Month: June 2021

Philips launches new All-in-One brushhead

Philips newly launched premium, multi-facted brushhead is designed to brush away plaque, remove stains and care for gums in ways not possible with a manual toothbrush. The angled bristles of the All-in-One brushhead help remove up to 20 times more plaque1, whilst providing flex to compensate for any excess pressure exerted by the brusher. The triangular tips can remove up to 100 percent more stains in less than two days2 and the longer bristles provide a deep clean for gums, which as a result, ensures the gingiva is up to 15 times healthier.

This is Philips’ all-time best brushhead, which achieves its best clinical results. According to Dental Hygienist Anna Middleton who has had the opportunity to trial it ahead of the launch: “’The All-in-One is by far the best electric brushhead I have ever used. The unique bristle design provides an extremely gentle yet thorough clean. In fact, my teeth have never felt cleaner.”

Dr Alif Moosajee echoes her findings: “I’ve been using Sonicare for 18 years now. I first came across the brush as a dental student and the difference in the way my mouth felt after using it when compared which a manual toothbrush was something I can never forget. My mouth had never felt cleaner and I was so happy that I have never moved away from using a Sonicare.

“I didn’t realise I could experience that marked improvement again but since using the new All-in-One brushhead my mouth feels so much cleaner than it did before. I really feel that this represents the pinnacle in what we should be recommending for our patients – setting them up for success and having an optimal clean every day, not just every 6 months when they come to see us!”

All for one and one for all

The new All-in-One brushhead has been designed to provide complete care, helping Sonicare users to achieve cleaner, whiter teeth and healthier gums more effectively. Happily the brushhead fits every Sonicare toothbrush, so patients can upgrade their brushing efficiency without changing their brush.

A brushead dual pack is available for sale in dental practices for £9.99 and has a recommended retail price of £29.99 For more information please contact dental.sales.support@philips.com.

Nick Palmer and Ken Eaton awarded Faculty Medals

Nick Palmer and Ken Eaton have each been awarded the Faculty Medal, which recognises the most exceptional contributions to the general dental profession through the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP), and is the highest honour bestowed by the organisation.

Dr Nikolaus Palmer FFGDP(UK) graduated from the University of Liverpool in 1976 before practising as a General Dental Practitioner in Crosby for over 30 years, providing predominantly NHS treatment with a special interest in orthodontics. A founding member of the Faculty, he achieved the MFGDP(UK) and later Fellowship, and has been a committed servant of the Faculty for almost three decades, serving over 18 years on the Board, chairing the Research and Publications Committees, and serving as a Vice Dean and member of the Executive Committee.

Dr Nick Palmer

With a strong commitment to dental education, for 25 years he has been a clinical lecturer, later honorary clinical lecturer, at Liverpool Dental School, teaching and supervising undergraduate students of dentistry and dental therapy. A clinical advisor to Health Education England North West, he was a long serving dental foundation trainer, has mentored a number of overseas dentists working in the UK, and developed the dental practice in which he was a partner as a training practice. He also served the Faculty nationally as Vice Chair of the Education Committee and Chair of the Examinations Committee, a role in which he led the development of the MJDF and the FGDP(UK) Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics, and the re-development of FGDP(UK) Fellowship.

Beyond this considerable service, perhaps his most significant contribution has been in the development of three editions of guidance on the use of antimicrobials in dentistry – a subject on which he is a renowned authority, and which was the basis of his PhD, awarded by the University Liverpool in 2001. The first edition of the guidance, published in 2000, covered prescribing to adults in general dental practice, and in 2012 he expanded the scope, with the publication of the second edition, to cover prescribing to child patients. The third edition, published in December 2020, was expanded again to cover specialist as well as general dental care, and represents the culmination of over two decades of work which has contributed to a marked reduction in the number of inappropriate prescriptions in dentistry, and helped ensure that dental patients across the UK and elsewhere are prescribed the right antimicrobial, in the right dosage and for the right duration. The guidance is widely cited, has been consulted over half a million times in the last five years alone since it was made available online, and its relevance will only increase as the global problem of antimicrobial resistance becomes ever more acute.

