Month: January 2022

Inaugural College Medal awarded to Ian Mills

Ian Mills has become the first ever recipient of the prestigious College Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the College of General Dentistry (CGDent).

Reserved to no more than one recipient per year, the College Medal succeeds the Faculty Medal, which was previously awarded by the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) to just four individuals. It is conferred for exceptional service of the dental profession and its patients in a manner aligned with the values and mission of the College, and both members and non-members are eligible for consideration. 

Dr Mills has received the award in recognition of his considerable contributions to the profession over many years, including through the College and previously the Faculty, in particular his exemplary leadership at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, his pivotal roles in establishing the CGDent and securing the FGDP’s transfer into it last year, and his promotion of greater equality, diversity and inclusion in the dental professions.  

Ian qualified as a dentist from Glasgow University in 1987 and spent the early part of his career working in maxillofacial surgery. In 1994 he moved to Devon, and three years later set up Torrington Dental Practice in North Devon, now an eight-surgery mixed NHS-and-private practice, where he continues to work as a partner.  

He joined the Faculty the same year, and after completing its prestigious Diploma in Implant Dentistry, gaining Fellowship and becoming a Fellowship Assessor, was elected to the National Faculty Board to represent the South West region. He was later appointed Chair of the Examinations Committee and the Faculty’s representative on the Care Quality Commission Dental Reference Group, and served as Junior Vice Dean from 2016-17 and Senior Vice Dean from 2017-18 before being elected FGDP’s tenth Dean, a post he held from 2018-2021.  

During his tenure he represented the profession on a number of committees and working groups, including NHS England’s Advisory Board for Dental Systems Reform, the Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in Dentistry, the Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry, the Council of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and the Public Health England group overseeing the development the fourth edition of Delivering Better Oral Health. 

In his first annual speech as Dean, he highlighted the inequality of opportunities for career progression within dentistry, noting in particular the disproportionate number of men in leadership roles relative to the gender balance in the profession, and he later instituted the FGDP-CGDent Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programme Board. 

Early in the pandemic, Ian established a forward planning task group to try to find a way for dental practices to re-open their doors as soon as safely possible. Convening individuals from over 30 organisations to develop suitable guidance, he played a key role in its development, working tirelessly to seek consensus on the many challenges of delivering dental services while minimising the risks of transmission. Completed within the space of just four weeks, Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice was published a week before face-to-face practice resumed in England, giving practices much needed time to prepare when no official re-opening guidance had yet been published. With its in-built responsiveness to varying COVID-19 alert levels, the guidance has remained accessible and relevant over the last 18 months. 

Continuously supporting the profession through the pandemic, he led numerous webinars, joined the NHS England working group on the resilience of mixed dental practices, was part of the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme’s AGP Rapid Review Group, facilitated revised guidance on fallow time and steered the development of the Fallow Time Calculator. 

Prior to his Deanship, he was an elected member of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, a member of Devon Local Dental Committee, and on the Professional Executive Committee of North Devon Primary Care Trust.  

In addition to his clinical practice, Ian has worked at Peninsula Dental School since it was established and has remained closely involved in the undergraduate programme. Currently Associate Professor in Primary Care Dentistry, he was previously a clinical supervisor, group facilitator and honorary lecturer. Actively involved in promoting and developing research in primary dental care, with particular interests in measuring quality outcomes, person-centred care and environmental sustainability, in 2018 he was awarded a PhD for research into person-centred care in general dental practice.  

He is an Ambassador, Founder, Fellow and former Trustee of the College of General Dentistry, and has been instrumental in the establishment and progression of its Career Pathways programme. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists, the Higher Education Academy and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, he is a former Trustee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 

Equal opportunities for growth and development

The Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) is an excellent event for the whole dental lab team, regardless of the background, interests or career ambitions.

The two-day educational programme offers hours of Enhanced CPD through lectures, workshops and on-stand learning, enabling all professionals to further their knowledge and capabilities in the areas of their choosing. It is also an ideal place to network with like-minded professionals who share a passion for dentistry and for achieving the highest possible quality standards.

To ensure your team has access to exciting opportunities for career development, give them the chance to attend DTS 2022. Save the dates today!

 

The next Dental Technology Showcase will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th May 2022, Birmingham NEC, co-located with British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show Birmingham.

 

For more information, visit www.the-dts.co.uk, or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

So much more than a training provider

For any GDP looking for ethical and comprehensive training in ortho-restorative topics, look no further than IAS Academy.

