One year after taking ownership of the UK’s third largest dental group, Zurich-based Colosseum Dental Group unveils a £5M comprehensive modernisation programme focused on clinical excellence and best practice.

Southern Dental, the nation’s third largest chain of dentists, is now known as Colosseum Dental UK Ltd. The name change coincides with the first anniversary of Zurich-based Colosseum Dental's acquisition of Southern Dental, which made it not only Europe's fastest growing dental group, but also the only one with a network spanning the continent.

With a patient base in excess of 500,000, the majority of Colosseum's 80 practices in the UK will undergo an extensive refurbishment programme, introducing a new look and feel to waiting rooms with upgraded treatment areas and clinical facilities as part of a £5,000,000 investment in the company. Peter Keegans, CEO, explains, “Our new owners have a long-term, 20-year vision which is enabling us to invest in upgrading our clinics to be state-of-the-art practices offering the highest standards.” Colosseum Dental Group’s ambition is to be Europe’s leading dental provider within five years.

LOCAL PRACTICES SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY
One of the pillars of Colosseum’s recipe for success in the UK will be embedding each practice as a “good neighbour” in its local community. Peter continues, “We want to break with convention from other dental chains. Each of our 80 practices will be known by the local name patients have always referred to it. If, for example, ‘Hollybush Dental’ is how a practice has always been known colloquially, we've no intention of simply re-badging it as ‘Colosseum Dental’. In this way, each practice will retain its connection as an integral part of its community."

In addition to being a good neighbour, Colosseum has two other refreshingly simple cultural values; to be a provider of exceptional patient care and to be a great employer. As Peter explains, “Our name change marks a new era: a renewed energy and focus, an opportunity for cultural change and to align ourselves with the values of our European colleagues. Armed with a long-term vision, we can now invest in our practices and staff with confidence, knowing our patients will be the ultimate beneficiaries. Everyone wins.”

EUROPEAN SCOPE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PATIENT CARE
Being part of a European group means dentists have the chance to provide best practice based on the ability to observe long-term clinical outcomes in a huge, European-wide patient base. Treatment protocols, guidelines and KPIs are currently being developed across the group to provide highly informed patient care, and present the best possible treatment options to patients. Ravi Rattan, Clinical Director at Colosseum Dental UK, who joined in 2016, is excited to be part of these changes: “At Colosseum Dental, we’re committed to raising clinical standards and offering more advanced treatment options and procedures to our patients. Our new specialist referral centres in Kettering and Kingston offer private as well as NHS treatments such as orthodontics, implants and facial aesthetics. Patients there will benefit from 3D CBCT scanners to enable better, safer treatment planning. Having new investment means we can continue to set up such centres: Our European colleagues are highly experienced in managing large referral centres, and we are learning from their success.”

The group’s aim is for no differences to exist between treatments available at, say, a practice in Switzlerand, and those available at one in Southern England. Lars Armbäck is Chief Dentist at Colosseum Dental Group. Armed with 30 years’ general practice and a special interest in prosthetics, implants, quality and treatment strategy, his focus is on best practice, dentist development and quality assurance. He’s excited by the addition of the 80 English clinics, noting, “Patients everywhere should be able to benefit from digital technologies that enable them to make informed choices about their care. Hence, as a group, we recently chose to invest in intraoral scanners for all patients, and our size means we can negotiate to help keep diagnostic and treatment prices affordable.” He adds, “Dentists at our UK practices will benefit from committees we have set up to examine best practice in treatment planning and workflow. With time, we’ll be able to compare patient outcomes across Europe, and thereby identify best treatment strategies and best practice overall. It’s this type of sharing which sets us apart from any of our competitors.”

COMMITTED TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Career choices at various levels are being made more flexible, in line with changing lifestyle requirements such as increased female and part time dentists in post. Samaneh Nezamivand-Chegini, a dentist who practises in Central London, having joined in 2012, now sits on the Clinical Board. She says, “It’s great to see my suggestions have been noted, despite my being relatively newly qualified. Peter [Keegans] and his team have listened and acted, which is in turn inspiring my clinical colleagues. On a personal level, I’m being supported to further my career and income via training in implantology.”

Sharyn Wilson, HR Director at Colosseum Dental UK, notes, “Our improved ways of working and communicating are being appreciated by all our staff, from receptionists to dental specialists.” Career progression for non-clinical staff is also being strengthened. For example, the new Advanced Treatment Co-ordinator has progressed from earlier roles as nurse, Practice Manager, then Resourcer. As a sign of its commitment to professional development, Colosseum Dental UK will hold its first Annual Conference on 20th April, where keynote speakers will include Seema Sharma, an expert in transforming dental practices, Joe Bhat, a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology and Jas Gill, who was voted in at No.12 in the Top 50 most important people in UK Dentistry.

ABOUT COLOSSEUM DENTAL UK LIMITED
Colosseum Dental UK Limited is the third largest chain of dental practices in the UK, with 80 clinics spanning 19 counties. The company supplies high quality general dental care, as well as specialist services for NHS and private patients. It has more than 900 employees and Associates, including over 250 dental professionals, serving more than 500,000 patients. Its mission is to be the ‘best in class’ dental group in the South of England by providing modern, quality dentistry services for the benefit of patients, dentists, employees, shareholders and striving for continuous growth and excellence. www.colosseumdental.co.uk

Michael Lansdell is a founding partner of specialist dental and medical accountants Lansdell & Rose and a chartered accountant. Here, he gives an overview of Philip Hammond’s first Spring Statement, and the key points for dental practice owners…

We had two Budgets and three Financial Bills in 2017, which for many, was more than enough! The Spring Statement lasted a grand total of 25 minutes, and was essentially a review of the public finances. It was also an opportunity to publish consultations before any announcements in the Autumn Budget.

So, nothing headline grabbing, but here’s a glance over the Spring Statement and how it may relate to your business.

VAT

From April, the VAT threshold will remain at £85,000 for the next two years, as per a previous announcement. Mr Hammond said he would consult on whether growth could be incentivised by looking again at how VAT is structured.

Digital payments

Payments/settlements systems (including the Bank of England’s) are to be renewed in order to harness the power of the latest technologies. The government pledged its support to these changes, and it will be consulting on them.

On a related note, views will also be sought on how online platforms could help users comply with their tax obligations.

Entrepreneur’s relief

If an individual now owns less than 5 per cent interest in a company, because the company has issued trade to raise capital, they should be able to claim Entrepreneur’s relief, says the government.

Business rates

Views had previously been sought on this topic. It was announced that the first of more frequent, three-yearly revaluations for business properties would be in 2021.

Self-funded work-related training

Have you – or a colleague – undertaken this? Well, the government is going to look at how tax relief can be extended and how the system can be both simplified and protected from misuse.

Coming up in April…

No new tax measures were introduced, but some previously announced changes are coming into force in April. The personal allowance is rising to £11,850 (for basic rate, to £34,000 and higher rate, £46,350). This excludes Scotland, who will have five new tax bands for 2018/19. If you are on a higher rate in Scotland, this isn’t great news as the threshold is going to start at £2,920 below the rest of the UK. As previously announced, the dividend tax allowance will be reduced to £2,000.

The national insurance contributions (NICs) threshold is also increasing by 3 per cent and Class 2 NICs will now be phased out for 2019/20.

If you have a company car, tax will rise for all by the highest emission vehicles.

The residence nil rate band for Inheritance tax (IHT) will rise; the main rate band will remain unchanged. There could be changes afoot by the Autumn Budget, however, a review of IHT conducted by the Office of Tax Simplification is due to report around then.  

As for pensions, the minimum contributions for workplace pensions under automatic enrolment will increase. The lifetime allowance will rise in line with inflation (it’s been on a downward path since 2012).

Finally, both income tax and NICs will apply on all payments in lieu of notice (PILONs) in 2018/9.

If you want specific data, or clarification, contact Lansdell & Rose. We can help your practice to stay ticking away efficiently and profitably during the next financial year and beyond.

Other dental accountants also available. Nasdal.

Lansdell & Rose on 020 7376 9333,

Or visit www.lansdellrose.co.uk

In endodontic therapy, the complete removal of microbes from the root canal system and prevention of reinfection is essential to the overall outcome.

The most effective means of eradicating infection is a combination of chemical and mechanical debridement, because when irrigation is introduced alongside instrumentation the chance of removing inflamed and necrotic pulp tissue, microbes and debris is significantly higher.

As it stands, there is little evidence to prove that certain irrigants are more effective than others, but research has shown that no single irrigant on its own holds all the required characteristics needed to effectively eradicate and prevent infection.[i] Only a combination of two or more solutions in the appropriate sequence can predictably obtain safe and effective irrigation.[ii]

Perhaps the most commonly used irrigant is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI) in concentrations varying from 0.5 to 6.00%, as this can dissolve organic tissue and has a broad antimicrobial spectrum allowing it to effectively kill biofilms adherent to the root canal walls.[iii] For those who prefer to use sodium hypochlorite, it is worth bearing in mind that a high concentration NaOCI has demonstrated better results than 1% and 2% solutions. [iv] In cases where NaOCI has been used but has been ineffective, it may be that the strength of the formula – or lack of – has compromised the success of the outcome.

The downside of NaOCI is that it does not remove the smear layer. This can be overcome, however with subsequent irrigation with Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), as it can dissolve inorganic material, including hydroxyapatite. Importantly, EDTA is also biocompatible, able to condition dentine and has shown positive effects on the root canal seal.[v] Nevertheless, it is important to remember that EDTA must be used as a final rinse, not as an alternating rinse with NaOCI.

Another possible irrigant is chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), which has good antimicrobial activity and is biocompatible. As it is incapable of dissolving organic tissue it cannot replace sodium hypochlorite. One could also opt for hydrogen peroxide, but again, this lacks antibacterial activity when used alone and cannot dissolve tissue.

Whichever combination is used, it is important to choose quality irrigation products from a trustworthy manufacturer of endodontic solutions. At COLTENE, all products are designed and produced using the latest materials and technology to guarantee optimal results. The range of solutions includes CanalPro NaOCI in 3% and 6% formula, CanalPro EDTA 17% and CanalPro CHX 2%, providing all the characteristics needed for effective irrigation. For best results, use alongside HyFlex EDM NiTi root canal files, also available from COLTENE.

The role of irrigation and its impact on the overall success rates of root canal treatment is clear, so be sure to consider your choice of irrigants.

To find out more visit www.coltene.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01444 235486

Simplyhealth Professionals has announced today the launch of a new flexible payment plan for both its’ member practices and non-members which will help patients to spread the cost of both dental and facial aesthetic treatments.

The new Flexible Payment Plans will make treatments more accessible and affordable for all patients as they can set the price and payment length with their dentist so it suits individual budgets. Patients can opt for treatments that they might have previously thought were unaffordable.

Dentists will agree with each patient how much they pay each month and how long their treatment will take. They can offer the patient an ongoing monthly plan for more regular treatments, or a choice of three to ten monthly payments for a one-off treatment, helping the patient to spread the cost of treatment and make it more affordable for them.

This is the first time that Simplyhealth Professionals has created a payment plan that can be tailored to support dentists providing an increasingly diverse mix of cosmetic dental and facial aesthetic treatments in their practices.  Flexible Payment Plans will encourage patients to opt for new or higher cost treatments which they previously might not have considered due to the price.

• Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover
• Denplan  Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover
• Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover Denplan Membership: registered  with  the  dentist + worldwide dental injury  and dental emergency cover  
• Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.
• Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme.

Simplyhealth Professionals is offering free access to YDEPPA

Simplyhealth Professionals has launched a new online marketing portal called ‘Simply Select’ to help its’ members produce bespoke marketing literature for their practices. 

The Simply Select portal contains a wide variety of templates, such as factsheets, posters and referral cards that can be personalised by members to help them promote individual Denplan payment plans and special offers. This will help to draw in new patients to the practice, or encourage existing patients to consider new or alternative treatments or plans. Marketing campaign material will also be added to the portal on a regular basis.

The templates are very simple to use with areas that practices can personalise with specific information that is relevant for them. There are templates for posters, referral cards, cost comparison posters and social media templates. Simplyhealth Professionals will continue to create new templates and add to the existing range throughout the year.

Sandy Brown, Director of Dentists at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “We wanted to offer a really easy process for our member dentists to help them to market their individual Denplan payment plans and personalise each product to attract new patients and retain and grow existing ones. We have a dedicated in-house practice marketing team available for more complicated requests or special events, but often practices just want to be able to quickly print off a simple form or poster and do this themselves. Simply Select now means they have the best of both worlds.”

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962.

For patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   

For details of all of our products, visit www.denplan.co.uk

The Dental Defence Union (DDU) said today the establishment of a Civil Justice Council working group to consider fixed legal costs in clinical negligence claims is a positive step in tackling runaway legal costs.

John Makin, head of the DDU, said:

“The announcement of a Civil Justice Council working group to examine excessive legal costs in clinical negligence claims is a delayed but still welcome first step. Proposals to make claimants’ lawyers costs more proportionate to the compensation their clients receive were first mooted back in 2015. We hope that things will move ahead faster now.

“Even with dental claims, which are generally lower in value than medical awards, the fees charged by claimant lawyers are still, on average, above the level of compensation awarded and that cannot be right. For example in one settled claim, the claimant’s costs were more than quadruple the settlement figure received by the patient.

“Patients who believe they have been negligently harmed must have access to justice, but fixed costs are fairer and will help to establish some much needed balance to the system.

“We will be happy to take part in the working party to represent our members’ views. However, disproportionately high costs charged by claimants’ lawyers are only part of the problem. The cost of litigation is becoming unaffordable for the dental profession and the NHS. The Government needs to take more decisive action. We urgently need more radical legal reform to restore balance to the system for clinical negligence claims.”

The DDU, the specialist dental division of the MDU, is a not-for-profit organisation wholly dedicated to our members’ interests. Our team is led and staffed by dentists with real-life experience of the pressures and challenges faced in practice.

We offer our members expert guidance, personal support and robust defence in addressing dento-legal issues, complaints and claims. Our customised services range from legal assistance to indemnity to appropriate CPD. 

theddu.com

As part of its dedication to helping corporate and dental group providers deliver quality treatment outcomes, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) works closely with the government, regulators and NHS to improve the use of skills mix. 

The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP(UK)) has responded sceptically to proposals to cut costs by amalgamating the UK’s health regulators.

In response to a consultation by the Department of Health, it says it is not convinced that combining dental regulation with that of other professions could save money while retaining the required understanding of the dental professions, and that in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the interests of patients and the profession will best be served by the continued existence of a regulator dedicated solely to dentistry.

The Faculty says that decisions on the regulation of health professions should instead be guided by the risk of patient harm, and that as such there can be no optimum number of healthcare regulators. It also suggests that as the UK has over 70 regulators, “including four for social care, and six each for legal services, financial services and privatised utilities…nine regulators for healthcare, covering 1.5 million professionals in 32 occupations, does not appear excessive.”

FGDP(UK) also expresses concern over proposals to create a single adjudication body for fitness to practise, a single register of all health professionals, and a single set of standards in lieu of profession-specific ones, and rejects the suggested use of mediation in regulatory proceedings and proposals for employers to be represented on the General Dental Council (GDC).

However, FGDP(UK) agreed that the currently statutorily-regulated professions should be reassessed to determine the most appropriate level of oversight, and that the regulator should be accountable to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Irish Assembly in addition to the UK Parliament.

Dr Mick Horton, Dean of FGDP(UK), said:

“While the GDC itself acknowledges that there are improvements to be made to the way in which it regulates, it has nonetheless developed specialist knowledge of dental patients and the professions that treat them, each of which exhibit characteristics and contextual factors which are not necessarily the same as those of other medical professions and their patients. In an amalgamated regulator, this sector-specific knowledge would either be maintained at additional cost, or, more likely, lost in a drive to harmonise procedures and cut costs. For these reasons, the onus is on the government to produce convincing evidence that its own stated objectives for regulation – public protection, performance management, and professional development and support - would not be all the harder to meet if dental regulation were to be amalgamated with that of other professions.”

 The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) is the only professional membership body in the UK specifically for general dental practice. Based at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, it provides services to help those in general dental practice raise standards of patient care. It does this through standards setting, providing education courses and assessments, CPD, policy development, research and publications. Membership of FGDP(UK) is open to dentists and other registered dental professionals.

Simplyhealth Professionals’ training team, the Academy, are celebrating after being awarded the prestigious BDIA Code of Practice for all of their dental CPD training.

The Academy has also worked hard to meet the new requirements of the General Dental Council’s (GDC) CPD quality assurance. With the new changes to Enhanced CPD starting in January 2018 for dentists and August for dental care professionals, this will further reassure members of Simplyhealth Professionals, the providers of Denplan payment plans, that they are receiving the highest level of training support.

The GDC has introduced changes to CPD in 2018 now called Enhanced Continuing Professional Development (ECPD) and have stated that all providers of dental CPD need to have clear aims, objectives and anticipated outcomes that fit with their four development outcomes.  CPD providers also have to offer quality assurance that their courses are fit for purpose.  

Louis Mackenzie, Head of Clinical Training at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “We have always employed the highest levels of quality assurance to ensure all of our courses satisfy the educational needs of dentists and their teams. The BDIA Code of Practice process has been an excellent opportunity to formalise our rules and reassure all our members that the entire range of Simplyhealth Professionals CPD activities will satisfy all of their statutory obligations for verifiable CPD.”

