You don’t have to hang around on Twitter for very long these days to discover that there are some subjects you cannot raise without receiving a barrage of opinion and sometimes abuse from both sides of the argument. Accusations of being a (insert subject here)phobe are rife.

They sell tooth whitening kits on the Internet. You can even buy temporary crown kits from the web. Guess what you can buy now? Brace Yourself - DIY Orthodontics Via Webcam By ADentistGoneBadd

“I first heard about the IAS Academy at my local British Dental Association meeting, where Tif Qureshi did a presentation about the ClearSmile Inman Aligner,” says Dr Margaret de Verteuil, an Associate Dentist at Stedham House Dental Surgery in Surbiton.

“I was not only impressed with his enthusiasm and extensive experience offering ethical and safe anterior alignment orthodontic treatment, but with the fact that the guided learning pathway is geared towards GDPs.

“As such, I completed the ClearSmile Inman Aligner certification course in February 2016, the online ClearSmile Aligner course in March 2016, the IAS Ortho Restorative course in September 2016 and I have recently completed the ClearSmile Inman Aligner Advanced course.

“I have found the appliances easy to use, but being able to access guidance through the online support has been invaluable to my progress and I feel much more confident about recommending the treatment to my patients knowing I have help if I need it.

“Since completing the training I am also much more aware of lapsed orthodontic cases and the problems this can cause if left untreated.”

If you are interested in becoming a provider of an IAS Academy appliance, get in touch today.

For more information about upcoming training courses, please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0208 916 2024

Jaswinder Gill, Principal of Moonlight Dental Surgery, has been offering anterior alignment orthodontics since 2012. He enrolled on the 12-month IAS Advanced training course in 2015 and says:

“I was looking to take my skills to the next level so I could provide comprehensive orthodontics to adults and children who have been refused by the NHS. There are very few courses out there that offer this for GDPs, but the IAS Advanced came highly recommended.

“I had no idea what to expect, but training covered everything I wanted it to and more. I particularly liked that I could start comprehensive cases from day one, being mentored by Ross Hobson, a Specialist Orthodontist.

“The course was excellent – there is no other word for it. Ross is a brilliant teacher and mentor.

“I have absolutely gained confidence in my skills and I am now doing cases that I would have definitely referred this time last year.

“If you want to progress your orthodontic career as a GDP, then this is the course to do. It entails a lot of hard work and is not a walk in the park, but if orthodontics is your thing then it is thoroughly enjoyable and worth while.”

For more information on upcoming IAS Academy training courses, including the IAS Advanced,

please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0208 916 2024.

New for 2017, Henry Schein Dental is delighted to announce the launch in the UK of Henry Schein Orthodontics, providing everything you need to run a successful orthodontic practice.

The new service offers an extensive range of orthodontic products from renowned  manufacturers, including bracket systems, buccal tubes, molar bands, archwires and intraoral appliances. In addition, exclusive lines such as the innovative Carrière SLX self-ligating bracket and Carrière Motion Appliance, which limits extractions and turns complex Class II and Class III cases into simpler Class 1 cases, will also be available.

Henry Schein Orthodontics will stage a series of educational courses featuring luminaries of the orthodontic world including Dr Luis Carrière, who will deliver a Carrière Philosophy course on Innovative Concepts in the Correction of Class II and Class III Malocclusions. Courses are running throughout 2017 at Henry Schein Dental’s training facilities and details are available at hsdeducation.co.uk.

To find out more about Henry Schein Orthodontics, request a product catalogue or arrange a visit from one of Henry Schein Dental’s orthodontic product specialists visit hsdorthodontics.co.uk or speak to one of our orthodontic team on 01634 266060.

All purchases of orthodontic equipment and materials will qualify for Rewards loyalty points. New members can sign up for Rewards today for free at hsdrewards.co.uk and automatically receive an additional 1,000 FREE bonus points.

henryschein.co.uk

Twitter: @HenryScheinUK

Facebook: HenryScheinUK

Providing an educational pathway that guides GDPs through a recommended sequence of courses but also affords flexibility with multiple entry points for dentists with prior educational and clinical experience. IAS Academy is pleased to announce the next course dates.

IAS Inman Aligner Hands-on Course:

• Birmingham – 3^rd June 2016
• Belfast – 4^th June 2016
• Manchester – 22^nd July 2016
• London – 23^rd September 2016
• London – 18^th November 2016

IAS Clear Aligner Hands-on Course:

• London – 20^th May 2016
• London – 19^th August 2016

IAS Fixed Introductory Hands-On Course:

• London – 17^th-18^th June 2016
• London – 11^th-12^th November 2016

IAS Fixed Conversion Course:

• Manchester – 24^th June 2016
• London – 4^th November 2016

IAS Photography Hands-on Course:

• London – 24^th September 2016

IAS Advanced Ortho-Restorative Course:

• London – 15^th July 2016

IAS Advanced Programme:

• London – November 2016 – November 2017

Overseen by Clinical Director Professor Ross Hobson and taught by globally renowned dental professionals, IAS trainers share their extensive knowledge and expertise.

