The modern world is inundated with ‘fakes’ and ‘copycats’ – fake Gucci handbags, fake Jimmy Choos, copycat drinks brands and even copycat car designs. A quick search on the internet finds several clearly counterfeit products, brands and company names that people have come across, including ‘Pizza Huh’ restaurants, ‘Okay’ shampoo, ‘King Burger’, ‘Dolce&Bannana’, ‘Wee’ games console, ‘Coolgatte’ toothpaste and ‘Chanel’ perfume. While the original brands are protected by copyright, the copycats use similar colours and designs so that they can be easily mistaken for the real thing.

While some of the fake brands might provide amusement, they can be very dangerous. Various counterfeit make-up products have been identified by bloggers and beauty specialists this year, after they caused some nasty skin reactions on unsuspecting buyers. People have purchased what they believed to be a cheaper version of a designer item, only to find that the product they got was unsafe and ineffective.

Also this year, tens of thousands of fake car parts, including counterfeit Audi and Volkswagen radiator grills, were seized in a police raid. The products were criticised for posing potential safety risks for anyone driving a car with said parts incorporated, reducing the longevity and efficiency of the vehicles and also undermining the legitimacy of the motor industry.

Just two of many examples that could be used to demonstrate the issues surrounding fake products, these highlight the importance of using genuine items in a wide range of sectors. This ensures that the products meet all the relevant regulations and are up-to-standard regarding safety, effectiveness and efficiency. A lower price tag usually means that a product has been made in a cheaper way, either by cutting corners in the manufacturing process or by utilising lower quality materials, so it’s important that cost is not the only driving force behind product selection. And this is just as true in dentistry.

Dental authenticity

The authenticity of dental instruments and products has come under fire in recent years, as various counterfeit items have been identified circulating the dental profession. Following the seizure of 100 fake dental instruments and even an X-ray unit by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2012, there has been a real push in dentistry to squeeze out any items that don’t meet basic requirements.

The BDIA’s Counterfeit and Substandard Instruments and Devices Initiative (CSIDI) is one campaign that has highlighted the dangers of non-compliant products. It offers a guide to spotting fakes, emphasising the extra measures that need to be taken when ordering products, particularly online.

The main tips are:

• Use a dealer or distributer you recognise and trust to provide genuine, quality products

• Ensure products have the appropriate CE marks, safety certificates, technical and usage information, serial numbers and holographic labels

• Note the cost – if the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is

• Check the weight of the item – knock-offs will usually consist of lower quality, thinner materials that will weigh less

• Consider the finish on the product and packaging, as faded text, brand names and barcodes could indicate a copycat

Regardless of your role in the practice, your level of experience in dentistry or the type of products you use, ensuring that you have the real deal is essential. Fake items will put your patients’ safety at risk and could lead to complaints and legal challenges for you and your team. The risk is simply not worth it, so make sure you can trust the items you purchase to do what they say they’re going to do.

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.uk,
call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk

According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 2.9 million people now use electronic (e-) cigarettes, or vape, in Great Britain. There are more ex-smokers now using e-cigarettes than current smokers, and the main reason given for taking up vaping was to stop smoking tobacco.

In May 2017, the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/14/EU (TPD) introduced new rules for nicotine-containing e-cigarettes and refill containers. Maximum nicotine strength was set at 20mg (2 per cent). Vape tanks larger than 2ml will no longer be permitted either, while e-liquid bottles must now have a maximum capacity of 10ml. Before this date, the e-cigarette industry was largely operating without regulation in the UK.

From a dental – and healthcare – professional point of view, it is positive that so many vapers have given up smoking ‘regular’ cigarettes and the like. Health bodies in the UK, including the British Medical Association, continue to maintain that vaping is ‘almost certainly better’ than smoking tobacco, although, because it is addictive, it does reinforce habitual behaviour.

