Month: May 2018

Supporting the profession through sponsorship

In support of finding and awarding the profession’s leading lights, CALCIVIS proudly sponsored two categories at this year’s Dental Awards hosted by Purple Media.

Dental Nurse of the Year – South, which was presented by Justin Smith, Marketing Manager at CALCIVIS, went to deserving winner Rebecca Silver from Waterside Dental Health in London. Russel Diffenthal, National Sales Manager at CALCIVIS, later took to the podium to bestow the National Young Dentist of the Year prize to award-winning dentist Andrew Wilson from Your Dental Practice, London.

“We were blown away by the level of talent that night,” says Justin Smith. “All the winners deserve huge congratulations – including Rebecca Silver and Andrew Wilson whom we had the pleasure of meeting – as do Purple Media for hosting an amazing evening.”

CALCIVIS is best known for its imaging system that enables the user to detect free calcium ions and see a map of active demineralisation on tooth surfaces. To find out more, contact the team.

 For more information visit www.CALCIVIS.com or call 0131 658 5152

 

An event like no other

For hygienists and therapists there’s no better event this year than the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2018 that recently took place at the NEC, Birmingham.

“I really enjoyed the show this year,” said Rachel White, a dental hygienist. “There was a really nice mixture of stands and lectures, with lots of new products, brands and ideas coming to the fore.”

The main attraction was, of course, the Hygienist & Therapist Symposium sponsored this year by GSK and supported by the BSDHT and the BADT, which provided a spectacular lecture programme covering a range of interesting and educational topics. First class speakers included Professor Iain Chapple, Dr Ben Atkins and Anna Middleton, Jane Peterson, Michaela O’Neill and Fiona Sandom, Melonie Prebble and Victoria Wilson, Deborah M. Lyle, and more.

Also popular with the hygienists and therapists was the Core CPD Theatre –which was supported by King’s College London – and bustling trade show where the latest and greatest products were on display.

Weren’t able to make the event? Be sure to attend next year for the very best lecture programme and exhibition that dentistry has to offer.

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2019 – Friday 17thand Saturday 18thMay – Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.

For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270

or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

 

More than meets the eye

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2018 exceeded all expectations with world-class speakers, high calibre education, free enhanced CPD and numerous networking opportunities.

As the first event resulting from the collaboration between the British Dental Association (BDA) and CloserStill Media, the show boasted an exciting BDA Theatre programme with an impressive line-up of renowned speakers.

Other popular features included the BACD Aesthetic & Digital Dentist Theatre, Next Generation Conference, Special Interest Theatre, Core CPD Theatre, Compliance Clinic and Dental Business Theatre. There was also the perfect chance to source new innovations across the exhibition floor, where hundreds of companies presented their latest solutions and offered on-stand education with extra CPD.

Dawn Brooks, dentist, commented: “I had a really great day at the show. There was a good selection of talks and a wide variety of exhibition stands to browse.”

Make sure you don’t miss out next year and save the dates in your diary today.

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2019 – Friday 17thand Saturday 18thMay – Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS

For further details visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270

or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

“More money needs to be invested in NHS dentistry,” charity demands… and research shows the public agree

 


The UK’s leading oral health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, has today demanded the government significantly increase investment in NHS dentistry and are highlighting strong public support for more funding as a sign that things need to change.

The charity feels that although the NHS dental system in the UK continues to perform well and provides a remarkable service, despite being continually underfunded by the government, the time has come for greater support to be given to a continually besieged service.

The Oral Health Foundation is drawing on new research, undertaken as part of National Smile Month, which reveals strong public support for more NHS dentistry funding; with half (48%) of British adults indicating they would be willing to pay more National Insurance to further improve services1.

With such strong public support, the Oral Health Foundation feels the government must not only pay attention but also make meaningful changes which will improve the system for all. 

Speaking on the subject Dr Nigel Carter, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said: “Dentistry currently receives a very tiny amount of the NHS budget but still offers a service of exceptionally high quality.

“The number of NHS dental visits has increased in the last year, which shows the public still have confidence in the service and the fact they are willing to pay more for dentistry through greater tax shows they place a great value on it.

“NHS dental charges for patients have recently increased by 5%, almost twice inflation, which means patients are having to make up the shortfall from government funding. This has to stop, and it is time the government make changes which do not put pressure on patients.

“We now have 61% of adults in England, 60% in Northern Ireland and 69% in both Wales and Scotland attending a NHS dentist regularly, while others choose to use private dentistry services. While this has increased in the last few decades there is still a long way to go, improved funding can help to achieve this.”

