The results from a study from King's College London showed that dental phobic people were more likely to have caries in comparison to non-phobics, and were likely to have one or more missing teeth. The report argued that this could be because many people with dental phobia avoid seeing a dentist to address oral conditions that are preventable and chronic in nature.
Read more: Link found between dental phobia and oral health
Controversial plans to force millions of self-employed workers and companies to file multiple tax returns each year are to be ditched, which is good news for UK dentists according to NASDAL. Their media officer, Alan Suggett, said: “The aims of the scheme appeared to be laudable in terms of simplifying and making the tax system more efficient. However, the dental sector would have faced specific challenges.”
Read more: Tax changes for self-employed put on hold
A flurry of questions were answered in the last weeks of the Parliamentary session before the General Election. Questions from Steve McCabe came on undelivered UDAs (last year) and prevention, as well as the number of school days lost through dental symptoms. Another Labour MP Grahame Morris asked about the effect of low pay awards on the Service.
Read more: Parliamentary Questions to end of session
The BDA has told the GDC it must focus on the fundamentals and fix Fitness to Practise, as it responded to plans set out in the regulator’s Shifting the Balance document. BDA Chair Mick Armstrong said: “We asked dentists what they would change about dental regulation. They painted a picture of an overbearing regulator that really needs to focus.”
Read more: BDA gives its feedback to GDC
Over 250 dentists from across the UK are due to attend the annual gathering of Local Dental Committees (LDCs) in Birmingham on 8-9 June. Alisdair McKendrick, Chair of Conference, said: “The LDC Conference has been representing the interests of grass-roots NHS dentists since 1948. We need them now more than ever but to ensure their ongoing relevance I urge GDPs everywhere to get involved in their local dental committee.”
Read more: LDC Annual Conference to debate contract reform in June
Dentist Phillip Gale has been found not guilty of attempted murder, GBH and wounding,
at Preston Crown Court. The jury was unanimous on all three charges. He has now
been released from prison, where he had been since last October.
Read more: Dentist Phillip Gale acquitted