So, how should members of the dental team advise patients who vape, either as a way to reduce their daily use of ‘regular’ cigarettes etc., or as a substitute for a tobacco-smoking habit? Not smoking remains one of the central tenets of good, preventive dental care, alongside a healthy diet and an efficient cleaning routine, on a foundation of regular appointments. When asking patients about their lifestyle, you must ask them about their use of e-cigarettes. It is important to be positive – anything that reduces tobacco use must be supported – but you must underline the fact that there are many unknowns about vaping. There simply isn’t enough long-term evidence available yet to give a full picture.

E-cigarettes still give the user access to nicotine. Nicotine can “limit the blood flow in our mouth’s tissues (and therefore) it seems likely that vapers may be more pone to gum disease”. The relationship between periodontal disease and tooth loss is well established, as is the relationship with various systemic diseases, which can be life limiting. Patients who vape may also have a regular, dry cough or complain of xerostomia.

Instead, while we wait for long-term studies, which will enable evidence-based practice and protocols, instructing good, preventive daily dental care is the only approach to take. Teaching the correct brushing technique, using high-quality tools, and enhancing the daily routine with appropriate adjunctive products will allow patients who vape to not only keep their mouth clean, but reduce the risk of future problems developing. Recommend TANDEX products, including brushes and interdental brushes, for an efficient, yet gentle clean.

When they enjoy the benefits of a fresh, healthy mouth and great smile, the prospect of an e-cigarette – containing potentially toxic ingredients and with much still to learn about their long-term impact on health – may become far less appealing. While we wait for more evidence to become available, reinforcing positive, preventive behaviours is the approach to take.

For more information on Tandex’s range of products,
visit www.tandex.dk or visit the facebook page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Tandex-UK/234855250044190?fref=ts

Over the years an alarming amount of patients have chosen to take the DIY route to try and improve their oral health, but not all of them produce the intended results. Here are some of the most popular ingredients used.

Sage
Traditionally used in alternative medicine as a stomachic, recent research suggests that sage may have a role as a therapeutic agent in periodontal disease. While to most of us sage is a perennial evergreen subshrub to be planted in the garden, it seems that its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties could be used effectively against gingivitis as well as stomatitis. ,

Liquorice root
A few years ago, research revealed a new ingredient for oral health enthusiasts to try: liquorice root. Having been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, researchers have discovered that liquorice root contains two antibacterial compounds that can be used to inhibit two major tooth decay bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. The study also revealed that these chemicals are effective against two major periodontal disease bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, suggesting that liquorice root could help to prevent dental caries and periodontal disease.

Green tea
In addition to its weight loss, anti-aging and general feel good properties, there is research that suggests green tea has a number of dental benefits, including the reduction of periodontal symptoms. Indeed, a study looking at pocket depth, attachment loss of gum and bleeding on probing found that for each cup of green tea consumed during the assessment there was a decrease in all three indicators, signifying an inverse association between the intake of green tea and periodontal disease. On top of that, green tea is thought to be very effective in reducing oral malodour on a temporary basis because of its disinfectant and deodorant activities, with a study showing that both H2S and CH3SH gases were reduced.

Neem
Commonly known as Azardirachta indica, neem has also been identified as a potential solution due to its anti-bacterial, anti-cariogenic and anti-inflammatory qualities, making it desirable for patients in search of an alternative treatment pathway.

In time, it may be that some of these methods prove to be effective in helping to relieve patients’ symptoms, but with more research needed across the board, approved clinical treatments and therapies remain the best course of action. That being said, you will always get patients that will ignore this advice; all you can do is reinforce the importance of conventional treatment pathways, and continue to recommend safe and effective oral health solutions like the range available from oral healthcare specialist, Curaprox.

For more information please call 01480 862084, email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.curaprox.co.uk

There are few things more iconic in dentistry than the dental drill. Entirely unmistakeable, the high-pitched whine of a high-speed handpiece is considered one of the most recognisable noises in modern dentistry – and the one that inspires the most fear.

Indeed, according to statistics, as many as one in seven adults in the UK have, at one point, suffered from extreme dental anxiety. The most commonly cited reason for this was the sound of the drill.