Further findings from the research, carried out as part of National Smile Month, the UK’s largest and longest running charity campaign to improve the nation’s oral health, show a strong correlation between household earnings and readiness to pay more tax for greater NHS services. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those with most disposable income are the most willing to consider an NHS dental tax.

Dr Carter added: “Taxes often hit the poorest hardest.

“In reality, we shouldn’t have to pay more taxes, most people pay their fair share, and this is more a case of a better allocation to an underfunded service.

“Poor oral health remains a significant issue in Britain, especially in children, with a quarter of 5-year-olds suffering from tooth decay, every single case of which could have been prevented and that is where significant investment should be made. The Childsmile initiative in Scotland has shown that investment in preventive programmes for children more than pay for themselves in reduced treatment costs even within five years. It is a scandal that the government refuses to fund such a programme in England.

“One way the government could improve the funding of NHS dental services would be to allocate some of the funds raised from the recently introduced levy on sugar sweetened drinks.”

National Smile Month is being supported by some of the nation’s best-known brands and retailers. Oral-B are platinum sponsors of the campaign, with further support from Wrigley, Philips, Regenerate Enamel Science, POLO® Sugar Free and Curaprox.

The campaign will deliver three key messages for better oral health:

  • Brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Cut down on how much and how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
  • Visit the dentist regularly – as often as they recommend.

If you have not done so yet there is still time to support the campaign and take part in National Smile Month. Simply visit www.smilemonth.org to find out more about what the campaign is all about and how you can get involved.

 
 

Government intervention needed for food manufacturers to cut sugar, charity claims

Following the release of new data by Public Health England (PHE), revealing that food manufacturers are failing to reduce sugar content voluntarily, the UK’s leading oral health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, feel that further government regulation will be needed.

The new sugar reduction data, released yesterday [22 May 2018], shows that voluntary action by companies remains unacceptably slow, and even non-existent in places, with an average of just a 2% reduction across eight categories of retailer and branded foods. 

This is in comparison to changes made by the soft drinks industry, since the announced introduction of the sugar levy, seeing sugar levels have fallen by an average of 11%.

The charity believes much more should be done to reduce the sugar content of foods in the UK, particularly those aimed at children, in order to have a positive impact on the nation’s oral and general health.

Speaking about the possibility of further government intervention driving change in the food and drink industry, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation said: “The recent introduction of the sugar levy in Britain shows that government regulation works as it has drastically sped up product reformulation – a measure that will have a positive impact on sugar consumption and oral health.

“Food manufactures have been given the opportunity to take responsibility for the impact of sugar in their products voluntarily, but if they do not do so, we believe that increased government regulation will be needed.

“Excessive and frequent sugar consumption is especially damaging to the UK’s oral health. It is a key reason why a child is treated in hospital every ten minutes for tooth decay – which is entirely avoidable.

“In other areas of the world where a sugar levy has been introduced, we have seen it be highly successful in reducing sugar consumption as well as improving the health of the population.

“We firmly believe that if the sugar levy in the UK was extended to other food categories, it would inevitably lead to better oral health, as well as having a greater impact on other aspects of health and wellbeing.”

The information from PHE, which has been put into the public domain, show there has been no progress in sugar reduction in biscuits and confectionery, while sugar levels associated whilst puddings have actually increased.

 

A Boost to Your Marketing Strategy

The professional team from Munroe Sutton inspired many delegates at this year’s British Dental Conference and Dentistry show.

In a Business Skills Workshop, Jeremy Hedrick and Valerie Bostrom of Munroe Sutton’s Network Development team demonstrated their understanding on “Achieving affordable private dental care following the American model.” Delegates left the session armed with new insights into how they can attract new patients to their practices.

Delegates were also able to find out how they could benefit from connecting to a vast patient base through an exclusive network of some of Britain’s most influential healthcare, insurance and financial institutions.

Practices within Munroe Sutton’s network simply offer the Healthy Discounts scheme to help patients save 20% on the cost of dental treatment. In return, Munroe Sutton works closely with companies such as Cigna to promote your practice and provide remarkable support to your business.

If you are yet to join, get in touch with the team today to start enjoying the benefits of membership at Munroe Sutton. 

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

A clinically proven solution

For professionals seeking clinically proven products to improve interdental cleaning among their patients, Wisdom Toothbrushes delivered a solution at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show.

Dentists and DCPs alike were interested to discover that the Wisdom Clean Between Rubber Interdental Brushes are ideal for a wide range of patients, including those with crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances and dental implants.