The team will be attending the BDIA Dental Showcase to demonstrate the full range of courses now available, each delivered by highly experienced clinicians and supported with the option of on-going mentoring and advice. Courses cover removable clear aligners, the Align, Bleach and Bond (ABB) concept, anterior and posterior composite restorations, fixed or lingual braces, advanced orthodontics, occlusion and complex restorative concepts. The focus is always on taking a holistic and minimally invasive approach to treatment, alongside careful case selection, assessment and treatment planning.

But IAS Academy is so much more than that. It offers a membership scheme which facilitates constant access to help and clinical support, as well as an array of significant discounts on products and further training, and the IAS Lab.

Want to know more? Visit the team on stand F88 at the BDIA Dental Showcase.

 

For more information on upcoming IAS Academy training courses, please visit www.iasortho.com or call 01932 336470 (Press 1)

Agilio Software Aims to Halve the Time Spent on Dental Compliance With the Launch of iComply NextGen

The UK’s market leader in providing technology solutions for the dental care sector, Agilio Software, is launching a new and improved version of its compliance management tool, iComply NextGen. The system is designed to retain its existing robustness and simplify the process to reduce the time dental practices spend on compliance by up to 50%

The launch follows significant investment by the healthcare technology group to advance its existing iComply system. It will introduce a new curation feature for their extensive compliance document library, based on priority levels to meet the needs of dental practices in the UK.

iComply NextGen presents users with their relevant compliance literature, based on importance, assigning each task with a high, medium, or low priority level to reflect the statutory requirements and regulations. The new system has been designed to increase efficiency in the implementation of CQC and HIW regulations and readiness for inspections.

In the development process, the team at Agilio Software utilised their 20 years of experience in dental compliance and their thorough understanding of CQC and HIW demands, having helped dental practices across England and Wales to successfully pass over a thousand inspections.

Alex O’Neill

Alex O’Neill, the Head of Compliance at Agilio Software said: “The ultimate goal for all our software solutions has always been to save the time of health care professionals, so they can focus on providing their patients with the best possible care. We recognise that the last couple of years have proved challenging and the need for efficiencies has significantly increased, and we wanted to reflect that by supporting the dental community in the best way we can.

“After carefully listening and learning from our customers’ feedback, we have allocated substantial resources to advance one of our flagship products, iComply, which resulted in the development of iComply NextGen. We are committed in continuing to support dental care practices through the power of technology and innovation and we believe that iComply NextGen will achieve exactly that.”

Agilio Software is one of the leading healthcare technology groups within the sector. As well as working in dental care, Agilio also operates in primary and secondary care.

Bringing endodontic expertise to all

Dr Sanjeev Bhanderi, President of the British Endodontic Society (BES), comments on why he and his colleagues are looking forward to the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham 2022:

“It is important for the BES to be part of the show because it’s probably the biggest combined trade show and conference in UK in terms of size, selection of speakers and topics. Centrally located, this also makes it easy for everyone to attend. Our previous experience of the show has demonstrated that it’s very well attended, providing an opportunity for people to come and see us, and informally ask questions, which is different to our own Society conferences and meetings. This is a great chance to welcome and meet new members. The BES has been growing phenomenally in the last couple of years with more dentists joining our society and increasing awareness by dentists to try and save teeth and look for specialist or higher training, especially since the pandemic began. The event is also a chance to meet GDPs from all walks of life and share our knowledge with them.”

The BES is supporting education in the Specialist Interest Theatre, bringing specialist endodontists to speak with colleagues on a range of subjects, including Dr Bhanderi, Dr Aly Morgan and Dr William McLean. Dr Bhanderi continues:

“This show provides a great interactive learning experience, which is one of the best in the UK. Topics from BES speakers will cover all aspects of endodontic treatment from diagnosis and assessment, to restoration, and will help colleagues to better understand when a tooth can be saved and when it requires extraction. All the speakers work in practice and are University teachers so we are in touch with the dilemmas GDPs face and hope to offer some practical support and guidance. In my lecture, for example, I hope to show that if teeth are cracked, they don’t routinely have to be lost – there is often an opportunity to save and restore them. The goal is to save natural teeth for longer in a predictable way. Our mix of sessions will complement others available across the programme and we look forward to offering education alongside other professional societies and renowned speakers in a really good learning atmosphere.”

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show Birmingham 2022 will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th May 2022, Birmingham NEC, co-located with DTS.

For more information, visit birmingham.dentistryshow.co.uk, or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com

Putting patient satisfaction first

Dr Pavi Sagoo comments on her experience with the ClearCorrect® aligner system from the Straumann Group over her first year:

“The treatment simulation and 3D set up is an amazing tool to support patient explanations and increase treatment acceptance, and it is optimised by a digital workflow. I also really like that you can request no attachments as part of the ClearCorrect® set-up.