Professor Kenneth Eaton FFGDP(UK) has worked in general dental practice, specialist practice and academic dentistry, edited several dental journals, and has lectured, taught and advised in over 30 countries worldwide. A registered specialist in both periodontics and dental public health, he is currently a Visiting Professor at University College London and Honorary Professor at the University of Kent, and serves as Chair of the British Dental Editors and Writers Forum, Trust Dental Tutor for East Kent, and as a committee member of the European Chapter of the Alliance for a Cavity Free Future.

Professor Ken Eaton

Joining the Faculty in 1993, he was editor of Primary Dental Care from 2003 to 2013, of Team in Practice from 2008 to 2013, and of the first (2007) edition of Standards in Dentistry. He was also co-editor of the second (2004) and current (2013) editions of Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography, and of An introduction to Research for Primary Dental Care Clinicians (2010), which he is currently involved in updating. He is Associate Editor of the journals Community Dental Health and Clinical Experimental Dental Research, has published over 350 scientific works, and is a past editor of Oral Health and Dental Management and co-editor of the book Practical Periodontics.

After graduating BDS from the University of London, where he later completed an MSc with distinction and PhD, he practised dentistry in the armed forces, becoming Director of the Royal Air Force School of Dental Hygiene. Later Vice-President of the then British Dental Hygienists Association, from 1998 to 2003 he was the Director of the National Centre for the Continuing Professional Education of Dentists, and he is a past President of the Education Research and Practice-Based Research Groups of the International Association for Dental Research and of the European Association of Dental Public Health.

Adviser to the Council of European Chief Dental Officers for over twenty years, he has also advised the World Health Organisation and the health departments of several European countries, and was the first Chair of the Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe.  In 2008 he was awarded a doctorate honoris causa by the Ovidius University of Romania, and appointed as a Special Adviser to the House of Commons Health Select Committee’s inquiry into dental services in England, and he was Scientific Adviser to the 2009 World Dental Hygienist Conference in Glasgow.

He is a Fellow of FGDP, as well as of the International College of Dentists, the Faculty of Public Health and the Higher Education Academy. He also holds the Membership in General Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and is a Full Member of the National Conference of University Professors.

The latest awards of the Faculty Medal, conferred by the FGDP(UK) Board, were the final ones to be made by FGDP as it prepares to transfer into the College of General Dentistry next month. Previous winners include Shelagh Farrell and Mike Mulcahy.

FGDP(UK) Dean, Ian Mills FFGDP(UK), said: “Nick and Ken are exceptional general dental practitioners who have made extraordinary contributions to the Faculty and to the dental profession, and who are ambassadors for our profession among other health professions and beyond. Their work has helped raise the standard of care experienced by countless dental patients, and their tirelessness and unsurpassed dedication set an example to us all. On behalf of the FGDP(UK) Board, it is my great pleasure and privilege as Dean to award them both the Faculty Medal in recognition of their many admirable and significant achievements.”

Consistent early results, reasonably priced

Dr Nilesh R. Parmar of Parmar Dental in Southend-On-Sea comments on his initial experience with the Xenograft® grafting materials from Straumann®.

“Straumann® Xenograft® delivers great results that are comparable to previous bone graft materials I have used, but it is much more reasonably priced.

“In terms of performance, Xenograft® handles very nicely. The granules stick together and are easily manipulated. I’ve also noticed good healing with little inflammation – it is still early days using the product, but so far, early results have been consistent. The good soft tissue response also contributes to great aesthetic outcomes. I mostly use Straumann® Xenograft® for smaller bony defects.

“The presentation of the product is well thought out, especially the pot and lid design. For a long time, many biomaterials were delivered in uninspiring plastic cylinders with weak, bulky packaging that could easily become damaged and were difficult to store. While I appreciate this does not determine product quality, it is nice to see Straumann taking more care over how they present their solutions.” 

 

For more information about the comprehensive range of biomaterials available from the Straumann Group, please visit www.straumann-uk.co/biomaterials

The problem with the UK’s sweet tooth

Poor nutrition is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and a preventable risk factor for the four main types of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.[i] Findings from a study which looked at the health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, by evaluating their consumption of major foods and nutrients, concluded that they “affected people regardless of age, sex and sociodemographic development of their place of residence”.[ii]

The results clearly showed the need for “coordinated global efforts to improve the quality of the human diet” while recognising the “complexity of dietary behaviours”. So, for action to be effective it must be targeted. In the UK, public health campaigns around nutrition, such as Change4Life, have tended to target obesity. Obesity is a significant public health burden across all four countries and the latest available figures for England showed that 67% of men and 60% of women were either overweight or obese. Worryingly, 20% of Year 6 children (ages 10-11) were also classified as obese.[iii] Being overweight or obese is a key, modifiable risk factor for all NCDs.