Quite why this should be the case is still unclear. The reasons that patients give vary widely depending on the individual. Nevertheless, it is believed that it has very little to do with the noise itself – rather, the fear is associative and is simply an audible representation of the expected pain of the impending dental work. Indeed, the sound and the perception of pain seem inextricably linked, with studies showing that those individuals who respond worse to the sound of the drill will subsequently experience greater pain.

However, some studies have also indicated that the sound does trigger certain areas of the brain that are closely related to emotional response – suggesting that the noise does have an affect on people at a neurological level. Sadly, this research is still very much in its infancy and more studies will be required to fully elucidate the meaning of these initial findings.

What is clear, however, is why dental professionals need to use their drills so often. In the UK, it is estimated that approximately 31 per cent of the adult population is afflicted by dental caries.1 Furthermore, a shocking third of school age children across the country present with some level of dental decay.1

Of course, the most common treatment for patients with dental caries is the removal of all decayed material and filling the subsequent cavity with a filling material. Indeed, in most cases, nothing more than this can be done. Enamel decay can be arrested and will repair itself if identified early. However, this regenerative capacity is lost once cavitation occurs meaning the softer, more sensitive dentine and pulp layers of the tooth are exposed. If allowed to progress further, the restorative spiral increases with even more invasive treatments, like a root canal or, in the worse cases, extraction of the affected tooth.

It is these later procedures that most often necessitate the use of the dental drill and are, thus, the most common culprits for dental fear. While an individual filling may not take a particularly long time, a phobic patient will hate every moment of the procedure. This is naturally exacerbated in the case of a root canal, which will take far longer than a simple restorative filling – and requires more extensive use of the drill.

To make matters worse, new research has confirmed that those patients who suffer from dental phobia are more likely to have active dental caries – indicating a direct link between patients’ fears and their oral health. Naturally, the simplest explanation for this is that patients who are afraid of the dentist and their drills will be less likely to attend regular check ups, to the detriment of their oral health.

There is a solution to these problems, however. The ‘Steele’ report from 2009 has shifted the dental paradigm, with clinicians encouraged to focus on preventive dental care rather the restorative measures. In this case, the benefits of doing so are clear. If phobic patients can have their dental caries treated in a preventive and non-invasive way, they will not have to suffer the dental drill.

Unfortunately, active dental caries is notoriously difficult to detect in its earliest stages, exactly at the time when it can be regenerated. 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 cavitation it has caused, has been physically detected by the practitioner. After this, there is no choice but the dental drill.

With the new CALCIVIS imaging system, however, clinicians can identify active demineralisation on the surface of a tooth in its earliest and most reversible stages. Through innovative bioluminescent (light-emitting) technology, the CALCIVIS imaging system can help clinicians practice true preventive dentistry, effectively reducing the need for the dental drill – after all, a tooth doesn’t need drilling if the decay has been spotted early!

There are many positive aspects to preventive dentistry beyond the simple need to improve the nation’s overall oral health. By treating patients for dental decay preventively, and avoiding the need for ‘drilling and filling’, phobic patients won’t need to face the dreaded sounds of the dental drill.

Contact CALCIVIS now – your patients will approve!

Visit www.calcivis.com

Functional dentition undoubtedly decreases with age. Yet, it has been revealed that most people of a pensionable age still have at least some natural teeth. Certainly, practitioners need to be prepared to offer dental care to a larger number of older adults in the foreseeable future. But how can you get a steady flow of these patients through your practice’s door?

It is probably fair to say that the older generation prefers a more traditional service. They want that personal touch and are not necessarily interested in an online booking system, a high-tech app or text message reminders. To put it into context; the Office of National Statistics reported that only 41% of adults aged 75 years and over are internet users, and although this figure increases each year, it is vital that the dental practice is not just another place where the older generation feels that they have been left behind by society.

