of control, or has the patient been violent for no reason? Do you think the patient can be managed in the future without putting your staff members at risk. The more serious the incident the more justification you will have for refusing treatment. Write to the patient and confirm that you will no longer be treating them and, if you are an NHS practice, contact the NHS Commissioning Board.

6.   When a patient has complained. You should avoid the temptation to refuse treatment in these circumstances as it could result in a further complaint. However, if the complaint is about your clinical treatment or is shown to be entirely unjustified or malicious you can follow the process in point 1 above.

Patient’s freedom of choice

Generally speaking, a patient has the right to choose which dentist provides them with treatment, just as you are entitled to choose who supplies your materials for your practice. Therefore if a patient requests a specific dentist to provide treatment you should seek to accommodate that request.

What if the request to be treated by a specific dentist is racially motivated? You have no obligation to treat a patient in those circumstances except in an emergency. Bear in mind, the patient also has to consent to treatment, and they can refuse treatment on bigotry grounds if they wish.

However, there is a grey area in all this. What if a female patient requests a female dentist on religious grounds? Or a Polish patient requests a Polish dentist as a result of not speaking English? In these circumstances, we would recommend accommodating such requests where possible, to prevent allegations of discrimination against you.

You should create a practice policy for dealing with such requests so staff know what to do and can identify when such requests might be reasonable.

If you need advice or assistance in dealing with a difficult patient, you can contact Laura Pearce on 0207 388 1658 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Laura Pearce, Senior Solicitor

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Recent Comments
Chris Burton

Font

Great article Laura but terrible font!
Thursday, 10 August 2017 09:48
Laura Pearce

thanks

Thanks Chris, I am not sure what happened there. I will see if admin can resolve it.
Thursday, 10 August 2017 10:07
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Evil Genius - a guide to not being sued.

A guide to not being sued

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Perio for Dummys

Periodontology for Dummys

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Diary of a Wimpy Dentist (2)

Diary of a Wimpy Dentist (2)

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“Demin Mapping”

“Demin Mapping”

 

The dental profession is in desperate need of minimally invasive methods of caries management – which is precisely where the CALCIVIS imaging system comes in.

Designed to aid first line detection and communication, the CALCIVIS imaging system is an advanced technology that helps practitioners identify and manage dental caries before a restorative approach is even needed.

The CALCIVIS system does this by effectively imaging active demineralisation on the surface of a tooth during its earliest stages. This information, presented in the form of a “demin map” gives dentists the chance to engage and commit patients to bespoke preventive treatments before irreversible damage is done to the teeth.

In this way, restorative or surgical solutions are made redundant, allowing practitioners to successfully conserve their patient’s natural teeth.

Scheduled for a late 2017 launch, the CALCIVIS imaging system is set to revolutionise the way UK dental practitioners manage dental caries.

To find out more, contact the team today.

 

For more information visit www.calcivis.com

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Defining the Digital Revolution

Defining the Digital Revolution

Defining the Digital Revolution

 

The Digital Revolution is truly upon us – and nothing defines this more than the True Definition Scanner from 3M Oral Care. Let’s take a closer look:

 

  • with a 99.7 per cent fit rate since launch, the True Definition scanner is one of the profession’s most accurate intraoral scanners[i]
  • through the use of video imaging technology,[ii] the True Definition scanner can replicate the entire dental anatomy with optimum accuracy[iii]

 

Combined, this means better diagnostics, better restorations and better results.

 

To take part in the Digital Revolution, contact the expert team at 3M Oral Care today.

 

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

 

 

 

 

3M and True Definition are trademarks of the 3M Company. – NB to editors: this line must be included at end of editorial when published

 

 



[i] 3M Oral Care Internal Data: 99.84% fit rate. Claim 5640 (2016)

[ii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data: Unique video imaging technology (true definition). Claim 5371 (2012)

[iii] 3M Oral Care Internal Data: Replicate entire oral anatomy. Claim 5372 (2012)

 

 

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Luke Moore reflects on DentalForum UK 2017

Luke Moore reflects on DentalForum UK 2017

 

 

Now in its third year, DentalForum UK 2017 proved to be a captivating event. Here, Luke Moore, Co-Founder of Dental Elite offers his insight into some of the points covered by the expert panel over the course of the two-day Forum held by OpenRoom in the Algarve, Portugal. The elite panel included: Julian Perry, Director of Strategy at BUPA Dental Care; Dominick Flanagan, Co-Founder of Centre for Dentistry; Steve Williams, Clinical Services Director at Mydentist; and Anushika Brogan, Managing and Clinical Director of Damira Dental Studios Ltd.

 

This year, the discussions were primarily focused on the current issues surrounding dental recruitment, and how they are beginning to affect the profession. Importantly, it is just not smaller, independent practices that are struggling to recruit, but the big groups and corporates too – even in the South East, which as we know wasn't really an issue before. Indeed, it’s a similar story for every dental business right now, but an example from the forum that I feel really highlighted the extent of the issue was from Anushika Brogan, Managing and Clinical Director of Damira Dental Studios Ltd, who revealed that a recently advertised role in Oxford attracted one candidate who had 10 other interviews lined up. When you consider that once upon a time practices could advertise in the BDJ and get inundated with CVs, it is clear to see just how monumental this problem has become.

 

As part of this much larger issue, the panel took a close look at how difficulty in getting a performer number has had a knock on effect on recruitment. Historically, companies have capitalised on sourcing new recruits from other European countries, but because of Capita’s shortcomings in processing performer numbers quickly and efficiently (in some instances it has taken as long as 15 months), it is becoming less realistic to do so. In our current climate, overseas graduates simply can't risk being out of work for that length of time – and where there has been delays in getting a performer number, you can guarantee this information has been passed on to colleagues back home. With 17 per cent of dentists currently registered with the General Dental Council from the EU,[i] a drop in European workers could have a dramatic effect on NHS recruitment.

 

Adding to this problem is the fact that most deaneries require European dentists to have at least six months vocational training, not to mention that finding a mentor is becoming increasingly more difficult. The role itself requires a lot of time and effort, particularly as there is a lot of administration involved, so there is a feeling of reluctance from many in the profession to take on this responsibility. And why would they, when they could be in the practice meeting targets and making money?

 

The panel also considered how the next wave of new graduates could affect the current marketplace moving forward. It was the opinion of some that the quality of clinical skills being taught in universities today is lower than in previous years. Graduates are also thought to have a greater fear of being sued than previous generations of dentists, which has ultimately affected their delivery of UDAs (many are thought to perform an average of 4,500 – 5,000 units compared to the expected 7,000). As a result, more and more practices are struggling to meet their UDA target, which has had an impact on profitability and the bottom line. This could spell disaster for underperforming practices in the long run, especially if it begins to affect goodwill values, as the panel predicts.

 

For practitioners looking to enter the practice property ladder, they may well experience recruitment issues as a result of this. We have already seen some of the big corporates take a step back from buying in certain places (such as Darlington and Middlesbrough) because of the ongoing issues – and this will only get worse if the problems continue.

 

From my point of view, practice acquisitions must be approached with caution for the foreseeable future, especially in those areas where we are seeing underperformance in UDAs. As for the recruitment market, there is no denying that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to fill certain vacancies in the UK. As you would expect this problem is even worse in rural areas, but even more urban areas such as Oxford and Bedford are beginning to be affected, which is something to watch out for going forward.

 

DentalForum UK 2017 certainly provided food for thought for my colleagues and I. Let’s hope that we begin to see more positive change – if you have any questions in the meantime, get in touch.

 

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

 



[i] Cavendish Coalition. Submission to House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee. Accessed online May 2017 at file:///Users/officeone/Downloads/House%20of%20Lords%20Inquiry%20-%20EU%20Internal%20Market%20Sub%20Committee%20FINAL.pdf

 

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In Practice Prevention – the future of skills mix?

In Practice Prevention – the future of skills mix?

 

Author:- Chris Groombridge Managing Director 543 Dental Centre Ltd a member of the Association of Dental Groups (ADG)

 

The greater and more flexible use of skills mix is steadily becoming one of the most efficient and effective ways of improving treatment outcomes in the dental practice. Some of the dental practices making the most of this approach are ADG members (Association of Dental Groups) 543 Dental Centre, Alpha Dental Care and MyDentist, who are currently involved in the first wave of the In Practice Prevention (IPP) pilot programme. Oasis will also be taking part when the second wave commences in October.

 

Part of a regional programme developed by the Local Dental Network for North Yorkshire and the Humber in partnership with Local Dental Committees, Public Health England and Health Education England on behalf of NHSE, IPP’s aim is to help reduce dental decay in children aged between 3 and 16. So how does it work?

 

The programme requires general dental practitioners (GDPs) to signpost children identified as having decay or requiring a GA extraction to dental care professional led prevention clinics, where evidence based prevention is delivered over a defined number of appointments with prescribed evidence based interventions and messages. All pathways are delivered in parallel with the restorative work undertaken by the signposting GDP and the GA extractions provided by the community dental services, and uses flexible commissioning targeting existing contract value to deliver the programme in primary care.

Once a dentist has identified dental decay in a child aged 3-16, the patient is referred via one of four care pathways. These are divided into:

 

•     Children aged 3-6 with dental decay

•     Children aged 7-16 with dental decay

•     Children aged 3-6 requiring a general anaesthetic

•     Children aged 7-16 requiring a general anaesthetic  

 

Through their participation in this pilot, 543 Dental Centre, Alpha Dental Care and MyDentist (along with other dental practices and groups) will have the opportunity to maximise their full skills mix potential, helping to reduce the prevalence of dental decay at the same time. Oral health sessions include providing sugar and diet information in line with the ‘eat well plate’, offering healthy swap alternatives, as well as giving oral care advice and relevant oral hygiene instructions to both child and parent. The programme also involves the issuing of fluoride mouthwash to children over 8 years and the prescribing of high fluoride toothpaste to children over 10 years, with fluoride varnish applied every three months in high-risk cases.

 

It’s early days yet, but if implemented well there is no doubt that there is huge potential for the IPP to alter the behaviour and cooperation of children and improve the state of children’s oral health in Yorkshire and the Humber. As for dental teams, the initiative presents an unmissable opportunity to capitalise on the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach and effective use of skills mix.