All courses run by Simplyhealth Professionals have quality controls in place, help members choose CPD products that match their individual requirements and fields of practice, and provide certificates that show that the registrant has met their aims and objectives. Members have nearly 60 modules that they can choose from.

Simplyhealth Professionals’ training team provide customised training days for member practice staff to help them stay up to date with industry knowledge, regulatory compliance, and techniques for dealing with all of their patients’ needs. The team are all qualified trainers who come from a range of backgrounds, from finance, health and social care, education, and dental care.

Jo Banks, Head of The Academy, said: “The Academy has always strived to provide the highest quality training for dentists in many subject areas. The BDIA Code of Practice and the meeting of the new ECPD standards for all our training can reassure dentists that in choosing Simplyhealth Professionals to deliver their training they are meeting all current requirements. We provide an outline of the aims, objectives and anticipated outcomes of all our courses with links to how they fit with the GDC’s four development outcomes. Our CPD certificates have been adapted to meet GDC requirements and will now display the relevant GDC Development Outcomes A, B, C and/or D.”

To find out more information about the range of CPD courses available from Simplyhealth Professionals visit http://www.denplan.co.uk/dentists/events-and-training/mycpd

Simplyhealth Professionals is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million patients registered to a Denplan product.

Simplyhealth Professionals provides the following range of leading Denplan dental payment plans under the Denplan name:

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Membership: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962.

For patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   

For details of all of our products, visit www.denplan.co.uk

The Dental Industry Event of the Year is back! The Digital Symposium 2018 takes place on 27-28 April in London and this year it’s thinking big, it’s thinking holistically and it’s thinking differently.

Recognised as Dental Industry Event of the Year at the Dental Industry Awards 2017 held in association with the BDIA, the Digital Symposium is the ultimate digital experience for dental professionals. Driving innovative solutions in terms of predictive treatment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention, the Digital Symposium is an opportunity to witness the transformative power of these emerging technologies first hand and hear from some of the industry’s most influential educational and motivational speakers.

BREAKING NEWS: The Medical Futurist confirmed as Keynote speaker

A “geek physician” with a PhD in genomics and an Amazon Top 100 author, Dr Bertalan Mesko, the Medical Futurist, predicts the impact of digital health technologies on the future of healthcare, helping patients, clinicians, regulators and industry organisations make it a reality. He will talk to delegates about a range of digital health technologies, including artificial intelligence, health sensors, 3D printing and how social media can impact public awareness.

The Medical Futurist is joined by an impressive line-up of other speakers including Colin Campbell, Sinead McEnhill, Adam Nulty and Josef Kunkela. For a full list of speakers, visit hsddigitalsymposium.co.uk/speakers-2018

Book before the end of January 2018 to take advantage of our Early Bird and Previous Delegates’ offers.

To book at our discounted prices or to find out more about The Digital Symposium 2018, visit www.hsddigitalsymposium.co.uk/

To find out more about Henry Schein Dental’s range of digital solutions, contact Henry Schein ConnectDental on 0800 028 4870 or visit hsdconnectdental.co.uk.

henryschein.co.uk

Twitter: @HenryScheinUK

Facebook: HenryScheinUK

With more and more patients having access to smart phones and emails, iSmile can cater for a completely paper free experience. With your very own branded Patient Portal, you can give your patients the ability to fill in medical history forms on their desktops, tablets and mobile devices prior to their appointment. iSmile can automatically email medical history forms to your patients, which are filled out securely online and then transmitted back to iSmile and stored within the patient's file, significantly reducing workload at reception.

Getting client feedback and disseminating the data into easy-to-understand reports is an important part of any business. Patient Portal allows you to create a patient questionnaire in iSmile which is automatically emailed to patients after their appointment. Data collected back by iSmile can then be displayed in a range of reports which allows you to analyse trends over a series of time periods and see how your business is changing, allowing you to identify where improvements can be made. 

Patient Portal is upgraded with features all the time and now includes mobile signatures - there's no need to purchase clunky digital signature equipment as Patient Portal works on any tablet and any mobile phone - both inside and outside of the practice! 

What is Right Path 4?

Right Path 4 offer a system that covers everything you need for CQC Inspections and Visits.

• If you want to correctly prepare for CQC
• If you’re buying or selling a practice  
• If you want to keep it simple - Right Path 4 are the people to contact.

Who makes up RP4?

RP4 is a small team of professionals who have a great deal of experience. We’re passionate about using this experience to help our colleagues to work within a team dedicated to providing the highest possible standards of health care.

What do you receive?

RP4 BLUEPRINT Modules on Clinical Risk Management, NHS Contract Management, PDP and Reflective writing and now ‘keeping your eye on the ball. All written by EXPERTS just for RP4 members.

RP4 are the EXPERTS by experience, there’s no joining fee and no ongoing contract tie in. We have the lowest fees and we have produced an RP4BLUEPRINT, the ‘go to’ people for more than 750 practices. Our Experts are all dentists with detailed experience of working with the Regulators and Indemnity Providers at the highest level.

Inspired by the CQC, Blueprint gives you the complete plan and Blueprint is only available to RP4 members

Below is video created by Keith, which explains the RP4 System.

If your practice would like to join RP4 today, there is a special offer for GDPUK Members (£59.95 a month for GDPUK Members), if you follow this link - https://pay.gocardless.com/AL00016VCPR74Z

For further information about RP4 and the team behind the system, please visit - https://www.rightpath4.com/blogs/

The 8th November marked just one year since dental partnership group, Dentex, secured its first dental practice, and what a year it’s been. The first twelve months of any business is meant to be the hardest, but in this time Dentex has accumulated 17 practices as part of the group, with a further 18 in due diligence; and secured £21m in funding. Not bad for an organisation that began with just six members of staff.

Since its inception, Dentex has almost taken on a life of its own. Driven by Barry Lanesman, CEO, Pat Langley as Chief Dental Officer and Rob Paxman as Director of Partnering, all of whom have long-term experience within the dentistry field, the organisation has sought – and succeeded – to fulfil a very great need in the dental industry: enabling dentists to share in the value created through a dental collective.

They differ from typical dental corporates by offering much better long-term wealth creation opportunities to their partners. Dentists are able to extract equity from their practice, but continue to stay involved and benefit from the growth whilst preserving their clinical independence. Dentex provides support to dentists as partners, enabling growth without removing a practice’s autonomy; so, dentists continue to run their practice, expanding and thriving, no longer having to constantly focus on cash flow and financials.

In a year that has seen the group awarded the ‘Highly Commended Award for Innovation of the Year’, as well as finalists for ‘Product Launch of the Year’ – Dentex has found success in a model that challenges the traditional dental corporate pattern. There is no management takeover, no rebranding, as happens when joining a corporate franchise; partners maintain their autonomy, gaining input and assistance only where they require it. This allows practices to retain their individuality, which is important for practitioners and patients alike. And with two partnership models – Regional and Practice – it’s possible for Dentex partners to either reduce their responsibilities or enhance them, either focusing on their core interests at a local level to ensure a premium patient experience is delivered, or building a portfolio of surgeries in order to broaden their potential remit. Once approved and passed through the stringent Dentex criteria for partner selection, the choice of how they wish to proceed is left to the individual member.

There is an acute focus on finding the right partners. Integrity, respect for each other and highest ethical standards are just a few of the values that make up Dentex’s foundations, and all members of the group are expected to share this ethos.

Dentex is not about running a business model that’s dictatorial, it’s about helping dentists work together. Dentists often face similar challenges, so partners are encouraged to build and grow in a collegiate way.

Barry Lanesman, Dentex CEO, comments:

‘With a five-year plan which aims to see the Group at 150 partnering practices by 2022, it’s still early days for Dentex, but so far, the company is very much on track, thanks to its unique offering. This time last year there was a gap in the market. Dentex have filled it admirably.

But while the organisation’s phenomenal growth is certainly worth marking, Dentex’s driving force is quality over quantity. Each Dentex partner wants to share growth and remain involved in the development of the practice, not exit at the earliest opportunity. They are genuinely enthused and motivated about clinical dentistry and use their partnership with Dentex to help overcome regulatory, compliance and administrative barriers.

The partnership allows them to focus on areas of dentistry they’re truly passionate about. Each one of the partners excels in their field with an unswerving commitment to deliver premium patient care, sharing best practice for the common good of the group – and ultimately the patient.’

Dentex has shown significant growth thanks to its unique offering. They have ambitious growth expectations and so far, are on track to hit their target of 150 practices by 2022.

Dentex Regional Partner, Bhavna Doshi of Perfect Smile dental studios, explains why she joined the group. ‘Dentex is a partner that has allowed us to preserve our ethos and way of business, and provide a collaboration of mastermind. We have been able to keep our business identity, leadership philosophy, quality of dentistry and exceptional patient care. At the same time, they have given us the financial and business support to grow our group of practices.’

Andrew Birrell, Executive Director of Universal Partners, Dentex’s largest investor said ‘The Dentex message continues to resonate with clinicians who wish to release equity whilst retaining upside, and continue to enjoy the clinical freedom to deliver for their patients before joining the group. The company is performing ahead of our expectations and we look forward to seeing it prosper in future”

Further information on Dentex here.

A week ago saw Sheffield host its third Dental Charity Ball, in support of Dentaid – a charity that supports people, both here in the UK and around the globe, to gain access to quality dental care.

The evening was attended by many dentists as well as those wanting to kick off the festive season whilst supporting a great cause. Mr John Elkins, Finance Director at Dentaid, gave a talk on their work before Dr Barry Oulton, from Haslemere Dental Centre, and Helen Everatt, from S4S Dental Laboratory, hosted games, pulled raffles and opened the dance floor. Organised by S4S Dental Laboratory, Smilelign clear aligners, 4Health, and John Holland prestige car dealership, the event raised over £2500 for the charity, and will be used to help equip, treat and educate where the need is the greatest.

Watch the video of the event here, generously donated by True Glass Film.

s4sdental.com/charityball2017/

25 January 2018, The Museum of London

Join Sara Hurley, Baroness Floella Benjamin and other leading figures in dental health at this unique one-day event.

The recently published ‘State of Child Health’ report revealed that 31-41% of 5-year-old children across the UK are affected by tooth decay and this is the single most common reason why children aged five to nine are admitted to hospital. This represents a significant, but avoidable challenge to our NHS.

To tackle this problem, it is up to all professionals that work with children to spot the signs of poor oral health and take the appropriate action. In turn, we believe this will drive improvements in child oral health, leading to less hospital referrals and less complications later in life.

But, we can only achieve this by working together, with dental professionals, like you.

‘Insights: Why Children’s Oral Health is Everybody’s Business’ is a new event from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health organised in partnership with the Office of the Chief Dental Officer and the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry. The event aims to bring together those who work with children including paediatricians and teachers, as well as dental professionals, to share best practice, compare experiences and hear insightful talks from leading voices.

Speakers confirmed for the main event will form a prestigious line-up, including Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE, Sara Hurley, Dr Jenny Godson and many more.

Here’s what Sara Hurley, Chief Dental Officer England, had to say about the summit:

“This event is a vital response to the call for multi-agency collaboration to tackle the complex interplay of factors that cause childhood diseases. A real opportunity to understand why childhood dental decay is everyone's business, the nature and extent of childhood oral health issues and how it impacts on general health and well-being.  At the heart of the event is an opportunity to develop a progressive, collaborative approach and strengthen the links between the paediatric and the dental care communities to the benefit of our patients.”

Find out more about this event at www.rcpch.ac.uk/insights-oral

NASDAL have taken a look at the Autumn budget from a dental perspective for GDPUK.com

Given the weakness of the Conservative Government as a result of the General Election and the tortuous negotiations with the EU over Brexit, it was perhaps no surprise that Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Autumn Budget should have avoided, if not evaded (!), making any major changes to the tax regime for the majority of businesses and individual taxpayers. However, Charles Linaker, a tax partner with UNW, which has a dedicated Dental Business Unit headed by NASDAL Media Officer, Alan Suggett, says that the Chancellor will still have to find ways of raising extra tax from somewhere and warns that dentists should be on their guard.

Those who are currently self-employed will recall that, in his Spring Budget earlier this year, Hammond announced increases to the rate of Class 4 NIC from 9% to 10% and then from 10% to 11%, which he then had to withdraw with indecent haste when it was pointed out that they breached a manifesto pledge made at the 2015 General Election. Had the Government been in a stronger position, those increases would surely have been reintroduced but the Chancellor confirmed that they will not now be implemented.

Similarly, dentists who operate via limited companies might have expected a possible reversal of the previously announced staged reduction in corporation tax rates, which many commentators thought could be implemented with relatively little controversy, not least because it would have been difficult for Labour to have opposed such a measure. But again, it was a case of no change as the Chancellor confirmed that 19% would remain as the rate for three years from 1 April 2017 and then fall to 17% from 1 April 2020.

On the personal tax side, Hammond could have decided to abandon, or at least delay, the previous proposals to increase the personal tax free allowance, but he confirmed that for 2018/19 this will increase from the current figure of £11,500 to £11,850 and that the basic rate band will increase for 2018/19 from the current figure of £33,500 to £34,500 (with the exception, it should be noted, of Scottish taxpayers).

Of course, it needs to be remembered that not everyone has the benefit of the full personal allowance. There is a reduction in the personal allowance for those with ‘adjusted net income’ over £100,000, which is £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. So for 2017/18 there is no personal allowance where adjusted net income exceeds £123,000 and for 2018/19 there will be no personal allowance available where adjusted net income exceeds £123,700.

Capital Gains Tax was also left untouched in so far as the main rates of 10% and 20% remained unchanged and the annual exemption of £11,300 for 2017/18 was increased to £11,700 for 2018/19. Moreover, for any dentists contemplating retirement in the near future, not only did the 10% rate applicable for Entrepreneurs’ Relief remained unchanged, it was announced also that the Government will consult on how access to Entrepreneurs’ Relief might be given to those whose initial holding in their company is reduced below the normal 5% qualifying level of shareholding as a result of raising external investment for commercial purposes by means of issuing new shares.

An early major casualty post-Election and pre-Budget had been HMRC’s much vaunted Making Tax Digital (“MTD”) programme whose implementation for income tax is now postponed until 2020 at the earliest – and later in the case of corporation tax. Only MTD for VAT will adhere to the original timetable from April 2019, which typically does not affect dental practices. Nevertheless, dentists would be well advised to plan on the basis that ultimately the proposed MTD requirement to file quarterly returns of income and expenditure to HMRC will be implemented.

A key argument from HMRC for the introduction of quarterly reporting under MTD is that it will help them close “the Tax Gap”. While HMRC estimates that it loses more than £1.5bn a year in tax through avoidance schemes (in which at least some dentists will have participated), the Department reckons that it loses in excess of £5bn a year through the hidden economy (i.e. payments made cash in hand) and that SMEs pay a total of £15bn less tax a year than it estimates they should.  

The statistical probability is that there will be some dentists in both of those categories and the Chancellor has allocated an extra £155 million in resources to HMRC in its continued war against evasion and avoidance. Given the Treasury’s need for increased revenue, an increase in HMRC enquiries over the next few years is on the cards and the dental sector can expect to bear its fair – or possibly even unfair - share of attention. You have been warned.

For further information on Nasdal (Specialists in dental business accounting and law), they can be found at - www.nasdal.org.uk.

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) has awarded Fellowships to thirteen individuals in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the profession. Fellowship is the highest award offered by FGDP(UK), and is a pinnacle of achievement for the profession. Two people have been given Honorary Fellowship, seven Fellowship by Election and four Fellowship Ad Eundum. The awards will be conferred at the annual FGDP(UK) Diplomates Ceremony, which will take place on 12 March 2018.

Honorary Fellowship

Professor Keith Horner

Keith Horner qualified as a dentist in 1981 from Leeds University and held several hospital posts in Leeds and Sheffield. He has served on influential working parties and advised bodies such as the Health Protection Agency and the IAEA Radiation Protection of Patients Unit. He is also Co-Editor of the FGDP's Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography guidance.

Mrs Fiona Erasmus

Mrs Erasmus is a former Director of FGDP(UK) (2013-2016), and has been recognised for her leadership skills and distinguished service to FGDP(UK).

Fellowship by Election

Dr Graham Douglas Stokes

Dr Graham Stokes has been providing dental implants for over ten years, and obtained the FGDP(UK) Diploma in Implant Dentistry in 2009. Clinical Lead at a practice in Bromsgrove, where he has been based since 1991, Dr Stokes also lectures widely across the UK on implants, full dentures and treatment planning.

Mr William Paul Cushley

Mr Cushley has worked as a Vocational Training Adviser for NHS Education in Scotland for the last 16 years, and has been an examiner on the DGDP, MFGDP and latterly the MJDF for the Faculty.

Mr Bruce Hogan

Mr Hogan graduated from Glasgow University in 1987 gaining BDS with honours. Currently Chair of FGDP(UK)'s West of Scotland Division, he is also an examiner for the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the RCPS Glasgow, and serves on the Board of Dental Education, Training & Professional Development at the College. He regularly lectures to VDPs on the use of local anaesthetics.

Mr Tony Wyn Jones

In addition to practicing dentistry since 1982, Mr Jones has served in Afghanistan as an RAF Dental Officer. He was an examiner for the MFGDP and later the MJDF from 2003-2012, including examining in Hong Kong.

Dr Pearse Stinson

Dr Stinson obtained his dental degree in 1981, after which he commenced an associateship in General Practice. He opened his own practice in 1986 and has been active in the FGDP since its inception, serving as a Board member for twelve years.