“For any clinicians starting out with removable orthodontics, I would highly recommend the ClearCorrect®system as my experience has been nothing but positive. The entire team is fantastic, really accommodating and always at the end of a phone or email when I have a question. The clinical support is also excellent, offering advice whenever a case is not tracking exactly as planned.

“In addition, the new ClearQuartz™ material seems to be even clearer than its predecessor, which patients appreciate. They also seem to have experienced less discomfort with the latest aligners, and fewer adjustments have been required to reduce issues with rubbing along the gumline.”

 

For more information on ClearCorrect®, visit:

https://www.straumann.com/clearcorrect/en/home.html

Simplify your product selection

With so many shades available on the market, your composite selection can fast result in waste and excess product being thrown away.

Streamline your selection and still offer outstanding aesthetic outcomes with 3M Filtek Universal Restorative.

Covering the whole VITA spectrum with just 8 shades, 3M Filtek Universal Restorative also comes in shades specifically designed for bleached dentition (Extra White) and to mask any metal defects (Pink Opaquer).*

With 80% of dentists using a single shade for restorations,* 3M Filtek Universal Restorative helps you to slim your product selection, save money and space.

To find out more, contact the team at 3M Oral Care today.

 

For more information, call 08705 360036 or visit www.3m.co.uk/Dental 

 

*3M Internal Data

3M and Filtek are trademarks of the 3M Company.

How to optimise for private practice and avoid imperilling your business

Many dentists who have remained committed to the NHS through thick and thin have finally had enough and are considering developing or building their private practice in 2022. Delivering a webinar for ProDentalCPD tomorrow (February 1), Linda Giles and Nathan Poole of Ross Brooke Dental will be encouraging dentists planning to convert to take stock. They will tell their audience of dentists that unless all the essential aspects involved in a conversion to private practice are thought through, they could imperil the profitability of their business.

The title of the webinar is Making the Right Financial Decisions and Linda and Nathan will identify risk-taking in dentistry with a view to maintaining the profitability and reputation of the practice. A badly undertaken conversion to private practice is one of the biggest pitfalls a practice can face, but flawed incorporations, poorly worded contracts, ill-considered communication with patients and misguided pension arrangements are also likely to be discussed.

Nathan said: “We have prepared a number of case studies which illustrate the kind of trouble dentists can get into when they make poor financial decisions.”

Linda said: “Since the introduction of UDAs in 2006, thousands of dentists have already converted away from the NHS. Those considering the move in 2022 might be tempted to simply set a date, tell patients and staff and take the plunge.”

“Over more than 15 years, we have supported many dentists who have decided to leave the NHS. We have also been called upon to help dentists who have converted, without taking the right advice, and witnessed the dire impact this has had. There is a world of difference between a good and a bad conversion.”

To tune into the webinar, which is at 7pm on February 1st, go to: https://www.prodentalcpd.com/webinars/-p121-making-the-right-financial-decisions-

For more on Ross Brooke Dental: https://www.ross-brooke-dental.co.uk

See what Curaprox has to offer

At this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase, delegates can expect to see Curaprox’s innovative range of products and solutions, such as the Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush!

The Hydrosonic Pro is the perfect partner for patients striving for that professionally-cleaned feeling at home. It’s also ideal for those who have braces or implants, as the CURACURVE® bend allows the Hydrosonic Pro brush heads to reach all those hard-to-reach areas.

Delegates will also have the chance to see what else Curaprox has to offer – such as the CPS Prime interdental brushes, the CS 5460 toothbrushes and the Black is White toothpaste. The ‘Perio plus’ range of mouthrinses will also be showcased!

With plenty of opportunity to try out their products, and their helpful team on standby to offer advice and guidance, be sure to come along and see for yourself!

 

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

Caring for those who care for our patients

All of our patients deserve high standards of care and consideration.

But who looks after those that deliver this care?

At Colosseum Dental UK, we want our dental nurses to know that we’re dedicated to supporting, developing and training them, so they can always perform at their best.

We offer benefits for both their work life and personal life, such as:

  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Career progression opportunities
  • Birthday day off
  • Secure hours with flexible working options
  • A brand new Pastelli uniform

Delivering care to patients is deeply rewarding, but it has its challenges too. Here at Colosseum Dental UK, we want to show our gratitude in everything we do. If you’re interested in a career with us, get in touch for more information today!

 

For more information, pleases visit https://www.colosseumdental.co.uk/careers/job-opportunities/dental-nurses

#WeCareMore