 

The feedback has already been very positive from participating groups, particularly from nurses who have undergone additional training via Health Education England and Local Dental Network organised courses to deliver this evidence based prevention pathway to patients. “The IPP initiative is a team effort that gives dental nurses like me more responsibility,” says Julie Fountain, head nurse and lead oral health educator for 543 Dental Centre. “This has enabled me to extend my scope of practice and help even more patients.”

 

For the ADG and its members, this is good news – the Association has, after all, keenly championed the use of skills mix in the dental practice for some time now.

 

To find out more about the programme visit inpracticeprevention.org.uk

 

For more information about the ADG visit www.dentalgroups.co.uk

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4823 Hits
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BDIA CSIDI CAMPAIGN WINS TWO AWARDS!

BDIA CSIDI CAMPAIGN WINS TWO AWARDS!

 

The BDIA is delighted to announce that its 2017 BDIA CSIDI (Counterfeits and Substandard Instruments and Devices Initiative) advertising campaign is the winner of the Highest Believability category and joint winner of the Highest Information Value category in the latest BDJ Readex Research.

Edmund Proffitt, Chief Executive of the BDIA, comments “We are really pleased that our CSIDI campaign is having such an impact on BDJ readers. The campaign not only conveys useful and relevant information to the profession, but serves to highlight the very real and significant dangers associated with counterfeit and non-compliant instruments and devices across the dental sector.”

Partnering with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) for the CSIDI campaign reflects the BDIA’s continued commitment to tackling the issue of unscrupulous vendors selling poor quality, substandard, counterfeit and illegal products, usually online. Highlighting the importance of making the decision to purchase from reliable, reputable suppliers to the profession means that the end-user has the assurance of high-quality products that meet all necessary requirements, and will not endanger the user or patient, nor risk action from the courts or regulatory bodies.

For further information on the BDIA or CSIDI, please visit www.bdia.org.uk

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3748 Hits
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Sparkling Resuts!

Sparkling Resuts!

 

 

NSK proudly supports numerous educational courses across the UK and Ireland, including the Perio with Deepak events.

Perio with Deepak aims to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge required to offer patients the most effective periodontal therapy. These courses enable dental professionals to understand and manage periodontal conditions through a combination of prevention, maintenance and treatment methods.

The most popular course is the 3-day Masterclass in Periodontal Disease Treatment and Management. Designed for dentists, dental therapists and hygienists, this course covers three phases:

  • Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy – providing delegates with a comprehensive knowledge of periodontal disease management using non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) within a primary setting;
  • Treating and Maintaining Periodontal Disease – a hands-on day teaching planning and managing periodontal treatment after non-surgical procedures, focussing on ultrasonic scaling and air polishing.
  • Implementing Ideas and Profitable Periodontics – exploring the rationale behind evidence-based procedures, care pathways, better patient care and ethical selling of periodontal treatment.

During the course all delegates have the opportunity to use the latest NSK Varios 970 iPiezo ultrasonic scaler. With a range of over 70 tips, the Varios 970 is the ideal choice for perio, endo and scaling treatment or where minimal intervention is required.

Remaining events for 2017:

London 4-6 Aug 2017

London 18-20 Aug 2017

Nuneaton15-17 Sept 2017

Look online for full course content, aims & objectives, start/finish times, venue details etc. http://www.periowithdeepak.com/courses/master-class/

For more information on NSK’s scaling devices, visit www.mynskoralhygiene.co.uk or contact NSK on 0800 634 1909.

www.nsk-uk.com

www.mynsk.co.uk

Twitter: @NSK_UK

 

Facebook: NSK UK Ltd

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JUL
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Dental associates; workers or self-employed? The tide is turning.

Dental associates; workers or self-employed? The tide is turning.

Since the Central London employment tribunal handed down its decision in the Uber case on 28th October 2016, the courts have been awash with claimants seeking to gain worker status. Pimlico Plumbers and CitySprint have both had judgments against them, and claims against Deliveroo, Amazon Logistics and Hermes are all in the pipe line.

But how is this relevant to the dental profession?

Whilst associates enjoy self-employed status for tax purposes, this is an arrangement with HMRC; not the legal system. Since the Uber case it is clear the courts are cracking down on false self-employment and so dental practices need to be live to this issue.

Failing to identify a person’s status from the outset will be a costly mistake to make.

Here we take a look at the recent judgments in the Pimlico Plumbers and CitySprint cases and explain what impact they have on worker status in the dental profession.

Definition of worker

What are the benefits of being classed as a worker? Workers have rights such as the national living wage, holiday pay, statutory sick pay and the right to pension auto enrolment, whilst still retaining the flexibility of a self-employed person.

The courts will ask three questions to determine if someone is a worker:

  1. Must the person personally provide the service or can they send a substitute?
  2. Is the company obliged to provide work and is the person obliged to accept it?
  3. Was the status of the “employer” under the contract that of a customer? 

Over the years the dental profession has changed considerably. Increased regulation has meant that practices must have more control over how their associates work. Corporates seek to have a unified model of delivering dental services under a brand name. Practices more generally need to ensure they meet targets provided by NHS contracts.

The net result has been that associates have less control over their working practices, and have more obligations placed on them. This is likely to elevate them from self-employed into the category of worker.

Recent decisions

Pimlico Plumbers – sending a substitute

At the very outset of the judgment the Court of Appeal stated, The case puts a spotlight on a business model under which operatives are intended to appear to clients of the business as working for the business, but at the same time the business itself seeks to maintain that, as between itself and its operatives, there is a legal relationship of client or customer and independent contractor rather than employer and employee or worker’. A model that should sound familiar to most dentists.

The main focus of this appeal was the Tribunal’s finding that the plumber was obliged to perform the services personally.

The primary argument put forward by Pimlico Plumbers was that the plumber in question had a right to send a substitute and as such he was not engaged to perform the services personally. However, the Tribunal’s findings on this point was that the plumber could not send anyone he wished to do the job, he had to send another Pimlico Plumber. As such there was not an unfettered right to send a substitute at will, but instead the position was more akin to a shift swap.

The Court of Appeal recognised three types of relationship:

  1. Persons employed under a contract of service (worker);
  2. Persons who are self-employed, carrying on a profession or a business undertaking on their own accord;
  3. Persons who are self-employed and provide their services as part of someone else’s business or undertaking.

It is this last category that the plumber, and also dentists, would fit into.

The Court of Appeal went on to define the requirements of personal performance and set these out as follows:

  1. An unrestricted right to send a substitute to do the work is inconsistent with an undertaking to do the work personally. This is simple to determine and pretty obvious by all accounts;
  2. A conditional right to send a substitute may or may not mean there is personal performance; it will depend on the conditions placed on that right. In other words, it will depend on nature and degree of any fetter on the right. This was broken down further into:
    1. A right to send a substitute only when the contractor cannot perform the services suggests the contract is for personal performance;
    2. A right to substitution limited only to one who is suitably qualified, is inconsistent with personal performance;
    3. Where the right to substitution is dependent on the other party’s consent suggests the contract is for personal performance.

The Court of Appeal found that as the plumber could only send another Pimlico Plumber to undertake the work, this meant he had to perform the services personally and was therefore a worker.

In a dental practice the right to substitution is often limited to the circumstances set out in a. to c. above, meaning a court is likely to find that they are engaged to perform the services personally.  However, it is important to bear in mind that this conclusion has not yet been tested by the Courts. Arguably the very nature of the provision of a medical service should be given special status on the basis that it is the patient’s needs, not the employers that must be taken into account. There are many circumstances where it would not be acceptable for a substitute to be sent, such as when a dentist is dealing with a patient with special needs.

CitySprint – controlling performance

In this case the courier had a contract that purported to be a self-employed contract. It had terms such as:

  • The Contractor agrees and warrants that he is a self-employed contractor and is neither an employee or worker;
  • The Contractor shall…provide the Services using reasonable case and skill and use his best endeavours to promote the best interests of CitySprint…the Contractor has discretion to determine the manner in which the services are performed at all times;
  • The Contractor warrants and represents that he has read and understood the Information Booklet;
  • The Contractor may at his own cost provide a substitute to perform any particular job. However, if that substitute is not a person or an entity who or which has itself already entered into a Tender Agreement with CitySprint the substitute shall be a person or entity this has the required insurance cover, knowledge, skills and ability.

Not too dissimilar from terms found in many associate contracts.

The courier accepted that if these terms were genuine then she would be self-employed. However, she asked the tribunal to look at the true relationship. It should be noted the courier had signed to confirm acceptance of the self-employed contract and had been registered as such for tax purposes.

It is well established that the Courts can look behind the contract to determine what the true relationship is between the parties. The Tribunal in this case re-iterated that the threshold for doing this is low; a firm reminder therefore that the terms of the contract should reflect the reality of the situation.

In this case the Tribunal held that there was sufficient evidence to show that the contract did not reflect the true relationship, and that the courier was in fact a worker for the following reasons:

  • The Tribunal found that the courier did not have ‘discretion to determine the manner in which the services are performed at all times’. The courier had a one day training session where she was instructed on things like how to greet the customer and what to do if someone was not home. This showed an element of control by CitySprint as to how the service was to be provided.

Whilst clinical work will naturally be at the associate’s discretion; if a practice has strict polices in place in relation to how long each patient must be seen for, what documents must be completed for each patient visit, complaints procedures the associate must abide by or even compulsory training sessions and staff meetings, this could show an element of control.

  • When looking at whether the courier had to provide the services personally, the Tribunal found that even though there was a right to send a substitute the reality was that the circumstances when she could were so small that she was in fact engaged to perform the services personally.

Associates very rarely send a substitute as patients expect to see their own dentist, and have often been recruited due to their specific skills. As stated in the judgment ‘the legal test is not whether there is a valid substitution clause but whether the claimant was contracted personally to carry out the work’.

  • Finally, the tribunal found this was not a client/customer relationship; the courier was not in business on her own but part of the CitySprint business. They made this determination on the basis that the courier had to work when she said she would, when working they are directed as to what they will do, they have procedures to follow, and are part of the ‘family’ of couriers.

Dentists who have set hours, are told what patients they will see, follow practice procedures and are advertised on the dental practices website as part of the services the practice provides are likely to be deemed to be working as part of the practice not independently.

Conclusion

In issue 34 of our dental bulletin we set out how the Uber judgment would impact on associate contracts and these recent cases only strengthen our view that many associates legally will be defined as workers.