In the UK, one of the biggest nutritional threats to good health (and maintenance of a healthy weight) is our love of sugar. Taking regional variations into account, we consume far more processed foods and those containing free sugars – sugars added to food or drink, or that naturally occur in things like honey – than we should. According to a study from 2019, ultra-processed foods accounted for 56.8% of the total energy intake for a sample of over 9000 adults and children, with 61.3% of the adult sample exceeding the recommended daily free sugar intake.[iv] Of concern was that the percentages of children and adolescents exceeding the recommended daily limit for free sugars were even higher, at 74.9% and 82.9% respectively. With ultra-processed foods often being full of sodium and trans fats too, our diet circa 2019 was a recipe for disaster.

The evolution of how we eat

Pre-2020, discussions about dietary behaviours in the UK often considered if how we were eating was impacting on what we were eating. In other words, our growing snack culture. Rather than the three meals a day, busy modern life meant plenty of school children were skipping breakfast and grabbing a snack and fizzy drink mid-morning instead and office workers were eating something shop-bought and on-the-go rather than taking a proper lunchbreak. When daily routines were turned upside down, did the pandemic change how – and what – we eat?

Only time will tell. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that, certainly in the short term, many people struggled with maintaining a healthy diet during the crisis – sweet food, also alcohol, can be comforting in tough times. The pandemic impacted drastically on millions of people’s food budgets as well; child food poverty was brought into the spotlight.  

This year, there is real opportunity to encourage better dietary behaviours, and the value of good nutrition to support physical and mental health has never been higher. Good nutrition is preventive for serious NCDs, and oral health practitioners are perfectly placed to deliver this message to their patients, even those who are “well”. The obvious starting point is helping them to reduce sugar consumption. From a dental perspective, it will reduce their risk of caries and other oral disease, also things like halitosis and hypersensitivity. More generally, cutting down on sugar will mean they look and feel better.

They should understand a nutritionally varied diet will absorb the odd, sweet treat too. The term “self-care” has become ubiquitous, but if someone wants a biscuit with their cup of tea after a horrible day, when the bigger picture is good, they should have it. To support your patients’ optimal health, encourage them to focus on what they are adding, rather than taking away.

So, they can reduce sugar, but add lots more things to their diet – more calcium, nuts, seeds and legumes, for example. They can also add to or enhance their daily oral care routine, by doing something as simple as swapping their toothpaste. Arm & Hammer™ toothpastes have baking soda added to their formulations for powerful plaque removal, if teeth are sensitive, Arm & Hammer™ has Sensitive Pro™ daily toothpaste contains both sodium fluoride and calcium phosphates. When used regularly, these can offer lasting relief from hypersensitivity for up to 16 weeks.

Unpicking the problem of poor nutrition in the UK isn’t easy. We consume more free sugars than our nearest geographical neighbours, and processed foods have routinely become an alternative to preparing a meal from scratch. Reducing consumption of sugar is a small change that can have a big impact. As part of an enhanced daily routine, it will allow patients to eat more of the things that benefit their physical and mental wellbeing as well as supporting their oral health.

 

For more information about the carefully formulated Arm & Hammer™ toothpaste range, please visit https://www.armandhammer.co.uk/ or email: ukenquiries@churchdwight.com

Arm & Hammer™ oral healthcare products are available at Boots, Superdrug, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons throughout the UK.

 

[i] World Health Organization. Noncommunicable diseases. Key fact, 1 June 2018. Link: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases (accessed February 2021).

 

[ii] Afshin A, Sur PJ, Fay KA, Cornaby L, Ferrara G, Salama JS, Mullany EC, Abate KH, Abbafati C, Abebe Z, Afarideh M. Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The Lancet. 2019 May 11;393 (10184): 1958-72.

[iii] NHS Digital. Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England 2020. Published 5 May 2020. Link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/england-2020 (accessed February 2021).

 

[iv] Rauber F, da Costa Louzada ML, Steele EM, de Rezende LF, Millett C, Monteiro CA, Levy RB. Ultra-processed foods and excessive free sugar intake in the UK: a nationally representative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019 Oct 1;9 (10): e027546.

