More and more patients are starting to realise the benefits of having a truly healthy and beautiful smile. This is one of several reasons why cosmetic dentistry has become incredibly sought after in recent years, emphasising the need for clinicians to keep up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. As a world-leading authority in the field, the BACD offers access to unparalleled educational opportunities that enable dental professionals to expand on their knowledge and skills.

The BACD Annual Conference is always a highlight of the dental calendar, providing a platform from which to learn and network. This year’s three-day event will deliver an educational programme covering a diverse range of topics, with industry leaders, influencers and innovators sharing their wisdom to help delegates raise their own standards of cosmetic dentistry. Among the most anticipated hands-on workshops of the Annual Conference will be Dr Oliver Harman’s session on “The 16 Things You Need To Know To Be A Cosmetic Dentist”.

Dr Harman has extensive experience in all aspects of cosmetic and general aesthetic dentistry, having owned successful private practices in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, and in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Dr Harman has also worked for Oasis Dental Care/BUPA and MyDentist. He is a Director of the BACD, Chair of the BACD Credentialing Committee, and an examiner for the BACD Accreditation Programme. He is also one of only two UK dentists to have achieved the prestigious BACD Fellowship Award. His professional insight will prove particularly valuable to those seeking to get more involved in the world of cosmetic dentistry.

“As the modern dental profession requires both technical and creative skills, there is a natural progression towards cosmetic dentistry for many dentists,” Dr Harman says. “There is also emotional value in offering good cosmetic dentistry – patient satisfaction can be very high and they really appreciate the work their dentist does for them in this area. However, treatment outcomes can be subjective – you could do amazing work, but if it is not what the patient imagined, then treatment could still be deemed a failure. Both clinical and communication skills are therefore crucial.

“During my session, I will cover the pillars of knowledge you must have to be a cosmetic dentist, as well as lots of useful tips, insights and potential danger zones. I want to help make the unknowns, known, so practitioners know where they stand, where they need to improve and what they can aim for in order to become better cosmetic dentists.

“I will cover the 16 core subjects required by all good cosmetic dentists. Many GDPs are already very proficient in most areas, but perhaps just need to advance or refine their skills in others. Insufficient training or experience in just one or two areas can ruin an otherwise great case, so days of work with the patient and the technician are wasted. Identifying skills that require development is essential in order to become a good all-round cosmetic dentist. It is not a linear learning process either – we all need to continuously update our knowledge and skills so that we remain at the forefront of modern techniques and materials.

“A key challenge, particularly for undergraduates, is the variation in information provided about cosmetic dentistry. Additional training is necessary so dentists need to choose courses that offer high quality, comprehensive education. The learning pathway itself is mostly self-guided, so I hope my session on the 16 core subjects for cosmetic dentistry will help delegates plan their development effectively. This aligns perfectly with the GDC’s new approach to the Personal Development Plan (PDP), which requires dentists to establish areas for further training and then plan their learning accordingly.

“For dentists seeking guidance and recognition for their commitment to skill advancement, I will also discuss the BACD Accreditation Programme. This is essentially designed to assess cosmetic dentists in the 16 core subjects and award those who achieve consistently high standards across the board. BACD Accreditation is absolutely within the reach of every aspiring cosmetic dentist, it just takes time and dedication to training. You will likely already be competent in many areas, so it’s just about focusing on those areas you can improve.

“At the end of the day, cosmetic dentistry is no different to normal general dentistry, there’s just another level of attainment required. It involves another layer of treatment planning and a little extra thought. It is also definitely not about excessive dentistry or over-treatment. With today’s materials and techniques, we can achieve outstanding cosmetic and functional outcomes by taking a minimally invasive and often more affordable approach.”

With many other learning opportunities available at the BACD’s Sixteenth Annual Conference, Dr Harman adds: “It’s great to meet up with old friends and get to know some of the newer, passionate BACD members. Learning definitely does not stop after the formal lectures and I know chatting in the bar afterwards – often well into the night – has been an equally essential source of learning for me. The opportunity to discuss cosmetic dentistry in a relaxed, friendly environment with some of the best cosmetic dentists in the UK today is a real privilege.”

Book your place by visiting the BACD website today.

The BACD Sixteenth Annual Conference 2019

‘Delivering Excellence: Tradition vs. Innovation’

7^th– 9^thNovember 2019

Millennium Gloucester Hotel

Kensington, London

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

The month of October is synonymous with crisp autumn leaves and carving pumpkins, but it’s also an important month in terms of cancer awareness. Breast Cancer Awareness Month spans the whole of October, and is an important opportunity for you and your practice to help patients understand more about the disease and its links to oral health, as well as raise some funds to support a very important cause.

According to research, the risk of developing breast cancer is up to three times higher in women who have periodontal disease.[i]This is thought to be because the body’s systematic inflammation that originates in infected gums triggers the cell mutations that create breast cancer tumours. Another suggested link is that bacteria entering the circulatory system through infected gums can eventually end up in the breast and cause tumours to form.

Whilst neither of these theories offer iron clad proof, there is strong evidence to support that an association does exist, especially in regards to postmenopausal women.[ii]This is something that professionals should take the time to warn patients about, especially if there is evidence that they have some level of gum disease.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also a good opportunity for your practice to raise some funds to support breast cancer charities. Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer in women in the UK, and 55,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed every year.[iii]Men are also not immune, and though numbers are much smaller, there are still 350 new cases of breast cancer among them in the UK every year.

Luckily, there are some fantastic charities that you can support in a number of different ways. Breast Cancer Now not only have a wealth of information about the disease available for those who want to learn more, but also support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by encouraging people to wear pink to raise awareness and funds.

You can find out more about the work they do to battle the disease and about Breast Cancer Awareness Month HERE: www.wearitpink.org

Another good charity to support is the Pink Ribbon Foundation. One of their fun initiatives is called SHOOT4PINK and encourages people to play ball sports and keep active in order to raise funds. You can find out how to take part and download a free fundraising pack HERE: https://shoot4pink.com/

There are lots of ways to get involved during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Could you have an all pink day at your practice? Or perhaps you could get the more active members of your team to band together and run a sponsored race or something similarly challenging? The options are endless and whatever you do you can feel confident that by warning patients of the risks of gum disease and raising awareness of breast cancer, you are doing your bit in battling this deadly disease.

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk

call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk

[i]Oral Health Foundation. Breast Cancer Risk Up To Three Times Higher in Women With Gum Disease. Link: https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/breast-cancer-risk-up-to-three-times-higher-in-women-with-gum-disease[Last accessed July 19].

[ii]American Association for Cancer Research. Periodontal Disease is Associated With Increased Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women. Link: https://www.aacr.org/Newsroom/Pages/News-Release-Detail.aspx?ItemID=823[Last accessed July 19].

[iii]Breast Cancer Now. Breast Cancer Facts. Link: https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/want-to-know-about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-facts[Last accessed July 19].