Of course, until an associate decides to test their status in court, the status quo is likely to remain as  many associates enjoy tax benefits of being self-employed. That being said, it is perfectly possible that whilst an individual is deemed self-employed by HMRC, they are deemed to be a worker for the purpose of their employment status; an associate may well be able to have their cake and eat it. Employers need to consider this issue very carefully; failure to do so may result in a hefty bill to pay.

That is not to say you cannot retain the self-employed relationship between you and associates. With well drafted contracts tailored to your business you can ensure that you are protected. Remember; one size does not fit all.

If you need advice on the status of anyone in your workforce or need assistance with re-drafting contracts or documents to ensure associates are truly self-employed, please contact Laura Pearce on 0207 388 1658 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Laura Pearce, Senior Solicitor

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Avoiding the Dental Police - for Dummys

Avoiding the Dental Police for Dummys

  8883 Hits
8883 Hits
JUL
14
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OH! Challenge reveals dental profession’s knowledge gap

OH! Challenge reveals dental profession’s knowledge gap

 

 

 

The OH! Challenge has indicated knowledge gaps among the dental profession on a number of oral health topics, with an average knowledge score of just 51%. Launched at this year’s BDA Conference, the OH! Challenge was created to test oral health knowledge and has emphasised some interesting knowledge gaps, including:

• 46% did not know that gingivitis and periodontitis are a continuum of the same inflammatory disease

• Only 44% knew the updated BPE guidelines for code 3 sextants

• Just 3% understood that advice to rinse all traces of fluoridated toothpaste after brushing depended upon the patient's oral health needs.

These results will inform a programme of evidence-based articles for the dental team, designed to increase understanding of these all-important issues.

Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology, commented:

‘As a periodontologist, I was quite alarmed to see that 22% of DHCPs did not know what a BPE code 1 meant. Equally, only 23% of respondents knew that twice-daily brushing for just two minutes was likely to be insufficient for patients with periodontitis. We all benefit from continuing professional development and this is a very practical and relevant way of targeting ongoing education to keep healthcare professionals up to date.’

Dental Hygienist, Julie Rosse, also commented:

‘The results are a gentle reminder that we need to constantly revise and refresh our sources of evidence-based information in our everyday working lives.  It is obvious that we might not be using the latest evidence-based information available.’

  

Please visit www.listerineprofessional.co.uk now to see the results in more detail, to test your own knowledge and to follow the supporting programme of evidence-based content that will be released in instalments over the course of the year.

 

The OH! Challenge was created by Johnson & Johnson, the makers of LISTERINE®.

 

  4678 Hits
4678 Hits
JUL
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New-look Faculty Board announced as FGDP(UK) prepares for independence

New-look Faculty Board announced as FGDP(UK) prepares for independence

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK)) has announced new Board members following elections earlier this year, who were confirmed in post at the new Board’s inaugural meeting on Friday 30th June 2017. Consisting of representatives of one or more of the local divisions, the Faculty Board decides the strategic direction of the FGDP(UK) and oversees its implementation. The new Board will now focus its attention on preparing the Faculty for independence from the Royal College of Surgeons, as announced on 30th January 2017.

New Board members include Susan Nelson, a Principle Dentist specialising in restorative dentistry and orthodontics who has been elected to represent Northern Ireland. A Board member and past Divisional Director of the FGDP Northern Ireland division, Susan examines for the MJDF for the FGDP(UK).

Roshni Karia graduated from Kings College London in 2010 and, following completion of the MJDF, is a general dental practitioner that (after post graduate training) has developed a special interest in periodontology. She has been elected to represent SE/SW Thames having previously played a role as Early Career Representative as an Observer to the Board.

The previous Vice Deans for the Board, Ian Mills (SW) and Abhi Pal (W Mids), were both re-elected to their regional seats as well as Ian’s post as Vice Dean being renewed at the end of his term.

Paul Batchelor was appointed to a national seat as the second Vice Dean position for the next 12 months. A Fellow of the FGDP(UK), Paul is a consultant in Dental Public Health within the Thames Valley and Honorary Senior Lecturer at UCL.

Trevor Johnson has returned to a role on the Board in a national seat together with Quentin Jones (Wales). Both have a strong background in undergraduate or post graduate education.

Each elected Board member serves a three-year term and forms membership of a number of working committees. Full details of the FGDP(UK) Board are available here.

Mick Horton, Dean of FGDP(UK) said:

“This year we are celebrating a quarter century, in which we have built a secure home for general practice dentistry, with a bold move towards independence. We welcome all of our new and re-elected Board members who support our work in 2017 as we strengthen our membership to build a rich community of shared expertise and experience, work to foster career pathways for all those working in general practice and establish standards in dentistry that are led by the profession.”

Roshni Karia, Board member for SE/SW Thames commented:

“I am looking forward to taking an active role on the Board this year and representing all of the members from our division. The FGDP(UK) has played an important role in my career to date and I am committed to ensure we act now to support the career development of all dental practitioners in the future.”

To find out more about the FGDP(UK) and to become a member, visit http://www.fgdp.org.uk/members.ashx

 

 

The FGDP(UK) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017 with a special dinner on 13th October. Further information is available at http://www.fgdp.org.uk/event/fgdp-event/25th-anniversary-dinner.ashx

Together with Simplyhealth Professionals, FGDP(UK) are hosting a special anniversary conference. Holistic Dentistry – Time to Put the Mouth Back into the Body takes place on 3rd November 17 at the National Motorcycle Museum Solihull. Further information is available at www.holisticdentistry.eventbrite.com

  3888 Hits
3888 Hits
JUL
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Are you looking for ways to help improve your patients’ current oral care routines?

 

 

LISTERINE® Professional is now offering a variety of programmes focused on the most important topics facing dental professionals, including prevention strategies and patient communication.

  • The LISTERINE® Professional Newsletter: A once-monthly e-mail to keep you informed on how to help patients treat or prevent common oral care conditions like gingivitis and sensitivity, or how to help prevent cavities.
  • THE HABIT CHANGE CHALLENGE: An interactive learning programme to help you influence changes in patient behaviour even more effectively

By signing up for both or either programme(s) today, you will gain access to:     

                                                           

  • Clinical data that you can apply to your practice
  • Tips on how to increase patient adherence to your recommendations
  • Free LISTERINE® samples for you and your patients
  • Information on upcoming conventions and events
  • LISTERINE® product information and news

 

SIGN UP TODAY

  6154 Hits
6154 Hits
JUL
10
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Confusion

Confusion

  7673 Hits
7673 Hits
JUL
07
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Dentsply Sirona World 2017: Dentists and opinion leaders from the entire dental world meet in Las Vegas.

Dentsply Sirona World 2017: Dentists and opinion leaders from the entire dental world meet in Las Vegas.

 

More than 95 leading keynote speakers have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Dentsply Sirona World 2017: The Ultimate Dental Meeting in Las Vegas from Sept. 14-16, 2017. Event organizer Dentsply Sirona, The Dental Solutions Company, will host a mix of exciting talks, clinical training sessions, professional exchanges with colleagues and first-class entertainment featuring stars such as TED Talk luminary Simon Sinek, Grammy-Award winning band Imagine Dragons and iconic entertainer Will Smith.

 

Bensheim/Salzburg, June 28, 2017. Several thousand national and international dental professionals will come together at the three-day, cutting-edge dental conference hosted by Dentsply Sirona, the market and technology leader in the dental industry. This year’s educational festival will again offer 11 educational tracks. Attendees, as they did for SIROWORLD 2016, can create their own schedule and attend breakouts all within one track or mix and match sessions from a variety of tracks for a more comprehensive experience.

 

Sensational speakers

Many of dentistry’s elite have already confirmed their participation in the upcoming Ultimate Dental Meeting. Attendees can look forward to training and educational sessions focusing on all aspects of dentistry. The tracks include Business and Practice Management, CEREC, Imaging (including extraoral and intraoral), Implantology, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Restorative, Periodontics and Hygiene, Prosthetics and Laboratory, Office Design, and Special Markets and Topics.

Dr. Mike DiTolla, Director of Dentsply Sirona World said, “The roster of talented speakers scheduled to engage and educate our attendees is sensational, and we’re just getting started! We’re inviting a new generation of speakers, along with our veteran speakers, to 2017’s event to further diversify the education offered and continue to provide the ultimate experience for attendees.”

Dentsply Sirona World is the second annual Ultimate Dental Meeting hosted by Dentsply Sirona. At The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, this year’s event is expected to attract an even greater number of dental professionals than SIROWORLD or CEREC 30.

 

Great entertainment

For relaxation after a comprehensive and excellent education, Dentsply Sirona will offer first-class entertainment to attendees. On Thursday evening, Sept. 14, following a full day of general sessions and breakout sessions, attendees can sit back and enjoy a relaxed, undoubtedly amusing dialogue between Dentsply Sirona World host Page 2/3

 

Dr. DiTolla and actor, producer, musician and philanthropist Will Smith. Following the interview, the floor will open to questions from the audience.

On Friday morning, Sept. 15, the author and sought-after speaker Simon Sinek will present the keynote address at Dentsply Sirona World 2017. Recognized by many as a visionary and ardent optimist, Sinek possesses an unorthodox yet refreshing outlook on corporate culture and the significance of strong leadership to incite action among professionals. Best known for popularizing the concept of WHY, he is a trained ethnographer who has dedicated his life’s work to discovering what motivates people, exploring different leadership styles, and breaking down the various stereotypes of different generations in an attempt to better understand why those individuals and the organizations that employ them “do the things they do.” Sinek is also widely known for his TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” which is the third most-watched TED talk, ever. He has also written three books, topping the best-sellers list for corporate America.

 

On Friday evening, Sept. 15, one of the most popular and talented bands of this generation, Imagine Dragons, will perform in a private concert exclusive for attendees at Dentsply Sirona World.

“Imagine Dragons is an extraordinary group of gifted musicians and this exclusive concert offers attendees a chance to let loose after absorbing hours of comprehensive education,” said Vice President of Marketing Ingo Zimmer. “Our organization takes pride in offering not only top-notch education for our attendees, but also offering A-list entertainment and a memorable experience for years to come.”