Dr Derek Maguire

Dr Maguire qualified 30 years ago from Queen's University, Belfast. He has also been awarded Membership of the Faculty of Dental Trainers with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MDTFEd).

Fellowship Ad Eundem

Mr Nicholas John Lewis

Dr Daniel Chi Kwok Ng

Mr Anish N Shah

Dr Kenny Siu Keung Tong

Spare a thought for those within the profession who are struggling with financial difficulties this Christmas. Circumstances can change suddenly for many reasons, leaving families feeling the pinch and less than cheery as the festivities get underway. 

BDA Benevolent Fund offers additional financial support at this time of year to ensure that families don’t miss out. 

If you, or a dentist you know, are facing financial difficulties, please contact BDA Benevolent Fund, in confidence, on 020 7486 4994, or visit www.bdabenevolentfund.org.uk for more information. 

The charity relies on donations.  To donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/bdabenevolentfund or send a cheque, payable to ‘BDA Benevolent Fund’, at BDA Benevolent Fund, 64 Wimpole Street London W1G 8YS. Every £1 donated goes directly to a dentist and their family in crisis so your help really does support someone in need.”

The BDA Benevolent Fund wishes you a fantastic festive season, and thanks everyone who has supported them throughout the year.

Dr Andrew Farr talks to The Revu about his recent experience of undertaking the ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry (FID) course and why, along with the guidance of his mentor, he is now more than ready to place his first implants.

What first motivated you to attend the FID course?

We were already offering implant treatment at our practice, but I was keen to learn for myself how to place and restore implants. I qualified over 10 years ago and received no implant training at all at undergraduate level, so it was a question of looking at the introductory courses out there that could get me confidently started in implant dentistry and the FID course was definitely the one that suited me best.

How did you find the course content?

Because it’s a Foundation course it’s designed to give you a solid theoretical understanding of how and when to use implants and to guide you in implant selection. I believe that the theory is very important when you are starting out in implant dentistry and the FID course definitely gets you off on the right foot.

I was very impressed at the quality of the teaching from some of the most experienced implant dentists in the UK, including Dr Shakeel Shahdad, Prof Nikos Donos and Dr Nikos Mardas. Between them they have a vast amount of experience, and I found them to be very open and honest about real life situations in practice, both good, and occasionally not so good. It would be easy for the experts to just say how good they are at placing implants, but that’s not what the delegates need, nor what they did. It’s just as important to learn about the things that can go wrong as well as the vast majority of cases with highly successful outcomes.

The FID modular course is spread over six months and you successfully completed the course in September. What has been happening in that time?

The most significant thing I’ve done is to partner with my mentor, Michael Betteridge. Michael is a specialist oral surgeon who is very experienced in providing not just oral surgery care in the primary care environment, but also a highly-regarded dental implant service, and is therefore ideally suited to being a mentor.

Are you looking to now move on to an MSc course or similar in implant dentistry or is mentoring giving you everything you currently need?

For the time being, with the help of Michael, my plan is to first get the basics right in practice before considering moving onto further education and I’m already in the process of planning my first implant cases. It can be a bit daunting when you first start out, but it’s probably more a fear of the unknown and that’s why a mentor is such a good idea to guide you over those first hurdles until you find your feet.

How have you found the support from Straumann - do you plan to place Straumann implants?

Yes, that’s my plan. Straumann are market leaders and when you are starting out you want to place the implant that offers the best chance of long-term success and is backed by a huge amount of research.

The support they offer is terrific and our local Straumann representative Hayley has been a great help in terms of my surgery set-up and making sure I have everything I need to get me started. Everyone at Straumann really knows what they are doing and if I have any problems I know they are there to help. It’s about the whole support package - not just the implant.

What are your plans now going forward?

I want to be doing a lot more than just placing the occasional implant. My aim is to eventually place something in the region of 100 implants a year and be in a position to accept referrals from local colleagues.

Finally, would you recommend the FID course to other GDPs?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this course - it’s ideal for any clinician looking to get the best start in a career in implant dentistry.

In association with Straumann, the next ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course begins in February 2018. For further information or to reserve your place, please call the Straumann Education Department on +44 (0) 1293 651270 or visit iti.org/uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

broadstreetdentalsurgery.com

Broad Street Dental Surgery, Broadway House, 32-35 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AR

Andrew Farr BDS(Hons), MJDF RCS Eng 

Andrew joined Broad Street Dental Surgery, Hereford in October 2014. Born and raised in Caerphilly, South Wales he studied dentistry at the University of Cardiff, graduating with honours. He completed his vocational training in Plymouth, then spent a year as a Maxillofacial Senior House Officer at Derriford Hospital where his duties included emergencies in A&E, head and neck surgery and wisdom tooth removal. He has developed an interest in orthodontics and is qualified to offer Quick Straight Teeth short-term orthodontics.

24^th November 2017

The Mecure, St Pauls Hotel & Spa, Sheffield

Now in its third year, Sheffield’s 2017 Dental Charity Ball is nearly upon us!

With much fun to be had, including a magician, an obligatory photobooth, and games to be played, this year see’s the ball support a fantastic charity that promotes dental health both here in the UK, and across the globe. Working to provide access to safe and affordable dental care for those in the poorest communities, Dentaid  provides equipment, volunteers and training. Every penny raised from the ball goes directly to Dentaid, who will also be attending to help educate those attending of the great works that they and their volunteers do.

A video from the 2016 ball below!

With tickets costing £45 per person, or just £400 for a table of ten, it is a great event for all to attend, whether as your Christmas party or simple as a festive, charitable knees up!

Set up and supported by S4S Dental Laboratory, 4Health, one80 Dental, and John Holland, you can book your tickets at s4sdental.com/charityball2017. For more information on the charity, visit dentaid.org.

The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP(UK)) says further action is needed to tackle the nation’s sugar habit.

The Faculty is supporting Sugar Awareness Week (30th October – 3rd November 2017), organised by the Action on Sugar campaign group, which aims to build public pressure to persuade the government and the food and drink industry to implement stronger sugar reduction policies.

Action on Sugar also aims to raise public awareness of the adverse health effects of consuming too much sugar and the costs to the NHS of treating sugar-related illnesses. The campaign has produced two free, downloadable posters, highlighting the differing types and amounts of sugar in everyday foods and drinks.

Sugar Awareness Week runs from 30th October to 3rd November 2017, and the focus of the national campaign this year is on the large amounts of sugar available on price promotions. Local areas across the country are also running their own Sugar Awareness Week events.

Dr Mick Horton, Dean of FGDP(UK), says:

“This is an important campaign. Dentists and dental practice teams spend a lot of time educating patients about the importance of diet to oral health, but this can be quickly undone by the lure of discounts and adverts for sugary food and drinks. The average person in the UK eats three times the recommended maximum intake of sugar, and our bad habits start early. A quarter of primary school children, rising to a third in secondary school, have tooth decay, an almost entirely preventable disease, and action to further restrict marketing of high sugar items would help encourage people to make healthier choices.”

Jenny Rosborough, Registered Nutritionist and Campaign Manager at Action on Sugar says: 

“We currently consume 2–3 times more free sugars than is recommended and the biggest source in the diets of children and teenagers are sugar-sweetened drinks. Excess consumption of free sugars (i.e. those that are found naturally in fruit juices, honey and syrups, plus sugars added to foods and drinks ) is associated with a greater risk of tooth decay and leads to increased energy intake (compared to other energy sources). What’s more, sugar-sweetened drinks are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Whilst we urge both the government and food manufacturers to act now, our message to dental practitioners is to help educate their patients about the impact of sugar consumption on their teeth.”

For more information on Sugar Awareness Week visit Action on Sugar online here.

Simplyhealth Professionals and the University of Birmingham spinout Oral Health Innovations Ltd have announced today that 100,000 assessments have been carried out by the highly regarded Denplan PreViser Patient Assessment oral health assessment tool (DEPPA). 

DEPPA is an evidence-based online individual risk assessment tool which helps patients understand their current oral health and future disease risk. It assesses an individual patient's medical history, dental history, lifestyle and their clinical status and provides feedback on current health and future disease risk directly to patients via a personalised report.

In May 2017, Simplyhealth Professionals also announced the addition of Young DEPPA (YDEPPA) to bring the benefits of comprehensive online patient assessment to young patients and their parents or carers for the first time. The primary benefit of YDEPPA, like its adult counterpart, is to support communication with young patients about their oral health. 

The system was developed for the UK by Oral Health Innovations Ltd to help patients understand their oral health needs and to support decision making by dental professionals.

The reports use a traffic light colour-code system of red, amber and green to indicate what is going well and what the patient needs to improve on with the help of their dental care provider.

Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals said: “There is evidence to support that personalised biofeedback, delivered using reports such as DEPPA for patients, is more likely to trigger the emotional response required in order that behaviour change can occur than traditional methods. Improved oral health can only be achieved through a strong partnership between dentist and patient.”

Recent research has shown that patients who receive an individualised communication about risk  as part of a routine dental consultation took advice on periodontal disease more seriously, and felt better able to follow it, than those who receiving a routine consultation alone (p<0.05). ¹

Moreover, research presented earlier this year at the International Association for Dental Research conference showed that sharing the report with patients resulted in reduced levels of bacteria in their mouths and gum inflammation, and better daily oral hygiene routines.²

Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Birmingham, commented: “As routine dental consultations incorporate risk assessments for future disease, it is vital that we understand how to communicate this risk to patients, so they can distinguish between generalised advice and individual risk.”

DEPPA and Young DEPPA are available free of charge to all Denplan Excel certified member dentists. Non-Excel certified member dentists can also benefit for just £100 per month (inc VAT) for up to two dentists in a practice or for £150 per month for three or four dentists.  For more information visit www.simplyhealthprofessionals.co.uk        

The British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) and Federation of the European Dental Industry (FIDE), as the trade associations representing the dental industry in the United Kingdom and Europe, have today issued a joint letter outlining their priorities for the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

The initiative, proposed by the BDIA, saw a letter addressed to the European Chief Negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier and the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, highlighting the important economic and public health role played by the dental technology and devices sector, and calling for action to be taken to safeguard it.

BDIA Chief Executive, Edmund Proffitt, comments, “The measures outlined by our associations would ensure that our industry is able to continue to provide access to innovative dental technology in the UK and throughout the EU, to the benefit of patient oral health and the economy, beyond the UK’s exit from the EU in March 2019”.

Chief amongst these measures is a commitment to parity of UK and EU legislation after Brexit. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union came at a critical point for the dental industry, coinciding with the publication of the EU Medical Device Regulations (MDR), and future divergence in legislation would risk disadvantaging both patients and businesses across Europe.

Other priorities to ensure a successful outcome to the negotiations include the maintenance of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s involvement in ongoing discussions concerning medical device regulation, the continued adoption of the CE marking process for medical devices and allowing UK Notified Bodies to operate under the MDR.

Over 9,000 dental professionals attended BDIA Dental Showcase 2017, which took place at the NEC in Birmingham on the 19-21 October.

This year marked the first time in which this prestigious event has been organised by its new owners MA Exhibitions, in collaboration with George Warman Publications. The result of the partnership between a professional show organiser and the dental publisher has been a tremendous success, seeing an 11.29% rise in visitor numbers to 9,080.

From MA Exhibitions, event director Ed Wyre said “The response from the dental community has been incredible. Not only have visitor numbers seen a substantial increase, we’ve seen a significant increase in the percentage of dentists (41%, up from 33% in 2016) and practice managers (11%, up from 5.5% in 2016) attending. It’s fantastic to see so many decision makers leaving the practice to attend the show. Other dental groups also saw a rise in numbers, highlighting the event’s importance to the whole dental team”.

In addition to the bustling show floor of 300+ exhibitors, three brand new features were a major draw for visitors to this year’s event.

The impressive Dental Practice of the Future was the flagship feature at the show and gave visitors access to a fully functioning reception, patient lounge, surgery and decontamination room brimming with state-of-the-art equipment in a purpose-built practice setting. The surgery itself housed a 150-seat lecture theatre where packed out keynote presentations on topics such as medical emergencies, radiation protection and the future of dentistry took place.

The CDO Zone proved to be extremely popular, as it provided the unique opportunity for visitors to meet with the highest level of the dental profession. Chief Dental Officer England Sara Hurley and her team were on hand each day ready to discuss and answer any questions visitors had on NHS dentistry. This was a fantastic chance for GDP’s and DCP’s to engage face to face with the CDO and her team, who have never been so easily accessible to the profession.

Sara Hurley, chief dental officer England said “The show was a tremendous success for us. Having a platform in which we could directly engage with so many dental professionals face-to-face and facilitate discussion around our initiatives and their experiences in practice was invaluable. This is the perfect example of industry coming together for the good of oral health, and we’re delighted to be a part of it. We are already looking forward to 2018”.

The 150-seater Dental Update Theatre offered a balanced variety of clinical CPD and business orientated sessions led by leading experts, providing advice and guidance in each of their topics. On Thursday 19^th October, the Dental Update Theatre hosted the annual Dental Update Study Day, organised by Professor Trevor Burke. Visitors also had another chance to increase their dental knowledge and top up their CPD in the Mini Lecture Theatre, which proved extremely popular over the three days.

Ed Tranter, managing director of MA Exhibitions said “We are delighted with the show. We always strive for quality in our events, and this was no exception. We had a significant rise in visitor numbers, and the quality of those visitors was outstanding – testament to the partnership with George Warman and the diverse range of exhibiting companies and CPD sessions. In addition, exhibitors put in a huge amount of effort into their stand builds all of which looked incredible. BDIA Dental Showcase is a show that has such a strong community of companies behind it and we look forward to being a part of that in the coming years and taking the show from strength to strength”.

Stuart Thompson, managing director of George Warman Publications and BDIA council member, said “The response has been encouraging. Feedback from exhibitors and sponsors has been very positive and we are pleased with how the show went. We are delighted to be taking the show to the level the association aspired to achieve and we’re looking forward to progressing it further in the years to come”.

BDIA Dental Showcase 2018 will take place at London ExCeL, 4-6 October 2018.

The show was opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony involving the show’s new owners and its headline sponsor, Oral-B. (L-R): Stuart Thompson, managing director, George Warman Publications; Jane Kidson, UK professional oral health country manager, Oral-B; Razi Hyder, professional oral health associate director, EMEA, Oral-B; Ed Tranter, managing director, MA Exhibitions; Ben Pegram, UK market strategy and planning manager, Oral-B; Mark Allen, chairman, Mark Allen Group. Pictured above.

Friday 3 November 2017

National Motorcycle Museum

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners, in partnership with Simplyhealth Professionals, will host a conference, on Friday 3^rd November, bringing together six of the UK’s leading oral health experts.

Designed for clinicians, the conference will provide an overview of the latest research that provides the foundation for the contemporary management of common dental diseases, insight into complex inter-relationships between oral diseases and general health of patients of all ages, and reveal evidence that demonstrates the long-term impact of traditional treatments on oral and general health.

The programme will provide dental professionals in general practice and other clinical settings with the knowledge to help them deliver extended oral health care. The lectures will also describe the skill-sets that will help delegates select biologically respectful, minimally invasive techniques and future-proof their practices by integrating general health care with everyday clinical dentistry.

Professor Nairn Wilson, one of the UK’s most International respected academics, and former Dean of Kings College London Dental Institute, will open the conference and introduce each of the presenters.

• Professor Mike Curtis, Dean of Dentistry at Queen Mary’s University of London - How strong is the link between oral and other diseases – hype or reality?
• Avi Banerjee, Professor of cariology and operative dentistry at Kings college London - Dental caries and the human body: the "MI"ssing link?
• Professor Trevor Burke, The University of Birmingham School of Dentistry - The ultimate guide to restoration longevity
• Iain Chapple, Head of School at the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry - Time to put the mouth back in the body: the truth about periodontal-systemic links
• Dr. Stephen Fayle, Consultant in Paediatric dentistry at University of Leeds School of Dentistry - Extended oral health care for all ages.

Finally, Chief dental officer Dr Sara Hurley will discuss the conference themes and join the lecture team in answering delegate questions on the exciting future for oral care and holistic dentistry in the UK.

The conference will be held from 9am-5.30pm at the National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0EJ. Tickets are £205 for members and £290 for non-members.

To purchase your ticket, go to www.holisticdentistry.eventbrite.com

The Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP(UK)) held an anniversary dinner on Friday 13^th October to commemorate 25 years since it was established. Hosted at Drapers Hall in London, the dinner included three very special awards to reflect the everyday commitment of General Dental Practitioners to their practice and their patients.

Dr Mick Horton, Dean of FGDP(UK), opened the evening by reflecting on the role of the Faculty now and into the future:

“Our anniversary celebration is a great occasion for us to look forward to our new future.  We are now laying the foundations for forming a new chartered medical college after 25 successful years at RCS.  

“It’s a bold step: one that we believe will inspire our members and open a gateway to new partnerships that promote professionalism in dentistry. For the public and for patients, a clearly identifiable, confident and active standard-setting body will help us to cultivate greater confidence in dentistry overall. We want to focus on developing the appeal of a modern medical college for new generations entering practice.

“We are delighted to award our Anniversary prizes to three extremely worthy winners.  Their own personal achievements mirror the quality of standards and the diversity within the general dental profession, and we congratulate them on their awards.”

Award Winners

Foundation Dentist of the Year – Claire Culverwell

Claire works as a Dental Associate at Crook Log Dental Practice in South East London. Her career began as a Dental Nurse, before studying Dental Hygiene and Therapy at the University of Liverpool. She then decided to study Dental Surgery at King’s College London and was nominated by her Foundation trainer, Baber Khan.

