Dental students at Aberdeen dental school risk failing their final year due to a shortage of patients on whom to practise. The school has twice written to local dentists appealing for them to refer patients to alleviate a potential training crisis. A lack of volunteers is reported to be putting students' degrees at risk.
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Dr Mick Armstrong has been elected to serve as new Chair of the British Dental Association’s (BDA’s) Principal Executive Committee (PEC). Dr Armstrong said: “I look forward to leading the profession as it attempts to navigate the minefield of complexity it is confronting.”
From April 1 patient charges for NHS dental treatment in England will rise. Charges for Band 1 treatment will go up by 50p, from £18 to £18.50. The charge for Band 2 treatments will rise by £1.50 from £49 to £50.50. For Band 3 treatments the charge will rise by £5 from £214 to £219.
These charges are collected by dentists but form a tax on having dental treatment.
The Daily Mirror has published a story about beautician Caroline Sumpter who paid Megawhite Express Teeth Whitening £1,500 only to be told by the General Dental Council that the practice is illegal. She paid the money for a package that included everything to get her started in her new business, including a licence to use the Megawhite name.
The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced that thousands of dentists have completed their CPD cycles and paid their Annual Retention Fee. The GDC will now chase up the remaining 344 dentists who did not complete their 2009-13 CPD cycle. In addition 39,105 dentists have successfully renewed their annual registration.
The DDRB recommended at 2.5% rise in gross fees for general dental services, but in a written Ministerial Statement, released on 13th March 2014, Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, said:
in respect of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), we accept its recommendation for an increase of 1% to general dental practitioners’ income after allowing for movement in their expenses, but abate the increase in the general dental service contract for GDP staff costs from the recommended 2.5% to 1%. This results in an overall uplift of 1.6% to be applied to gross earnings for independent dental contractors for 2014-15.
Dental leaders see this as a cut when considered in real terms, read more for quotes.
Bridge2Aid are delighted to report that, exactly 8 weeks since launching their urgent appeal, they have reached our target of £50,000. They say: “This is all thanks to you - our generous supporters - and we really can’t thank you enough. We’ve been overwhelmed by your response to our emergency appeal and are humbled by the generosity and kindness shown by so many of you.”
A new group formed to tackle and reverse the growing obesity epidemic has been welcomed by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDEF). Action on Sugar, formed of a number of leading worldwide experts, hopes to educate the public on the dangers of hidden sugars and raise awareness of the ‘un-necessary' amounts of sugar added to our foods and drinks, a large reason behind the growing obesity crisis.
Birmingham dentist, Joyce Trail, who was jailed for 7 years for stealing £1.4 million from the NHS, has been ordered by Warwick Crown Court to repay £1,376,423.83. Any assets she has now, or receives in future, up to this amount can be claimed by the NHS. She was also given a confiscation order of £358,281.87 which she must pay within 18 months.
Read more: Convicted dentist ordered to repay substantial sums