Chris McConnell speaks about his experience as President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD), what was achieved during his time in the role and what’s next on the cards for the academy:

“I think the biggest challenge I’ve faced in my role as President of the BACD has been working out how to get things back to how they were before Covid. Part of what makes the BACD such a fantastic organisation is the social element. I wanted to bring that magic back, return to live meetings and move away from conferences over virtual platforms to make in-person interaction the norm again.

“Earlier this year we had the first lot of face-to-face events. They were really great and widely supported by members and non-members alike, which was very encouraging. We also received wonderful feedback from these sessions, with lots of people mentioning how they would like even greater value from their education. In response to this, we’re looking at hosting hands-on training events that teach delegates skills they can implement straightaway in practice. Really, the challenge here has been navigating the post-Covid landscape and realising how we now learn and educate.”

In the past year, the BACD has had two main focuses. Chris explains what these were:

“One goal has been making the public and our profession more aware of cosmetic dentistry and how it is provided ethically. We’ve also been raising awareness of the BACD among the general public and going above and beyond to support our members. The launch of the Brand Ambassador programme has been a big highlight – we really wanted to help our members raise their profile.

“The other great achievement of this year has been the new BACD Accreditation launch. This has been fantastic as it really helps support people in their career development, not only allowing their work to be peer-reviewed but also showcasing them as highly accomplished cosmetic dentists both in the UK and overseas. We soft launched this scheme at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show last May, but the full launch was at our 18^th Annual Conference in November.

“Of course, the Conference itself was a huge highlight of the year, too. We had an absolutely phenomenal line-up of international speakers and it was amazing to yet again have another sell-out event. The gala dinner with its ‘fire and ice’ theme went down a storm with everyone who attended, and it was so fun to have the opportunity to catch up with friends face-to-face. A huge part of what makes the BACD so special is the friendships and networking opportunities, so it was great to see these return and welcome new members into the fold.”

So, what’s next for the BACD? As the role of President passes from Chris McConnell to Simon Chard, Chris explains some of the areas that the academy will be looking at in the future:

“Our future plans are to consolidate on our growth from last year and to incorporate all of the principles already outlined such as enhancing networking opportunities for our members and really developing that all-important awareness of the BACD both among the public and the profession. I feel like this is going to put the BACD in an even stronger position as the go-to academy for the media on any cosmetic dental stories and topics.

“I think we can all see the gradual demise of NHS dentistry and how practices have to now look at alternative income sources. This combined with the growing desire among the public for better oral health and smile aesthetics means that cosmetic dentistry is a real boom area – the BACD will be at the heart of this and will continue to give clinicians the skills and advice they need to fully embrace cosmetic dentistry as a solution.

“Now is a great time for everyone to get involved – it’s such a rewarding field of dentistry but it also has the potential to open a lot of other avenues. Whenever we look to grow as dental professionals it’s always best to do this with likeminded individuals. When we work together as a group we achieve so much more, and this is what the BACD is all about. Really, the BACD is a group of individuals who are focusing their skills and talents for the benefit of one another, but also the benefit of all.”

To conclude, Chris extends his thanks to colleagues:

“I want to finish by mentioning the great support I’ve received from my board and the members of the academy. I’ve also received great help from many people from outside the academy, such as the professionals at EKC, industry partners and everyone else who has assisted me during my term as president of the BACD, without whom it would’ve been a lot harder.”

With a lot of exciting things on the horizon for the BACD, the future is looking bright. To get involved and become a member of the academy, please contact the team at the BACD today.

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

As someone who has dedicated my life to endodontics, it never fails to inspire me when I think about how far we’ve come in the last few years – and what lays in store for us in the future. It seems that every time I read the latest research we are making more and more significant steps forward, especially in areas such as microrobotics.

So, what are the latest breakthroughs in microrobotics and what will these innovations mean for the future of endodontics?

A complex arm of dentistry

It’s no overstatement to say that endodontic treatment can be incredibly complicated. The root canal system presents a number of anatomical complexities and irregularities, and the fact that that every patient will present with different challenges means that even the most advanced treatment approaches can still fail, especially if a canal is missed or any biofilm remains.

Biofilm that is not removed during treatment remains a leading cause of endodontic treatment failure and persistent infections.[i] Unfortunately, until an infection occurs, it can be difficult to tell if the treatment has been successful, and failure rates following endodontic treatment can vary wildly depending on the type of tooth that needed treatment, the skill level of the practitioner and the methods employed during the treatment process.[ii]

Although success rates of endodontic treatment have only continued to rise in recent years, current estimates suggest that there is a failure rate of anywhere between 2-14%.[iii] This means that there is still space for significant improvement – but is microrobotics the answer?

