A recent study has found that tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of dementia. The study involved more than 1,500 elderly people in Japan who had their health monitored between 2007 and 2012. The study found participants with fewer teeth had a greater chance of developing dementia within the five years of the study.
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The GDC has opportunities for up to 2 Registrant and 4 Lay members to join the its Council. Up to £15,000 pa with a £3,000 pa supplement for Committee Chairs will be paid. For more information go to: www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference YZND. The GDC will be holding a workshop for registrants interested in applying to become Council members on Friday 17 March 2017.
Philip Hammond’s first 2017 budget contained no surprises, but was seen by many as a continuing reduction in the budget deficit and preparation for Brexit. Changes to national insurance for self-employed and a cut in the tax-free dividend allowance will affect dentists, as will deferral on the implementation of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital strategy.
Steve McCabe MP once again asked the most questions on dentistry and was also the main sponsor of an Early Day Motion noting ‘with concern the reports of Capita's mismanagement of the National Dental Performers' List’ and made an intervention in a debate. In the Lords a former minister suggested that the Government ‘was responsible’ for the junior doctors’ dispute.
Dentists marched on Friday, March 3, to the Department of Health, 7e arrondissement of Paris, to protest against a reform of their rates, a month after the failed negotiations between their unions and health insurance. Professionals and students demonstrated to denounce an imposed cap on tariffs of prostheses.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has called on MPs to hold NHS subcontractor Capita accountable for administrative failings that are preventing hundreds of NHS dentists from earning a living – putting their practices and their families in jeopardy. In an email to members GDPC chair, Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen, has asked them to write to their MPs urging them to take action.
Read more: BDA urges members to write to their MP about Capita
Tailored preventive oral health intervention significantly improved the cleanliness of teeth and dentures among elderly home care clients. In addition, functional ability and cognitive function were strongly associated with better oral hygiene, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland.
BDA Wales has secured substantial amendments to the new Government regulations on private dentistry in Wales, including those to ensure single-handed practitioners are not onerously burdened by annual fees and that private practices are not subject to unreasonable bureaucracy. Katrina Clarke, Chair of Wales GDPC, said: “The Welsh government has listened to reason.”
Read more: BDA Wales wins concessions on higher fees and red tape
The Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss MP, has announced a cut to the discount rate applied to personal injury claims from 2.5% to -0.75%. The effect will be an increase in the size of compensation payments, leading to significant new costs for the NHS Both the BDA and MDDUS have called for action to protect dentists.
Read more: BDA and MDDUS respond to higher compensation costs