All training and follow-up support is designed to ensure professionals develop the competency and confidence to deliver safe and effective treatment to a wide range of patients.

To discover how IAS Academy could help you grow your practice, book your place on one of the above courses or for more information, contact the team today.

For more information on upcoming IAS Academy training courses,

please visit www.iasortho.com or call 0845 366 5477

Orthodontic treatment remains as popular as ever with patients.

To ensure you can provide quality comprehensive orthodontic treatment, Wrights is offering top-of-the-range products at unbeatable prices.

An exclusive distributor of G&H Orthodontics, Wrights has everything you need from Bracket Systems to Buccal Tubes, Molar Bands, Pliers, Bonding Supplies, Cheek Retractors and more.

The leading supplier also offers a range of high quality own-brand orthodontic products that are competitively priced.

Plus, Wrights offers free next day delivery on any order, regardless of the value or size.

For a full list of products and exclusive deals available, either visit the easy-to-use website and examine the detailed catalogue or contact Wrights to speak to a friendly sales adviser.

Get your orthodontic supplies for less with Wrights.

For more information contact Wrights on 0800 66 88 99 or visit the easy to navigate website www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

John Grant of Goodman Grant Solicitors explains the difficulties that NHS orthodontists may encounter when the time comes to sell their practice…

It is often the case that the majority of NHS orthodontists will have a Personal Dental Services (PDS) agreement rather than a General Dental Services (GDS) contract, which, unfortunately, can make it difficult for a contractor to sell.

This is because PDS contracts are time-limited; at present, the longest contracts are being renewed for three years. While LATs are likely to grant this, there is nothing obliging them to do so. Indeed, if an LAT were to decline a renewal request, there would be nothing an orthodontist could do.

The second issue is that, unlike GDS contracts, PDS contracts cannot be transferred  using the partnership route . Since 2006, NHS practices have been bought and sold by introducing a partner to the contract with the seller subsequently retiring – resulting in a  smoothish transition from one principal to the next. As this is simply unavailable for PDS contracts, on the face of it they are unsalable.

In 2006, there was a change in the law that allowed dentists to incorporate their businesses. After years of uncertainty in 2013, NHS England introduced its incorporation policy – effectively making incorporating possible – if by no means guaranteed. For orthodontists, this created the opportunity for the sale of their contracts: by transferring the practice’s assets, including the NHS contract, to the limited company. Then, by selling the shares in the company  the value of the practice could be realised.

Nowadays, however, the LATs’ attitudes towards incorporations have changed. More and more often, they are requesting tangible benefits – and the focus tends to be on the patients. Typically, their requests manifests as a request for extended opening hours; a recent case saw an incorporation application denied because the practice refused to commit to more than an extra hour a week, showing how stringent the LAT can be in this regard.

Of course, assuming the LAT does agree to the incorporation in principle, the problems for the contractor will not suddenly cease. At this stage, the LAT will produce a Deed of Novation – which operates to transfer the NHS contract to the limited company. Included in this document are two sections of which practitioners must be particularly aware.

The first is that the LAT will require a guarantee from the contractor that the contractor will personally guarantee the performance by the limited company of the NHS contract. This does not represent a problem whilst the contractor holds the shares in the limited company – it places them in no worse position than they were prior to incorporation. Complications arise, however, after the sale of shares, due to the way in which the deed is drafted unless amended the personal guarantee will continue even after the contractor has sold their shares.

Secondly, a Deed of Novation will include what is known as a change of control clause, which subjects any transfer of shares  of 10% or more in the Company (which obviously will be the case on a sale)  to the approval of the LAT. This essentially puts the decision as to whether the principal can sell in the LAT’s hands – and if they were to refuse it would be extremely difficult to challenge that decision.

John Grant of Goodman Grant Lawyers for Dentists - a NASDAL member

For more information call John Grant on 0113 834 3705 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.goodmangrant.co.uk

A NASDAL and ASPD MEMBER

Ever since humans started to trade with themselves there has always been the need for them to feel that have got a bargain in some way. It’s human nature to actually feel like you got something worth more for less than you needed or intended to pay, and as such that drives many businesses in a constant battle to attract customers by offering bargains.

There’s a simple explanation for value in any transaction.

• If you pay a lot for something that’s poor quality it then it’s a rip off.
• If you pay a lot for something that is high quality then that is acceptable (and even possibly exclusive)
• If you get something that is poor quality for a low price then that’s called cheap.
• If you get something that is high quality for a low price then that’s a bargain.