Revolutionary innovations

New reports from Penn Dental Medicine and its Centre for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) reveal that microrobotics (microscopic particles imbued with certain characteristics rather than small machines) could be the answer we’re looking for to enhance endodontics and help significantly reduce any remaining margin of error.

Experts proved that microrobots could be engineered to access the difficult surfaces and spaces in the root canal system, reliably removing biofilm in these areas and even retrieving samples for diagnosis if necessary.[iv] Additionally, these minuscule particles could also be engineered to deliver drugs to these sites, aiding processes such as endodontic retreatment when infection has occurred or helping to ensure proper cleaning of the canal in the first place.

Researchers have shared these findings after testing two different microrobotic platforms that were specifically designed for endodontic surgery. In both cases, the nanoparticles were controlled in different ways to achieve the results, indicating the versatility of this type of technology. In the first method, the microrobots were controlled via a magnetic field and herded into “microswarms” that acted as one unit, disrupting biofilm using catalytic reactions. The secondary method utilised 3D printed, helix-shaped microrobots that were embedded with iron oxide nanoparticles. These too were manipulated using magnetic fields, navigating the root canal system to deliver drugs and bioactives.

Perhaps what is most fascinating about this breakthrough is that these microrobots can be harnessed for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. By using microswarms to eradicate biofilm or collect samples, this opens the door to clinicians being able to assess which microorganisms caused any infection in the first place, allowing for targeted treatment to help resolve the issue more swiftly. Plus, these microrobots eliminate the needs for complex tools and, effectively, achieve a better result, as they target all active biofilm and can navigate the narrow and difficult spaces in the root canal system far more efficiently that any hand-guided tool.

Endodontics today and in the future

With such a significant breakthrough by this team of researchers, I don’t think it will be long until this sort of technology will be harnessed on a wider scale. The researchers themselves have stated that these microrobots have potential for both in practice and at home applications, which could very well be the key to better oral health for everyone – as long as there is a viable way to make this technology available on a wide scale.

As ever, with innovations like these it’s easy to look towards a brighter future, but we’re not there quite yet. However, I can’t wait to see this sort of technology being utilised in practice and at home. We’re on the brink of a great change, so it’ll be exciting to see where these innovations take us.

For further information please call EndoCare on 020 7224 0999

Or visit www.endocare.co.uk

EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.

[i] Siqueira Jr. et al. Aetiology of Root Canal Treatment Failure: Why Well-treated Teeth Can Fail. International Endodontic Journal. 2001, 34 (1). 1-10.

[ii] Iqbal, A. et el. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 May; 10(5): ZC146–ZC148.

[iii] Tabassum, S. et al. Eur J Dent. 2016 Jan-Mar; 10(1): 144–147.

[iv] Science Daily. Microrobotics in Endodontic Treatment, Diagnostics. Link: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220809141136.htm [Last accessed August 22].

IMAGE taken from: https://www.dental.upenn.edu/news-events/2022/08/05/penn-dental-medicine-study-applies-microrobotics-in-endodontic-treatment-diagnostics/

Dr Sagi Shavit treats endodontic patients exclusively at Cleveland Terrace Dental Practice, Darlington, and relies on COLTENE in even his most challenging cases.

“COLTENE provides a range of high-quality endodontic tools, materials and equipment that allow clinicians to provide the best treatments to our patients.

“HyFlex™ EDM files are super elastic, efficient and safe – they will own any canal you’ll give them. I also use the CanalPro™ Apex Locator, which provides crisp and accurate readings of the working length and is indispensable tool during endodontic treatment. Irrigation, the most important part of the endodontic treatment, is much more efficient using ultrasonic devices, such as the CanalPro™ Endo Ultra.

“The matching HyFlex™ EDM paper points and gutta percha points allow safe and accurate obturation of the endodontic space.”

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

At Colosseum Dental UK, our biggest investment has always been our people.

To ensure that our dentists feel satisfied when coming to work, our dedicated facilities team have spent millions on refurbishing and modernising our clinics, providing a range of state-of-the-art equipment and tools including CBCT scanners, intraoral devices and tools for rotary endodontics.

We also provide exceptional career development opportunities, unrivalled support and one of the best reward packages around. Our clinicians have discounted access to CPD through Agilio, as well a range of courses for topics like composite bonding, short-term orthodontics and dental implants.

To discover more, get in touch with the team today.

For more information about Colosseum Dental, please visit https://www.colosseumdental.co.uk/careers/job-opportunities/dentists

Or for an informal call, call our Head of Recruitment, Lee Catlin on 07936 358758

#WeCareMore

Quality care is appropriate care and this is why, sometimes, referring out to another dentist who has the training, knowledge and expertise required to deliver a successful result is the correct course of action.

