Author: Dental Design

The 2021 Dental Awards: Cost of entry lowered to £25; entry deadline extended

Recognising that 2020 was a difficult year for many of us, and with a pair of vaccines on the way, The Probe is thrilled to announce that the cost of nomination for the 2021 Dental Awards has been lowered to the £25 for all entries. We will all hopefully have reason to celebrate as 2021 is looking likely to be off to a positive start, so what better way to mark the end of 2020 than by nominating a colleague, your practice, or even yourself for the dental industry’s most highly anticipated awards ceremony?

In addition to lowering the cost of registration, from the original price of £50, to £25 per category per entrant, the final deadline for entries has also been extended to 28th February 2021.

The Dental Awards exclusively aims to recognise the outstanding individuals and teams whose commitment to patient care and professional development are raising standards throughout the profession.

In addition to the usual array of categories, including Dentist of the Year and Practice of the Year, 2021 will present a new prize in the form of the Practice Contamination Award, which will be bestowed upon a practice for measures implemented in the wake of the pandemic.

The full line-up of categories includes:

  • NATIONAL SMILE MONTH AWARD
  • DENTIST OF THE YEAR
  • YOUNG DENTIST OF THE YEAR
  • DENTAL THERAPIST OF THE YEAR
  • DENTAL HYGIENIST OF THE YEAR
  • WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
  • BEST OUTREACH OR CHARITY INITIATIVE
  • PRACTICE OF THE YEAR
  • PRACTICE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
  • DENTAL PRACTICE TEAM OF THE YEAR
  • PRACTICE DECONTAMINATION AWARD
  • DENTAL RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR

Each of the various categories are judged by a panel of well-known industry experts with superior knowledge of their respective fields. Held alongside the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show at the NEC Hilton Metropole Hotel, the event is the highlight for practices wanting to express the abundance of skills and talents that exist in their teams. 

As well as boosting the morale of your dental team by entering, the evening marks the perfect opportunity for team building – previous years have seen new friendships emerge from the event, with ample opportunity available for networking and knowledge sharing.

But don’t just take our word for it! Click here to read what some of the 2020 winners had to say.

For more information, visit the-probe.co.uk/awards, or email awards@purplems.com.

For an entry brochure, please click here.

A huge thank you to The Dental Awards 2021 sponsors: Click to find out more!
 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you in?

The ADI Members’ Only Facebook Group is the perfect place to share ideas, seek advice and gain inspiration from like-minded professionals. 

One of the many benefits of joining the ADI, access to the secure online forum enables clinicians to discuss pertinent topics and offer guidance on everything from clinical cases to business management. It is also a great place to find out more about upcoming ADI Study Clubs or other educational events, and ask for recommendations regarding training courses or products.

Make sure you are part of the conversation by joining the ADI today. Are you in?

 

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

CDO confirms dental professionals and their teams are now being prioritised for a Covid-19 vaccine

Following Boris Johnson’s answer in the House of Commons to Craig Whittaker MP’s question over whether dental team members in patient-facing roles would qualify as ‘health workers’ as part of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, CDO England, Sara Hurley, and deputy CDOs Eric Rooney and Jason Wong have confirmed that dental professionals and their teams are now being prioritised for a Covid-19 vaccine.

“This means that dental teams supporting the NHS, those working in private or mixed practices will all be entitled to a vaccine, this includes specialist practices and clinical dental technicians registered with the CQC,” the CDO and deputies stated. “Dental professionals who work for a NHS trust will fall within the vaccination programme co-ordinated through their trust.​ Locum clinical staff employed by the practice and non-clinical ancillary staff who may have social contact with patients but are not directly involved in patient care (e.g. receptionists and cleaners) are also included. 

“As frontline health professionals, it is important that when you are called to be vaccinated you attend. Private practices are advised to ensure their contact details with the CQC are up to date as a matter of urgency. More detail is in this bulletin.”

Update:

Dental Protection has welcomed the announcement that the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out to dental professionals as priority.

Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “This news will come as a relief for dental professionals across the UK, who are some of the most exposed workers to the virus. The new Covid-19 variant, which is 70% more transmissible, poses a greater threat than ever before.

“Dental professionals always put the interests of their patients first, and remain committed to providing high standards of care. Prioritising dentists and dental teams to receive the Covid-19 vaccine acknowledges the essential healthcare service they continue to provide.”

A referral service unlike any other

Working conditions under the COVID-19 pandemic need not be an obstacle to providing first-class dentistry. By referring to Ten Dental+Facial, you can still offer patients the same outstanding range of treatments they have come to expect from you.

Distinguished by a referral service unlike any other, Ten Dental+Facial can treat both simple and complex cases – whether for general dentistry, specialist procedures or dental implants. Referred patients benefit from receiving the highest quality treatment, whilst you are kept fully updated throughout the process.   

