Metro has reported that John Miles, a retired science teacher, has been awarded £45,000 after his bottom teeth fell out following botched mouth surgery.

The 62-year-old from Leeds was left humiliated after his lower bridge dropped out whilst he stood in front of his students.

His dentists, who had been treating him for 20 years, were sued for £45,000 as a result of the traumatic experience.

Mr Miles told the Metro: “It was nothing but pain and problems from the point I had the bridge and implants fitted. I had problems for three years with pain, fractures and it becoming loose.

“I remember I was teaching my class and all of a sudden an implant just came out in my hand. I held it up to the class.

“On another occasion, I was eating cereal and I heard a crack and that was my lower bridge breaking. I feel like I was very badly let down.”

As a result of the botched treatment, Mr Miles had no teeth in his bottom jaw for an entre year, after he developed gum disease and lost bone.

His dentists were said to have not informed him of his chronic gum problems, which caused him to lose 12 teeth.

“I had crowns and fillings every now and then, and I lost the odd tooth – but I didn’t imagine there was any major problem because I was ever told there was.

Mr Miles was made to pay for the faulty reconstruction, in 2014, out of his own retirement fund, which cost him £25,000. He has since received the compensation from his dentists after taking legal action against them.

His solicitor, Caroline Murgatroyd, told the Metro: “This really is a case of shocking dental care by two separate dentists.”

As reported in the Plymouth Herald, a dental centre in the city devastated by a suspected arson attack last year has been rated a ‘notable practice’ by inspectors.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the practice the highest possible in categories: safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led.

Livewell Southwest practice was closed after the fire last August, but Tessa Fielding, manager for the Dental Access Centre, said the CQC inspectors were impressed at how quickly the place was restored.

She said: “The fire caused major problems, with one floor out of action because of smoke and water damage. But staff here and colleagues from across Livewell Southwest pitched in and we managed to minimise the impact to patients by arranging them to be seen at alternative sites for the weeks we were forced to close treatment rooms.

“The inspectors were really keen to see how we put our emergency plan into action and were impressed at the way it all worked.

“This fantastic report is testament to the commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism of every member of the team.”

Notes made about the practice include the staff’s commitment to promoting equality of access for all patients and seeking out vulnerable groups. Also, the practice had an on-site interpreter planned in advance for those with language barriers of hearing impairments, as well as the installation of a wheelchair platform.

The inspectors said: “These approaches demonstrate a commitment to identifying and responding to the needs of individual patients and to the needs of vulnerable groups and supporting patients to achieve positive outcomes in respect of their oral health.“

With Easter just around the corner, it is important to remember to take care of your teeth. Dentist and founder of The Breath Company, Dr. Harold Katz, has shared some tips on what treats to indulge in and what ones to resist…

Turn away from…

Gummy sweets: These things are packed with enough high fructose corn syrup. The sweetener acts as an alternative to sugar, and is often considered worse than its natural counterpart. Moreover, another ingredient, gelatin, gets stuck between teeth and in the ridges of your mouth, making it difficult to clean. They are a sure-fire step toward cavities as well so avoid at all costs!

Caramel: This sticky substance leeches onto teeth long past the moment we munch on it. The sugars are bad for you, but that’s not the whole equation – the more time it spends on your molars and pearly whites the more the sugars can wear down teeth enamel. The saliva in our mouths is not strong enough to wash it down either, so caramel eventually leads to tooth decay.

Hard boiled sweets and lollies: These treats are made from mainly sugar, loud and plain. The longer you spend licking away, the more the sugar accumulates on your tongue and teeth, which provides a breeding ground for bacteria!

Tuck into…

Dark chocolate: If you’re going to indulge then dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 75% and above is definitely the way to go. Dark chocolate contains antibacterial properties that can help neutralise the bacteria in your mouth. It also contains tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids, which are all antioxidants that prevent bacteria from turning into damaging acids. It can also inhibit the production of dental plaque, and can help reduce the risk of gum disease because it reduces inflammation.  Although more bitter tasting than milk chocolate, dark chocolate is definitely a better alternative so get your kids used to it so their tastebuds learn the difference.