To register now or to learn more about the Ultimate Dental Meeting, visit www.dentsplysironaworld.com. For any questions, contact the help desk by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  3820 Hits
3820 Hits
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XLA for Dummys

Exodontia for Dummys

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FGDP(UK) and Simplyhealth Professionals launch holistic dentistry conference – 3rd November 17

FGDP(UK) and Simplyhealth Professionals launch holistic dentistry conference – 3rd November 17

 

 

To celebrate their 25th Anniversary the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), in partnership with Simplyhealth Professionals, is delighted to announce a celebratory conference featuring six of the UK’s leading experts, from a range of oral health fields, assembled for the first time in one exciting programme.

This unique conference is designed for clinicians at all stages of their careers and brings together six highly respected names to deliver a fascinating insight into the complex inter-relationships between oral diseases and the general health of patients in all age groups.

“Dentistry and healthcare in general are changing,” says Mick Horton, Dean of the FGDP(UK).

“We can no longer view areas of the body in isolation; what we do as professionals can impact on the rest of the body, and vice-versa. This holistic approach to treatment brings together modern techniques and their relationship with general disease.”

 

For further information and to secure your place for 3rd November at the National Motorcycle Museum visit http://holisticdentistry.eventbrite.com. Book now for early bird offers.

 

 

  4317 Hits
4317 Hits
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Patient Leaflet by @DentistGoneBadd

Patient Leaflet by @DentistGoneBadd

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7737 Hits
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ICE and Straumann CARES® come together in Manchester to showcase the latest digital workflow solutions and training opportunities

ICE and Straumann CARES® come together in Manchester to showcase the latest digital workflow solutions and training opportunities

 

Dentistry is moving into a new digital age and clinicians across the UK are seeking training and support to adopt these technological advances.

Straumann and Implants Centres of Excellence (ICE) recognise this demand and have collaborated to provide a valuable opportunity to see the full range of digital workflow solutions and educational opportunities currently available.

Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions combines interconnected software platforms and open, fully-validated workflows, alongside a wide variety of materials to deliver an unrivalled digital solution. On the 17th and 18th July, they will be bringing all this technology to the Old Trafford home of Manchester United on their massive 16-metre long Digital Performance Roadshow juggernaut which houses a full digital workflow.

Nearby at the ICE headquarters and hospital, the Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions portfolio will also be on display, including leading chairside scanning and milling technology and 3D printing, in the impressive ICE facilities which include training surgeries, an operating theatre, a laboratory and lecture facilities.

For a fully immersive experience, attendees can dive into a virtual reality experience, showcasing Straumann’s impressive digital portfolio and centralised manufacturing facilities. The Straumann and ICE team will also be on hand to advise and give a full overview of different product solutions.

Stephen Booth, Country Manager, Straumann UK comments, “We are delighted to be working closely with ICE as this underpins our commitment to facilitating a successful educational pathway for clinicians, whilst delivering the latest innovations and ultimately improving the patients’ quality of life’.”

 

For the perfect opportunity to gain direct experience of the latest digital products and an insight into the latest training available, book a free place today at straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

 

straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

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4549 Hits
JUN
23
0

Simplyhealth signs another 50/50 Dental Partnership

Simplyhealth signs another 50/50 Dental Partnership

 

 

Simplyhealth is pleased to announce it has signed another exciting 50/50 Dental Practice Partnership with Cottage Dental Practice in Ormskirk.

The new partnership between Simplyhealth and Cottage Dental Practice (ormskirkdentist.co.ukwill enable the business based at 58 Moor Street, to further develop, grow and continue to serve its local community.

Closely aligned to Simplyhealth’s purpose of helping people make the most of life through better everyday health, Cottage Dental Practice’s philosophy is to prevent dental problems before they occur, thanks to their team of experienced dentists, hygienists, nurses, and surgeons who are dedicated to helping their patients achieve the best possible dental health. They already have strong relationships with their patients, of whom 2400 are already covered by a Denplan payment plan from Simplyhealth Professionals, providing the additional peace of mind of budgeting for their dental treatments.

 

 

As part of an ongoing commitment to investment and innovation in the dental market, Simplyhealth’s partnership scheme offers dental practices the opportunity to enter into an equal partnership that plays to the strengths of both parties for their mutual benefit.

The partnership model has been designed to enable dentists to retain day to day clinical management and continue the focus on the quality of care provided with Simplyhealth providing support and expertise in business services, development and patient insights gained from their existing successful Denplan services as well as through helping over 3 million people with their everyday health needs across the group.

The model works well for Practice owners looking for a smooth transition into retirement while wanting to retain responsibility for the day to day decisions and clinical delivery.  They can retain the legacy they have built in the community but are able to realise the value of the practice and make the move into ownership less of a barrier for the new partner.

Raman Sankaran, Chief Commercial Officer of Simplyhealth added: “We’re very pleased to have signed our partnership agreement with Cottage Dental Practice in Ormskirk. They are very much aligned to our purpose of helping people make the most of life through better everyday health and we’re both focussed on helping people achieve this thanks to preventative dental care. We’re looking forward to working with Dr Sunny Lathar and Dr Helen Barlow, supporting them with their strategy so they can provide their patients with the best care possible. True partnerships like this mean we can combine the best of our skills and experience, so more patients can lead happier, healthier lives thanks to better everyday health.”

Principle dentists at Cottage Dental Practice, Dr Sunny Lathar and Dr Helen Barlow explain: "We’re delighted that we’ve entered into this new partnership with Simplyhealth Professionals. After 30 years of practicing dentistry, this new partnership allows us to have in place a structured strategy for the medium to long term, while allowing us to maintain the management and direction of the Practice with the additional support and guidance of Simplyhealth. "

 

 

About Simplyhealth
In the world of healthcare, more than anywhere, experience counts. Since 1872 – long before the existence of the NHS – Simplyhealth has been helping people to make the most of life, by managing their everyday health needs.  That’s why today we ensure over 3 million people in the UK have access to the health products, services and support that they need, when they need them and at a price they can afford.

We’re the kind of people who live by our purpose: we’re here to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. We’re proud to be the leading provider of everyday health cash plans, dental payment and pet health plans. And whilst we may be 144 years old, we’re not afraid to innovate. Whereas once we were known purely for cash plans, we now offer a wide range of products and services with one thing in common: an unflinching desire to cater for people’s everyday health needs – now and into the future.

We exist to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. That’s our purpose. We use charitable partnerships to also deliver that purpose, going beyond our products and services, but very much aligned to our business strategy. As a result of our success, in 2016 we were able to donate £1.6m to our charitable causes, supporting 23 different charities including Revitalise, Music in Hospitals, Brainwave Centre and Auditory Verbal, touching the lives of thousands of people across the UK.

Our future success and performance will enable us to deliver our ongoing pledge to donate 10% of our profits to charity every year, supporting health-related charities that share a similar outlook to ours and a dedication to helping people with everyday health challenges make the most of life.

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk.

 

  3989 Hits
3989 Hits
JUN
13
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Taking the leap into the world of private dentistry

Taking the leap into the world of private dentistry

 

 

Patient Plan Direct client, Dr Wasif Khan, explains how he took the leap into the world of private dentistry

 

“Before I bought Holmes Chapel Dental Practice around 10 years ago, I had been working as an associate for several years carrying out private dentistry. I had undertaken extensive post-graduate study and was really enjoying the work I was doing, but I wanted to take the next step in my career to become a practice owner. Holmes Chapel Dental Practice came with an NHS contract and, although this was a very different set up to what I had become used to, I decided to work with it, with a view to adding a private side in the future.

“Over the years my team and I have worked hard to develop the practice, but whilst I was able to maintain a degree of private work, there has always been that longing for me to return fully to private dentistry. With falling revenues and the constant treadmill of UDAs, targets and restrictions that we all face under the NHS, I decided that after 10 years, the time had come to focus on providing a private service. I also wanted to slow down a little while practising better quality, varied dentistry; I needed to push myself to get out of the rut that I felt I was in, and I wanted the same for my team, too.

“We had been building up to make the move towards a more private offering for around two years, so none of it came as a surprise to the team; I wanted to do my research and groundwork first to make sure I would take the right steps to make things work. We decided that my two associates and dental therapist would continue to provide dentistry under the NHS, as well as private work, while I went fully private. The idea was to boost revenue in order to ensure not just staff retention, but also team growth and skill-set development, increased choice of materials and possible expansion and renovation in the future – things that I just could not consider while working on an NHS contract. Additionally, I was really looking forward to getting back to doing the dentistry I love and gaining more fulfilment from my work again.

I have friends in their own practices who have incorporated a dental plan, and I had seen them in action during my time as an associate, so implementing one into the practice was always my intention. For me, it was vital that the provider I chose to partner with offered lots of support, because I had never carried out an NHS to private conversion as a practice owner and wanted to have the reassurance that there would be help available if I needed it. I met with a few different companies to get a feel for what and who would work best for me and decided to go with Patient Plan Direct as their service is great value for money and I also liked them on a personal level. They are a smaller company and the individuals who work there are very down to earth and easy to get on with. On top of that, I really like their online portal and the fact that I was able to integrate the option of patient plan sign up via my website, too.

“The first step was to write to our patients to let them know about the changes. This is where our main challenge cropped up as I was finding that subsequent take up of the plan was quite slow. Theresa Riley, business development manager from Patient Plan Direct, was a huge help in this area. She came in to the practice and gave our reception team lots of training on how to discuss the plan and give patients options. None of it is about a hard sell, it’s all just about letting people know what is available to them and allowing them to choose what is best for their own needs, which fits perfectly in line with our own business ethos.

“Theresa also took a look at our letter, reworded it to make it more patient friendly and suggested that we add some more plan options to keep the choice more varied for patients, rather than just the one plan we were originally offering. All of her help provided us with the tools and knowledge we needed to make the difference. It took some time to convince and educate some of the staff that this was the only way we could progress the practice, but now all of the team have embraced the methods Theresa discussed during her training and they are all fully on board. This external input from Patient Plan Direct made a huge difference to us, so I definitely feel that I made the right choice when selecting which plan provider to go with, particularly considering Patient Plan Direct’s admin fees are so much lower than other providers ensuring we retain more of our plan income.

I’m really pleased with how things have worked out. The team is focused and consolidated in our aims and we have also changed the infrastructure within the practice to accommodate private patients in reception and in a separate waiting area, which has created a unique patient pathway. The overall reaction from patients has been very positive, with many commenting that we should have done this years ago! I have no regrets about making the move towards a more private dental offering; I have achieved a much better work-life balance as it has allowed me to cut back on my hours, while still remaining busy during my ‘dental’ days, and my private patient list is ever increasing. I have to put a lot of this success down to incorporating a plan and doing the research into choosing the right provider for me, the support from patient Plan Direct has been second to none!”