Your practice needs to be age-friendly, with an easy-to-use and efficient telephone service operated by well-trained, understanding staff. A significant number of older adults prefer to telephone the dental practice to make an appointment, and many of them will not be using a smart phone either. For the most part, they prefer to use a landline from home and want to speak to a real person who will patiently engage with them. Push-button instructions or automated messages can sometimes be frustrating and confusing for older patients, and most would also prefer to have the details of future appointments on a card to transfer to a diary or wall calendar.

Of course, it is critically important for older people to visit the practice regularly and maintain good oral health as it can significantly impact general health, nutrition and confidence. For obvious reasons, the dental practice must be easily accessible for anyone that visits. But it is also wise to remember that some patients are not comfortable using the abundance of self-service machines that seem to occupy many modern environments. These patients do not want to ‘check in’ using a touch screen in reception. They want to see a friendly face, perhaps have a little chat to welcome or reassure them, if it is needed. It is also appreciated if the dental practitioner greets them by name and remembers something about them. This shows that they take an interest in all their patients and strengthens the all-important patient/clinician relationship.

Patients find it easier to build trust with a friendly, engaging dental team, and they are more likely to absorb and comply with advice they are given in a positive environment such as this. They should not feel that the practitioner is rushing or does not have the time to answer their questions, as sometimes older adults might require a little more time to make decisions. Treatment options, for instance, need to be explained carefully. As we know, the NHS has bands of treatment, which include ‘clinically necessary’ treatment, but even though there is no support towards private dental treatment costs, older patients still have that choice.

For example, it has been predicted that tooth loss will remain relatively common in older adults, and for many, the options available on the NHS may not be pleasing or convenient. Understandably, patients should never be pushed into having private treatments or procedures, but they may prefer to opt for a more costly but also more aesthetically pleasing alternative such as a dental implant. Similarly, private cosmetic procedures are becoming increasingly popular in patients of all ages, and those practices that can enable patients to manage the cost barrier are the ones that stand to benefit the most.

The Healthy Discounts Plan designed by Munroe Sutton makes private dental care more affordable. Though it is not insurance, it is an uncomplicated plan, and members pay a low monthly fee to receive a 20% discount on the majority of dental treatments. Practitioners are directly reimbursed, and as a reward for charging lower prices, the practice is introduced to the unique Munroe Sutton dental network of healthcare, insurance and financial institutions along with free marketing to a wealth of potential patients.

Some of your older patients may not connect to the internet or social media, but they do talk. Word of mouth recommendations are always beneficial for your business, and if your practice is age-friendly and offers great discounts, it will be the talk of the town.

For more information, please call 0808 234 3558 or visit www.munroesutton.co.uk.

As a result of increased patient demand, more practices are now providing implant dentistry than ever before. Major advancements in research and development, as well as technology, materials, dental implant designs and surgical techniques that have made implant surgery safer and more predicable. Consistently high levels of growth have been predicted in the dental implant market and overall, the future for an implant dentist is extremely favourable.
Nevertheless, an upward trend has also been observed in the number of claims and complaints involving dental implant treatment over recent years, and there is still the age-old problem of unrealistic patient expectations to contend with.

Many individuals still regard dental implant therapy as the ultimate solution, devised to prevent any further dental problems. They fully expect implants to be successful, often without realising their responsibilities in terms of oral hygiene and long-term maintenance. Clinicians must ensure that patients understand the risks of implant surgery including nerve injury, to gain fully informed consent but also, practitioners that place dental implants need to conduct comprehensive pre-operative treatment planning and provide appropriate post-operative monitoring and on-going maintenance therapy.

Patient selection of course, remains crucial and practitioners need to manage expectations carefully. Unfortunately, some patients are still unaware that just like natural teeth, dental implants can still become affected by plaque. Individuals must be committed to fastidious levels of oral hygiene to successfully prevent bacterial contamination and maintain the health of the gingiva and subgingival areas. Clinicians must explain to patients that the connective tissue fibres surrounding dental implants are susceptible to plaque accumulation. If these deposits are not adequately cleared away, irritation and inflammation of the soft tissues can develop, which can lead to peri-implant disease and possibly implant failure.