Chocolate covered nuts: Almonds in particular make a great alternative Easter treat as they are good for your body and teeth.  Almonds are great for your teeth as they can break up some of the biofilm of the teeth, and if you coat them in dark chocolate, you’ll have a double whammy healthy treat.

Chocolate covered fruit: Some chocolate covered fruits can be great for your mouth and oral health.  Just be careful which ones you pick!  Although there isn’t extensive research to prove it, strawberries are thought to have teeth whitening powers. Some experts have suggested using strawberries as an at-home whitener because these fruits can scrub away stains from coffee, soda and wine. Strawberries also contain vitamin C, which is known to combat bad breath. These wonderful fruits will help get rid of dental plaque, and can satisfy your sweet tooth. With a little bit of semi-sweet or dark chocolate coating, you’ve got yourself a healthy and tooth-friendly desert. Just make sure not to pack on several layers of chocolate and avoid dried fruits as these tend to have similar effects on the teeth as gooey candy.

Happy Easter from The Probe!

As told in the Guardian, the government’s seven-year-long one per cent pay cap will reach its end as more than one million of NHS staff are due to receive a pay rise.

With the average rise being 6.5 per cent, NHS workers must now back the deal in ballots run by their trade unions. Those benefitting most from the pay rise include the lowest paid workers of the NHS, including nurses, midwives, paramedics, porters and cleaners.

However, the British Dental Association (BDA) are calling on the government to extend the deal to the world of NHS dentistry. They have released survey evidence that reveals 68 per cent of NHS practices recruiting in England struggled to fill vacancies with 58 per cent of NHS dentists planning to leave the service within five years.

BDA Chair, Mick Armstrong, said: “We welcome recognition that taking NHS pay restraint to the nth degree is not compatible with a sustainable workforce or patient access. Colleagues are now looking for a sign that government is willing to apply that logic to all parts of the health service.

 “NHS dentistry is facing similar pressures on recruitment and retention, that risk becoming endemic in the face of an historic collapse in real incomes. It’s imperative this deal sets a precedent for all frontline health professionals.”

 For the full story, click here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/21/nhs-staff-65-pay-rise-deal-backed-by-healthcare-unions

The British Dental Association Northern Ireland has thrown its support behind calls from the NI Assembly for root and branch reform of oral health strategy, as new analysis shows extractions of multiple teeth among under-18s could be costing the health service over £9 million a year.

Tooth decay is the number one reason for child hospital admissions in NI. 5,122 children were admitted to hospital last year for removal of 22,699 teeth. Based on official data the BDA estimates the procedures – which took place under general anaesthetic – cost the service in the region of £9,347,650.

The BDA has warmly welcomed calls from MLA Roy Beggs for authorities to revisit the approach to oral health strategy across NI, and to learn vital lessons from the dedicated programmes in Scotland and Wales that are securing transformative improvements in children’s oral health. The Scottish Childsmile initiative has reportedly reduced dental treatment costs by £5 million a year, through outreach in schools and nurseries.

Dentist leaders have been encouraged by a wide range of small scale initiatives across NI to tackle the problem, but have called for a coordinated and appropriately funded NI-wide strategy.

Northern Ireland is at the bottom of the league table when it comes to children’s oral health outcomes in the UK, with 40 per cent of 5-year-olds showing signs of decay, compared to 25 per cent in England.

Northern Ireland Council Chair Roz McMullan said: “With the health service facing huge pressures, Northern Ireland needs to confront a wholly preventable disease that not only causes untold misery, but is now costing us millions.

“Our Oral Health Strategy is well past its sell by date. Governments in Wales and Scotland have shown there’s nothing inevitable about child tooth decay, and we can’t afford not to put those lessons into practice.

“We have seen a patchwork of schemes make welcome progress, but what we desperately need now is a joined-up approach.”