 

Oral Health Foundation welcomes pre-watershed junk food advertising ban

In response to the government passing regulations on when junk food advertisements are allowed to play on television, the Oral Health Foundation welcomes these new restrictions and acknowledges that it is a step in the right direction, but worries that there is still a lot more work to do.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “Nutrition is a key part of taking care of not just our general health but also our oral health. The amount of sugar we consume has a devastating impact on the nation’s oral health. Cutting down on sugar consumption is the number one way to stop tooth decay, and junk food is often filled with sugar in order to make the taste more appealing.

“Tooth decay remains the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.  The NHS carries out almost 900,000 tooth extractions on children under 18 every year and nine-in-ten of these are down to tooth decay. Tooth extractions takes a great physical and emotional toll on children and is often a source of trauma.  All measures we can take to prevent a child having to go through this [tooth extraction] are things we welcome wholeheartedly.
Dr Ben Atkins, President of the Oral Health Foundation, also welcomes these new regulations, sharing some heart-wrenching personal accounts of having to perform tooth extractions on young children.

Dr Atkins adds: “When you’re holding a parent’s hand because you’ve just had to take all of their child’s teeth out under general anaesthetic and the child’s looking you in the eye saying ‘why have you done this to me’ you will welcome any new rules brought in to help protect children and stop situations like this occurring.

“Performing tooth extractions on a child is risky, especially under general anaesthetic which comes with a lot of risks itself.  That child might not have woken up from anaesthetic. I could have put their life in danger over something which could have easily been managed with proper diet and proper oral healthcare.”

Despite being a move in the right direction, both Dr Carter and Dr Atkins believe the new regulations do not going far enough to protect children.

Dr Carter says: “The proposed ban on junk food television advertising is a great first step, however will still be allowed through audio media, such as podcasts and radio, and there will be no new restrictions for the out-of-home sector, which includes billboards, poster sites, on buses, and in locations such as railway stations and airports. 
“With many young children now also consuming more and more media online through things like Amazon Prime and YouTube, they may still be able to see junk food advertising through these channels.

“Extending these restrictions to cover all media types, especially streaming platforms, is the next natural progression.”

Dr Atkins adds: “Ultimately, the buying decision is still down to caregivers. They largely control what their children consume and while this advertising ban is welcomed, we all need to change our attitudes, and reduce our consumption of sugary foods, to effect change.”

Three new members elected to the FGDP Board and CGDent Council

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK)) has announced the results of recent elections to its National Board, with three new members elected, and two re-elected.

Matthew Collins FFGDP(UK), a General Dental Practitioner in Batley, has been elected to the National seat previously held by former Vice-Dean Mark Richardson FFGDP(UK), who stepped down to fulfil an overseas military posting.

Matthew Collins

Matthew has a particular clinical interest in dental rehabilitations for patients with worn and missing teeth, and has undertaken extensive postgraduate training in composite techniques, aesthetic dentistry and dental implantology. He graduated from Leeds University in 1998, joined the FGDP(UK) in 2001, achieved Fellowship in 2010, and holds both a Master’s degree in Clinical Dentistry from the University of London and the Diploma in Implant Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. A member of the Association of Dental Implantology,  and Chair of Calderdale and Kirklees Local Dental Committee, he is also a Facilitator for the Faculty’s ‘Preparing for Fellowship’ programme and a member of the FGDP(UK) Academy.

Kanwar Singh Ratra MFGDP(UK) has been elected to the West Midlands seat, which was recently vacated by Abhi Pal following his election as the final Dean of FGDP and first elected President of the CGDent.

Kanwar Singh Ratra

Kanwar qualified from Liverpool Dental School in 1999 and is Principal Dental Surgeon at Lansdowne House Dental Practice in Bromsgrove and at Bilston Dental Practice, where he enjoys guiding nervous dental patients through their treatment journey. With a strong interest in dental education, he was a clinical lecturer at Birmingham Dental Hospital from 2003 to 2012, and in 2015 was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Birmingham. He has been a full member of the FGDP(UK) since 2004, and served as President of the Central Counties Branch of the British Dental Association from 2015 to 2017. He is also a director and founder of an innovative medical devices company, Sentra Medical Limited.

Ewen McColl MFGDP(UK), Director of Clinical Dentistry at Plymouth University’s Peninsula Dental School, and Co-Editor of FGDP’s Standards in Dentistry, has been elected to represent the South West of England, succeeding Suzanne Sykes MFGDP(UK).