Patients are then returned to you with ongoing aftercare support provided by Ten Dental+Facial to ensure further peace-of-mind. Call the multi award-winning team for further details.  

 

For more information visit www.tendental.com or call on 020 33932623

Made for each other

In our technology-driven world, integration of solutions has become the cornerstone of convenience. The more tech we use, the more important it is for each piece of equipment to communicate with others and allow us to go about our day efficiently. If we get on the tube or buy a coffee, we need our smartphone to connect with the card reader to make a payment. If we go running, our headphones remotely connect to our watches or phones for music and pacing. At home, our laptops and computers might link with a printer or a scanner. Our smart televisions can be connected with any games console, or use a wireless internet connection to bring us our favourite shows. The key to all of these activities is seamless integration of technologies that ensures smooth transfer of data as they work effectively together.

This is no different in the dental practice. Everything from the practice management system to the digital imaging systems need to communicate so as to make life simpler for professionals and patients alike. Even as the amount of technology in the practice increases, compatibility is an essential consideration for successful growth.

Benefits of seamless integration

In fact, there are many benefits to optimising compatibility between different digital systems in the practice. Firstly, it creates a smoother and more efficient workflow for the dental team. Technology is designed to simplify and speed up tasks, which can only be realised in the practice environment if solutions connect and automation is maximised. The result is less stress for professionals, as well as greater productivity, profitability and job satisfaction.

Secondly, compatible technologies will enable the team to fully utilise the features and benefits available. For example, if an intraoral scanner is used to create a digital impression, but this is sent to a design programme that doesn’t recognise the file type, you have a problem. Similarly, if patient records are not automatically updated when a CBCT scan is taken and you have to manually input data, an appointment will take more steps and more time for clinicians.

Another advantage of a streamlined workflow is an improved patient experience. They will appreciate the efficiency with which their information is handled and their treatment is provided, in turn encouraging their satisfaction with the service they receive. At a time when word-of-mouth recommendations mean everything for all types of businesses, a happy patient will be the very best advocate for your practice.

The orthodontic workflow

There can be no denying that the field of orthodontics has grown even more than would have been predicted at the start of the year. Given the restrictions and challenges faced across dentistry during this pandemic, the introduction and rapid development of virtual assessment and remote treatment monitoring have put some solutions – particularly removable orthodontics – firmly in the spotlight. Utilising this innovative technology, clinicians are able to start treatment while requiring less surgery time and fewer appointments, saving both them and their patients time and money.

The orthodontic workflow today looks very different to that of yesteryear. Patients register their interest and get started with the evaluation stage from the comfort of their own home. Upon proceeding, the clinician has access to patient data ahead of the physical appointment so they need less time to complete the assessment. They can use an intraoral scanner to take digital impressions, which can be sent to the laboratory for fabrication of highly accurate clear aligners, without any worries about the cross-contamination potentially associated with alginate impressions. Digital communications can occur between clinician and dental technician to ensure the best treatment plan for the individual patient. During treatment, innovative technology can be used to monitor the patient’s progress remotely, so they needn’t visit the practice as regularly, with no compromise in quality of care.

Throughout this entire treatment journey, it is crucial that all technology used is compatible and easily accessible to both the dental team and patients. It only works if each solution can connect to the next and data is seamlessly transferred.

A complete ecosystem

The Straumann Group is the only UK provider to offer a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions for the digital orthodontic workflow. As part of the ClearCorrect workflow, clinicians have access to DenToGo virtual assessment and remote treatment monitoring technology, which is supported by artificial intelligence to support the clinical workflow. The Trios intraoral scanner from 3Shape can be used to acquire highly accurate digital images, directly integrating with the ClearCorrect Doctor portal for total convenience. In fact, the technologies are so compatible that they work together to produce a treatment simulation that can drastically enhance treatment acceptance. A dedicated e-book from the Straumann Group is available to download with everything you need to get started.

Better together

Just as the dental team works better together, so do the technologies and innovations you use to elevate the standard of patient care you can deliver. Ensure seamless integration and compatibility between your equipment to make the very most of the benefits available.

 

Learn more about getting the most of virtual dentistry with the DenToGo e-book “Virtual dentistry: the present and the future” at www.straumanngroup-uk.co/dentogo-ebook

England: Priority access to Covid-19 vaccine for dentists

Following last week’s authorisation of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine and updated guidance around increased spacing of second vaccine doses, we are beginning to see an acceleration in the vaccination programme across the UK.

The British Dental Association (BDA) has repeatedly sought reassurance about prioritisation for dentistry, from NHS England, the Office of the CDO and separately across the devolved nations. NHS England’s initial priority, in line with JCVI advice, is for those aged 80 and over, together with care home staff and residents. Frontline health and social care staff are included in the next priority group. NHS England has confirmed that dentists and their teams, both in the NHS and in the private sector, are included in that group of frontline staff and therefore sit in the JCVI’s priority group two.