Wasif Khan is the principal dentist and owner of Holmes Chapel Dental Practice in Cheshire.

 

Patient Plan Direct offers a low cost, simple, flexible and practice-branded solution to running patient payment plans, with a focus on delivering first-class support and expert advice to ensure you reach your plan objectives. For more information please visit www.patientplandirect.com email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0844 848 6888.

  4111 Hits
4111 Hits
JUN
12
0

How to be a Patient

How to be a patient for Dummys

  8309 Hits
8309 Hits
JUN
09
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Dental CAD/CAM systems – the future of your laboratory?

Dental CAD/CAM systems – the future of your laboratory?

 

 

Of the total population worldwide, around 20% is edentulous and even more is partially edentulous.1 The demand for dental implants is increasing and clinicians will be requiring more dental prosthetics faster. If your lab is looking for opportunities to grow, then meeting this need by expanding with the help of digital dentistry could be the answer.

 

Great expectations

Dentistry continues to develop and labs, small and large, are required to continually meet the high standards expected by practices and patients, as well as by regulatory bodies such as the FDA2. It can be challenging to meet regulatory standards, provide esthetic and reliable restorations, and run a profitable a sustainable business. One way of reconciling these demands is by investing in technology and equipment that can provide a competitive advantage and opportunities for growth.

 

CAD/CAM milling

 

Transform your lab with dental CAD/CAM

Through the advancement of dental technology, such as computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), the entire process has been transformed, bringing significant benefits to both practices and labs alike. According to recent literature3,4 these include:

¾    Improving patient acceptance

¾    Reducing distortion of impression materials

¾    Improving data acquisition, management and storage

¾    Helping to standardize procedures

¾    Improving communication between clinicians and labs

¾    Reducing production time and effort

As a result, dental CAD/CAM tools help enhance efficiency, by saving labs time and creating user-friendly workflows. They also enhance quality, as precision-engineered and manufactured components are designed to reduce risks that may lead to implant failure.6 Furthermore, the dental CAD/CAM system can be broken down into several distinct phases, with the possibility of moving between digital and analog workflows at several stages5, offering flexibility for the user.  

 

Speed, accuracy, efficiency and consistency can all be enhanced, allowing high-quality dental devices to be routinely fabricated, bringing new solutions to patients. These improvements are not achievable with conventional methods, requiring cutting-edge processing technologies and systems.3

 

 

NobelProcera prosthetics range

 

Getting started with CAD/CAM systems

Investing in dental CAD software can provide labs with a chance to increase production and keep costs competitive. Getting the right software for your business is necessary for a cost-effective, predictable and accurate outcome. By working closely with a reputable software manufacturer you can get the support you need to create esthetic restorations with fast turnaround times.

 

Nobel Biocare has recently launched in conjunction with Kavo Kerr the new DTX Studio™ software, which will offer powerful CAD tools with an intuitive interface. It will enable the quick and easy design of the desired restoration, whether tooth- or implant based.

 

Alternatively, you can outsource the design and production of CAD/CAM prosthetics to NobelProcera Scan and Design Services.  Available for implant bars, abutments and implant crowns, you can save time and avoid investment in equipment and staff training, while providing your customers with precision-fit prosthetics.

 

NobelProcera Scan and Design Services

 

With the advancement of digital dentistry, more opportunities are becoming available to labs. We are at a point in the evolution of dental restoration provision which could be as fundamental and inevitable as the progression from a typewriter to a computer.5

 

More to explore

¾     Discover CAD/CAM prosthetics for labs

¾     Related article: The dawn of CAD/CAM restorations

¾     Related article: Your lab can become the prosthetic provider of choice

¾     Related article: Taking the dental laboratory into the future

 

 

1 Source: iData Research. Europe Market Report Suite for Dental Implant Fixtures and Final Abutments. 2017, p. 57. More information on www.idataresearch.com .

2 For more information: http://nadl.org/sl_files/487CEA77-5056-A04E-37A0DDED9A8D218E.pdf

3 Miyazaki, T., et al. (2009). A review of dental CAD/CAM: current status and future perspectives from 20 years of experience. Dental Materials Journal, 28 (1), 44-56.

4 Hammerle, C. F., et al. (2015). Digital technologies to support planning, treatment, and fabrication processes and outcome assessments in implant dentistry. Summary and consensus statements. The 4th EAO consensus conference 2015. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 26, 97-101.

5 Slade, C. A. E. (2017). The role of CAD/CAM in modern dentistry. Practical procedures in aesthetic dentistry. Edited by Banerji, S., Mehta, S. B., & Ho, C. C. K. John Wiley & Sons.

6 Hurson, Overcoming implant complications – Authentic, integrated dental implant components, Compendium, July/August 2016, Volume 37, Number 7, pages 2–6.

  3959 Hits
3959 Hits
JUN
09
0

Hung parliament – what we know so far

Hung parliament – what we know so far

 

 

 

Having only just got over the shock of the Brexit result (just about) and Theresa May’s decision to hold a snap election, the country is once again plunged into uncertainty as the Election Results for 2017 reveal a shocking outcome for the Conservative party. What was meant to be a straightforward win for the current Prime Minister – or so she thought – has instead ended in the humiliation of a hung parliament. As a result of this, Mrs May and the rest of her party face the prospect of having to form a minority government – a far cry from the majority vote and ‘stronger mandate’ she was hoping for.

In comparison, the election has been somewhat of a victory for Jeremy Corbyn and the labour party, who have gained a considerable number of seats across the UK, including Sheffield Hallam which was previously held by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg.

To form a minority government, Theresa May will require the assistance of the Democratic Unionist Party, who she says will work together having “enjoyed a strong relationship over many years”. Were anything to happen, however, the Tories will not have the 326 seats required for a majority to pass a legislative programme.

Labour, in the meantime, will likely turn their efforts to forming their own minority government. After all, if the Conservative’s plan doesn’t pan out the way they want it to, Jeremy Corbyn could yet become Prime Minister. The question is where does this leave the dental profession?

Before the results were even properly announced we saw a fall in the value of the sterling compared to the dollar and the Euro. Between the uncertainty of a hung parliament and speculation about how the final result will impact Brexit negotiations moving forward, we are once again faced with the prospect of higher imported goods’ prices and an increase in overheads.

As for how dental practices, along with other small businesses will be affected by the whole thing, it is not yet clear what the future holds. What we do know, however, is that if May is successful in forming an alliance with DUP, there will be a number of changes made to taxation throughout 2017 into 2020. Personal Allowance, for instance, would rise to £12,500 as planned, as would the Higher Rate Threshold, which Mrs May has promised would increase to £50,000 by 2020. With scheduled reductions also due to take place to Corporation Tax (CT) if the Tories stay in, it is clear that dentists would have much to gain from a Conservative government. In regards to pensions, dentists must consider how proposed changes would affect their financial planning moving forward.

In the event that Jeremy Corbyn steps in and tries to run a minority government or form a coalition, it could be somewhat of a mixed bag. Indeed, while Labour’s promise to review business rates and bring in a small profits rate of CT for SMEs would no doubt be welcomed by many in the profession, increases in Income Tax for those earning over £80,000 certainly wouldn't be, nor would an increase in CT for larger businesses.

Brexit, in the meantime, is scheduled to go ahead as planned, so the best any of us can do is wait and see what happens!

 

For more information please call 0845 345 5060 or 0754DENTIST.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

  3487 Hits
3487 Hits
JUN
07
0

Simplyhealth Professionals is bowled over by Boundaries for Life and its fight against mouth cancer

Simplyhealth Professionals is bowled over by Boundaries for Life and its fight against mouth cancer

 

 

Simplyhealth Professionals has announced today its sponsorship of Boundaries for Life and this year’s cricket season. Boundaries for Life is an initiative aimed at promoting health awareness through high-profile cricket events – and is the only free health screening that includes an assessment for mouth cancer.

Founded in 2010 by Dr Chet Trivedy, a dual-qualified dentist and medic with an interest in emergency medicine and dental emergencies, Boundaries for Life offers free health screenings at major cricket fixtures throughout the UK, and is supported by the European Health Stadia Network.

 

Catherine Rutland, Head of Professional Support Services at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “The Boundaries for Life programme crosses the barriers between oral health and general health. Our support of the programme goes beyond just a financial investment. We are encouraging our member dentists to get actively involved and be part of the dental team at the cricket matches, and play a part in helping people understand the importance of looking after their health.”

With a team comprising dentists, doctors, nurses, medical students and dementia specialists, the free health checks take no more than 15 minutes and are offered to spectators and ground staff. The checks include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar (diabetes), dental (mouth cancer), obesity and dementia advice.

The team have already attended two cricket matches with the support of member dentists from Simplyhealth Professionals and carried out a number of dental checks. These matches were at Headingly Stadium on 24 May and the Ageas Bowl on 27 May.

Dr Chet Trivedy said: “Using cricket as a vehicle to discuss health is ideal, particularly as our key aim is to target men aged 35 years and over. Our health promotion strategy is to target people who might otherwise not access regular health checks. Many of these are cited by Public Health England to be particularly vulnerable to a range of health conditions; the format and duration of a match makes the health screenings we offer very accessible – without missing the sporting action.”

Since its launch, Boundaries for Life has carried out 2,000 free health checks and diagnosed nine cases of suspected mouth cancer, or pre-cancer, and given many hundreds of cricket fans specialist advice on how to improve oral and personal health.

The current Boundaries for Life fixtures are:

Match

Venue

Date

Royal London One Day Cup Final

Lord’s, London

Saturday 1 July

England vs South Africa Test

Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Sunday 6 August

England vs West Indies Test

Edgbaston, Birmingham

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August

 

For more information, visit: http://boundariesforlife.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

Dental

Simplyhealth Professionals is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million patients registered to a Denplan product.

Simplyhealth Professionals provide the following range of leading Denplan dental payment plans under the Denplan name:

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Membership: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme. Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962, or patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402.   

 

 

 

  3589 Hits
3589 Hits
JUN
06
0

A sound foundation for excellence

A sound foundation for excellence

 

 

“I was looking to develop my knowledge and expand my skills in GDP orthodontics. I also wanted to build my competence and confidence so that I could take on more complex cases and still deliver safe and effective treatment. The IAS Advanced training course enabled me to do this.”

