Colorado (USA) state health officials have warned thousands of patients of a Denver-area dentist to get tested for HIV and hepatitis after it was revealed that he reused dirty needles on patients for 12 years. According to local reports. Dr. Stephen Stein used the same IV syringes to put different patients to sleep during surgeries conducted between September 1999 and June 2011.

A recent Department of Health survey shows that 83% of patients found their NHS dentistry good or very good. 93% were successful in finding a dentist to see them under the NHS. Two of the most common reasons given for not seeking an NHS appointment were that they were happy with private treatment. 

Interestingly, dentists practising privately find they see a constant stream of patients dissatisfied with NHS dental provision. 

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) has given a qualified welcome to the changes initiated by the General Dental Council (GDC) over the past year. The report acknowledges that improvements have been made to its processes, especially in its fitness to practise function. But the CHRE sees little evidence of improved outcomes.

Speaking at the Westminster Health forum, Safeer Butt, who runs two new contract pilots, said that his associates were having to work longer hours for less pay,  He said that in a fixed-cost system, someone had to take a pay cut.  Despite this John Milne, chair of the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee continues to view the pilots ‘in a positive light'.

A Kent dental practice has told its NHS patients they must join a payment plan or find another dentist. Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) in Thanet, said it would provide NHS treatment until the end of August. When the company took over Associated Dental Practices the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ruled that they had too much of the local market share.