Teamwork is also critical to good clinical outcomes and referrals are an easy way to extend your team, if a treatment is outside your scope of practice. When you put effort into finding the perfect referral practice for you – and not just any one – the benefits will be endless. If you’re on the same page, share the same values and know how each other works, the process will be smooth and hassle-free for everyone involved. Communication will be clear too. All of the above can minimise delays and complications – crucial if someone has presented in pain.

Establishing a productive relationship with a referral practice will enable you to deliver a gold-standard, patient-focussed service. People will feel reassured, knowing that you want them to receive the very best, and that you will support them with keeping the result beautifully maintained for years to come. Healthy, motivated patients, who are enjoying a better quality of life and improved wellbeing will always be your most powerful marketing tool.

If you’re a general practice who is proud of what you do, and have no plans to expand your in-house services, referring out for complex work is an ideal solution. Dental implants, for example, are becoming more popular as a highly-desirable alternative to removable prostheses. They look natural, function just like real teeth and, when delivered by a trained and skilled specialist, have an excellent prognosis which more than justifies the investment.

From planning to delivery and ongoing maintenance, successful implant treatment requires a brilliant implant team. Included in this team – and this is not a definitive list, because it will depend on each case – will be the general dentist, the implant dentist/specialist, dental hygienist and/or therapist, dental nurse, practice manager, referrals coordinator; all talented and trained people from both the referring and referral practice working as one to provide an exceptional standard of care. With this collaborative approach, each patient will be supported every step of the way. They will know they are in great hands, and feel confident and well-informed about the risks, and understand their critical role in keeping their treatment stable. Dental implants aren’t a “place and go” solution to a missing tooth or teeth, they require an ongoing commitment to good oral hygiene practises and behaviours – a key reason why the extended implant team is crucial for the best chance of long-term success.

With an established relationship with a referral practice that offers dental implants, you will be ready to go as soon as someone says “yes”, with shorter waiting times – another selling point for patients considering their options. A further bonus of referring out is that you can also take advantage of the state-of-the-art facilities that implant practices often offer. Digital workflows have revolutionised implant treatments, streamlining communication as well the actual delivery, yet the initial financial outlay required to instal these cutting-edge technologies can sometimes put them out of reach. General dentists who don’t have the resources, including the space, to invest can take advantage of what referral practices have on-site, to give patients a comfortable and efficient experience.

The scenario to aspire to, is to find a referral practice who wants to work in a genuinely collaborative way and learn with you on every implant case, sharing resources as well as knowledge and expertise. Some practices even offer their referring dentists valuable opportunities to develop their own skills and knowledge, by attending their patients’ appointments. Lodge Dental, an award-winning practice in South Wales, has a mentoring scheme for general dentists who wish to share the treatment plan. Accepting referrals from all over the country, Lodge Dental’s extensive team includes an implant dentist and a specialist in oral surgery to provide advanced treatments. With a dedicated referrals coordinator alongside the clinical team, plus cutting-edge digital technologies on site, the process will be seamless, safe, efficient and comfortable. Your happy patients will be returned to good health, ready to smile again with confidence.

Even experienced dentists will need to refer out in certain cases, and by deciding to refer, you are extending your team to enable the highest-quality care. Find a referral practice that shares your values, and it will help you uphold them – as a business, you will both become stronger, more productive and profitable thanks to your mutually beneficial relationship.

Dental implant treatments have the highest chance of success when they are delivered by a trained, skilled and experienced implant dentist, who has access to the latest technologies and equipment at their practice. Refer out and you can combine this expertise with the talents and knowledge of your own team. The result will be that you can help more patients comprehensively, raise standards of oral health, elevate your service and boost your reputation.

For further information, please contact Jo on 01873 854711 or referrals@lodgedental.co.uk, or visit lodgedental.co.uk/referrals

Dentistry Show London presents a team programme

The delivery of exceptional patient care requires collaboration between the entire dental team. This not only means that all professionals need to remain abreast of the latest products, technologies and skills available, but they also need to appreciate what colleagues can do in order to maximise on their capabilities. As part of the dynamic educational programme at Dentistry Show London, there were various sessions that explored current challenges and opportunities for team members.