On Wednesday, having been contacted by some of our members, Craig Whittaker MP challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson on priority access to the Covid-19 vaccine for dentists and their teams. Mr Whittaker echoed the BDA calls for confirmation that dentists are in vaccination priority group 2 together with all other healthcare workers. The Prime Minister confirmed that all dentists in patient facing roles and members of their teams are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. The BDA will continue to push for clear guidance and clarity on timings of the vaccination for all dental teams.

The BDA is aware that some dentists have been approaching their GPs to highlight their status as frontline staff. There are reports of variable responses from GP practices and others involved in vaccination programmes to these approaches from dentists and teams. The BDA has continued to raise that concern with NHS England and understand that clarification will be forthcoming, confirming the position of dentists and teams to those organising vaccination programmes.

Timeframes for vaccination of the primary care workforce will still inevitably, to some extent, depend on local operational arrangements, logistics and availability of vaccine stocks. The BDA anticipates NHS contractors being contacted directly and that up-to-date CQC registration details will be important for private practices.

Sustained growth

Despite all the challenges of the past 12 months, Colosseum Dental UK continues to grow. In October 2020 alone, the business welcomed four new dental clinics to the family, demonstrating its ability for and dedication to development.

Kenny Valentine, Commercial Director M&A, commented:

“As we have continued to invest in the company, we have been able to maintain our growth. Our unique approach means that we provide opportunities for principals who are looking for the next step and who wish to impart the responsibilities of practice ownership onto a team they can trust. We are always looking for clinics and teams that share our ethos and passion for clinical excellence – and we continue to do so.”

If you are interested in how we could help to alleviate the pressures of owning a dental practice in these challenging times, visit the website for more details.

 

For more information about Colosseum Dental, please visit https://www.colosseumdental.co.uk/sell-your-practice

Cheers to a month of sobriety

Britons are known to love a tipple. The nation’s booze consumption is so high that some people in Britain may now feel that they drink too much or too often. That’s why leading alcohol charity, Alcohol Change UK, inspires people to give up alcohol for 31 days every year during a nationwide campaign known as Dry January. This presents an opportunity for the public to rethink their drinking habits, thus encouraging healthier alcohol consumption in the long-term. 

Many of us can be forgiven for over indulging on our favourite alcoholic beverages every once in a while. From financial difficulties and health anxiety, to juggling childcare and being separated from loved ones, there is much about the COVID-19 pandemic that has given us plenty of reasons to drink. However, the figures paint a dramatic picture of how hard Britain has hit the bottle during and since the nationwide lockdown in 2020. According to the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines, it is safest for men and women not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol (equivalent to six pints of beer) a week on a regular basis. 

Those who do regularly drink up to this amount are advised to spread their drinking over three or more days. Drinking greater amounts of alcohol increases the risk of serious health complications.[1] As such, it’s alarming to think that the number of people drinking at high risk levels jumped from 4.8 million to 8.4 million between February and September 2020, according to a recent report published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.[2] Given that much of Britain’s alcohol consumption rose significantly during lockdown, it is even more concerning that 66% of people are expected to drink more or the same amount as restrictions ease.[3]

Excess alcohol consumption over many years can take its toll, damaging vital organs such as the heart, liver and pancreas, as well as the brain and nervous system. Heavy drinking can also increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which are major risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.[4] Additionally, alcohol is associated with a range of mental health issues ranging from depression and memory loss, to psychosis and suicide.[5] Further still, drinking too much alcohol has been linked to various types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth and throat.

According to one study, people who have four or more alcoholic drinks a day are five times more at risk of mouth and pharynx cancers compared to those who never drink alcohol or drink only occasionally. However, the study also indicated an increased risk for moderate alcohol drinking, which counts as one drink a day.[6] The risk of mouth cancer increases further in those who drink to excess and smoke too – tobacco and alcohol are both carcinogenic, meaning they contain toxins that can damage DNA cells and cause cancer.[7] Heavy drinkers and smokers are 38 times more likely to develop the disease.[8]

Other oral health risks of excessive alcohol consumption include tooth erosion, dental caries and periodontal disease.[9], [10] There is also evidence to demonstrate that drinking alcohol increases the risk of dental and maxilla-facial trauma caused by accidents or injury.5, [11] Considering all of its effects on the body, it isn’t surprising that alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among people aged 15 to 49 in the UK.[12] Heavy drinkers are even more likely to develop serious complications if they contract COVID-19.3

The instability of the current global health crisis emphasises the importance of encouraging patients to avoid consuming alcohol to excess. Habits are formed quickly but can be hard to break, so if people start drinking at dangerous levels now, they face the possibility of their alcohol consumption rising over the medium to long term, thus contributing to an increased risk of developing serious health problems. Dry January is a chance for patients to reset their relationship with alcohol, providing the ideal training ground for patients to cut down on consumption through learning about their drinking habits and how to break them.