 

Rahul Kukar from iDental dental practice has embarked upon the IAS Advanced training course, following four years of experience in anterior alignment orthodontics.

 

“The course has been very good, providing a sound academic foundation from which to extend my skills. The quality of instruction and on-going support provided by IAS Academy has been great as well.

 

“While the course finishes in a few months, I already feel much more confident in approaching more complex cases and knowing how to recognise cases that still require referral to a specialist.

 

“My advice for other practitioners would be to gain as much experience as possible with the basic systems, before moving onto the IAS Advanced course, but I would certainly recommend undergoing the training when you’re ready.”

 

If you have extensive experience in fixed GDP orthodontics and wish to develop your skills further, apply for your place today.

 

 

For more information on upcoming IAS Academy training courses, including the IAS Advanced,

please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0845 366 5477

  3742 Hits
3742 Hits
JUN
06
0

Discover the possibilities

Discover the possibilities

 

 

The innovative On1 restorative concept from Nobel Biocare offers practitioners novel treatment options to optimize implant placement and restoration.

 

Raising the connection for restorative components from bone to tissue level, the On1 Base remains in position from placement to finalization, providing undisturbed soft tissue healing. Furthermore, with two height options available, there is the flexibility to change the On1 Base should the thickness of the soft tissue require it in the short or long-term.

 

From here, the On1 Healing Cap or On1 Temporary Abutment can be connected to the base. Both support the intraoral scanning approach, which facilitates conventional impression-taking procedures for maximum accuracy and precision.

 

The On1 concept can be used with three different conical connection implant systems: NobelActive, NobelParallel and NobelReplace, which provides outstanding surgical flexibility and ease of use. For the restorative dentist, the On1 Base allows for an improved patient experience, as well as simplifying the placement of restorative components due to the tissue level base.

 

Discover today how the On1 concept from Nobel Biocare can help you achieve exceptional results for your patients.

 

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

  3580 Hits
3580 Hits
JUN
06
0

Goodman Grant win award at Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards

Goodman Grant win award at Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards

 

 

And the winner is…

 

The Goodman Grant team is delighted to announce that they have recently won at the prestigious Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards.

 

At a black-tie awards ceremony held at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool, the Goodman Grant team were awarded the Best Niche Law Firm Award, for their work in the dental sector – a fantastic accolade that demonstrates the commitment Goodman Grant has to providing dentists with expert legal support.

 

Ray Goodman, joint managing director at Goodman Grant Solicitors, says of the firm’s win: “This award shows the amount of hard work and devotion the Goodman Grant team puts into helping each and every one of our dental clients and it is an honour to have this recognised by the Liverpool Law Society.”

 

Goodman Grant are renowned for providing a wide range of specialist legal services to the dental profession, from employment contracts and disputes, to CQC applications, due diligence and all aspects of practice sales and acquisition.

 

To find out more, contact the expert team at Goodman Grant today.

 

For more information, visit the Goodman Grant website at www.goodmangrant.co.uk or call us on:

Leeds office: 0113 834 3705

London office: 0203 114 2133

Liverpool office: 0151 707 0090

  3672 Hits
3672 Hits
JUN
06
0

And the award goes to…

And the award goes to…

And the award goes to…

 

Every year the prestigious Dental Awards take place to celebrate the unwavering commitment and achievements of individuals, teams and companies within the dental profession.

 

At this year’s event, which was well attended by some of the profession’s leading lights, Dental Elite had the pleasure of sponsoring two Awards: Practice Manager of the Year and Dental Practice of the Year South. The Awards were presented by Recruitment Manager, Luke Arnold.

 

As always, the level of talent of the nominees was exceptionally high, which for winners Hannah Haines, Practice Manager of Inspired Dental and Reginald O’Neill Dental Care (Practice of the Year for the South) made victory even sweeter. The team is proud to have been part of such a distinguished occasion.

 

Dental Elite would also like to congratulate Edd Jones from Hartley Dental Practice and The Care Dental Centre in London for coming highly commended in their respective categories.

 

Dedicated to supporting the profession wherever it can, Dental Elite is thrilled to have been involved with the Dental Awards 2017 – here’s to doing it all again next year!

 

For more information contact Dental Elite. Visit www.dentalelite.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 545 900

  4283 Hits
4283 Hits
JUN
06
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Ivoclar Digital attracts at Dentistry Show and DTS

Ivoclar Digital attracts at Dentistry Show and DTS

 

 

The Dentistry Show and Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) 2017 saw Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland showcase their new brand, Ivoclar Digital, to the British market for the first time since it’s official launch at IDS, Cologne, in March.

Thanks to their prime location with clinical and technical stands adjacent to one another, Ivoclar Vivadent were able to demonstrate that their new digital products will provide both dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process journey.

The main attraction and making its debut as Ivoclar Vivadent's first chairside mill for clinical use, the PrograMill One. The world’s smallest 5-axis milling machine combines industrial manufacturing quality with high precision and modern design. In the innovative 5-axis turn-milling technique, the workpiece rotates around the tool at a constant feed and the tool never leaves the block, ensuring short milling times and minimal tool wear.

Various validated processing strategies are available for different materials and indications; the unit has been particularly developed for milling IPS e.max CAD and the new innovative IPS e.max ZirCAD. The machine’s wireless capabilities allow it to be operated from any location within close proximity with the help of a special app for tablets and smartphones; its optical status display shows the current status of the machine. PrograMill One is coordinated with intra-oral scanners and Design Studio software from 3Shape.

The PrograMill One will once again be demonstrated in June at Ivoclar Vivadent’s annual ICDE event, exclusively alongside the new PrograMill PM7 which will be presented to laboratories as a future-proof solution for the digital manufacture of prosthetic restorations.

The consistent hub of visiting dental professionals were assisted by Ivoclar Vivadent’s attending product specialists across both stands, who provided demonstrations on the new and existing ranges available, as well as special offers and expert advice. 

Ivoclar Vivadent’s Technical & Digital Product Manager, Leo James, who was on hand over the course of the two days commented, “ since the launch of Ivoclar Digital at IDS we anticipated that DTS (Dentistry) would be the perfect platform to showcase Ivoclar Vidadent's latest digital innovations to the UK’s dental industry.”

“We’re delighted with the enthusiasm that the Ivoclar Digital concept has been met with, overall the show has proven itself to be an invaluable lead & sales generator for us and I’m looking forward to seeing the new portfolio being integrated into the market further”.

 

For more information on the Ivoclar Digital product portfolio and technical support please contact a Digital Specialist or visit http://www.ivoclardigital.com/en

·         South and Ireland - Vicken Hatsakordzian 07772 746780

·         Midlands and North - Tom Rolling 07817 441320

 

Facebook: Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland

Twitter: @IvoclarUK

Instagram: @IvoclarVivadentUK

  3736 Hits
3736 Hits
JUN
05
0

New Anhydrous Stannous Fluoride Toothpaste Beats Sensitivity Pain Fast

 

GSK CONSUMER HEALTHCARE LAUNCHES NEW SENSODYNE RAPID RELIEF

New unique formulation is clinically proven to provide fast relief from the first brush1and long-lasting* protection from dentine hypersensitivity.,2

 

London, UK, June 2017 -  GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the manufacturer of the number one leading sensitive toothpaste brand Sensodyne, today announced an advancement in dental care with the launch of new Sensodyne Rapid Relief. The unique anhydrous formulation works rapidly to form a barrier over exposed dentine and reduce sensitivity in just 60 seconds.1 The new formulation builds ongoing protection with every brush, supporting the long-term management of dentine hypersensitivity*,3 a painful, chronic condition affecting as many as one in three people.4

The use of GSK Consumer Healthcare’s proprietary anhydrous formulation technology, means that individual ingredients contained in the formulation, including stannous fluoride and bio-adhesive polymers, remain stable and ready for activation by water. On contact with saliva in the mouth, the facilitating polymer becomes adhesive, and is able to form a gel-like scaffold in the surface of dentine, helping to trap stannous ions which occlude the open ends of the dentine tubules. In vitro data shows that after just one application, stannous ions, the key sensitivity active ingredient in new Sensodyne Rapid Relief, can extend as much as 80μm deep into the tubules,5 providing rapid occlusion and a 127 percent reduction in the flow of fluid through the dentine tubules, compared to the previous stannous fluoride formulation**.6 This robust occlusion is resistant to exposure to dietary acids, leading to clinically proven fast and long-lasting relief* from the pain of dentine hypersensitivity.7

 
  


“Dentine hypersensitivity is a common, and painful condition caused when the microscopic tubules in the dentine become exposed. Dentine exposure can be as a result of gum recession or enamel wear, uncovering thousands of tiny, narrow passages deep into the tooth, where there are exposed nerve endings. The pain is caused most often when eating cold or hot food/drink, which causes fluid movements in the tubules that stimulate the nerves, creating an instant, short, sharp pain. Many people adopt temporary coping strategies, avoiding contact with the affected area. Some avoid dental appointments for fear of major dental work, which can lead to further oral complications.4,8,9  However, with the launch of the new formulation of Sensodyne Rapid Relief, GSK Consumer Healthcare offers a formulation clinically proven to relieve the pain of sensitive teeth in 60 seconds and give long lasting protection from its return.” said by Jon Creeth – Medical Affairs Principal Scientist GSK Consumer Healthcare.

 
  

“Sensodyne Rapid Relief beats sensitivity pain fast by enhancing the adhesiveness of the product on the tooth surface. This helps deliver the stannous fluoride effectively, allowing it to get to work really fast,” said Dr David Urquhart, R&D Lead, Sensitivity & Acid Erosion.

 

With the launch of Sensodyne Rapid Relief, GSK Consumer Healthcare aims to alleviate the symptoms of dentine hypersensitivity from the first brush, to break the cycle of pain some people find themselves in and enable long-term protection from dentine [hyper]sensitivity*. Through this and its broader Sensodyne portfolio, GSK Consumer Healthcare intends to make dentine hypersensitivity an easily manageable condition over the long-term, building on their overall purpose to create a future where every life is sensitivity-free.

Twice-daily brushing with Sensodyne Rapid Relief has been shown to continue to reduce dentine hypersensitivity over time,3,10 while providing all the benefits expected of a regular toothpaste. Long-term use of sensitivity toothpastes like Sensodyne Rapid Relief have been found to lead to noticeable reductions in the impact of dentine hypersensitivity on everyday life,3 and in turn, a reduction in the ‘coping strategies’ used by people with sensitive teeth.9

Sensodyne Rapid Relief is available in store now. Also available in Whitening.