Claire commented: “I went the long way around to my career in dentistry, but I am glad I did, because I’ve been in contact with patients from the very beginning, allowing me to develop a range of skills. This award means a lot to me, because getting to this point in my life has taken great effort and commitment. I wasn’t sure I would ever get there, but I know that all the effort has paid off. I’m surrounded by people who push me to be my best every day, and I’m loving every minute.”

Community Dentist of the Year – Jason Wong

This prize recognises GDPs and DCPs who have made a significant contribution to improving oral care in their local community, and was awarded through a process of open nomination by peers within the profession.

Jason commented: “I am honoured that a colleague had the thought and put in the effort to nominate me and delighted that the FGDP(UK) panel chose me for the award. I believe that we are all part of a great profession and that all of us who benefit from being part of it need to put something back in for the benefit of the whole profession.”

Dean’s Award – Dentaid

The Dean’s Award, sponsored by Simplyhealth, was presented to Dentaid for their support of the The Real Junk Tooth Project in the UK.

Andy Evans, CEO of Dentaid, said:

“Everyone at Dentaid is delighted and honoured to win the Dean’s Award. In recent years, we have become increasingly aware that many people in the UK struggle to access dental treatment for a wide variety of reasons and this has a negative impact on their general wellbeing.  Thanks to an incredible team of volunteers, many vulnerable people and those who could not register with an NHS dentist in Dewsbury were able to visit a dental surgery in the evening, without an appointment, and receive pain relieving dental care.  They only paid if they could afford to.  Over seven months 150 people received emergency treatment thanks to the Real Junk Tooth Project.  Dentaid’s next step was to purchase a mobile dental unit so we could bring a similar service to other parts of the country.  This unit also went back to Dewsbury in September when we treated almost 200 people in two weeks at clinics held outside schools, community centres and public buildings.  We are very grateful to all our volunteers and supporters for enabling this project to be such a success.”

As part of the 25-year celebration the FGDP(UK) will also host a conference on Holistic Dentistry on 3^rd November in Solihull.

Sirona Connect has always stood for comfortable, digital intraoral impressions in the dental practice and the quick and secure transfer of data to the dental laboratory. And with growing success, up to 2016, more than a million dental restorations were made using Sirona Connect. Dentsply Sirona has now enhanced the no. 1 in digital lab connections with the latest Sirona Connect software 4.5 update. Additional software services and new portal functions offer advantages for dentists and dental technicians.

Bensheim/Salzburg, October 10, 2017. The number of digital intraoral impressions completed in dental practices is steadily growing. Sirona Connect is increasingly used in practices and labs for transferring the impression data to the dental lab, allowing dentists to provide their patients a modern practice concept, take impressions quickly and comfortably thanks to intraoral scanning, and ensure faster overall treatment. Sirona Connect benefits the dental lab with direct connection to the practice, and quick and secure transfer of digital impression and order data. In addition, Sirona Connect saves the practice and lab valuable time by enabling the immediate exchange of information during the patient's visit.

Sirona Connect SW 4.5 with enhanced features

With the new Shade Detection tool for the CEREC Omnicam, the latest Sirona Connect software analyzes the scan and indicates the tooth color as a VITA* Classic or VITA* 3D Master shade. This function supports dentists in selecting the suitable shade for the restoration.

For even more flexibility, digital intraoral impressions can be made for Dentsply Sirona or third party implant systems and different scan bodies can be used.

Sirona Connect SW 4.5 also allows the practice to make an open scan export of the model data in STL format for direct transfer to the lab's CAD software.

There is another interesting enhancement for Sirona Connect labs. For the first time, they can create a customized lab profile on the Sirona Connect portal and show offers for appointments, materials, degrees of refinement, special services, and much more for the individual lab. This gives Sirona Connect dentists an optimum, customer-friendly overview of the range of services and saves them time when ordering from a lab.

The new Sirona Connect SW 4.5 is available to Sirona Connect users with CEREC Omnicam, CEREC Bluecam, and APOLLO DI as a free auto-update or as a download at www.dentsplysirona.com.

Due to various certification and registration periods, not all products are immediately available in all countries.

Have you recently qualified and seeking to enhance your knowledge and skills in implant dentistry?

In partnership with Straumann, the ITI is proud to present the highly regarded ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course. Now in its tenth year, the FID is a comprehensive programme specifically designed to assist delegates towards meeting the requirements of both the GDC and the FGDP Training Standards in Implant Dentistry for a safe and predictable start in implant dentistry.

This modular course, divided into six modules of two days each, covers all the essential materials needed for assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning, plus the opportunity to gain one-to-one practice mentoring in the clinical environment. Taught by some of the most experienced implant dentists in the UK, including Prof Nikos Donos, Dr Shakeel Shahdad and Dr Nikos Mardas, it delivers a wealth of implant experience combined with the ITI philosophy to deliver an evidence-based curriculum in a continuously peer-reviewed format.

Delegates have full access to the renowned ITI Online Academy – a ground-breaking e-learning platform that meets the needs of implant dentistry professionals by complementing and backing up the modular course’s didactic teaching. FID has its own dedicated Campus on the ITI Online Academy with learning modules, lectures and treatment examples all part of the FID curriculum.

There are a number of options for further training after the delegates have completed the FID course. Delegates can choose to continue on the ITI Training Pathway: the UK & Ireland Education Programme, offering a wide range of Straightforward and Advanced level courses. Beyond the ITI many UK Universities also offer formal certificates, diplomas and MScs in Implant Dentistry. The FID is recognised by the University of Bristol as Approved Prior Learning (APL) for their MSc in Implant Dentistry and on completion of the FID, delegates have the option to apply for entry directly into the second year of the MSc. There is also the option of self-guided preparation for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Diploma in Implant Dentistry (Dip Imp Dent RCSEd).

Don’t miss out on your chance to take a significant first step on the ITI Pathway!

Early Bird Discount - Book before 31st October and save £900!

All delegates who book before 31st October 2017 will benefit from a £900 discount off the full course fee of £6,000 +VAT (£5,100 +VAT).

Book a free place for one of your practice staff on either a Dental Nurse or Treatment Coordinator course when you book your place on the ITI Foundation in Implant Dentistry course!

Calling all past FID delegates – If you refer a friend on to the FID 2018 course and they enrol and pay the deposit, you will receive a £50 John Lewis voucher!

Places are limited to a maximum of 24 delegates so to reserve your place or for further information please call the Straumann Education Department on +44 (0) 1293 651270 or visit iti.org/uk.

Start date: 20th February 2018 with modules running through to 19th September 2018

Venue: ITI Education Centre, Crawley

CPD: 78 hours of verifiable CPD

Materials, lunch and refreshments are provided

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Small, strong and enduring, and completing the Straumann portfolio for narrow space indications, the Ø 2.9mm implant brings all the Bone Level Tapered (BLT) advantages to narrow interdental spaces.

The Straumann Bone Level Tapered (BLT) Ø 2.9mm implant is the implant solution for narrow interdental spaces or ridges. The smallest in the Bone Level Tapered range, it completes the portfolio for narrow space indications and integrates seamlessly with the reliable Straumann® Dental Implant System.

Benefitting from the clinically-proven BLT design, it has a parallel body with full-depth thread and three cutting notches for self-cutting in underprepared sites. Its apically tapered design delivers excellent primary stability in soft bone and fresh extraction sockets as it adequately compresses the underprepared osteotomy and allows the clinician to effectively master the patient’s anatomy, even when limited, and protects the anatomical structure with its round tip.

As well as the tapered implant body, all Straumann BLT implants possess the powerful combination of Roxolid®, SLActive®, Bone Control Design™, CrossFit® connection and prosthetic diversity.

Roxolid®

Roxolid has enabled Straumann to create smaller implants than ever before, thus reducing invasiveness, by preserving bone and minimising the amount of bone grafting required. Roxolid is a high performance alloy, specifically designed to offer higher strength than pure titanium, making these smaller implants possible. Smaller implants increase the range of treatment options available to the clinician and patient acceptance will be higher when less invasive treatment options are offered.

SLActive®

The SLActive surface allows fast and predictable osseointegration, enabling safer and faster treatment and higher treatment predictability in challenging protocols. Clinically proven to provide safer and faster treatment in 3-4 weeks for all indications, it increases safety during the early healing phase and leads to a superior structural and functional connection between the implant and vital bone.

Bone Control Design™ and CrossFit® connections

Bone Control Design optimises crestal bone preservation while the CrossFit connections simplify handling and increase confidence in component positioning, ensuring precision against rotation and long-term flexibility.

Prosthetic diversity is ensured by compatibility with the full range of Straumann prosthetic components, including the unique oval design for optimal soft tissue management in smaller spaces.

The BLT Ø 2.9mm implant is indicated for single-tooth restorations of the central and lateral incisors in the mandible, and lateral incisors in the maxilla.

And coming soon… single use instruments will allow you to place the BLT Ø 2.9mm implant with sterile, disposable burs, drills, taps and profilers, ensuring your instruments are always sharp and minimising the cost and inconvenience of sterilisation.

For more information on the range of Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant solutions, please contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit straumann.co.uk.

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No matter how good you are at delivering local anaesthesia, the chances are that your patients will still be very fearful of the procedure. Well, there’s a way round it! The Wand is a computer controlled anaesthetic delivery system that pushes the anaesthetic solution of your choice through a needle.  The rate and pressure of delivery is what allows you to get your anaesthetic to where it is needed without much of the traditional discomfort/pain that is associated with using a syringe.

The lightweight handpiece is a 15cm plastic tube that is held in a comfortable pen grip, providing an increase in tactile sensation and control. For the needle phobic patient, this will dispel all their preconceptions of dental treatment, but it would be a waste to limit its use to such a small group. All patients will be grateful for you minimising the discomfort of local analgesia. Most patients report to not actually feeling a thing when The Wand administers its magic!

The Wand is now distributed exclusively by Dental Sky.  To request a demo please call 0800 2944700 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

www.dentalsky.com/wand-dental

Dr Neel Patel and Dr Vinit Gohil, both Specialists in Prosthodontics, explain the benefits of guided surgery, why they use it routinely and how anyone involved in implant dentistry can incorporate guided surgery and its benefits into their everyday practice.

The increase in predictability and accuracy that digital dentistry enables is now well-documented, and we have been taking advantage of this for some time at our practice in Oxford with the use of guided surgery and implant placement. Although until now we have been incorporating conventional impressions and study casts in the planning stages of the guided surgery workflow, the development of intraoral scanners facilitate an entirely ‘digital’ workflow. In addition to investing in an intraoral scanner for digital impressions, we hope to also incorporate a 3D printer into our practice, thus completing the entire workflow digitally.

Why guided surgery?

Although it might seem obvious, the key to successful implant-supported restorations is the correct placement of implants with respect to the supported restoration. It is well-documented that both biological and hardware complications are commonplace in implant dentistry, and unfavourable implant positioning will greatly contribute to this. Optimal plaque control and maintenance of the peri-implant tissues is critical, and the transition between the implant, abutment and restoration need to be ideal in order to facilitate this.

Where possible, we plan for screw-retained restorations and prostheses, as not only does this help facilitate maintenance of our patients’ implants and restorations, but can also help minimise complications as access to both the peri-implant tissues and abutment screws is always possible.

Optimal implant positioning also avoids the need for complex custom abutments, suprastructures and angled screw systems, thus relatively simplifying the restorative phase and can also reduce the overall cost.

The majority of our dental implants are placed with a guided surgical template where possible, even straightforward ones, as the guided surgical template ensures that the implant is placed in, or very close to, the position it was planned to be in. Many of us who have placed dental implants will be able to relate to the occasional difficulties in getting the dental implant to be placed exactly within the prepared osteotomy. Using a guided surgical template can reduce the margin of error significantly when compared to ‘freehand’ or non-guided placement.

Restoration-guided implant placement

The ideal workflow involves being able to visualise the proposed definitive tooth position, shape and form. This can be either a conventional diagnostic wax/tooth set up, that has been scanned and formatted into a surface scan (.STL file) or even a digital wax/tooth set up. Both of these can be imported into many of the available implant planning software together with the patient’s 3D CBCT images. The surface scans (.STL files) and CBCT images are aligned together through a process of segmentation (partitioning of the digital images into multiple objects) and merging (superimposing identical surfaces together). Although it may sound complicated, both these processes are easily done with a few clicks of the mouse in coDiagnostiX and other planning software.

The dental implants can be precisely planned with reference to the proposed restoration/tooth position, and the software can be easily manipulated to not only change the implant position, but also visualise potential abutment designs and relationship of proposed implant positions to vital structures.

Designing the guided surgical template is also straightforward in most cases. However, at this stage, all the information a laboratory would require to design and print it can also be transferred across to them with the press of a button.

The next step is to trial the surgical template in the patient’s mouth to make sure it fits correctly, and although uncommon (provided the planning is accurate), it can be easily adjusted and modified if required to obtain a stable and precise fit. The surgical procedure involves using the guided surgical template at every step of the osteotomy preparation sequence, followed by placing the implant through the guided surgical template.

We feel it is important to use the guided surgical template for every part of the osteotomy preparation including placement of the dental implant (where available), and not just for the pilot drill, as advocated by other guided surgery systems. As we have mentioned already, getting the dental implant to be placed exactly within the prepared osteotomy can be challenging, especially in softer bone and sites with difficult access. The guided surgical template will ensure that your implant is guided into the same place as the osteotomy and more often than not, if planned appropriately, the angulation does not need to be constantly checked (especially with adjacent implants).

We believe restoration-guided implant placement with guided surgical templates will become commonplace in implant dentistry and form an integral part of the patient treatment workflow.  Nearly all implant practitioners utilise 3D CBCT imaging to help aid assessment of implant sites, adjacent anatomical vital structures and to plan proposed implant positioning. It is now even routine to incorporate the proposed restoration/tooth positon with a radiographic template and in the absence of one, even easier to import the required information through ‘segmentation’ (data separation) and ‘merging’. With all this information already present, all it takes is a couple of small steps to transfer this vital information into a guided surgical template which, when planned appropriately, will allow the implant to be placed precisely where it was planned to.

Straumann Restoration-Guided Implant Placement Course

Through our postgraduate teaching and lecturing experience, it has become apparent to us that many clinicians are nervous about taking the next step that would allow them to incorporate guided surgical templates into their practices and implant workflow. As such we have  teamed up with Straumann ITI to provide a two-day course on Restoration-Guided Implant Placement including the use of coDiagnostiX planning software, guided surgical templates and the Straumann Guided Surgery system.

The course is aimed at clinicians who are competent in implant dentistry and would like to incorporate guided implant placement into their everyday practice, and those clinicians that are just getting into implant dentistry and would like to incorporate the concept of Restoration Guided Implant Placement for their patients. Most of the course will be dedicated to live demonstrations and hands-on experience of the coDiagnostiX planning and guide design software. On the second day, each participant will complete the entire coDiagnostiX planning and guided surgical template design process, prior to learning about the Straumann Guided Surgery system and using it to place implants with a guided surgical template.

We appreciate there is a learning curve in using guided surgical templates, and although they are by no means a substitute for surgical experience, we feel they can greatly enhance the overall treatment outcome. For us, one of the main advantages of restoration driven implant placement with guided surgical templates, is the ability to plan for screw-retained restorations and prostheses with optimal implant positioning. This ensures that our patients’ implant restorations and prostheses are ‘retrievable’, facilitating future maintenance and hopefully minimising the risk of subsequent complications.

We usually only have one opportunity  to get it right with implant placement, and it is important we do so as it is well-documented that the implant position will influence numerous factors that will ultimately determine the success and longevity of our patients’ implant treatment in the long-term.

The Straumann ITI Restoration-guided Implant Placement course takes place on 3^rd November 2017. For more information or to book your place, contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit http://www.cvent.com/d/ctqnvx

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==================================================================================================================================================

BDS MFDS MClinDent MPros

Neel is a registered Specialist in Prosthodontics, and after graduating from the University of Bristol in 2002, he worked both in the Community Dental Service and General Dental Practice, and also held hospital posts in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. He subsequently completed 4 additional years of specialist training in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute during which he obtained the MClinDent in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, with Distinction, and the Membership in Prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh.

Neel received a scholarship from the International Team for Implantology (ITI) to undertaken a 2 year full time Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at the Center for Implant Dentistry at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. He has gained extensive experience in all aspects of restorative, aesthetic and implant dentistry including complex treatments and managing the failing dentition. His special interests include the use of digital technology in dentistry, in particular with guided implant placement and 3D planning, and the management of complications with dental implants.

In addition to his private and referral practice limited to restorative and implant dentistry, he is also involved in post-graduate dental education and lectures both locally and nationally on topics related to implant dentistry and fixed and removable prosthodontics. Neel is a registered speaker and mentor for the UK & Ireland Section of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and part of the Straumann Clinical Mentoring Programme for other dentists starting out in implant dentistry.  He is co-director of the Oxford ITI Study Club and is part of the UK & Ireland Young ITI Committee.

Vinit Gohil

BDS MFDS MClinDent MPros

Vinit is recognised as a specialist in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics by the General Dental Council. He graduated with honours from the Guy’s, King’s & St Thomas’ Dental Institute, King’s College London. Following graduation he undertook 3 years of hospital-based further training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Paediatric and Restorative Dentistry. Vinit also gained experience in sedation and special care treating anxious and medically compromised patients.