Along with inadequate oral hygiene, immunosuppression, poorly controlled diabetes and smoking have the potential to negatively affect healing times and the success of dental implant surgery. In addition, patients with a history of periodontitis are most vulnerable to biological complications including peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis and implant survival rates may be lower in these patients. As clinicians are well aware, every case is different and can present a wide range of variables, some of which may require advanced surgical preparation, enhancement, grafts or augmentation prior to implant placement. In addition, there are some patients that experience recurrent complications that need specialised surgery or attention to reach a feasible, lasting solution.

With this in mind, a successful result almost always relies on a team of dental professionals with the specific skills, experience and technology needed, to plan and execute the most suitable treatment pathways and aftercare procedures. Understandably, not every practice has these facilities or resources available in house but by forming a professional partnership with a centre of dental excellence such as the London Smile Clinic, the abilities of the dental team can be expanded.

The London Smile Clinic is a referral centre with a team of highly qualified and experienced clinicians available to support general dentists and their patients. Using state of the art technology, Implant Surgeon, Zaki Kanaan and other specialist dental professionals can take on complex cases and work collaboratively as part of your team. Practitioners can refer all or just part(s) of the treatment to the London Smile Clinic but most importantly, referring dentists are kept fully informed throughout all procedures and patients are always returned to their dentist for on-going, continuing care.

With a streamlined route to the advanced technology, skills and support of referral centre, you can enhance your provision of care, outcomes and levels of patient satisfaction.

For more information, please contact 020 7255 2559 or
visit www.londonsmile.co.uk/refer

When buying or selling a practice, making sure you carry out due diligence is key. If you neglect due diligence when going through the buying/selling process, you may end up in a difficult situation with little recourse. Due diligence is a phrase that is so often used by agents, solicitors and the like, yet for many it can be quite daunting to understand what due diligence is and why it is so important.

It will probably surprise most that due diligence starts from the moment you obtain details of the practice. Sales particulars are normally the first item, giving you an insight into the practice, such as its financial position and potential for growth. Many buyers assume that due diligence is a legal process that their solicitor engages in, but this is incorrect. We always recommend that buyers view the practice as many times as they can, to check equipment works, and meet the staff. It also enables the buyer to view the seller’s existing policies and procedures, which they will need to know for their CQC interview.

This process is also incredibly important for a seller. A buyer will ask the seller to give warranties about the practice. Warranties are assurances about the practice, which then give the buyer the ability to sue the seller if there was a breach of those warranties. The best form of defence for a seller is to show that the buyer was made aware of the issue, and one way of doing this is to show the buyer evidence from the due diligence. If a seller fails to supply this, they are effectively selling the practice without any form of protection should there be any comeback by the buyer.

Due diligence can be a laborious task for sellers, and the best advice is to answer the buyer’s questions honestly, efficiently, and with as much information as possible. If a quick sale is needed, questions need to be answered in a timely manner to avoid delays. Due diligence also needs to be well presented – if it is not, then it can often give a poor impression of the practice, which might not necessarily be fair view.

Whilst due diligence is an early part of the sale and purchase process, it is – for both buyer and seller – a continuing task. The buyer is very much entitled to carry out due diligence, asking questions up until exchange of contracts and – in some cases – up until the sale has completed. This is because things may change. Staff may leave, or an electrical report may need updating, and for the seller is also important that they ensure that they have given the buyer the most up-to-date information.

One of the key elements of due diligence is to know what to look for and therefore, it is highly important to engage dental specialists from the outset. Goodman Grant focus entirely on dentistry, and so can provide an expert service, making the due diligence involved in buying and selling a practice far simpler.

Due diligence must be carried out, and must be thorough. Don’t fall into the trap of neglecting yours – follow expert advice, give due diligence the necessary attention during your buying or selling process, and you will be well-protected, should any issues arise, and well-informed about your new business.