A fine example of this was Lauren Long’s session in the Clinical Excellence Theatre (delivered with Educational Partner, College of General Dentistry and Sponsor, Listerine), entitled “Dental therapy: unleashing the hidden potential in practice”. As the name suggests, this was all about how practices could better utilise their dental therapist for the benefit of their patients, the dentists and the overall business. Though clear that the financial aspects should not be a driving factor, Lauren acknowledged the importance of creating a business model that makes dental therapists an attractive and viable option for practices. She also shared the working model she follows in practice that allows her to offer 100% of her scope of practice. This focused on a collaborative approach to patient care and enabled the dentists in her practice to concentrate on the types of treatment they most enjoyed – and which often provided higher revenue for them, creating a win-win situation.

Offering some practical advice and guidance on how to make this kind of working successful, Lauren highlighted the impact of direct access on patient care at a time when access is so limited. She also suggested that this is a great way of boosting team happiness and morale – another essential factor for practices right now!

Dental therapists in attendance, Rosie Anderson and Poppy Grout, commented:

“Lauren was very clear in comparing the working models for dental therapists – it is difficult to find that information. We attended because we wanted to know more about how to implement a dental therapist’s skills and we will take a lot back to help sell ourselves a little more. It’s been thought-provoking and we have many questions we hope to go and ask Lauren while at the event!”

Another interesting session designed for team members was Benjamin Tighe’s presentation, “How far have we come since Clifford?” Starting off with the original Listerine TV advert from 1987, he explored the love-hate relationship that the dental profession seems to have had – and continues to have – with mouthwash. With a review of the literature, Benjamin explored the evidence behind the professional decision-making process, discussing whether or not mouthwash was included in the professional guidelines and why. As a dental therapist, he was clearly very passionate about helping all members of the dental team to support their patients in the most effective way and offered several insights into the latest recommendations and white papers. The outcome of the session was that patient messages should remain simple and that, ultimately, “healthy gums don’t bleed”. Regarding mouthwash, he suggested that a product containing fluoride may be the answer to avoid rinsing any fluoride that remains from the toothpaste.

For dental care professionals interested in digital dentistry, Cat Edney provided the perfect opportunity to find out more about their role in digital scanning. Cat’s enthusiasm for digital scanning was evident from the beginning as she shared her own journey from finally cleaning off the dust on her practice scanner to making it an integral part of her everyday appointments. She described the “visual learning journey” that the scans create for patients and discussed just how much of an impact this can have on both their understanding and their engagement with their oral health.

Commenting on the session, Head Nurse Ewa Fares from Elgin Dental Care said:

“I also want to encourage team members to use the scanner that is sitting in our hallway collecting dust! I thought the speaker was very good and very clear in her session. I didn’t realise dental therapists could do so much, or how many scanner models were available.”

Of course, to really make this work in practice, it is important that principals appreciate the opportunities to utilise the team’s skills too. One of the dentists in the audience for this session said:

“I wanted to hear more about the dental therapist’s role and thought this session covered everything it needed to. Cat was very clear and clearly very enthusiastic! I have found the lectures in general to be good and have enjoyed browsing the exhibition.”

Across the remainder of the programme, dental therapists, hygienists and nurses had access to numerous sessions of potential interest. Topics covered included periodontal challenges and updates, advice for managing orthodontic patient, minimally invasive dental techniques and getting involved with facial aesthetics. The Enhanced CPD Theatre and Compliance Theatre also both offered useful information to update knowledge and improve confidence in daily tasks. Plus, the exhibition hosts hundreds of companies for delegates to interact with and discover the latest products on the market.

All-in-all, Dentistry Show London 2022 was a fantastic event for the entire dental team. Be sure to get the dates for 2023 in your diary early – Friday 6^th – Saturday 7^th October!

Dentistry Show London 2023 will be held on Friday 6^th and Saturday 7^th October. Visit london.dentistryshow.co.uk for the latest details

The ADI Team Congress 2023 is a fantastic opportunity to learn from others in the community. Dr Lorenzo Tavelli hopes delegates will leave his session well informed on the management of peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences:

“I will discuss: the concept of peri-implant phenotype and factors associated with aesthetic complications, the new classification of peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences/deficiencies, the role of soft tissue phenotype modification on the aesthetic and long-term marginal soft tissue stability at dental implant sites, and treatment approaches to predictably address dental implant aesthetic complications.

“I expect that colleagues will better understand how to prevent aesthetic dental implant complications for their dental implant cases, and that they will have a better rationale for choosing the most appropriate technique when treating peri-implant soft tissue dehiscences.

“I’m thrilled to be participating in this event organised by the ADI, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Join us at the ADI Team Congress on the 4^th-6^th May 2023 to hear more from Dr Lorenzo Tavelli and many other industry leading speakers.

For more information about the ADI, or to join, please visit the website www.adi.org.uk

Patients seek solutions that deliver long-lasting and comfortable results. When you use solutions from Medentika^®, a Straumann Group brand, you can give your patients just that. 