CHGBI/CHSENO/0085/17

 

 

 

  

 

About GSK Consumer Healthcare

GSK Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest consumer healthcare companies, responsible for some of the world’s best loved healthcare brands including AQUAFRESH, Sensodyne, Corsodyl, Panadol, Poligrip, Otrivin and Horlicks.

 

References

1.     GSK data on file 205710. July, 2016.

2.     GSK data on file 205697. June, 2016.

3.     GSK data on file RH01897. August, 2014

4.     Addy M. Dentine hypersensitivity: new perspectives on an old problem. Int Dent J. 2002;52: 367– 375.

5.     GSK data on file 2016.

6.     GSK Data on File ML636. November, 2016.           

7.     Accepted for presentation at IADR 2017 Abstract number 2632629

8.     Baker S et al. Longitudinal validation of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ). Poster presented at: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition; 2013 March 20–23, Seattle, Washington.

9.     GSK data on file Sensitive Teeth and Attitude Study. March, 2008.

10.  Parkinson CR, Jeffery P, Milleman JL, et al., Confirmation of efficacy in providing relief from the pain of dentin hypersensitivity of an anhydrous dentifrice containing 0.454% with or without stannous fluoride in an 8-week randomized clinical trial. Am J Dent. 2015;28(4):190-196.

NOTE: Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies

 

 

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Dental Body Language

Dental Body Language

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Promises, promises; can anyone really save the NHS?

With days to go before the UK once again goes to the polls and a large number of voters still undecided on how to cast their vote, there is still a huge amount to play for in the General Election 2017. The handling of the NHS is critical to any party’s success, so we have scrutinised the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat’s offerings in the lead up to June 8th. If you don’t have the time or energy to trawl through hundreds of pages of manifesto pledges, read below for a helpful summary of NHS commitments.

The Commitments

 

The Conservative Party

 

1.       A commitment to the founding principles of the NHS; a service that meets the needs of everyone, based on clinical need not ability to pay and care should be free at the point of use.

2.       Spending will be increased by £8 billion in real terms over the next 5 years.

3.       Create a “truly seven-day healthcare service”, with GP weekend and evening appointments for all by 2019. Hospital consultants will be supervising patients every day, with weekend access to key diagnostic tests.

4.       Current 95% A&E target and 18 week elective care standard will be maintained.

5.       Prioritise during the EU negotiations that the 140,000 staff from EU countries “can carry on making their vital contribution to our health care system”, whilst continuing to invest in training medical students. Will encourage and develop new roles and create a diverse set of potential career paths for the NHS workforce.

6.       The most ambitious investment in building and technology that the NHS has ever seen, to ensure that care is delivered properly and efficiently.

7.       The NHS will become a “better employer”, strengthening the entitlement for flexible working and introducing better support services for employees.

8.       To implement the recommendations of the Accelerated Access Review to make sure that patients get drunk treatments faster, whilst ensuring value for money for the NHS.

9.       GPs will be expected to provide greater access, more innovative services and offer better facilities. A new GP Contract will be introduced.

10.   The role of the CQC will be extended to cover health related services commissioned by local authorities.

11.   10,000 mental health care professionals will be recruited. The co-ordination of mental health services with other local services will be improved.  

12.   Radical changes to social care for the elderly. Aligning the current means-testing for domiciliary care with that for residential care. The value of the family home will be taken into account, along with other assets and income when assessing the amount of funding that an individual will receive from the state. The current cap of £23,250 will be increased to £100,000. Individuals will be able to defer payments if receiving care at home in order to avoid selling their home during their lifetime.

13.   End of life care will be improved. Families who lose a baby will be offered additional bereavement support.

None of the above pledges have been costed in the published manifesto.

 

The Labour Party:

1.       A commitment of over £30 billion in extra funding over the next Parliament. Paid for through increased income tax for the highest 5% of earners and an increased tax on private medical insurance. Money will be freed up by halving the fees currently paid to management consultants.

2.       A new office for budgetary responsibility will be introduced to oversee health spending and scrutinise how it is spent. “Sustainability and transformation plans” will be halted, and a review undertaken, asking local people to contribute, considering patient need rather than available finance. A new regulator “NHS Excellence” will be introduced.

3.       Privatisation of the health service will be reversed. A legal duty will be introduced on the Secretary of State to ensure that excessive private profits are not made out of the NHS at the expense of the patient.

4.       Promise investment to give patients a modern, well-resourced service. Guaranteeing access to treatment within 18 weeks, taking a million people off the NHS waiting lists by the end of the next Parliament. Patients will be seen in A&E within 4 hours. Mixed sex wards will end.

5.       The Cancer Strategy for England will be fulfilled by 2020.

6.       Funding will be increased to GP services and cuts to pharmacies halted, and the current position reviewed.

7.       Patients will be given fast access to the most effective new drugs and treatments, and “value for money” agreements will be negotiated with pharma companies.

8.       To make the country “autism friendly”; with specialised care plans in place and access to condition management education.

9.       High quality and personalised end of life care.

10.   A commitment to completing the trial programme for PrEP, and rolling the treatment out to high risk groups to reduce HIV infection.    

11.   Free parking for patients, staff and visitors at hospitals by increasing tax on private medical care premiums.

12.   For the work force the pay cap will be scrapped, with an independent review body making the decision. Bursaries and funding for health related degrees will be scrapped (University tuition fees will be scrapped).

13.   The rights of EU nationals working in the NHS will be immediately guaranteed.

14.   The foundations for a “National Care Service for England” will be laid. Social care budgets will be increased by £8 billion. Place a maximum limit on lifetime personal contributions to care costs, raise the asset threshold below which people are entitled to state support, and provide free end of life care.

15.   Funding for mental health services will be ring fenced.  Out of area placements for young people will be ended by 2019. Early intervention for children and young people’s mental health services will be prioritised. Counselling services will be available in all secondary schools.

 

The Liberal Democrats:

1.       Pledge to put a penny on the pound on Income Tax to raise £6 billion in extra revenue for NHS and Social care funding. This money would be directed to key areas, including social care, primary care, mental health and public health.

2.       Commission a dedicated health and care tax following consultation.

3.       Guarantee the rights of all EU NHS and social care staff to remain in the UK.

4.       End the public sector pay freeze for NHS workers and reinstate nurse bursaries.

5.       Transforming mental health care and reducing associated waiting times to no more than 6 weeks for a therapy appointment for depression or anxiety. No young person will wait for more than two weeks for treatment when they first experience psychosis. The focus will be on young people and pregnant women/ new mothers.

6.       An end to out of area placements and improving front line services in schools and universities. Ensure LGBT and inclusive mental health services receive funding and support.

7.       Establish a cross party health and social care convention to carry out a review of the long term sustainability of the health and social care finances and workforce. Introduce a statutory independent budget monitoring agency for health and care, similar to the Office for Budget Responsibility.  

8.       Improving the integration of health and social care; ultimately creating one service with pooled budgets.

9.       Implement a cap on the cost of social care and increase the earnings limited from £100 to £150 per week for eligibility for carers’ allowance, and reduce number of care hours a week for qualification.

10.   Provide more choice of end of life care and move towards free end of life social care. Expanding the work of hospices.

11.   Promote easier access to GPs, expanding evening and weekend opening, encouraging the use of on line appointments, whilst supporting GPs to prevent practice closures.

12.   Using innovative funding to promote GP led multidisciplinary health and care hubs and ensure access to local pharmacies.

13.   Helping people stay healthy in the first place through a National Well Being strategy, including public awareness campaigns on cancer and by developing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity and a sugar tax.

14.   Introduce a minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

15.   Make PrEP for HIV prevention available on the NHS.

What will these pledges cost?

The Institute of Fiscal Studies has undertaken its own review of the funding behind each of the above pledges and state as follows;

The Conservative manifesto:  Would suggest an increase in Department of Health (DH) spending to £132 billion (in today’s prices) in 2022­–23, if the other (non-NHS) aspects of DH spending were frozen in real terms over this period. This would be an average growth in real spending of 1.2% per year between 2016–17 and 2022–23.

The Labour manifesto: promised a larger increase in health funding. Labour would increase spending relative to current government plans by £7.7 billion in 2017–18, rising to £8.4 billion (in nominal terms) by 2021-22. This could take DH spending to around £135 billion (in today’s prices) in 2021–22. This would be an average 2.0% per year real increase in spending between 2016–17 and 2021–22.

The Liberal Democrats: have pledged to increase spending on health and social care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by approximately £6 billion each year, with £2 billion ring-fenced specifically for social care. This could imply DH spending of £131 billion (in today’s prices) in 2021-22, and average growth in spending of 1.4% per year in real terms between 2016–17 and 2021–22.

However they also conclude that the planned spending of all three parties is well below the historical 4% per year growth in health care spending per year that has been seen since 2009/10. The difference between the parties spending plans is in fact reasonably modest and as such the NHS will continue to suffer financially whoever will win the general election.

Julia Furley, Barrister, JFH Law LLP

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Ortho for Dummys

Orthodontics for Dummies

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Take The Oral Health Challenge

 
 
 
Yesterday, Johnson & Johnson, the makers of LISTERINE®, launched The Oral Health (OH) Challenge at the 2017 British Dental Conference and Exhibition.
 
The OH Challenge is a simple survey tool created for dental health care professionals to test their knowledge in relation to soft tissue health and preventive care, and to identify any gaps in current professional knowledge.
 
We want you to take part, so we cordially invite all delegates to stand C13 to complete this important survey challenge. Your involvement and the results gathered will help create bespoke articles for the dental profession, designed to increase understanding of these all-important issues.
 
The OH Challenge is supported by Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry and Head of the School of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, and Julie Rosse, a past President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy and practicing hygienist.
 
Professor Iain Chapple commented, ʻThe OH Challenge is an educational initiative for the oral healthcare team at all levels, to help individuals identify any gaps in their knowledge and follow-up with the subsequent educational material that will be rolled out throughout 2017. I genuinely believe this will help all clinicians to remain up to dateʼ
 
Julie Rosse added: ʻI am sure we all like to think that we strive to stay up to date with current concepts and thinking but, indeed, how do we know if our sources of information are the latest available and evidence-based? This simple survey challenges what every clinician truly knows about soft tissue health, whilst the content that follows will help you to manage your patientsʼ oral health.ʼ
 
The OH Challenge is available online for all dental health care professionals. Please visit www.listerineprofessional.co.uk now to test your own knowledge and follow the supporting programme of evidence-based content that will be released in instalments over the course of the year.
 