Kate Beech of Goodman Grant Solicitors – contact on
kb@goodmangrant.co.uk

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

Kate Beech Biography

Kate joined Goodman Grant in May 2017 as a Director and deals with corporate transactions

Mentoring is defined by the Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring as “Supporting and encouraging people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be”. It is a productive relationship based on mutual trust and respect, and should be empowering and enriching for both parties involved.

It can be an effective way for an individual to develop and grow in their career and is a popular method in dentistry to complement other training and educational resources. Selecting and finding a suitable mentor can be challenging as experience, personality and accessibility are all important factors to consider. However, once the correct person is found it can lead to a career-long, positive experience.

Benefits to the mentor:
• Someone new to bounce ideas off and offer completely fresh perspectives
• Teaching a topic is known to broaden one’s own understanding
• Mentoring will require an individual to develop new skills in communication, leadership and coaching
• Expanded professional network, which may create new friendships or encourage increased referrals for complex cases in the near future
• Provides credibility and improves reputation among the wider profession

Benefits to the mentee:
• Improved confidence in practice knowing there is someone there for help and advice in every stage of a treatment from planning to long-term maintenance
• Guidance from someone more experienced and more qualified ensures they deliver safe and effective treatment from the start
• The opportunity to learn from someone else’s mistakes and to avoid encountering similar difficulties
• More objective help for more accurate self-assessments, which can help to boost the rate of improvement

Becoming a mentor / mentee
The easier way to become a mentor or find a mentor is to build a network of professionals with similar interests to you. This provides instant access to various people who are either seeking advice or who are willing to share their own experience to help others progress. There may also be a ready-made network within your practice / corporate environment as well. Rodericks Dental, for example, prides itself on supporting and nurturing all members of staff through a comprehensive training and mentoring programme. With a network of experienced and knowledgeable dentists ready to help individuals’ progress in their chosen path, it is a company created by dentists for dentists.

For more information about careers with Rodericks, please visit www.rodericksdental.co.uk/careers, email opportunity@rodericksdental.co.uk or call 01604 602491 (option 1) and ask for Christina Regan in our Dental Recruitment Team.

Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/rodericksdental,
Twitter @rodericksdental and LinkedIn
#wearerodericks

Issues surrounding children’s oral health remain as prevalent as ever despite the profession’s continuous efforts to tackle the various underlying problems. Up until recently, the profession’s voice has felt, at times, like a whisper in the wind, but the message has finally been heard by the powers that be in government.

In a highly anticipated and long overdue debate held by the House of Commons on 31st October 2017, Parliament acknowledged the importance of children’s oral health, with a number of MPs taking to the floor to voice their opinion and share their experiences of dental decay in their constituencies. The debate, chaired by Peter Bone, the Member of Parliament for Wellingborough, covered a range of pertinent topics and key issues. The most important of these were regional and social disparities, the impact of children’s oral health on the NHS (as well as their wider health and wellbeing), sugar consumption, access to dentistry, and issues surrounding current dental contracts. There can be no doubt that the call for action has been recognised by the government, and the outcome of the debate in many ways has been extremely positive.

A number of MPs, including Steve McCabe of Birmingham, Selly Oak who secured the debate, acknowledged that more must be done to address the problems. This begins with getting children to brush their teeth twice daily as recommended; ensuring they see a dentist regularly from a young age; and reducing the amount of sugar that children consume. Many agreed that a government-led nationwide education programme for young children and their parents would be a step in the right direction, as would changes to dental contracts to include a greater focus on preventive dentistry.

A number of other suggestions were made, including the pursuit of “teaspoon labelling” on the front of high-sugar products, improvements to fluoride programmes and the removal of sugary drinks and products from sports, education and health settings. Erewash MP Maggie Throup declared that the sugar levy is only a drop in the ocean and argued that more must also be done to limit price promotions on high-sugar products by working with retailers.