He subsequently completed 4 years of specialist training in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute, during which he obtained the MClinDent in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, with Distinction, and the Membership in Prosthodontics from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. During his training he gained extensive experience in all aspects of restorative and implant dentistry including complex rehabilitations and managing the failing dentition.

He now principally works in private practice in Oxford and his clinical practice is limited to implant and restorative dentistry. His main clinical interests include management of failing crown and bridgework, rehabilitation of patients with dental implants utilising digital technology, removable dentures and dental implant complications.

In addition to his private practice, he is also involved in post-graduate dental education and lectures both locally and nationally on topics related to implant dentistry and fixed and removable prosthodontics. Vinit is a visiting lecturer at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute where he is involved in teaching post-graduate dentists and is an examiner for the UCL Diploma in Implant Dentistry. Vinit is also involved in teaching on the MSc in Dental Implantology at the University of Bristol. Vinit is also a registered speaker for the UK & Ireland Section of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and co-director of the ITI Study Club in Oxford.

The Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant features the Straumann® Bone Control Design™ and the CrossFit® connection together with its corresponding prosthetic CrossFit® components from the Bone Level product portfolio.

The implant has an apically tapered and self-cutting design which, when combined with our Roxolid material and SLActive surface, make it particularly suitable for anatomically and clinically challenging situations like those involving soft bone or fresh extraction sockets where higher initial stability is required.

The Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant now includes a surgical protocol using single use drills, profile drills and taps designed for flexibility and efficiency. Single patient drills always comes sterile, sharp, ready to use. After the surgery, simply dispose of the single patient instruments and save your clinic the time for reprocessing and space for storage.

For more information on our range of Straumann® Bone Level Tapered Implant solutions, including the new single use instruments, please contact Straumann on 01293 651230 or visit straumann.co.uk.

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Annual Oral Health Survey shows up to three million could be putting their dental health in danger as fear of the dentist and money worries lead to dental avoidance.

Britain could be reclaiming its reputation as the nation of bad teeth as a new survey from dental payment plan specialists Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals reveals over one in 20 admit to never visiting the dentist. Even more shockingly, 1% even admit they NEVER brush their teeth, which could represent over 500,000* of us!

For those who avoided the dental chair and visit the dentist less often than once every two years, 39% said they were too scared of the dentist or pain, and the same number claimed they couldn’t afford check-ups.

In a worrying socio-economic trend, over half of UK adults (52%) said they’d cancel a routine dental appointment if they had financial worries, despite check-ups costing as little as £20. Young people aged 18-24 were the age group most likely to cancel.

14% of those that don’t regularly visit the dentist said they couldn’t access an NHS dentist, while one in five were worried they’d uncover further issues that needed treatment. In contrast, 91% of those with a dental payment plan went to the dentist every six months. 

Despite rumours from across the pond that Britain’s teeth are some of the worst in the world, according to University College London and Harvard University, Britons dental health is no worse than our American counterparts, in fact, the average person in Britain is missing 6.97 teeth, while in America the average is 7.31[2].

But these emerging bad habits could spell bad news for future generations, with almost one in 20 (4%) parents of children aged 18 or under saying their child never brushed their teeth and 7% admitting they never took their child to the dentist. [3]

Shockingly, 43% of parents of children with a filling said their child had their first one aged seven younger. Almost a quarter of parents of children aged 18 or under whose child had a filling (23%) said  they had been given their first filling at five years or younger. 

The findings from Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals correspond with a report by the Royal College of Surgeons which showed record numbers of under-fives having rotten teeth removed. Findings also revealed that hospital extractions among pre-school children have soared by 24 per cent in just ten years[4].

Even babies are affected — last year alone, 47 children under the age of one had newly grown milk teeth taken out.

Commenting on the figures, Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy, Simplyhealth Professionals said “It’s clear from these findings that more work needs to be done to properly educate the British public on the importance of good dental health. Seeing your dentist regularly means that any potential dental problems can be spotted early on, reducing the need for invasive or expensive treatment. If you are worried about the cost of dental care, it is always worth talking to your practice to find out if they have options available, such as a dental payment plan or subscription plan, which can help you budget or spread the cost throughout the year.”

For more information on the survey results or Denplan by Simplyhealth Professionals please contact Hannah Mepham This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Beth Heard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01273 712 000

The survey data

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 5,068 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th January - 2nd February 2017.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

For the children’s oral health section:

Parents of children aged 18 years old and under took part in this survey; and if there was more than one child in the family, we asked parents to answer based on the child whose birthday fell next.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4353 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken from 25th January to 2nd February 2017. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About Simplyhealth

In the world of healthcare, more than anywhere, experience counts. Since 1872 – long before the existence of the NHS – Simplyhealth has been helping people to make the most of life, by managing their everyday health needs.  That’s why today we ensure over 3 million people in the UK have access to the health products, services and support that they need, when they need them and at a price they can afford.

We’re the kind of people who live by our purpose: we’re here to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. We’re proud to be the leading provider of everyday health cash plans, dental payment and pet health plans. And whilst we may be 144 years old, we’re not afraid to innovate. Whereas once we were known purely for cash plans, we now offer a wide range of products and services with one thing in common: an unflinching desire to cater for peoples’ everyday health needs – now and into the future.

We exist to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. That’s our purpose. We use charitable partnerships to also deliver that purpose, going beyond our products and services, but very much aligned to our business strategy. As a result of our success, in 2016 we were able to donate £1.7m to our charitable causes, supporting 23 different charities including Revitalise, Music in Hospitals, Brainwave Centre and Auditory Verbal, touching the lives of thousands of people across the UK.

Our future success and performance will enable us to deliver our ongoing pledge to donate 10% of our profits to charity every year, supporting health-related charities that share a similar outlook to us and a dedication to helping people with everyday health challenges make the most of life.

Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

For further information:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

http://newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk/

@SimplyhealthUK

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Oral-B has released the dates for their next series of Up-To-Date seminars.  Each of these popular evening sessions will be comprised of two 45-minute lectures.

Louis Mackenzie’s presentation is entitled ‘How to make fillings look like teeth!’  He will discuss the challenges in shaping posterior composites and carving amalgams and how restoring the complex optical properties of anterior teeth can be even more difficult. Detailed practical tips will be given for the easy, predictable anatomical shaping of posterior composite and amalgam restorations, using a unique step-by-step system designed at Birmingham Dental School. The lecture will also outline the fundamental principles of aesthetics, enabling delegates to optimise all clinical stages of direct anterior composite restorations.

Prof Trevor Burke’s lecture is provocatively entitled ‘The rise and rise and rise of toothwearology’.  Tooth wear, in the past, was treated by gross destruction of teeth using a turbine drill for crown preparations – a strange way to treat teeth which were already compromised! However, advances in bonding techniques have enabled the use of minimally invasive treatment using composite resin bonded to worn surfaces. Trevor will discuss the optimum bonding agents for this treatment, how to achieve an aesthetic improvement where needed – the concept of pragmatic aesthetics, and will indicate the rates of success which might be expected.

Clinical dental professionals are invited to attend this complimentary CPD accredited evening event at one of six locations:

London – 28^th September 2017 – Hilton Hotel (Watford)

Newcastle - 12^th October 2017 – Hilton Hotel (Gateshead)

Bristol – 2^nd November 2017 – Aztec Hotel

Manchester – 9^th November 2017 – Village Hotel (Cheadle)

Birmingham - 16^th November 2017 – Crowne Plaza (Solihull)

Leeds – 23^rd November 2017 – Village Hotel (South)

As well as two and a half hours of verifiable CPD every delegate is invited to enjoy a complimentary meal at the beginning of the evening. 

Registration and buffet is from 5.45pm with the first lecture starting at 6.30pm. The evening will finish at 9.00pm. 

Register online at www.dentalcare.co.uk/uptodateseminars.

For enquiries please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0870 2421850. 

International dental charity Dentaid has launched a new volunteering opportunity for dental professionals in the beautiful country of Zambia.

The team will travel to Zambia from June 9^th – 23^rd 2018. They will treat people in the town of Itezhi Tezhi and run outreach clinics in the surrounding villages, supporting the work of a Zambian dentist. Treatments will include fillings, scaling, extractions and polishing along with oral health promotion.

Itezhi Tezhi is on the edge of Kafue National Park, the largest protected area in Zambia which is home to an incredible array of wildlife including lions, cheetah, elephants, zebra and antelope. In addition to providing essential dental care for local communities the team will also have an opportunity to visit the park and stay in a safari lodge.

Dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and therapists are invited to apply to join the team of six who will spend a few days in Itezhi Tezhi Hospital before going to the surrounding villages to establish outreach clinics. Many of these communities are very remote and people would have to walk up to 120 miles to access dental services. Most people in the area work as subsistence farmers living in thatched mud huts, keeping cattle and goats and growing maize.

Other challenges faced by people in the area include wild animals stealing livestock, the quality and accessibility of education and healthcare, and lack of drinking water and employment. Many of the villages don’t have an electricity supply and our teams will be doing basic dentistry using portable equipment. Dentaid volunteers will also be asked to run oral health education programmes in schools and community buildings.

Volunteers are asked to fundraise £2500 to cover the cost of their flights, accommodation, travel within Zambia, meals on work days and to support Dentaid’s ongoing work around the world. The first night will be spent in the capital Lusaka where a visit to an elephant nursery is planned before the 5 hour journey to Itezhi Tezhi.

“We are so excited to be launching this new volunteering opportunity in Zambia,” said Dentaid’s overseas volunteering manager Jaqueline James. “This is a great new partnership working with a local dentist in an area where many people find it very difficult to access dental care. We are sure that our team will do an amazing job providing dental treatment and they will also get a rare opportunity to visit this beautiful national park and see incredible wildlife.”

For more details and to apply to join Dentaid’s volunteering trip to Zambia from June 9^th – 23^rd 2018 visit https://dentaid.org/missions/volunteer-zambia/  or call 01794 324249 to find out more.

As part of Patient Plan Direct’s continued investment in its practice-branded dental plan solution, benefiting practices thanks to amazingly low plan administration fees, the plan provider has announced work is currently underway to launch a brand new and enhanced plan administration portal. The new online platform is being built with existing clients' feedback constantly in mind in order to offer an improved user experience and additional stats, data and information on plan performance at the click of a button.

The new platform will have a focus on embracing digital processes wherever possible, meaning that users will benefit from having less paperwork to deal with in their daily practice. Navigation will be simplified making usability even more intuitive to ensure that the portal is easily accessible for all staff members.

A dashboard area will provide a snapshot of insights into plan performance, providing users with an instant overview of the important facts that they need when it comes to their dental plan. Alongside this, there will also be handy 'to do' action lists with alerts in order to encourage optimum plan management.

Simon Reynolds, commercial director, commented: “At Patient Plan Direct, we are committed to maintaining our position as a highly cost-effective plan provider, keeping our plan administration fee as low as possible while also providing our clients with the tools and support to maximise plan income and profitability. This is why we are significantly investing in our online system for client practices, to ensure that they are receiving the highest-quality service at amazingly value.”

The new platform will be rolled out in early 2018. In the meantime, whether you already run a dental plan via another provider or you’re considering launching a dental plan, if you'd like more information about Patient Plan Direct’s practice-branded dental plan solution, boosting practice profitability, please visit www.patientplandirect.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 0844 848 6888.

Building on over six decades of experience, Straumann® have developed a new, unique, proprietary, glass-ceramic material called n!ce™, which is coming to the market as fully crystallised milling blocks that can be polished and seated straight after milling with no additional crystallisation firing.

Glass-ceramic has become an increasingly popular material for restorations over the past few years as results are durable, aesthetically pleasing and relatively cost-effective for clinicians. Straumann say their product brings new qualities to glass-ceramic single-tooth restorations which deliver additional benefits to both clinician and patient:

• The high-strength material, made of lithium aluminosilicate ceramic and reinforced with lithium disilicate, is indicated for all single-tooth restorations, even hybrid abutment crowns where walls need to be as thin as 1.0mm.
• Smooth margin lines facilitate robust adhesion to the tooth.
• Both clinician and patient save valuable time as no additional crystallisation firing is required after milling, making same-day single crown restorations a real possibility.  
• Use of n!ce fits seamlessly into standard CADCAM workflows as it is compatible with the vast majority of commercially-available milling machines including Dentsply Sirona’s CEREC.
• The biocompatible, aesthetic material can be polished to obtain a smooth, glossy life-like appearance or stained and glazed if needed.
•  Available in two levels of translucency, and six shades for each translucency, restorations can perfectly match the VITA tooth shade guide.

For more information on n!ce fully-crystallised, glass-ceramic milling blocks, call 01293 651230 or visit www.straumann.co.uk.

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The BDIA is delighted to announce that its 2017 BDIA CSIDI (Counterfeits and Substandard Instruments and Devices Initiative) advertising campaign is the winner of the Highest Believability category and joint winner of the Highest Information Value category in the latest BDJ Readex Research.

Edmund Proffitt, Chief Executive of the BDIA, comments “We are really pleased that our CSIDI campaign is having such an impact on BDJ readers. The campaign not only conveys useful and relevant information to the profession, but serves to highlight the very real and significant dangers associated with counterfeit and non-compliant instruments and devices across the dental sector.”

Partnering with the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) for the CSIDI campaign reflects the BDIA’s continued commitment to tackling the issue of unscrupulous vendors selling poor quality, substandard, counterfeit and illegal products, usually online. Highlighting the importance of making the decision to purchase from reliable, reputable suppliers to the profession means that the end-user has the assurance of high-quality products that meet all necessary requirements, and will not endanger the user or patient, nor risk action from the courts or regulatory bodies.

For further information on the BDIA or CSIDI, please visit www.bdia.org.uk

NSK proudly supports numerous educational courses across the UK and Ireland, including the Perio with Deepak events.

Perio with Deepak aims to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge required to offer patients the most effective periodontal therapy. These courses enable dental professionals to understand and manage periodontal conditions through a combination of prevention, maintenance and treatment methods.

The most popular course is the 3-day Masterclass in Periodontal Disease Treatment and Management. Designed for dentists, dental therapists and hygienists, this course covers three phases:

• Non-surgical Periodontal Therapy – providing delegates with a comprehensive knowledge of periodontal disease management using non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) within a primary setting;
• Treating and Maintaining Periodontal Disease – a hands-on day teaching planning and managing periodontal treatment after non-surgical procedures, focussing on ultrasonic scaling and air polishing.
• Implementing Ideas and Profitable Periodontics – exploring the rationale behind evidence-based procedures, care pathways, better patient care and ethical selling of periodontal treatment.

During the course all delegates have the opportunity to use the latest NSK Varios 970 iPiezo ultrasonic scaler. With a range of over 70 tips, the Varios 970 is the ideal choice for perio, endo and scaling treatment or where minimal intervention is required.

Remaining events for 2017:

London 4-6 Aug 2017

London 18-20 Aug 2017

Nuneaton15-17 Sept 2017

Look online for full course content, aims & objectives, start/finish times, venue details etc. http://www.periowithdeepak.com/courses/master-class/

For more information on NSK’s scaling devices, visit www.mynskoralhygiene.co.uk or contact NSK on 0800 634 1909.

www.nsk-uk.com

www.mynsk.co.uk

Twitter: @NSK_UK

Facebook: NSK UK Ltd

Roshni Karia graduated from Kings College London in 2010 and, following completion of the MJDF, is a general dental practitioner that (after post graduate training) has developed a special interest in periodontology. She has been elected to represent SE/SW Thames having previously played a role as Early Career Representative as an Observer to the Board.

The FGDP(UK) celebrates its 25^th anniversary in 2017 with a special dinner on 13^th October. Further information is available at http://www.fgdp.org.uk/event/fgdp-event/25th-anniversary-dinner.ashx

Together with Simplyhealth Professionals, FGDP(UK) are hosting a special anniversary conference. Holistic Dentistry – Time to Put the Mouth Back into the Body takes place on 3^rd November 17 at the National Motorcycle Museum Solihull. Further information is available at www.holisticdentistry.eventbrite.com

LISTERINE® Professional is now offering a variety of programmes focused on the most important topics facing dental professionals, including prevention strategies and patient communication.

• The LISTERINE® Professional Newsletter: A once-monthly e-mail to keep you informed on how to help patients treat or prevent common oral care conditions like gingivitis and sensitivity, or how to help prevent cavities.
• THE HABIT CHANGE CHALLENGE: An interactive learning programme to help you influence changes in patient behaviour even more effectively

By signing up for both or either programme(s) today, you will gain access to:     

• Clinical data that you can apply to your practice
• Tips on how to increase patient adherence to your recommendations
• Free LISTERINE® samples for you and your patients
• Information on upcoming conventions and events
• LISTERINE® product information and news

SIGN UP TODAY

More than 95 leading keynote speakers have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Dentsply Sirona World 2017: The Ultimate Dental Meeting in Las Vegas from Sept. 14-16, 2017. Event organizer Dentsply Sirona, The Dental Solutions Company™, will host a mix of exciting talks, clinical training sessions, professional exchanges with colleagues and first-class entertainment featuring stars such as TED Talk luminary Simon Sinek, Grammy-Award winning band Imagine Dragons and iconic entertainer Will Smith.

Bensheim/Salzburg, June 28, 2017. Several thousand national and international dental professionals will come together at the three-day, cutting-edge dental conference hosted by Dentsply Sirona, the market and technology leader in the dental industry. This year’s educational festival will again offer 11 educational tracks. Attendees, as they did for SIROWORLD 2016, can create their own schedule and attend breakouts all within one track or mix and match sessions from a variety of tracks for a more comprehensive experience.