In the spirit of promoting healthier lifestyle choices, dental professionals can also take Dry January as an opportunity to reinforce good oral care habits among patients. This should involve providing guidance on following the most effective toothbrushing and interdental cleaning regime, as well as recommending reliable products that can make oral hygiene easier for optimum patient compliance. Leading oral healthcare specialist, Curaprox, offers a range of innovative solutions designed to support gentle yet effective cleaning of the teeth and gums, including the Hydrosonic Easy electric toothbrush. This delivers a powerful hydrodynamic effect to ensure a thorough clean, even in the most hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

It’s easy to reach for the bottle during times of celebration or hardship, but it is important that we take steps to ensure alcohol does not become a burden on general and oral health. Going dry this January could be just what your patients need to make better decisions about drinking for the benefit of an improved quality of life.

 

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

 

Author Dawn Woodward National Sales manager Curaprox UK

 

[1] GOV.UK. (2016) UK Chief Medical Officers’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/545937/UK_CMOs__report.pdf. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[2] Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2020) Addiction services not equipped to treat the 8 million people drinking at high risk during pandemic, warns Royal College. Available at: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2020/09/14/addiction-services-not-equipped-to-treat-the-8-million-people-drinking-at-high-risk-during-pandemic-warns-royal-college. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[3] Alcohol Change UK. (2020) Research: drinking in the UK during lockdown and beyond. Available at: https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/2020/drinking-in-the-uk-during-lockdown-and-beyond. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[4] NHS. (2018) Risks: Alcohol misuse. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/risks/. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[5] Drinkaware. (2020) Alcohol and mental health. Available at: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health/alcohol-and-mental-health. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[6] Goldstein, B. Y., Chang, S. C., Hashibe, M., La Vecchia, C. and Zhang, Z. F. (2010) Alcohol Consumption of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx from 1988 to 2009: An Update. Eur J Cancer Prev. 19(6): 431–465. DOI: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32833d936d.

[7] NHS. (2019) Causes: Mouth cancer. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer/causes/#:~:text=The%20leading%20causes%20of%20mouth,your%20risk%20of%20mouth%20cancer. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[8] White, S. (2017) Mouth Cancer Action Month – Reducing the risk. GOV.UK. Available at: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2017/11/08/mouth-cancer-action-month-reducing-the-risk/. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

[9] Mandel, L. (2005) Dental erosion due to wine consumption. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 136(1): 71–75. DOI: 10.14219/jada.archive.2005.0029.

[10] Priyanka, K. et al. (2017) Impact of Alcohol Dependency on Oral Health – A Cross-sectional Comparative Study. J Clin Diagn Res, 11(6): ZC43-ZC46. DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/26380.10058.

[11] Grocock, R. (2018) The relevance of alcohol to dental practice. BDJ Team. 5: 18025. DOI: 10.1038/bdjteam.2018.25.

[12] Public Health England. (2018) The Public Health Burden of Alcohol and the Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Alcohol Control Policies: An evidence review. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-public-health-burden-of-alcohol-evidence-review#history. [Last accessed: 05.10.20].

Bow to Sensei Cloud

Mastering the practice management elements of your business is essential for success.

With the Sensei Cloud practice management software from Carestream Dental, taking full control of the future of your business is easier than ever before!

A unique software that continually updates to suit user preferences, Sensei Cloud also offers users exceptional business management tools which can be used to track trends in treatment, increase chair occupancy and much, much more.

Furthermore, the software benefits practitioners too by allowing perks such as anytime, anywhere file access so that cases can be worked on wherever and whenever necessary, streamlining treatment from start to finish.

Find out more today.

 

For more information, contact Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or

visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk

For the latest news and updates, follow us on Twitter @CarestreamDentl

and Facebook

Open the door to cosmetic dentistry

“I joined the BACD as a student representative based on my interest to go down the cosmetic dentistry career path,” says foundation dentist, Dhanish Jabbar. “I saw BACD membership as a stepping stone to exploring the field in greater depth and finding out whether cosmetic dentistry was something I could see myself doing in the future.

“Being a BACD member as a young dentist helps you stay connected. Furthermore, the education the BACD offers is excellent. I’ve only attended one BACD Annual Conference so far, but the speakers at the event were very knowledgeable. The lecture content was advanced for dental students, but I learned a lot and was able to appreciate how far you can go with cosmetic dentistry.

“I would 100% recommend BACD membership to other young dentists and dental students as it enables you to meet other likeminded individuals. It also helps you get your foot through the door into the world of cosmetic dentistry and beyond.”

 

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