Altogether, it is clear to see that the debate provided much food for thought for participating MPs. Hopefully in time this will kick-start a broader range of government-led initiatives and at the very least strengthen collaboration between Parliament and the dental profession. As has been the case all along, only by working together can we hope to prevent dental decay and put a stop to the growing number of tooth extractions in hospitals. Oral health education, public awareness and access to children’s dental services will play a key role in this moving forward, and as the government has recognised, schemes such as Teeth Team supported by Simplyhealth, Starting Well and Dental Check by One should be used as a basis for action. Indeed, the foundations are already in place to make a difference, why not simply scale-up so that the results are more widespread.

There is a particular need for initiatives like the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry’s ‘Dental Check by One’ to be made a priority, because if access to care and workforce issues continue to affect dentistry, the profession needs to be doing all it can now to ensure that children get the best start possible. Hopefully this will in turn facilitate the on-going maintenance of children’s oral health, and allow the greater use of preventive treatments by dental hygienists and dental therapists in place of extractions by dentists. After all, it is widely recognised that the effective implementation of skills mix in the dental practice promotes the delivery of quality patient care, so why not maximise dental professionals’ scope of practice to the advantage of children’s oral health?

How Brexit and dentistry’s ongoing struggles with recruitment will affect plans to roll out potential programmes and move forward with schemes that tackle problems like sugar consumption and access to care, is not yet clear. However, there can be no doubt that a mutual collaboration between independent practices, corporates, local commissioners and central government will be the key to devising a pragmatic and achievable multi-layer solution. This will not only help to tackle children’s oral health, but also the wider issues that surround dentistry and restrict the provision of preventive treatments and use of skills mix. Certainly, there’s a lot to be taken away from Parliament’s debate, let’s hope that the momentum continues.

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

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) is delighted to present Dr Donald Sloss as its new President. Donald is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He has also passed Membership exams of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and is one of the few dentists in the country to have passed the strenuous accreditation process of the BACD.

Having been involved with the BACD from the very beginning, Donald comments on what he sees are the main strengths of the Academy:

“The BACD is one of the largest cosmetic dental organisations in world, which allows us to offer a wide range of educational services to members. This includes everything from basic understanding of smile design and aesthetic dentistry through to the most advanced techniques available, ultimately helping to improve the lives of patients. Our educational events give members easy access to the very best cosmetic dentists and educators in the world. When I first started in dentistry, I had to travel to Europe or even the US to get good education. But now, not only have we created great local talent, but we can also bring outstanding international speakers to UK, which is much more convenient.”

In addition to its clinical educational offerings, the BACD delivers on-going support in business-related areas as well. Taking this a step further, Donald is keen to not only provide the information and assistance members need, but he also hopes to re-ignite their passion for dentistry.

“I’d say one of the biggest challenges in dentistry today is meeting all the regulations,” says Donald. “While important to ensure the safety and effectiveness of patient care, I feel that the excessive red tape distracts professionals from the reason they got involved with dentistry in the first place – caring for patients. I think dentists need to recapture their profession to be able to enjoy dentistry again.”

Officially taking up his role as President of the BACD at the recent Annual Conference, Donald discusses what the Academy’s focus will be going forward.

“The BACD will continue to focus on providing first-class education for all members of the dental team. In days gone by, the majority of top cosmetic dentists seemed to be foreign, but with some fantastic talent in the UK right now, we want to help cultivate and learn from them too.

“As demonstrated during our 2017 Conference, which was designed in collaboration with the British Society for Occulsal Studies (BSOS), we remain committed to enhancing aesthetic outcomes with adequate function. We’re looking to make sure that cosmetic dentistry is applied to mainstream dentistry – all dentistry should be aesthetic, so if you’re restoring teeth, why not do it in a beautiful way?

“I’d also like to see more coordination between other dental societies and academia in the future. We already offer postgraduate education, but it would be great if we could start even earlier and influence undergraduate training too.

“The overall BACD philosophy will remain key in the coming years – it’s all about our patients. It’s about how we can best deliver a great service for them, give them back their confidence and maintain their teeth for life. As an Academy, our goal is to obtain the resources we need to provide even more fantastic professional learning opportunities for our members, ultimately promoting skills and a knowledge base for the good of our patients.”

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