For more information on LISTERINE® please visit www.listerineprofessional.co.uk
.
 
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Dentex – The dental partnership offering a unique co-ownership model officially launches this May

Dentex – The dental partnership offering a unique co-ownership model officially launches this May

 

Launching to the dental community this May, Dentex is a UK partnership group for the dental profession. Working to a unique co-ownership model, which encourages clinical excellence and growth in profitability, the organisation provides the support that independent dental practitioners need to achieve their full potential, without encroaching on their autonomy.

Established in 2014, the organisation already works with a number of strategically selected partner dentists including Mark Hughes, Stuart Bowen-Davies, Stan Dubowitz, Elaine Halley, Rahul and BhavnaDoshi, Pieter Claassen, Stephen Tarr, and Tidu Mankoo.

Founded by Mark Cockburn, a Chartered Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience, and William Bowen-Davies, an entrepreneur with a successful history in business management and extensive experience in the dental industry, Dentex combines clinical and financial excellence.

Headed up by CEO Barry Lanesman, a qualified Dentist with a 26-year career history and an MBA from the University of Cape Town, Dentex is managed by dentists and others with professional links to the occupation. Coupled with Pat Langley’s (Group Clinical Director at Oasis for 7 years) outstanding clinical support, guidance and leadership, and Christopher Barrow’s (Legal Director, with 20 years’ experience at high profile international law firms) unerring legal expertise, the Dentex team have extremely strong foundations.

Lanesman comments: ‘The Dentex mission is to foster clinical excellence and freedom in dentistry. It is important that we collaborate with our partnering dentists, enabling them a way to enhance and share their skills. This means that with our support they can grow more than they could have on their own, whilst retaining clinical control of their business. These goals and values are shared by our funders at Universal Partners.It’s a unique approach, but one that we feel really meets the needs of dentists today – we believe what we are building will revolutionise dentistry in the UK

Andrew Birrell, Executive Director at Universal Partners comments: ‘Universal Partners are delighted to fund Dentex, to support the delivery of the unique clinical partnership model. As a long-term capital provider, we are committed to partnership and we believe that Dentex will make a lasting, positive impact by allowing clinicians to set high clinical standards, whilst benefiting from a strong capital provider.

Dentex works with two partner types:

  • Dentex Regional Partners – For dentists who wish to expand and grow their own group of practices,
    but need support to realise their ambitions. Taking a minority share the business, Dentex provide
    financial, legal, regulatory, business and management support necessary to drive practices forward.
  • Dentex Practice Partners – Practice Partners gain the support needed to refocus their efforts on the
    areas of work which they find most rewarding. The practice becomes part of a Regional Partner’s
    group, helping to realise the practice’s potential, both clinically and financially.

Dentex co-founder Mark Cockburn comments: ‘Dentex supports dentists in running their practices by providing mentoring, guidance, technical, financial, regulatory, legal and clinical help as needed. Partners retain full clinical control of their businesses and gain the reassurance of a safety net.
At Dentex we believe in a culture of integrity, respect, and the highest ethical standards,’ he adds. ‘We work with passion and determination in everything that we do, while continuously searching to innovate, improve and evolve. These are the qualities which we are looking for in any future practice or regional partners.

Regional Partner, Mark Hughes of SD Dentco, comments: ‘Patient-centred dentistry has always been a passion of mine. Having developed my own group of practices, as well as worked with and sold to large dental corporates, Dentex was the only option that allowed me to continue to provide the highest quality care and personal attention that I am used to. Being able to retain my own philosophy and practice identity was key in my decision to join.

In my opinion, they are the only investment vehicle that offers true partnership in growing our businesses together. Any concerns I had were quickly abated after meeting the exceptional support team Dentex has pulled together. The wealth of experience and support they offer is second to none in the UK.

The ability to release equity and still remain in control of my business was key and with the support of the Dentex team I can achieve growth much quicker than I could have on my own.

 

www.dentexhealth.co.uk

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NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste Prevents More Than Just Dental Caries

NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste Prevents More Than Just Dental Caries

 

 

Clinically proven to reduce gum problems with unique ActivREPAIR™ technology

Today at the BDA Conference, Oral-B has launched the NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste.

 

Gum problems, a leading cause of tooth loss, can often be prevented through proper at-home oral care and regular visits to a dental professional. Today, more than 50% of the world’s adult population suffers from gum problems and in most/many cases patients ignore or even do not notice the symptoms of gum problems until it is too late, something that must be incredibly frustrating for a dental professional.

Dr Phil Ower, immediate past president of the British Society of Periodontology, commented: “It is our duty as dental professionals to act in the prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of gum problems in order to combat the potentially serious effect of these issues."

Proper brushing, coupled with specialized toothpaste, not only can prevent gum problems, but also improve gum health.

Proper mechanical plaque control is the cornerstone to reduce gingivitis. However, there is clinical evidence that specialized toothpaste can provide additional gum health benefits. More specifically, over 31 studies show that Stabilized Stannous Fluoride adds value to tooth-brushing through reducing gum inflammation and bleeding.  

“Oral-B has a long history of supporting dental professionals.  Our goal is to always provide superior oral care products that continue the care that starts in your chair, helping your patients achieve stronger teeth and healthier gums”, stated Jane Kidson, Oral-B Professional Oral Health Country Manager.

Oral-B first introduced Stannous Fluoride in the 1950’s to prevent carries. Since then, Oral-B invested over a decade of research to evolve the Stannous technology to also help patients significantly improve gum health and prevent enamel erosion.

Today, Oral-B is introducing the NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste to help patients address the increasing prevalence of gum or enamel issues. Featuring unique ActivRepairTM technology (with 2 sources of Stannous: Stannous Fluoride and Stannous Chloride), it is the best clinically-proven toothpaste from Oral-B to help restore gum health and prevent enamel erosion.

 

Benefits of Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste

NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair is the best clinically-proven toothpaste from Oral-B to help reduce gum problems and prevent enamel erosion.

Reduces gum problems[i]

  • ActivRepair™ technology provides 70% more Stannous vs. Oral-B Pro-Expert for better bacterial control through antibacterial action and bacterial growth inhibition of the plaque.
  • Through this, the new Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair toothpaste can deliver up to 72% greater reduction in gum problems versus ordinary toothpastes[ii].

 

 

Helps prevent enamel erosioni

  • ActivRepair™ Technology actively remineralizes weakened enamel and builds a protective smear layer that protects teeth against acid erosion even beyond pH<3.5.
  • With continued use, Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste makes teeth 3x stronger against enamel erosion vs ordinary toothpastes[iii]

Benefits of Brushing with Oral-B

The use of a specialized toothpaste such as Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste, in combination with Oral-B’s iconic round brush head that cleans better than a manual toothbrush, supports your patients by helping them to brush at their best.

The unique features of Oral-B’s round brush head embrace and adapt to each tooth to deliver superior results on plaque and gum vs. a regular manual toothbrush.  The Oral-B round head and technology has been validated consistently by external and internal clinical research to deliver:

·         Superior plaque removal: Removes 2x more plaque vs. a regular manual toothbrush[iv]

·         Healthier gums: 36% reduction in gum bleeding sites vs. Sonicare[v] and 2x as effective at reducing gingivitis vs. a regular manual brushes[vi]

·         Preferred by patients: 66% preferred Oral-B vs. 31% for a sonic brush[vii]

 

An independent review of published research by the Cochrane Collaboration[viii] also confirmed the superiority and effectiveness of oscillating-rotating power technology over manual brushes, whilst recognizing its safety.

Help your patients brush their very best and achieve better gum and enamel health with Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste and an Oral-B electric rechargeable toothbrush.

 

Oral-B Partners with HPV Action to Improve the Lives of People in the UK

Oral-B strives to help consumers improve their oral health, an important part of overall health and wellness. Research shows that gum issues and particularly gingivitis affect 1 out of 2 adults worldwidei. Some studies also suggest poor gum health is associated with heart disease, diabetes and even premature birth[ix],[x].  As part of our effort to improve the overall health and wellbeing of consumers in the UK, Oral-B has partnered with HPV Action (HPVA), a collaborative partnership of 46 patient and professional organisations that are working to reduce the health burden of HPV, which is estimated to be the cause of 5% of all cancer cases[xi]. Oral-B will donate £5 for each completed Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste dental patient evaluation programme.  All forms received by the end of October 2017 will qualify. Together with HPV Action we believe that we can make an important difference in the lives of consumers in the UK.

 

About Oral-B
Oral-B® is the worldwide leader in the over $5 billion brushing market. Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, the brand includes manual and electric toothbrushes for children and adults, oral irrigators and interdental products, such as dental floss. Oral-B® manual toothbrushes are used by more dentists than any other brand in the U.S. and many international markets.

References


[i] In a laboratory study on weakened enamel

[ii] Gerlach R and Amini P. Comp Cont Dent Educ 2012; 33 (2), 138-142

[iii] Against food acids vs. ordinary toothpastes

[iv] Compend Cont Educ Dent 2014; 25(9):702-706

[v] Oral-B Pro CrossAction vs Sonicare DiamondClean”,  J Clin Dent 2015; 26:80-85

[vi] J Dent Res (AADR/IADR) 2014;93 (Specs Iss A): Abstract 1366

[vii] Among 64 people participating in a clinical trial; P&G Data on file

[ix] Chapple IL, Genco R.  Working group 2 of the joint EFP/AAP workshop. Diabetes and periodontal diseases: consensus report of the Joint EFP/AAP Workshop on Periodontitis and Systemic Diseases. J Periodontal 2013; 84: S106-112 [PMID 23631572 DOI: 10.1902/jop.2013.1340011].

[x] Ide M, Papapanou PN. Epidemiology of association between maternal periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes – Systemic review. J Periodontal 2013; 84(suppl 4):S181-S194.

[xi] de Martel C, Ferlay J, Franceschi S, et al. Global burden of cancers attributable to infections in 2008: A review and synthetic analysis. Lancet Oncology 2012; 13(6):607-615.

 

 

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