The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is delighted to report that the 2023 poster competition, sponsored by Colgate, was an unequivocal success.  

BSDHT members were invited to submit an abstract in advance of the OHC. The Society was thrilled to receive a total of 12 entries, 10 of which were forwarded to the final judging stage, the quality of which surpassed expectations by showcasing remarkable creativity, skill and passion for their subject matter.  All posters were prominently displayed in the hall of the Oral Health Conference Bournemouth for public viewing and attracted a steady stream of conference delegates interested in the high-quality content.  

The diversity of ideas and artistic interpretations made the judging process both challenging and inspiring. It was evident that each participant invested considerable effort and thought into their submissions, which also made the final selection process incredibly rewarding. The judging of the posters, held on the last day of the conference, attracted a wide audience.  The judges were:

• Marina Harris
• Simone Ruzario
• Emma Bingham

The impact and success of this poster competition underscores the importance of continuing to support and promote initiatives that encourage creativity and professional involvement.   It is evident that the participation and engagement generated by this competition within our community is welcomed. It served as a platform to showcase the exceptional talent in our profession. The winners were as follows:

Vaida Kaunaite

Beyond bouncing back: Exploring undergraduate dental profession students’ perceptions of resilience.

Laura McClune

A mixed method study to establish the current level, nature and attitude to the provision of treatment under direct access for dental hygienists and dental therapists who are members of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy.

Clare Haylett

What intervention delivery methods are the most advantageous at improving the oral health of prisoners and the efficacy of prison dental services?

Details of the winners were included in January 2024 issue of Dental Health and a series of social media posts are scheduled for January 2024 where Colgate will be formally recognised as a sponsor of this important competition.

This November, at the BSDHT Oral Health Conference in Bournemouth, Philips is once again sponsoring a presentation by Megan Fairhall, who will address her peers about how they can propel their careers with teeth whitening treatments. The session is taking place on Saturday 25^th November between 11.20am and 12.20pm in Room D2.

Commenting about the presentation Megan Fairhall said “I don’t believe there is enough content around career development for Hygienists and Therapists, and I would like to help. I have been very fortunate and have found a lot of satisfaction within my career once I explored other avenues over and beyond the clinical work. Whitening, in particular, has been a revelation and a game changer, and I would be delighted to see more of my peers look into the business of whitening to instil in them a renewed passion for their careers.”

Megan’s towards this journey began when she earned her BSc (Hons) in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy from the University of Portsmouth in 2010. What followed has been a diverse career path that embodies her deep passion for dentistry and commitment to uplift others.  For the past five years she has been become best known for running teeth whitening training courses which not only impart clinic knowledge and skills, but help to empower her fellow Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists to shape their careers and excel.

A recent milestone in Megan’s career trajectory saw her become the sole Dental Hygienist and Therapist on the {my}dentist clinical advisory board. As an extension of this role, she has since been collaborating closely with the company, focusing on implementing and expanding its teeth whitening strategies and protocols throughout their nearly 600 practices.

In the November session, Megan will delve into the advantages of carrying out teeth whitening procedures as a means for DH&Ts to advance their professional careers. She believes that this approach leads to an increase in utilising the scope of practice, heightened positive treatment time, an increase in case acceptance, an improved work life balance and happy confident patients.

Following the presentation Megan hopes that delegates will be able to identify the different teeth whitening treatments, the available UK formulas and laws surrounding teeth whitening, discuss ways in which to implement teeth whitening treatments into their daily practice to propel their career, and apply the knowledge learnt to utilise teeth whitening treatments to increase their patients’ confidence.

For more information about the BSDHT Conference, please visit: https://www.bsdht.org.uk/ohc-2023/

On 6 July 2024, the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy (BSDHT) will celebrate its platinum anniversary, and members are set to give something back in the 365 days leading up to it.

Members from each regional group are poised to begin undertaking 75 hours of community support, or voluntary work, which will be reported on throughout the year, plus there are other significant activities in the pipeline, soon to be revealed. 

Speaking about this incredible milestone, Miranda Steeples, BSDHT President, commented: ‘We are so proud to be part of and represent the BSDHT at this incredible moment in time, in terms of the BSDHT’s efforts and successes over the year, as well as our members’ achievements and how far dental care itself has come over the last 75 years.

‘It seemed only right that as we celebrate, we also give back, and that will form the mainstay of our next 365 days, in addition to the amazing things dental hygienists and dental therapists do every day in their professional capacity.’  

The, BSDHT (formerly British Dental Hygienists’ Association – BDHA) was set up in 1949 by a group of 12 dental hygienists who felt the time was right to organise a professional association to represent the interests of their profession. Almost 75 years later, the BSDHT is a nationally recognised body that represents over 4,000 members across the UK and beyond.

Over the years, the BSDHT has worked hard to represent the interests of members and to provide a consultative body for public and private organisations on all matters relating to dental hygiene and therapy. The Society aims to work with other professional and regulatory groups to provide the highest level of information to members as well as to the public.

For example, the BSDHT’s campaigning efforts were integral to the creation of Direct Access in 2013, enabling dental hygienists and dental therapists to see patients directly, removing the requirement to carry out treatments under prescription, or treatment plan, from a dentist, as long as they are trained, competent, and indemnified to do so.

These types of campaigns ensure that the needs of the dental hygiene and therapy community are represented and promoted, while the day-to-day activities of the BSDHT make certain that members feel supported in all aspects of their working life.

For further information about the work of the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk.

The BSDHT is delighted to announce a brand new, hands-on educational event designed to provide dental hygienists and dental therapists with the tools and confidence to work to their full scope of practice.

The recent initial changes to the NHS dental contract in England allowing dental hygienists and dental therapists to work to their full scope of practice has created many questions and requests for educational opportunities to refresh knowledge and refine skills, to help meet the needs of patients in both NHS and private practice setting.