Ewen McColl

After qualifying from the University of Edinburgh in 1993, Ewen worked in maxillofacial surgery posts before spending seventeen years in the British Army, during which time he served in Afghanistan and Brunei as a General Dental Practitioner. During his military career he completed specialist training in periodontics, restorative dentistry and endodontics at The Eastman and Guy’s dental hospitals in London, in addition to studying at Loma Linda University in California. With postgraduate diplomas in conscious sedation (from King’s College London) and in medical education (from the University of Dundee), he holds the FDS(Rest. Dent.) of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, is a Fellow of both the Faculty of Dental Trainers (RCS Ed.) and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and is a member of the FGDP(UK) Academy.

The new Board members were elected for three year terms and will take up office on 25 June. They will serve most of their terms as Council Members of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent) following the transfer of the Faculty into CGDent next month.

Andrew Parashchak MJDF RCS(Eng) has been re-elected to represent the Mersey & North West membership divisions, and Jonathan Farmer MFGDP(UK) has been re-elected to the Trent & East Anglia seat.

Ian Mills FFGDP(UK), current Dean of the Faculty, said: “Many congratulations to Matthew, Kanwar and Ewen on their election to the Board, and to Andrew and Jonathan on their re-election. I wish them all the best, and am sure their vast and varied experience will serve the Faculty well as it fulfils its destiny in the historic launch of the College of General Dentistry.

“I would also like to thank Suzanne and Mark for their dedication and service to the Faculty through the Board, and for their collegiality and invaluable advice during my term as Dean.”

A blueprint for transition to adult services?

The transition from specialist paediatric dental care to an NHS adult service for children who have suffered a traumatic dental injury (TDI) should be underpinned by an adaptable pathway, according to Emma Morgan, an Academic Clinical Fellow and Dental Core Trainee at Liverpool School of Dentistry and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Her views are based on the feedback of patients who suffered a TDI in childhood and who are referred onwards into an adult service, usually for specialist restorative treatment.

Emma is the 2021 winner of the Max Horsnell Travel Award for her study examining the experiences of young patients as they make the transition from a paediatric to an adult service. She interviewed a group of young people aged 16-21 to get their perspectives.

She explained: “There is no nationally defined transitional care pathway (TCP) and we have limited evidence of what our patients want and need. If the transition is not handled well, it may lead to a failure to engage with adult services and a subsequent gap in care.”

Emma continued: “I got a vast array of opinions from the participants, including a lot of observations about communication. I learned it’s important not to make assumptions about what young people want and need. Young people discussed a number of powerful comments, highlighting the need for involvement of children and young people in research regarding dental trauma.”

Clear communication and involvement of young people in decision making was identified as a vital factor to facilitate a successful experience. The information shared with the patient must be adaptable and driven by them and their needs. For instance, said Emma, “Ideally, our young patients want just the right amount of information to suit them, with both patient and parent involvement. They also want the clinicians in the adult service to be appropriately briefed about their injury and how they feel so they are not forced to discuss potentially distressing experiences with a new clinician.”

Emma hopes that her study entitled The transitional care pathway following traumatic dental injuries: patient perspectives will help to forge a blueprint for a TCP which can be adapted around the country.

She will be presenting her study at the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) meeting in July. Traditionally, the winner of the prize is funded to make a trip to an international meeting. IADR is this year is in Boston, USA. Unluckily for Emma, due to COVID-related travel restrictions, she will not be able to attend in person but the £500 prize money she is being awarded will fund her IADR registration fee.

The Student Elective prize in 2021 was won by Nabeela Caratela, an undergraduate at Birmingham Dental School who has been awarded £300 for her abstract examining whether the oral health needs of children in independent schools are being met. Nabeela explained that when she takes diet histories of young patients referred into the Birmingham Dental Hospital, she is aware that children at independent schools appeared to have greater access to refined sugars and was motivated to research whether there is a difference in state and independent school food policies.   “I am interested in specialising in paediatric dentistry, to have won this recognition from BSPD is a real privilege.“ More information on Nabeela’s elective will be made available following completion and publication of the study.