Sensational speakers

Many of dentistry’s elite have already confirmed their participation in the upcoming Ultimate Dental Meeting. Attendees can look forward to training and educational sessions focusing on all aspects of dentistry. The tracks include Business and Practice Management, CEREC, Imaging (including extraoral and intraoral), Implantology, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Restorative, Periodontics and Hygiene, Prosthetics and Laboratory, Office Design, and Special Markets and Topics.

Dr. Mike DiTolla, Director of Dentsply Sirona World said, “The roster of talented speakers scheduled to engage and educate our attendees is sensational, and we’re just getting started! We’re inviting a new generation of speakers, along with our veteran speakers, to 2017’s event to further diversify the education offered and continue to provide the ultimate experience for attendees.”

Dentsply Sirona World is the second annual Ultimate Dental Meeting hosted by Dentsply Sirona. At The Venetian and The Palazzo in Las Vegas, this year’s event is expected to attract an even greater number of dental professionals than SIROWORLD or CEREC 30.

Great entertainment

For relaxation after a comprehensive and excellent education, Dentsply Sirona will offer first-class entertainment to attendees. On Thursday evening, Sept. 14, following a full day of general sessions and breakout sessions, attendees can sit back and enjoy a relaxed, undoubtedly amusing dialogue between Dentsply Sirona World host Page 2/3

Dr. DiTolla and actor, producer, musician and philanthropist Will Smith. Following the interview, the floor will open to questions from the audience.

On Friday morning, Sept. 15, the author and sought-after speaker Simon Sinek will present the keynote address at Dentsply Sirona World 2017. Recognized by many as a visionary and ardent optimist, Sinek possesses an unorthodox yet refreshing outlook on corporate culture and the significance of strong leadership to incite action among professionals. Best known for popularizing the concept of WHY, he is a trained ethnographer who has dedicated his life’s work to discovering what motivates people, exploring different leadership styles, and breaking down the various stereotypes of different generations in an attempt to better understand why those individuals and the organizations that employ them “do the things they do.” Sinek is also widely known for his TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” which is the third most-watched TED talk, ever. He has also written three books, topping the best-sellers list for corporate America.

On Friday evening, Sept. 15, one of the most popular and talented bands of this generation, Imagine Dragons, will perform in a private concert exclusive for attendees at Dentsply Sirona World.

“Imagine Dragons is an extraordinary group of gifted musicians and this exclusive concert offers attendees a chance to let loose after absorbing hours of comprehensive education,” said Vice President of Marketing Ingo Zimmer. “Our organization takes pride in offering not only top-notch education for our attendees, but also offering A-list entertainment and a memorable experience for years to come.”

To register now or to learn more about the Ultimate Dental Meeting, visit www.dentsplysironaworld.com. For any questions, contact the help desk by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To celebrate their 25^th Anniversary the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), in partnership with Simplyhealth Professionals, is delighted to announce a celebratory conference featuring six of the UK’s leading experts, from a range of oral health fields, assembled for the first time in one exciting programme.

This unique conference is designed for clinicians at all stages of their careers and brings together six highly respected names to deliver a fascinating insight into the complex inter-relationships between oral diseases and the general health of patients in all age groups.

“Dentistry and healthcare in general are changing,” says Mick Horton, Dean of the FGDP(UK).

“We can no longer view areas of the body in isolation; what we do as professionals can impact on the rest of the body, and vice-versa. This holistic approach to treatment brings together modern techniques and their relationship with general disease.”

For further information and to secure your place for 3^rd November at the National Motorcycle Museum visit http://holisticdentistry.eventbrite.com. Book now for early bird offers.

Dentistry is moving into a new digital age and clinicians across the UK are seeking training and support to adopt these technological advances.

Straumann and Implants Centres of Excellence (ICE) recognise this demand and have collaborated to provide a valuable opportunity to see the full range of digital workflow solutions and educational opportunities currently available.

Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions combines interconnected software platforms and open, fully-validated workflows, alongside a wide variety of materials to deliver an unrivalled digital solution. On the 17^th and 18^th July, they will be bringing all this technology to the Old Trafford home of Manchester United on their massive 16-metre long Digital Performance Roadshow juggernaut which houses a full digital workflow.

Nearby at the ICE headquarters and hospital, the Straumann CARES® Digital Solutions portfolio will also be on display, including leading chairside scanning and milling technology and 3D printing, in the impressive ICE facilities which include training surgeries, an operating theatre, a laboratory and lecture facilities.

For a fully immersive experience, attendees can dive into a virtual reality experience, showcasing Straumann’s impressive digital portfolio and centralised manufacturing facilities. The Straumann and ICE team will also be on hand to advise and give a full overview of different product solutions.

Stephen Booth, Country Manager, Straumann UK comments, “We are delighted to be working closely with ICE as this underpins our commitment to facilitating a successful educational pathway for clinicians, whilst delivering the latest innovations and ultimately improving the patients’ quality of life’.”

For the perfect opportunity to gain direct experience of the latest digital products and an insight into the latest training available, book a free place today at straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

straumanndigitalperformance.co.uk

therevu.co.uk

Facebook: Straumann UK

Twitter: @StraumannUK

Simplyhealth is pleased to announce it has signed another exciting 50/50 Dental Practice Partnership with Cottage Dental Practice in Ormskirk.

The new partnership between Simplyhealth and Cottage Dental Practice (ormskirkdentist.co.uk) will enable the business based at 58 Moor Street, to further develop, grow and continue to serve its local community.

Closely aligned to Simplyhealth’s purpose of helping people make the most of life through better everyday health, Cottage Dental Practice’s philosophy is to prevent dental problems before they occur, thanks to their team of experienced dentists, hygienists, nurses, and surgeons who are dedicated to helping their patients achieve the best possible dental health. They already have strong relationships with their patients, of whom 2400 are already covered by a Denplan payment plan from Simplyhealth Professionals, providing the additional peace of mind of budgeting for their dental treatments.

As part of an ongoing commitment to investment and innovation in the dental market, Simplyhealth’s partnership scheme offers dental practices the opportunity to enter into an equal partnership that plays to the strengths of both parties for their mutual benefit.

The partnership model has been designed to enable dentists to retain day to day clinical management and continue the focus on the quality of care provided with Simplyhealth providing support and expertise in business services, development and patient insights gained from their existing successful Denplan services as well as through helping over 3 million people with their everyday health needs across the group.

The model works well for Practice owners looking for a smooth transition into retirement while wanting to retain responsibility for the day to day decisions and clinical delivery.  They can retain the legacy they have built in the community but are able to realise the value of the practice and make the move into ownership less of a barrier for the new partner.

Raman Sankaran, Chief Commercial Officer of Simplyhealth added: “We’re very pleased to have signed our partnership agreement with Cottage Dental Practice in Ormskirk. They are very much aligned to our purpose of helping people make the most of life through better everyday health and we’re both focussed on helping people achieve this thanks to preventative dental care. We’re looking forward to working with Dr Sunny Lathar and Dr Helen Barlow, supporting them with their strategy so they can provide their patients with the best care possible. True partnerships like this mean we can combine the best of our skills and experience, so more patients can lead happier, healthier lives thanks to better everyday health.”

Principle dentists at Cottage Dental Practice, Dr Sunny Lathar and Dr Helen Barlow explain: "We’re delighted that we’ve entered into this new partnership with Simplyhealth Professionals. After 30 years of practicing dentistry, this new partnership allows us to have in place a structured strategy for the medium to long term, while allowing us to maintain the management and direction of the Practice with the additional support and guidance of Simplyhealth. "

About Simplyhealth
In the world of healthcare, more than anywhere, experience counts. Since 1872 – long before the existence of the NHS – Simplyhealth has been helping people to make the most of life, by managing their everyday health needs.  That’s why today we ensure over 3 million people in the UK have access to the health products, services and support that they need, when they need them and at a price they can afford.

We’re the kind of people who live by our purpose: we’re here to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. We’re proud to be the leading provider of everyday health cash plans, dental payment and pet health plans. And whilst we may be 144 years old, we’re not afraid to innovate. Whereas once we were known purely for cash plans, we now offer a wide range of products and services with one thing in common: an unflinching desire to cater for people’s everyday health needs – now and into the future.

We exist to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. That’s our purpose. We use charitable partnerships to also deliver that purpose, going beyond our products and services, but very much aligned to our business strategy. As a result of our success, in 2016 we were able to donate £1.6m to our charitable causes, supporting 23 different charities including Revitalise, Music in Hospitals, Brainwave Centre and Auditory Verbal, touching the lives of thousands of people across the UK.

Our future success and performance will enable us to deliver our ongoing pledge to donate 10% of our profits to charity every year, supporting health-related charities that share a similar outlook to ours and a dedication to helping people with everyday health challenges make the most of life.

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk.

Patient Plan Direct client, Dr Wasif Khan, explains how he took the leap into the world of private dentistry

“Before I bought Holmes Chapel Dental Practice around 10 years ago, I had been working as an associate for several years carrying out private dentistry. I had undertaken extensive post-graduate study and was really enjoying the work I was doing, but I wanted to take the next step in my career to become a practice owner. Holmes Chapel Dental Practice came with an NHS contract and, although this was a very different set up to what I had become used to, I decided to work with it, with a view to adding a private side in the future.

“Over the years my team and I have worked hard to develop the practice, but whilst I was able to maintain a degree of private work, there has always been that longing for me to return fully to private dentistry. With falling revenues and the constant treadmill of UDAs, targets and restrictions that we all face under the NHS, I decided that after 10 years, the time had come to focus on providing a private service. I also wanted to slow down a little while practising better quality, varied dentistry; I needed to push myself to get out of the rut that I felt I was in, and I wanted the same for my team, too.

“We had been building up to make the move towards a more private offering for around two years, so none of it came as a surprise to the team; I wanted to do my research and groundwork first to make sure I would take the right steps to make things work. We decided that my two associates and dental therapist would continue to provide dentistry under the NHS, as well as private work, while I went fully private. The idea was to boost revenue in order to ensure not just staff retention, but also team growth and skill-set development, increased choice of materials and possible expansion and renovation in the future – things that I just could not consider while working on an NHS contract. Additionally, I was really looking forward to getting back to doing the dentistry I love and gaining more fulfilment from my work again.

“I have friends in their own practices who have incorporated a dental plan, and I had seen them in action during my time as an associate, so implementing one into the practice was always my intention. For me, it was vital that the provider I chose to partner with offered lots of support, because I had never carried out an NHS to private conversion as a practice owner and wanted to have the reassurance that there would be help available if I needed it. I met with a few different companies to get a feel for what and who would work best for me and decided to go with Patient Plan Direct as their service is great value for money and I also liked them on a personal level. They are a smaller company and the individuals who work there are very down to earth and easy to get on with. On top of that, I really like their online portal and the fact that I was able to integrate the option of patient plan sign up via my website, too.

“The first step was to write to our patients to let them know about the changes. This is where our main challenge cropped up as I was finding that subsequent take up of the plan was quite slow. Theresa Riley, business development manager from Patient Plan Direct, was a huge help in this area. She came in to the practice and gave our reception team lots of training on how to discuss the plan and give patients options. None of it is about a hard sell, it’s all just about letting people know what is available to them and allowing them to choose what is best for their own needs, which fits perfectly in line with our own business ethos.

“Theresa also took a look at our letter, reworded it to make it more patient friendly and suggested that we add some more plan options to keep the choice more varied for patients, rather than just the one plan we were originally offering. All of her help provided us with the tools and knowledge we needed to make the difference. It took some time to convince and educate some of the staff that this was the only way we could progress the practice, but now all of the team have embraced the methods Theresa discussed during her training and they are all fully on board. This external input from Patient Plan Direct made a huge difference to us, so I definitely feel that I made the right choice when selecting which plan provider to go with, particularly considering Patient Plan Direct’s admin fees are so much lower than other providers ensuring we retain more of our plan income.

“I’m really pleased with how things have worked out. The team is focused and consolidated in our aims and we have also changed the infrastructure within the practice to accommodate private patients in reception and in a separate waiting area, which has created a unique patient pathway. The overall reaction from patients has been very positive, with many commenting that we should have done this years ago! I have no regrets about making the move towards a more private dental offering; I have achieved a much better work-life balance as it has allowed me to cut back on my hours, while still remaining busy during my ‘dental’ days, and my private patient list is ever increasing. I have to put a lot of this success down to incorporating a plan and doing the research into choosing the right provider for me, the support from patient Plan Direct has been second to none!”

Wasif Khan is the principal dentist and owner of Holmes Chapel Dental Practice in Cheshire.

Patient Plan Direct offers a low cost, simple, flexible and practice-branded solution to running patient payment plans, with a focus on delivering first-class support and expert advice to ensure you reach your plan objectives. For more information please visit www.patientplandirect.com email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0844 848 6888.

Of the total population worldwide, around 20% is edentulous and even more is partially edentulous.¹ The demand for dental implants is increasing and clinicians will be requiring more dental prosthetics faster. If your lab is looking for opportunities to grow, then meeting this need by expanding with the help of digital dentistry could be the answer.

Great expectations

Dentistry continues to develop and labs, small and large, are required to continually meet the high standards expected by practices and patients, as well as by regulatory bodies such as the FDA². It can be challenging to meet regulatory standards, provide esthetic and reliable restorations, and run a profitable a sustainable business. One way of reconciling these demands is by investing in technology and equipment that can provide a competitive advantage and opportunities for growth.

CAD/CAM milling

Transform your lab with dental CAD/CAM

Through the advancement of dental technology, such as computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), the entire process has been transformed, bringing significant benefits to both practices and labs alike. According to recent literature^3,4 these include:

¾    Improving patient acceptance

¾    Reducing distortion of impression materials

¾    Improving data acquisition, management and storage

¾    Helping to standardize procedures

¾    Improving communication between clinicians and labs

¾    Reducing production time and effort

As a result, dental CAD/CAM tools help enhance efficiency, by saving labs time and creating user-friendly workflows. They also enhance quality, as precision-engineered and manufactured components are designed to reduce risks that may lead to implant failure.⁶ Furthermore, the dental CAD/CAM system can be broken down into several distinct phases, with the possibility of moving between digital and analog workflows at several stages⁵, offering flexibility for the user.  

Speed, accuracy, efficiency and consistency can all be enhanced, allowing high-quality dental devices to be routinely fabricated, bringing new solutions to patients. These improvements are not achievable with conventional methods, requiring cutting-edge processing technologies and systems.3

NobelProcera prosthetics range

Getting started with CAD/CAM systems

Investing in dental CAD software can provide labs with a chance to increase production and keep costs competitive. Getting the right software for your business is necessary for a cost-effective, predictable and accurate outcome. By working closely with a reputable software manufacturer you can get the support you need to create esthetic restorations with fast turnaround times.

Nobel Biocare has recently launched in conjunction with Kavo Kerr the new DTX Studio™ software, which will offer powerful CAD tools with an intuitive interface. It will enable the quick and easy design of the desired restoration, whether tooth- or implant based.

Alternatively, you can outsource the design and production of CAD/CAM prosthetics to NobelProcera Scan and Design Services.  Available for implant bars, abutments and implant crowns, you can save time and avoid investment in equipment and staff training, while providing your customers with precision-fit prosthetics.

NobelProcera Scan and Design Services

With the advancement of digital dentistry, more opportunities are becoming available to labs. We are at a point in the evolution of dental restoration provision which could be as fundamental and inevitable as the progression from a typewriter to a computer.⁵

More to explore

¾     Discover CAD/CAM prosthetics for labs

¾     Related article: The dawn of CAD/CAM restorations

¾     Related article: Your lab can become the prosthetic provider of choice

¾     Related article: Taking the dental laboratory into the future

¹ Source: iData Research. Europe Market Report Suite for Dental Implant Fixtures and Final Abutments. 2017, p. 57. More information on www.idataresearch.com .

² For more information: http://nadl.org/sl_files/487CEA77-5056-A04E-37A0DDED9A8D218E.pdf

3 Miyazaki, T., et al. (2009). A review of dental CAD/CAM: current status and future perspectives from 20 years of experience. Dental Materials Journal, 28 (1), 44-56.

4 Hammerle, C. F., et al. (2015). Digital technologies to support planning, treatment, and fabrication processes and outcome assessments in implant dentistry. Summary and consensus statements. The 4^th EAO consensus conference 2015. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 26, 97-101.

5 Slade, C. A. E. (2017). The role of CAD/CAM in modern dentistry. Practical procedures in aesthetic dentistry. Edited by Banerji, S., Mehta, S. B., & Ho, C. C. K. John Wiley & Sons.

⁶ Hurson, Overcoming implant complications – Authentic, integrated dental implant components, Compendium, July/August 2016, Volume 37, Number 7, pages 2–6.

Having only just got over the shock of the Brexit result (just about) and Theresa May’s decision to hold a snap election, the country is once again plunged into uncertainty as the Election Results for 2017 reveal a shocking outcome for the Conservative party. What was meant to be a straightforward win for the current Prime Minister – or so she thought – has instead ended in the humiliation of a hung parliament. As a result of this, Mrs May and the rest of her party face the prospect of having to form a minority government – a far cry from the majority vote and ‘stronger mandate’ she was hoping for.

In comparison, the election has been somewhat of a victory for Jeremy Corbyn and the labour party, who have gained a considerable number of seats across the UK, including Sheffield Hallam which was previously held by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg.