With this in mind, the BSDHT’s two-part course, ‘Refresh & Refine’, will provide delegates with the opportunity to update their knowledge and refine their skills so that they are able to provide appropriate oral health care for patients within their full scope of practice, in line with the GDC’s ‘Scope of Practice’. 

The theory session, to be hosted online the week before, will cover oral health assessments, diagnosing and treatment planning.

The hands-on sessions themselves will be held face-to-face, and options include fissure sealants, temporary dressings, and re-cementing crowns temporarily, alginate impressions, rubber dam placement and cavity preparations.

Dates and venues are as follows:

• Saturday 3rd June – Edinburgh International Conference Centre: 9.30 – 2pm. Free entry to the Dentistry Scotland Show afterwards. To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/524350686017
• Saturday 1st July – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol:  10am – 2pm.  Free entry to the South West Dentistry Show afterwards. To book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/493640621387

Priced at an incredible £110 and with places limited on this empowering course, book without delay!

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) is thrilled to announce that this year’s Oral Health Conference (OHC) was everything the organisation hoped for and more!

The event in Glasgow was filled with learning, laughter and plenty of chances for delegates to acquire new skills. Plus, the show gave everyone a much-needed chance to reconnect with colleagues, make new friends and, most importantly, see once again why the profession is such an exciting and important part of modern dentistry.

If you would like to find out more about the sessions you didn’t attend or if you simply want to recap some of the best moments from the weekend, please contact the BSDHT for further information.

For more information about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk, call 01788 575050 or email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk.

The flagship event of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), this year’s show will take place at the SEC in Glasgow on November 26-27.

“I am so excited to be lecturing at the BSDHT. It is a Congress that I thoroughly enjoy to be part of as it is so well organised and I think it adds such a great amount of value to both hygienists and therapists. I am normally invited to lecture on clinical topics but this is an excellent extension of utilising my experience as the Principal of a practice bringing in a new technology and watching how not only the clinician but also the wider team have been so involved in utilising it to improve the patient’s journey and overall experience. 

“The iTero scanner is a fantastic tool for scanning but more importantly for patient communication. It allows the patient to really get on board with the treatment that we recommend but also allows the team to get on board and really understand how we are able to look after our patients using the most cutting edge dental techniques available to us now. Advances in the iTero technology have brought about the NIRI functionality which improves our ability to visualise dental disease like decay and directly communicate that to our patient in a way that allows them to really understand the problem that they have so that they are asking us for the solution rather than us providing one that they can’t relate to nor want. 

“Digital scanning has proved itself to be so valuable in modern dental practice used by dentists, therapists, hygienists and nurses for the betterment of their patients’ treatments and experiences. I look forward to BSDHT delegates joining me to find out more about what the digital revolution is bringing to practice and to the team approach to dentistry, and how their patients can benefit from this fantastic tool.  Five iTero scanners should be available for delegates to obtain their first hands-on experience – and can’t wait for everyone to see how intuitive and simple it is to learn how to scan.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.bsdht.org.uk/

With November fast approaching, now is the time to book your place at this year’s Oral Health Conference (OHC)!

The flagship event of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), the OHC is taking place at the SEC in Glasgow on 26 – 27 November and is a must-visit for dental hygienists, dental therapists and students of the profession.

Earn tailored CPD. Catch up with friends and make new connections. Discover some of the latest innovations from leading brands in the field – the OHC is guaranteed to be an exceptional event full of what really matters – networking, learning and getting up to date with the wider industry after so many months apart.

Special rates are available for BSDHT members, students and recently qualified dental professionals – so, why wait?

You can book your ticket online HERE: https://www.bsdht.org.uk/

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

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

The BSDHT are delighted to be hosting this year’s oral health conference on the 26-27^th November at the SEC in Glasgow

Have you been missing out on face-to-face interaction with your peers? How about listening to informative lectures and networking with industry professionals? So you’ll be pleased to hear that this year, the BSDHT will be welcoming back dental hygienists, dental therapists, students, dental nurses and dentists to enjoy their flagship member conference in Glasgow.

Held between 26-27^th November in Glasgow, this event promises to be full of exciting opportunities and informative lectures. Across the two days there will be lectures on early intervention, sustainability, periodontics, preserving pulp vitality and much more. In addition to the incredible line-up of speakers, there will also be award presentations, including poster competition winners and a Student of the Year award. There’s also the added bonus of hands-on workshops that give delegates the chance to acquire new practical skills and witness new products and pioneering technologies in real life, rather than on a screen.

Anna Middleton, BSDHT London Regional Group Treasurer and founder of London Hygienist says: ‘I’m so excited for OHC in Glasgow this year. What a wonderful opportunity to be reunited with all my hygiene and therapy colleagues, updating CPD while listening to some great lectures alongside a little exploration of a new City in Glasgow. I can’t wait to see everyone!’

Diane Rochford, President of the BSDHT adds: ‘The BSDHT team and I are beyond excited for the conference this year and call upon all dental hygienists and therapists (both members and non-members of BSDHT) to come and join us. It’s been such a tough year for our profession and we look forward to coming together with this shared experience, to celebrate the start of a new exciting era, learning together, some exceptional lectures and sharing ideas and learnings.’

Don’t miss out! Places are limited and getting booked up very quickly. For your chance to gain 12 hours of CPD, listen to the very best lectures and expand your network, take advantage of the early bird booking deal which expires at the end of October. This offer means you’ll receive a ticket for the two days for £254 as a member, or £326 as a non-member.

To attend the BSDHT OHC or for more information call 01788 575050, email enquiries@bsdht.org.uk or visit www.bsdht.org.uk