BSPD Editor and Chair of the Conference Abstracts and Prizes Committee, Dr Chris Vernazza commented: “Although the pandemic has restricted travel opportunities we had a number of high quality applications to our Max Horsnell Travel Award and Student Elective prizes. It was great to see that UK-based paediatric research will still be promoted globally.”

BRILLIANT, in one visit

Patients appreciate the convenience of single-visit restorative solutions.

But convenience isn’t enough – the end result must be stable, beautiful and good value.

COLTENE’s BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ is the solution.

Based on prefabricated veneer shells, which are easy to handle as well as exhibiting strength, polishability and enduring gloss, they will enable you to work quickly, without compromise.

BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ uses the same sub-micron filler technology as COLTENE’s BRILLIANT EverGlow™ – this is the latest innovation for dentists who want to deliver stunning, functional restorations chairside.

Find out more about COLTENE’s restorative range on the website or call to speak to one of the team.

 

For more on COLTENE, visit www.coltene.com,
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.

Investing in and listening to our people

Charlotte Rogers has worked at Charlton Dental Clinic as a dental nurse for many years. She shares her experience of what it was like when her clinic joined Colosseum Dental UK:

“In the last few years, Colosseum Dental has made massive investments in both our people and buildings. We had a huge refurbishment project, investing in lots of state-of-the-art equipment. There is also always training and education available. I’ve been really impressed at how the company appreciates the experience we oldies bring! I feel quite excited to be learning new skills.

“Having worked at Charlton Dental Clinic for coming up to 24 years, I have seen 5 changes of ownership in that time. I have to say that Colosseum are the only ones to really listen to us and actually take on board and act on the information we are giving them. As long as they stick with me, I’ll be sticking with them.”

Investing in and listening to our people is a priority at Colosseum Dental UK. To find out more, visit the website.

 

For more information about Colosseum Dental, please visit www.colosseumdental.co.uk/careers

Nurturing the next generation of dentists

Young dentists must build on their experience to develop the confidence and capabilities to deliver exceptional quality dentistry. It is also important for young dentists to utilise appropriate support systems on the road to success. That’s why the BACD is committed to helping the next generation of dentists broaden their knowledge, hone their skills and advance their careers. This ethos is what encouraged foundation dentist, Dr Roshni Ruparelia, to join the BACD.

“I became interested in cosmetic and restorative dentistry as an undergraduate dental student, which is when I became a BACD student representative,” she says. “I then attended the BACD Annual Conference, where I was provided with an incredible environment to meet world-class dental professionals. I also realised how much of a family the BACD is and a supportive one at that.

“I love attending BACD events and look forward to the next Young Dentists’ Day, which has unfortunately been postponed due to the pandemic. These events are really well tailored for young dentists and provide an accessible means of learning about cosmetic dentistry. Another benefit of membership to the BACD is that the Academy provides access to many resources. For instance, during lockdowns, there have been various webinars available via the BACD website.”

The BACD has always strived to offer outstanding learning opportunities and the chance for young dentists to take their career to new heights. Dr Ruparelia says:

“As a young dentist, you always wonder what you can achieve. The BACD holds competitions that include the Foundation Dentist Case Presentation Award, the Rising Star Essay Prize, and the Poster Presentation. The themes explored in these competitions have inspired me to consider topics such as the pros and cons of composite compared to porcelain veneers, and apply this to my own practice. It’s inspiring to see what young dentists with similar experience have achieved and motivates me to excel and uphold these high standards.

“The BACD is distinguished by how supportive it is of young dentists, from holding events that are tailored to this audience, to maintaining a community of members that – regardless of their experience or accomplishments – are all approachable. By welcoming dental professionals from a range of backgrounds, the BACD provides its pool of members with the unique opportunity to learn from each other. It’s inspiring to engage in discussion with such incredible dentists ­–­ some of whom are only a few years beyond me – and learn from their successes.

“As such, I would recommend any young dentist – especially those in their undergraduate and foundation years – joins the BACD. Foundation dentists are at a very early stage in their career, so it’s important that they keep their options open before they determine a definitive career path. Becoming a BACD member gives you an idea as to whether you will enjoy a career in cosmetic dentistry.

“Beyond this, cosmetic dentistry is a field growing at an exponential rate. Cosmetic and restorative dentistry go hand-in-hand. In my view, it is crucial to have a strong foundational understanding of cosmetic dentistry to provide our patients with comprehensive care. With BACD membership, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

Visit the BACD website today to explore your membership options.

 

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