To form a minority government, Theresa May will require the assistance of the Democratic Unionist Party, who she says will work together having “enjoyed a strong relationship over many years”. Were anything to happen, however, the Tories will not have the 326 seats required for a majority to pass a legislative programme.

Labour, in the meantime, will likely turn their efforts to forming their own minority government. After all, if the Conservative’s plan doesn’t pan out the way they want it to, Jeremy Corbyn could yet become Prime Minister. The question is where does this leave the dental profession?

Before the results were even properly announced we saw a fall in the value of the sterling compared to the dollar and the Euro. Between the uncertainty of a hung parliament and speculation about how the final result will impact Brexit negotiations moving forward, we are once again faced with the prospect of higher imported goods’ prices and an increase in overheads.

As for how dental practices, along with other small businesses will be affected by the whole thing, it is not yet clear what the future holds. What we do know, however, is that if May is successful in forming an alliance with DUP, there will be a number of changes made to taxation throughout 2017 into 2020. Personal Allowance, for instance, would rise to £12,500 as planned, as would the Higher Rate Threshold, which Mrs May has promised would increase to £50,000 by 2020. With scheduled reductions also due to take place to Corporation Tax (CT) if the Tories stay in, it is clear that dentists would have much to gain from a Conservative government. In regards to pensions, dentists must consider how proposed changes would affect their financial planning moving forward.

In the event that Jeremy Corbyn steps in and tries to run a minority government or form a coalition, it could be somewhat of a mixed bag. Indeed, while Labour’s promise to review business rates and bring in a small profits rate of CT for SMEs would no doubt be welcomed by many in the profession, increases in Income Tax for those earning over £80,000 certainly wouldn't be, nor would an increase in CT for larger businesses.

Brexit, in the meantime, is scheduled to go ahead as planned, so the best any of us can do is wait and see what happens!

For more information please call 0845 345 5060 or 0754DENTIST.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.money4dentists.com

Simplyhealth Professionals has announced today its sponsorship of Boundaries for Life and this year’s cricket season. Boundaries for Life is an initiative aimed at promoting health awareness through high-profile cricket events – and is the only free health screening that includes an assessment for mouth cancer.

Founded in 2010 by Dr Chet Trivedy, a dual-qualified dentist and medic with an interest in emergency medicine and dental emergencies, Boundaries for Life offers free health screenings at major cricket fixtures throughout the UK, and is supported by the European Health Stadia Network.

Catherine Rutland, Head of Professional Support Services at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “The Boundaries for Life programme crosses the barriers between oral health and general health. Our support of the programme goes beyond just a financial investment. We are encouraging our member dentists to get actively involved and be part of the dental team at the cricket matches, and play a part in helping people understand the importance of looking after their health.”

With a team comprising dentists, doctors, nurses, medical students and dementia specialists, the free health checks take no more than 15 minutes and are offered to spectators and ground staff. The checks include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar (diabetes), dental (mouth cancer), obesity and dementia advice.

The team have already attended two cricket matches with the support of member dentists from Simplyhealth Professionals and carried out a number of dental checks. These matches were at Headingly Stadium on 24 May and the Ageas Bowl on 27 May.

Dr Chet Trivedy said: “Using cricket as a vehicle to discuss health is ideal, particularly as our key aim is to target men aged 35 years and over. Our health promotion strategy is to target people who might otherwise not access regular health checks. Many of these are cited by Public Health England to be particularly vulnerable to a range of health conditions; the format and duration of a match makes the health screenings we offer very accessible – without missing the sporting action.”

Since its launch, Boundaries for Life has carried out 2,000 free health checks and diagnosed nine cases of suspected mouth cancer, or pre-cancer, and given many hundreds of cricket fans specialist advice on how to improve oral and personal health.

The current Boundaries for Life fixtures are:

For more information, visit: http://boundariesforlife.co.uk/

Dental

Simplyhealth Professionals is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million patients registered to a Denplan product.

Simplyhealth Professionals provide the following range of leading Denplan dental payment plans under the Denplan name:

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Membership: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover 

·         Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme. Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962, or patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402.   

The Dentistry Show and Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) 2017 saw Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland showcase their new brand, Ivoclar Digital, to the British market for the first time since it’s official launch at IDS, Cologne, in March.

Thanks to their prime location with clinical and technical stands adjacent to one another, Ivoclar Vivadent were able to demonstrate that their new digital products will provide both dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process journey.

The main attraction and making its debut as Ivoclar Vivadent's first chairside mill for clinical use, the PrograMill One. The world’s smallest 5-axis milling machine combines industrial manufacturing quality with high precision and modern design. In the innovative 5-axis turn-milling technique, the workpiece rotates around the tool at a constant feed and the tool never leaves the block, ensuring short milling times and minimal tool wear.

Various validated processing strategies are available for different materials and indications; the unit has been particularly developed for milling IPS e.max CAD and the new innovative IPS e.max ZirCAD. The machine’s wireless capabilities allow it to be operated from any location within close proximity with the help of a special app for tablets and smartphones; its optical status display shows the current status of the machine. PrograMill One is coordinated with intra-oral scanners and Design Studio software from 3Shape.

The PrograMill One will once again be demonstrated in June at Ivoclar Vivadent’s annual ICDE event, exclusively alongside the new PrograMill PM7 which will be presented to laboratories as a future-proof solution for the digital manufacture of prosthetic restorations.

The consistent hub of visiting dental professionals were assisted by Ivoclar Vivadent’s attending product specialists across both stands, who provided demonstrations on the new and existing ranges available, as well as special offers and expert advice. 

Ivoclar Vivadent’s Technical & Digital Product Manager, Leo James, who was on hand over the course of the two days commented, “ since the launch of Ivoclar Digital at IDS we anticipated that DTS (Dentistry) would be the perfect platform to showcase Ivoclar Vidadent's latest digital innovations to the UK’s dental industry.”

“We’re delighted with the enthusiasm that the Ivoclar Digital concept has been met with, overall the show has proven itself to be an invaluable lead & sales generator for us and I’m looking forward to seeing the new portfolio being integrated into the market further”.

For more information on the Ivoclar Digital product portfolio and technical support please contact a Digital Specialist or visit http://www.ivoclardigital.com/en

·         South and Ireland - Vicken Hatsakordzian 07772 746780

·         Midlands and North - Tom Rolling 07817 441320

Facebook: Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland

Twitter: @IvoclarUK

Instagram: @IvoclarVivadentUK

GSK CONSUMER HEALTHCARE LAUNCHES NEW SENSODYNE RAPID RELIEF

New unique formulation is clinically proven to provide fast relief from the first brush¹and long-lasting* protection from dentine hypersensitivity.^,2

London, UK, June 2017 -  GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, the manufacturer of the number one leading sensitive toothpaste brand Sensodyne, today announced an advancement in dental care with the launch of new Sensodyne Rapid Relief. The unique anhydrous formulation works rapidly to form a barrier over exposed dentine and reduce sensitivity in just 60 seconds.¹ The new formulation builds ongoing protection with every brush, supporting the long-term management of dentine hypersensitivity*,³ a painful, chronic condition affecting as many as one in three people.⁴

The use of GSK Consumer Healthcare’s proprietary anhydrous formulation technology, means that individual ingredients contained in the formulation, including stannous fluoride and bio-adhesive polymers, remain stable and ready for activation by water. On contact with saliva in the mouth, the facilitating polymer becomes adhesive, and is able to form a gel-like scaffold in the surface of dentine, helping to trap stannous ions which occlude the open ends of the dentine tubules. In vitro data shows that after just one application, stannous ions, the key sensitivity active ingredient in new Sensodyne Rapid Relief, can extend as much as 80μm deep into the tubules,⁵ providing rapid occlusion and a 127 percent reduction in the flow of fluid through the dentine tubules, compared to the previous stannous fluoride formulation**.⁶ This robust occlusion is resistant to exposure to dietary acids, leading to clinically proven fast and long-lasting relief* from the pain of dentine hypersensitivity.⁷

“Dentine hypersensitivity is a common, and painful condition caused when the microscopic tubules in the dentine become exposed. Dentine exposure can be as a result of gum recession or enamel wear, uncovering thousands of tiny, narrow passages deep into the tooth, where there are exposed nerve endings. The pain is caused most often when eating cold or hot food/drink, which causes fluid movements in the tubules that stimulate the nerves, creating an instant, short, sharp pain. Many people adopt temporary coping strategies, avoiding contact with the affected area. Some avoid dental appointments for fear of major dental work, which can lead to further oral complications.^4,8,9  However, with the launch of the new formulation of Sensodyne Rapid Relief, GSK Consumer Healthcare offers a formulation clinically proven to relieve the pain of sensitive teeth in 60 seconds and give long lasting protection from its return.” said by Jon Creeth – Medical Affairs Principal Scientist GSK Consumer Healthcare.

“Sensodyne Rapid Relief beats sensitivity pain fast by enhancing the adhesiveness of the product on the tooth surface. This helps deliver the stannous fluoride effectively, allowing it to get to work really fast,” said Dr David Urquhart, R&D Lead, Sensitivity & Acid Erosion.

With the launch of Sensodyne Rapid Relief, GSK Consumer Healthcare aims to alleviate the symptoms of dentine hypersensitivity from the first brush, to break the cycle of pain some people find themselves in and enable long-term protection from dentine [hyper]sensitivity*. Through this and its broader Sensodyne portfolio, GSK Consumer Healthcare intends to make dentine hypersensitivity an easily manageable condition over the long-term, building on their overall purpose to create a future where every life is sensitivity-free.

Twice-daily brushing with Sensodyne Rapid Relief has been shown to continue to reduce dentine hypersensitivity over time,^3,10 while providing all the benefits expected of a regular toothpaste. Long-term use of sensitivity toothpastes like Sensodyne Rapid Relief have been found to lead to noticeable reductions in the impact of dentine hypersensitivity on everyday life,³ and in turn, a reduction in the ‘coping strategies’ used by people with sensitive teeth.⁹

Sensodyne Rapid Relief is available in store now. Also available in Whitening.

CHGBI/CHSENO/0085/17

About GSK Consumer Healthcare

GSK Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest consumer healthcare companies, responsible for some of the world’s best loved healthcare brands including AQUAFRESH, Sensodyne, Corsodyl, Panadol, Poligrip, Otrivin and Horlicks.

References

1.     GSK data on file 205710. July, 2016.

2.     GSK data on file 205697. June, 2016.

3.     GSK data on file RH01897. August, 2014

4.     Addy M. Dentine hypersensitivity: new perspectives on an old problem. Int Dent J. 2002;52: 367– 375.

5.     GSK data on file 2016.

6.     GSK Data on File ML636. November, 2016.           

7.     Accepted for presentation at IADR 2017 Abstract number 2632629

8.     Baker S et al. Longitudinal validation of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ). Poster presented at: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition; 2013 March 20–23, Seattle, Washington.

9.     GSK data on file Sensitive Teeth and Attitude Study. March, 2008.

10.  Parkinson CR, Jeffery P, Milleman JL, et al., Confirmation of efficacy in providing relief from the pain of dentin hypersensitivity of an anhydrous dentifrice containing 0.454% with or without stannous fluoride in an 8-week randomized clinical trial. Am J Dent. 2015;28(4):190-196.

NOTE: Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies

www.dentexhealth.co.uk

Clinically proven to reduce gum problems with unique ActivREPAIR™ technology

Today at the BDA Conference, Oral-B has launched the NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste.

Gum problems, a leading cause of tooth loss, can often be prevented through proper at-home oral care and regular visits to a dental professional. Today, more than 50% of the world’s adult population suffers from gum problems and in most/many cases patients ignore or even do not notice the symptoms of gum problems until it is too late, something that must be incredibly frustrating for a dental professional.

Dr Phil Ower, immediate past president of the British Society of Periodontology, commented: “It is our duty as dental professionals to act in the prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of gum problems in order to combat the potentially serious effect of these issues."

Proper brushing, coupled with specialized toothpaste, not only can prevent gum problems, but also improve gum health.

Proper mechanical plaque control is the cornerstone to reduce gingivitis. However, there is clinical evidence that specialized toothpaste can provide additional gum health benefits. More specifically, over 31 studies show that Stabilized Stannous Fluoride adds value to tooth-brushing through reducing gum inflammation and bleeding.  

“Oral-B has a long history of supporting dental professionals.  Our goal is to always provide superior oral care products that continue the care that starts in your chair, helping your patients achieve stronger teeth and healthier gums”, stated Jane Kidson, Oral-B Professional Oral Health Country Manager.

Oral-B first introduced Stannous Fluoride in the 1950’s to prevent carries. Since then, Oral-B invested over a decade of research to evolve the Stannous technology to also help patients significantly improve gum health and prevent enamel erosion.

Today, Oral-B is introducing the NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste to help patients address the increasing prevalence of gum or enamel issues. Featuring unique ActivRepair^TM technology (with 2 sources of Stannous: Stannous Fluoride and Stannous Chloride), it is the best clinically-proven toothpaste from Oral-B to help restore gum health and prevent enamel erosion.

Benefits of Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste

NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair is the best clinically-proven toothpaste from Oral-B to help reduce gum problems and prevent enamel erosion.

Reduces gum problems[i]

• ActivRepair™ technology provides 70% more Stannous vs. Oral-B Pro-Expert for better bacterial control through antibacterial action and bacterial growth inhibition of the plaque.
• Through this, the new Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair toothpaste can deliver up to 72% greater reduction in gum problems versus ordinary toothpastes[ii].

Helps prevent enamel erosionⁱ

• ActivRepair™ Technology actively remineralizes weakened enamel and builds a protective smear layer that protects teeth against acid erosion even beyond pH<3.5.
• With continued use, Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste makes teeth 3x stronger against enamel erosion vs ordinary toothpastes[iii]

Benefits of Brushing with Oral-B

The use of a specialized toothpaste such as Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste, in combination with Oral-B’s iconic round brush head that cleans better than a manual toothbrush, supports your patients by helping them to brush at their best.

The unique features of Oral-B’s round brush head embrace and adapt to each tooth to deliver superior results on plaque and gum vs. a regular manual toothbrush.  The Oral-B round head and technology has been validated consistently by external and internal clinical research to deliver:

·         Superior plaque removal: Removes 2x more plaque vs. a regular manual toothbrush[iv]

·         Healthier gums: 36% reduction in gum bleeding sites vs. Sonicare[v] and 2x as effective at reducing gingivitis vs. a regular manual brushes[vi]

·         Preferred by patients: 66% preferred Oral-B vs. 31% for a sonic brush[vii]

An independent review of published research by the Cochrane Collaboration[viii] also confirmed the superiority and effectiveness of oscillating-rotating power technology over manual brushes, whilst recognizing its safety.

Oral-B Partners with HPV Action to Improve the Lives of People in the UK

Oral-B strives to help consumers improve their oral health, an important part of overall health and wellness. Research shows that gum issues and particularly gingivitis affect 1 out of 2 adults worldwideⁱ. Some studies also suggest poor gum health is associated with heart disease, diabetes and even premature birth[ix]^,[x].  As part of our effort to improve the overall health and wellbeing of consumers in the UK, Oral-B has partnered with HPV Action (HPVA), a collaborative partnership of 46 patient and professional organisations that are working to reduce the health burden of HPV, which is estimated to be the cause of 5% of all cancer cases[xi]. Oral-B will donate £5 for each completed Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste dental patient evaluation programme.  All forms received by the end of October 2017 will qualify. Together with HPV Action we believe that we can make an important difference in the lives of consumers in the UK.

About Oral-B
Oral-B^® is the worldwide leader in the over $5 billion brushing market. Part of the Procter & Gamble Company, the brand includes manual and electric toothbrushes for children and adults, oral irrigators and interdental products, such as dental floss. Oral-B^® manual toothbrushes are used by more dentists than any other brand in the U.S. and many international markets.

References

BioHorizons is delighted to announce a 20% discount off the registration fee for all courses taking place in June 2017.

All you need to do is book before 26 May and input the discount code ‘SUMMERSALE’ at checkout.

The courses running this June are:

• Implant Planning and Computer Guided Surgery – a one-day, hands-on course designed to bring together the clinician, laboratory and software, to give a detailed overview of the digital workflow of implant dentistry

• Immediate Loading Technique with TeethXpress® – this two-day course will provide delegates with the opportunity to understand the science behind the immediate loading technique

• The Latest Concepts in Mucogingival Grafting – a practical course to enhance delegates’ knowledge of mucogingival surgical techniques, while developing periodontal surgical skills

• The Latest Concepts in Implant Maintenance – providing lectures, group discussion and hands-on workshops for dental hygienists focused on the latest concepts in implant maintenance.

For further information, please visit www.theimplanthub.com/education.

The British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) have united to apply for prescribing exemptions that would broaden dental hygienists’ and dental therapists’ scope of practice for the benefit of their patients.

Driven by respective immediate past presidents – Michaela O’Neill and Fiona Sandom – we were recently given the green light by the Department of Health to move into the next stage of the campaign.

To do so, we need your help.

Have you had to send patients away with incomplete or no treatment because you couldn’t get a prescription when you needed it? How did this affect your ability to deliver patient care? What would it mean to be able to provide certain prescription only medicines, without requiring a prescription from the dentist?

The more examples of cases we can collect for the cause, the bigger a voice we will have. Please email your experiences and the impact these had on you, your patients and your practice to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By working together, we can drive change. 