Medentika^® grants clinicians the flexibility to work with what they need, from meticulously-engineered multi-platform abutments and components (that are also fully compatible with all major implant systems). 

All systems and solutions are made in Germany with precise craftsmanship – you also have the peace of mind with a lifetime guarantee.

For solutions that deliver maximum reliability, get in touch today to discover more. 

For more information, visit the website today: https://www.straumann.com/medentika/en/professionals.html

Be with your patients on their entire implant journey, from planning to maintenance, when you train to be an implant dentist with The One to One Implant Education.

No need to refer out! Treat people in an environment where they feel comfortable, as their partner in life-long oral health.

The fully accredited PG diploma offered by The One to One Implant Education has been described as “the Rolls Royce” of courses!

Renowned dentist and educator Dr Fazeela Khan-Osborne has created a programme that gets you hands-on, with live surgery nearly from day 1. You’ll learn in stunning facilities in London’s Harley Street, in the heart of the west end.

Add a new and valuable revenue stream! Become an implant dentist at The One to One Implant Education and care for more patients in your practice.

To reserve your place or to find out more, please visit
https://121implanteducation.co.uk or call 020 7486 0000.

Earlier this year, Kemdent announced their competition for dental technicians across the country, as a thank-you to their customers and a celebration of their 100-year anniversary.

The rules were simple – using Kemdent products, the entrants were required to show off their skills and submit pictures of a wax-try in or acrylic denture. The results were fantastic!

Our team were delighted to receive so many impressive entries, all showcasing high standards of skill and craftsmanship. And we’re delighted to announced the winner of the competition – Mr Surendra Naidoo! (From SilverOaks Dental Practice and 543 Dental Centre.)

Also, a big congratulations to our second-place runner-up, Leon Paul Zanre and our third-place runner-up, Neil from Dent8 Dental Laboratory Ltd! Let’s not forget a special mention to the newly-qualified Ashleigh, from Mango Dental Technologies, for sending in a remarkable entry! 

A word from our winner

Surendra’s submission – a wax try-in – was masterful in its precision and aesthetics. Here’s what our judges had to say:

“This entry stood out as the competition winner – it scored very highly in almost every attribute. Good use of coloured waxes was made to produce a stunning example of craftsmanship.

“Precise gingival carving, both on the buccal and palatal aspects of the entry, coupled with some subtle contouring and light stippling, combined to achieve a clear winner. Many congratulations Surendra, a worthy winner!”

Surendra was happy to share some comments about his experience with Kemdent, their products and the competition. He says:

“I can’t say how long I’ve been using the Kemdent Anutex wax for with any accuracy, but I’m sure for at least over 30 years, in South Africa, the USA and the UK.

“The Anutex wax is consistently of a very high quality and my material of preference as I have tried many different manufacturers in other countries as well.

“From a lab technician point of view, the wax is easy to carve and manipulate, and I can achieve really good, realistic aesthetics for my try-ins. I also use the wax for bite registration blocks, as I find they do not distort as much when returning from the clinics.

“From a clinical point of view, in the mouth, both try-ins and bite registration blocks are dimensionally stable for longer. Once they are contoured and stippled, they are quite impressive to the patient, who will have a good idea of what to expect for the final result.”

Surendra shares his views on the improvement of laboratory materials over the years, and how this has affected his workflow and the work he produces:

“I believe that dental materials have improved over the years, based on feedback from professionals and research. I also think once you get used to a good product, it’s very difficult to change and most technicians use what they’re familiar with.

“I, however, have and always will try new products. To date, I haven’t found any other waxes that would sway me and I don’t use prices as a consideration.”

And, finally, our winner shares his experiences with Kemdent:

“In truth, I have mostly been using third party suppliers for the orders, however, whenever I’ve called or asked for assistance, everyone has been extremely courteous and helpful. The support from Kemdent and their customer service is brilliant.

“I have never entered any competitions in the dental field before, and it was appealing to me to see how I would compare to others in the country.

“I have not yet booked any holidays with my Trailfinders voucher, but thank you to the Kemdent team for the wonderful prize and hospitality!”

A thank-you from us

Since 1922, Kemdent has contributed massively to the dental profession, developing solutions that have transformed the work of dental technicians and clinicians across the country. Strength, durability, aesthetics and predictability – these are the facets that make up the ethos here at Kemdent.

Our competition not only served as a thank-you to our customers and a celebration of our 100-year anniversary, but it also showcased the talent of our UK dental technicians. Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations again to Surendra!

For more information about the leading solutions available from Kemdent, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256