Mick Armstrong, who chairs the BDA’s Principal Executive Committee (PEC) has expressed his alarm over the General Dental Council’s (GDC) plans to raise the annual retention fee from £576 to £945. He said: “The suggestion that the profession pay more to fund a Council that has been shown unable to do its job properly is frankly astonishing.”
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GDPUK proudly published its 1000th news story this week since the online group moved to its' present site in 2008. GDPUK is proud of its' place in the UK dental media world, and has published many exclusives in this time. We have our finger on the pulse of the thoughts and concerns of the general dentist in the UK.
The free, NHS approved, Brush DJ app has reached a milestone with over 1 million ‘nudges’ sent to users to encourage twice daily brushing. Ben Underwood, the dentist who developed the app is delighted with its growth. He said “The next update is in development and should help the app and videos become the default tool to encourage better self-home dental care.”
The Association of Dental Groups (ADG), the professional body that represents dental groups and corporate providers, has opened the 2014 bursary awards programme for entries. The awards are intended to reward outstanding student work and are open to undergraduates and postgraduates. Entries can now be submitted via the ADG website www.dentalgroups.co.uk
Responding to the recent report by Public Health England on sugar consumption the BDA warned that the impact of sugar on tooth decay, should not be overlooked as the debate on obesity links intensifies. The FGDP(UK) said the impact of sugar on tooth decay remained a major health concern.
Following ITVs The Dentists programme filmed at the University Dental Hospital of Manchester, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) is calling for a meeting with the Department of Health. Claire Stevens, spokeswoman for the Society, said: “If these children had seen a paediatric dentist earlier, it might have been possible to save their teeth, instead of removing them and potentially triggering dental anxieties for life.”
Read more: BSPD call for action following ITV’s The Dentists programme
A Falmouth dentist came to the rescue of a bride’s mother, Frances Bowyer, who tripped on her garden path and damaged her four front teeth – the damage was so bad she looked like she had been in a “road traffic accident.” Dentist Philip Davies turned out at 10pm on the night before the wedding. He said: “I tried to save her smile for the big day.”
New research indicates that failing to brush teeth properly could leave people at risk of a heart attack. Scientists have found that the bacteria that cause gum disease can spread in the blood stream to the heart and aorta. The presence of the bacteria at these sites also saw mice suffer an increase in cholesterol and inflammation at those sites, the main risk factors in heart disease.
Read more: Poor toothbrushing could increase risk of heart attack
A Scottish Health Board has had to spend more than £26,000 on a special dentist's chair to fit larger people who need treatment. The specialist ‘bariatric’ dentist's chair cost NHS Fife £26,394. It will allow a range of dental work to be carried out on patients too large or too heavy to fit in ordinary dental chairs.
Read more: Dental chair for obese patients costs NHS £26,000