For more information about this intuitive or about the BSDHT, please visit www.bsdht.org.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01788 575050

A gathering of more than 400 delegates at this year’s Henry Schein ConnectDental Digital Symposium is testament to just how far the digital message is resonating with the profession. Organised at the splendid Grange St Paul’s Hotel in central London, the Digital Symposium is now rightly regarded as the premier digital event in UK dentistry.

The diverse two-day programme covered all aspects of the digital spectrum, through a series of lectures, presentations and break-out sessions and was opened with a keynote lecture by Ian Buckle. Mr. Buckle, an experienced clinician with a private practice in the North West, examined the important relationship between clinicians and their technical colleagues and how the use of digital tools can aid communication not only with the laboratory, but also other specialists, including orthodontists, implant dentists and surgeons. In a frank and entertaining personal commentary, Ian discussed what works, what does not and what the future might hold for those reluctant to adopt digital processes.

The Henry Schein ConnectDental platform offers digital technology solutions to help improve efficiency and productivity for both the practice and the laboratory with the aim of enhancing the patient experience by delivering predictable, high-quality dentistry. The role of digital dentistry in achieving this aim was perfectly illustrated by one of the highlights of the Symposium—a  two-part presentation by Colin Campbell and Jameel Gardee, which included a full case study on digitally planning the smile and guided implant surgery. The presentation included details of how intraoral scanning, CBCT, digital x-rays, digital photography and smartphone video were all used to provide a fully-planned, interdisciplinary case, which included the live capture of a patient’s information. In addition, the case demonstrated how to create a digital wax-up as well as the production of a milled implant surgical guide. The case was completed on the Saturday morning when Colin described the surgical procedures and compared the relative benefits of the different guided systems used on the case.

With content to excite and inspire dental professionals at every stage of their digital journey, the Digital Symposium is clearly at the forefront of digital education. Dental professionals rely on Henry Schein’s experience and advice. With this symposium, the company guided those taking their first steps in the digital world and assisted those practitioners who have already embraced the technology and are seeking to perfect their craft.

Jane MacRae, Marketing Manager at Henry Schein Dental, was delighted with the response from the profession and the industry: “The Digital Symposium is the perfect vehicle for us to demonstrate the way in which the clinical solutions we offer help our customers remain at the forefront of patient care. These solutions work across numerous dental disciplines, including implants, orthodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, laboratory services, and many more. We believe that the experience and knowledge shared at this event will show customers our commitment to help them achieve their digital vision. This year’s event encapsulated a shift in the acceptance of the digital transformation and I think we can look forward to some very exciting times in the near future.”

Videos and images of the event are available to download at hsddigitalsymposium.co.uk

For the last 18 months’ we have been writing articles about the threat of cyber-attacks to the healthcare industry. This is indeed one of the most targeted sectors in the UK and the risk to your dental practice is significant. This has further been highlighted by the events of the last few days where the NHS has suffered its biggest attack of this kind.

What is the risk to you?

No business is completely safe from the threat of cybercrime, no matter how many firewalls you have or virus scanners, it only reduces your risk by a small fraction. Over the last few years we have seen major companies and organisations such as Talk Talk and MI5 affected, organisations who invest heavily in the reliability of their IT systems are just as vulnerable and you and me.

So how does it work? Often, we see businesses that have their IT systems or software encrypted by the criminals. This means that the hackers take control of your systems and lock you out. They usually request payment in the form of Bitcoins in exchange for releasing your data back to you. In the past when this has happened clients have still had major problems with their software afterwards and have had to get professional companies in to reinstate the corrupted data. If you decide not to pay the ransom, then the cybercriminals will often look to sell the data on the black-market and then it is lost forever.

What is your most valuable data?  

For any medical practice the value is in the patient medical records and appointment logs. This is the lifeblood of your business and without access to this the practice would struggle to continue, at least in the short term.

In the event that your patient records were sold on the black-market and got into the hands of other cybercriminals your patients could be at significant risk. Your patients can sue you for compensation if their medical records became accessible to others. You could face a claim by every single person affected by the data breach and furthermore, you would become liable for their legal costs as well as your own if you required representation or defending from such claims. The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) can also get involved too. They are the statutory regulator when it comes to data security and they will investigate a breach of data to see if there are grounds for imposing statutory fines against you! These fines can start from tens of thousands of pounds and there is no real upper limit.

So what is the solution?    

It is very difficult to guarantee your business will not be affected by cybercrime although I would recommend that you review your IT security arrangements anyway and make upgrades where possible. Something that is within our control however, is what measures we have in place to protect our businesses should something catastrophic happen.

To do this, it is advisable to have Cyber Liability Insurance cover in place. As a basic cover, this will protect you against the claims that could be made against you, including legal costs and statutory fines. However, there is further cover that can be included within a policy such as:

·         Damage to Hardware

·         Data Corruption & Reinstatement

·         Financial Crime i.e. money being fraudulently taken from your bank account

·         Data-Breach Expenses including reputation protection

·         Loss of Business Income

How much does a policy cost?

It all depends on a few variables:

·         How many patient records do you hold?

·         What is your gross annual revenue?

·         What limit of indemnity do you require?

The last question above will be an area that your insurance adviser can guide you on. The larger the practice and the more records held the greater the exposure to claims and statutory fines. Prices typically start from around £500 per year although we are usually able to save our clients’ money on their main Practice Insurance policy if a Cyber Liability policy is taken out.

Enquire with All Med Pro today by calling us on 0203 757 6950 or emailing us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Further details can also be found on our website at https://www.allmedproinsurance.com/cyber-liability-insurance

Simplyhealth Professionals is about to start a series of in front seminars across England, Wales, and Scotland to highlight the current concerns amongst dentists working in the NHS and how they can plan for their future. Participants will debate NHS contract issues, dental provision, and the key issues affecting dentists working either in NHS or mixed practices.

The seminars have been created to help dentists learn more about NHS dental provision in Scotland, or NHS contract changes in the UK, hear the latest expert insights, and receive advice on what options they have for the future. They will take place throughout Scotland, England and Wales throughout May, June and July.

Dr Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals, the host of the seminars, said: “Due to the uncertainty facing dentists working in the NHS, these evenings will give everyone a chance to talk to others with similar concerns, and learn what they can to do prepare for their future.”

The first seminar will take place on Tuesday 6 June in Newcastle from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and will include evening drinks and a buffet. All of the events are free and dentists who attend will earn 2 hours of CPD.

If NHS speculation leaves you uncertain about your future...

In Front Seminars:

Tuesday 6th June – Marriott Gosforth Park – Newcastle

Tuesday 13th June – AMEX Stadium – Brighton

Wednesday 14th June – Holiday Inn Bristol Filton – Bristol

Monday 26th June – Sandy Park – Exeter

Tuesday 27th June – Cambridge Belfry – Cambridge

Wednesday 28th June – Park Royal Hotel – Warrington

Monday 3rd July – Village Cardiff – Cardiff

Wednesday 5th July – Holiday Inn – Winchester

Thursday 6th July – Crowne Plaza London the City – London

Thursday 13th July – Leicester Marriott – Leicester

Monday 17th July – Thorpe Park Hotel – Leeds

Tuesday 18th July – Tankersley Manor – Sheffield

To reserve a place: www. denplan.co.uk/nhs-seminars or call 01962 828 026.

Simplyhealth Professionals has today announced a new personalised assessment for young patients which they are providing through their highly regarded Denplan PreViser Patient Assessment (DEPPA) application. Young DEPPA (YDEPPA) brings the benefits of comprehensive online patient assessment to young patients and their parents or carers for the first time.

The primary benefit of YDEPPA, like its adult counterpart, is to support communication with young patients about their oral health. YDEPPA reports offer personalised biofeedback in a patient friendly manner. Dentists can access YDEPPA from the main menu of DEPPA by selecting ‘Young Patients’.

The reports use a traffic light colour-code system of red, amber and green to indicate what is going well and what the patient needs to improve on with the help of their dental care provider. Smiley symbols enhance the colour-code effect for young patients. The reports clearly indicate if any aspects of oral health should be of particular concern to patients and their parents or carers. Prevention advice tailored to the age of the patient forms the second page of the report.

A young patient DEPPA report (patients under 17 years of age) comprises two key scoring elements:

• A composite score (YDEPPA score) out of 100 measures patient perception and current oral health status, including two risk factors for dental caries and one risk factor for dental erosion. There is no separate measurement or reporting of future disease risk in YDEPPA as at the present time the evidence base for future disease risk factors in young patients is not as developed as that for adults.
• A summary of patient overall care needs (Low, Moderate or High) which may be helpful in fee category guidance in Denplan Plans for Children.

Henry Clover, Director of Dental Policy at Simplyhealth Professionals, said: “There is evidence to support that personalised biofeedback, delivered using reports such as DEPPA for patients, is more likely to trigger the emotional response required in order that behaviour change can occur than traditional methods. The earlier that we can educate young patients on what they can do at home to support dental care plans, the better their oral health will be in the long term.”

On an individual patient basis YDEPPA supplies valuable guidance to inform the development of a care (treatment) plan. YDEPPA reports allow clinicians and patients to monitor the success of care plans over time.

YDEPPA is very quick to complete, comprising just 14 questions. Reports can be either printed in hard copy and given to patients, or e-mailed to them with consent.

YDEPPA protocols were developed using Adult DEPPA, the Oral Health Assessment (OHA) and The Oral Wellbeing Assessments (OWA) as the starting point. Both the OHA and the OWA were developed as part of Denplan Excel for Children. Stephen Fayle, Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, Leeds, who guided the development of Denplan Excel for Children was a key adviser in the development of YDEPPA, as was Iain Chapple, Professor of Periodontology, University of Birmingham, and Liz Chapple, Managing Director of DEPPA service provider, Oral Health Innovations*.

Liz Chapple said: “This is a really exciting development as it is the first of its kind. YDEPPA is very simple to use, instantly producing a comprehensive assessment of a child’s oral health in an easy to understand format. If it achieves anything near the positive impact on behaviour that the adult version has achieved, its impact on prevention could be lifelong.”

Notes:

* Simply Health are also grateful to the many additional colleagues who provided advice during the development of the YDEPPA protocol for the Pilot Study. The Pilot Study was conducted in November 2016. A dozen practitioners who were prolific users of Adult DEPPA were recruited to take part. We used an on-line survey to elicit their feedback.

About Simplyhealth Professionals:

In February 2017, Denplan rebranded as Simplyhealth Professionals.

Dental

Simplyhealth Professionals is the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist with more than 6,500 member dentists nationwide caring for approximately 1.7 million patients registered to a Denplan product.

Simplyhealth Professionals provides the following range of leading Denplan dental payment plans under the Denplan name:

·         Denplan Care: all routine and restorative care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Essentials: routine care only + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan for Children: routine and other agreed care + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Membership: registered with the dentist + worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover

·         Denplan Hygiene: A dental payment plan without dental insurance for all types of practice from NHS, mixed and private to support patients commit to a consistent hygiene programme.

·         Denplan Emergency Insurance: worldwide dental injury and dental emergency cover only

Simplyhealth Professionals also provide a wide range of professional services for its member dentists and their practice teams, including the Denplan Quality Programme and Denplan Excel Accreditation Programme.  Plus regulatory advice, business and marketing consultancy services and networking opportunities.

Dentist enquiries telephone: 0800 169 9962.

For Patient enquiries telephone: 0800 401 402   

For details of all of our products, visit www.denplan.co.uk

Simplyhealth has successfully signed another 50/50 Dental Practice Partnership with, Fox Dental Care based in St Austell, Cornwall.

With around 1,500 dental patients, many of whom are already covered by Simplyhealth’s Denplan dental plans, the partnership will support Fox Dental Care to further develop, grow and continue to serve its local community.

As part of an ongoing commitment to investment and innovation in the dental market, Simplyhealth’s partnership scheme offers dental practices the opportunity to enter into an equal partnership, ensuring that both partners have equal rights in the practices.

The partnership model has been designed to enable dentists to retain day to day clinical management with Simplyhealth providing support and expertise in business services, development and patient insights gained from their existing successful Denplan services as well as through helping over 3 million people with their everyday health needs across the group.

The model works well for Practice owners looking for a smooth transition into retirement while wanting to retain responsibility for the day to day decisions and clinical delivery.  They can retain the legacy they have built in the community but are able to realise the value of the practice and make the move into ownership less of a barrier for the new partner.

Romana Abdin, Chief Executive of Simplyhealth added: “This is a true partnership that is for the benefit of Fox’s Dental Care, patients and Simplyhealth. We’re looking forward to working together as Simon approaches his retirement, growing the business and serving more patients. We want to work in partnership with more Healthcare Professionals so we can seize opportunities and overcome challenges together, while supporting more patients to make the most of life through better everyday health.”

Simon Fox, owner of Fox Dental Care, explains: “Selling a dental practice is an incredibly stressful and complex process, one that I was not looking forward to. However, the help and experience of the Simplyhealth team made the whole thing straightforward.  From first meetings right through to contract signing, I have felt relaxed and supported, which is the same as I have done during the last 25 plus years of working with them. In particular having our dedicated Simplyhealth Business Development Executive, Harriet, always at the end of the phone, has really proved invaluable. Selling the business you've lovingly built up over 35 years to someone you trust and already have a great relationship with has certainly made things easier. I look forward to the coming years in partnership and to my eventual retirement.”

For further information about Simplyhealth please visit www.simplyhealth.co.uk.

http://newsroom.simplyhealth.co.uk/

@SimplyhealthUK

Facebook.com/SimplyhealthUK

Bridge2Aid is gearing up for its national fundraising day – Smile in Pink. This is a day during National Smile Month when people in the UK dental community come together to wear pink and fairy wings proudly for a very good cause – to ensure millions in East Africa have access to safe emergency dental treatment.

This year, the event will take place on 2^nd of June and Bridge2Aid is rounding up businesses, organisations, dental practices and supporters to join forces with thousands of others who believe that everyone has the right to be pain-free.

Imagine suffering with a painful toothache for months or years; the pain being so great you miss work or struggle caring for your family. Or imagine your child in pain and not able to attend school. Then imagine having no access to safe dental care.

In fact, more than 70% of the world’s population has no access to the most simple dental pain relief, leaving billions to face a daily battle in the toughest of life circumstances. There is a desperate need to tackle oral disease, infection and chronic pain in communities throughout the developing world.

The money raised during Smile in Pink Day 2017 will fund emergency dental training programmes for rural health workers in the developing world, so that they can provide life-changing dental care in their communities.

“Every year on Smile in Pink Day, friends and supporters from around the world help to change and save lives – freeing millions in East Africa from the prospect of unnecessary pain and suffering caused by untreated oral disease and infections”, said Mark Topley, Bridge2Aid's CEO.

He continued, “This event really brings the dental community together and provides fantastic support for the work the whole Bridge2Aid family delivers in East Africa.”

About Smile in Pink Day

Since 2014, Smile in Pink Day has seen thousands of people in the dental community come together during National Smile Month to wear pink and fundraise for Bridge2Aid’s work. The theme this year is fairy wings and fairy cakes, and the money raised will provide intensive, practical training in emergency dental skills to existing health workers in East Africa – ensuring those in the poorest communities are able to function free from unnecessary pain, and avoid the risk of preventable infections and diseases.

About Bridge2Aid

Bridge2Aid is a UK-registered charity that aims to provide emergency dental training to rural health workers in East Africa. Since 2002, Bridge2Aid has had a big impact, having delivered 83 training programmes in Tanzania and Rwanda, as well as having successfully trained 461 government health workers, providing access to emergency dental treatment for over 4.6 million people.

Our vision is a world free of dental pain and our work provides long-term, lasting solutions by passing skills into local hands. For more information, visit www.bridge2aid.org and follow @Bridge2Aid on Twitter.

To register for Smile in Pink Day 2017 and get your participant kit, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information, visit www.bridge2aid.org

The Dentistry Show 2017 will see Ivoclar Vivadent UK & Ireland showcase their new brand, Ivoclar Digital, to the British market for the first time after it’s official launch at IDS, Cologne, in March.

Ivoclar Digital is the biggest development for the leading dental manufacturer of materials and equipment since the market-leading IPS e.max all-ceramic system was introduced to the dental industry over 10 years ago. The new digital products will provide dentists and dental technicians with state-of-the-art professional expertise throughout the entire digital process journey; assisting them with material selection and digital processes in the design and production of quality restorations, complemented with a wide range of additional services and customer support.

PrograMill One will make its debut as Ivoclar’s first chairside mill for dentists; it is the world’s smallest 5-axis milling machine, combining industrial manufacturing quality with high precision and modern design. In the innovative 5-axis turn-milling technique, the workpiece rotates around the tool at a constant feed and the tool never leaves the block, ensuring short milling times and minimal tool wear.

Various validated processing strategies are available for different materials and indications; the unit has been particularly developed for milling IPS e.max. The machine’s wireless capabilities allow it to be operated from any location with the help of a special app for tablets and smartphones and the optical status display shows the current status of the machine. PrograMill One is coordinated with the scanners and design solutions from 3Shape.

Ivoclar Vivadent’s technical stand for DTS is adjacent to the Dentistry Show stand; both will have numerous new and existing product demonstrations. Clinical and Technical stand visitors can also expect the most relevant product and material updates for dental and laboratory professionals, whilst also benefitting from the expert advice of our attending specialists.

The DentistryShow takes place on the 12^th & 13^th May, NEC,

You can find Ivoclar Vivadent Clinical at Stand No. F35,

Ivoclar Vivadent DTS Technical at Stand No. F28.