Clinically proven to reduce gingival disease,[i],[ii]the UK’s No. 1 selling rubber interdental brushes feature flexible and tapered brush heads with micro-fine rubber filaments that glide easily between the teeth. Ensuring a thorough but gentle clean, the wire-free brushes are available in three sizes to suit different interdental gaps and are perfect for any patients who find wire interdental brushes difficult to use or painful.

Delegates also showed great interest in the Wisdom Pro-flex Interdental Brushes which feature a unique flexible hinged neck and curved handle for improved access to difficult-to-reach areas.

New for this year were the Clean Between Easy Slide Flossers with an innovative Waveform Tension Control System that holds the floss taunt.

If you missed the team at the show, find out more from the website or by contacting the friendly team today.

To find out more, please visit www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com or call 01440 714800

 

 

 

[i]Yost et el, Interproximal gingivitis and plaque reduction by four interdental products. J Clin Dent. 2006;17(3):79-83.

[ii]Prof. Dr. Petra Ratka-Krüger et al, Clinical trial of a metal-free interdental brush. University Medical Centre Freiburg, Germany. Pub Nov 2010.

Ultaire™ AKP triumphs at DTS 2018

Delegates flocked to the Solvay Dental 360™stand at the Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) 2018 to see a new generation polymer called Ultaire™AKP.  This custom-designed material has been developed specifically for removable partial denture frames (RPD) and offers patients a comfortable, natural looking alternative to traditional metal frames.

Dental technicians were delighted to discover this high performance, metal free solution and were amazed to see the efficiencies it creates for laboratories and dentists alike.

Ultiare™AKP is supplied in Dentivera™ milling discs and laboratories do not need to purchase any new equipment to use them. It is a simple import of the Solvay Dental 360™ material settings into CAD software and away you go.

With Ultaire AKP it is easy to design and create high quality RPD frames that are strong but lightweight, stable and well fitting. This ground-breaking technology also streamlines the digital workflow, cuts labour and increases productivity.

If you weren’t able to visit DTS, never fear – you can still find out about this revolutionary material by contacting Solvay Dental 360™today.

For more information about Solvay Dental 360™, Ultaire™ AKP and Dentivera™ milling discs, please visit www.solvaydental360.com

 

Nobel Biocare unveils latest innovation

Nobel Biocare is known around the globe for its constant innovation and its quest to help clinicians treat more patients better.

We were reminded of this at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show, where the team revealed the latest solution in Nobel Biocare’s extensive implant product portfolio – Trefoil™.

This ground-breaking system facilitates the delivery of definitive teeth in only one day to a wider range of patients. It combines a pre-manufactured titanium bar, three implants and an acrylic prosthesis to enable shorter time to teeth. It also allows a simplified restorative workflow and reduced chair time compared to alternative concepts.

Other solutions to pique delegates’ interest were the On1 concept – moving the restorative platform from bone level to tissue level and minimising soft tissue disruption – and the new DTX Studio™ software, provided in collaboration with KaVo Kerr. The digital platform ensures simple integration and connection between technologies within the practice and with the lab for a streamlined and smooth workflow.

If you missed anything at the event, the Nobel Biocare team would be more than happy to discuss these with you over the phone – give them a call today.

For more information, contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300, or visit www.nobelbiocare.com

Initial Medical Launches Colour Code Characters

At the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2018, Initial Medical launched its fun range of Colour Code Characters designed to make waste management easier in your practice.

With a character to represent each waste stream, the team demonstrated how their new system makes it simpler to remember which items should be segregated and disposed of into which colour coded waste container or bag.

Delegates were also keen to pick up their own colour code posters, which provide more details in an easy-to-understand format. Ideal for placing around the surgery, these posters were just one more way that Initial Medical can help practices enhance their compliance with waste management guidelines.

If you missed the team at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show, you can still seek the support you and your team need to ensure safe waste segregation and disposal. Call Initial Medical to find out more today.

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medicalor Tel: 0870 850 404

About Initial Medical Waste Experts

Initial Medical is an expert in healthcare waste management, providing a complete collection, disposal and recycling service for hazardous and non-hazardous waste and offensive waste produced by businesses and organisations within the UK.

The safe management of healthcare waste is vital to ensure your activities are not a risk to human health.  Initial Medical’s healthcare waste services ensure that all of your waste is stringently handled in compliance with legislation and in accordance with Safe Management of Healthcare Waste best practice guidelines, providing you with the peace of mind that you are adhering to current legislation.

For further information please visit www.initial.co.uk/medical or Tel: 0870 850 4045