Everybody loves a bargain. That’s why sales are so popular all the time, trying to get people to spend money they don’t have on products they don’t need. You only have to look at Groupon and Wowcher to see the type of offers that are touted on there. This is not necessarily a problem in the consumer driven world that supermarkets and retail stores operate in, but caveat emptor is the mantra that we should all employ when looking at this type of trading. Its also the way that our Beloved Chairman would probably like to see in his Red Book of ‘How the Dental market should evolve’, at least according to his now infamous Pendlebury Lecture.

The problem with this of course is that there isn’t a particular need to have ethics in those kind of industries that can price cut and offer heavy loss leading deals in order to get people through the doors and then upsell. It also usually involves already cheap products, or those with artificially hiked prices then given a huge discount, to con the buying into thinking they are getting a bargain.  

The reason for this is if it appears too good to be true, then it probably is (for someone). There stories galore of businesses that have almost or actually imploded due to a demand that they didn’t foresee when offering a ‘too good to be true’ deal. One of the most famous was the Hoover free flights promotion in 1992. Due to a huge surplus of electrical products they needed to sell, they came up with the offer of 2 free round trip tickets to destinations such as America. Somehow they failed to realize that offering tickets that were worth well in excess of the product they were trying to sell (the qualifying purchase only needed to be over £100) would result in an overwhelming demand for their products and hence the tickets. The court cases took until 1998 to settle, and cost Hoover an estimated £50million pounds. It would probably have been less costly for Hoover to scrap the products they needed to sell rather than to retain their market share. They were big enough to survive, but not everyone would be so lucky in a similar situation.

So what has this got to do with dentistry? Well, there has been an increasing trend to offer these kind of deals to entice patients into practices which are probably too good to be true. It’s a matter of contention that this is how some mixed practices operate, by offering certain NHS items to patients and then upselling the options that ‘aren’t available’ on the NHS. Even after 10 years of the new contract I am still struggling to understand the concept of how offering an NHS exam but having to see the hygienist privately works within the contract, and no one at all has yet presented an argument to me that convinces me this isn’t just a form of upselling by getting the patient in on the pretext of NHS treatment and then providing a private upgrade. Whilst business survival is paramount in dentistry in the same way as any other business, some often seem to forget there is a higher ethical plane that dentistry must lie on when running our businesses.

People outside dentistry don’t often get this, and one of those appears to be Mr Moyes, but also there is an increasing amount of people within the profession itself who have, shall we say, ‘flexible’ ethics when it comes to the upselling game and marketing in general, and who seem to forget what it means to be part of a caring profession. Is it any wonder that some GDC cases have an accusation that the financial motivation of the registrant one of the reasons the case is being heard?

Marketing is vital to the survival of dental business, but not at the expense of our professionalism, which is inextricably linked to our ethical compass. Something those who sit on the outside of our profession seem to forget. With the increase in non-registrant owned corporate practices, we have some people who see dentistry as just another business and apply the same rules to it as would be more appropriate for a supermarket. They however don’t run the same risks as those who are regulated do. 

A recent example would be that of the clinics in Manchester and London offering deals on limited outcome orthodontics through Groupon. These clinics now appear to have gone to the wall leaving patients who have paid for treatment up front out of pocket and a significant number of them now facing the prospect of paying more for the completion of their treatment. What their perception of the profession will now be can only be guessed, but it isn’t likely to be good.

And then we wonder why as a profession we get bad press, and are labelled greedy dentists. Even the GDC have got something right recently in the warnings about the use of things like Groupon to promote dentistry. That does actually seem at odds with the beliefs of their consumer-rights driven Chairman. It will be interesting to see how this situation develops, since there is likely to be little or no regulatory comeback against the owner of these clinics, but the full weight of the GDC may be felt by the registrants who were involved with the treatment of those affected.

Selling a product for a price far less than it costs elsewhere will attract people who are after a bargain. Restored implants for £795? Orthodontics for £995? Is it all part of a mechanism to draw people in and then upsell using crass pseudo ‘ethical’ selling (that potentially doesn’t even meet with the requirements of Montgomery let alone those of the GDC) to actually get the purchaser to buy something that actually profitable rather than the offer? But this isn’t a pocket money purchase, and these patients are likely to be attracted by the ability to have something they thought they couldn’t afford. So the business model of upselling is not necessarily going to work, as these patients might not be able to afford a bigger investment. There is then an exceptionally fine line between your bargain purchase becoming a rip off because it doesn’t turn out to be what it was promised to be. Anecdotally, purchasers like these are often the ones who have no particular loyalty to a practice and are shopping on price alone. The same ones who are usually well aware of how to use social media to destroy a reputation, and then take further legal action….

It doesn’t matter that these people will now maybe only end up paying roughly the same as it would have cost to have the treatment provided by a different practitioner in the first place; they have been misled into thinking they could afford something that they wouldn’t normally be able to and their bargain has now become a rip-off. The point is these people have suffered at the hands of our profession and we will all pay the price for that eventually. The owner of the clinic involved appears not to be a registrant, and the business model used to draw people in means that both the clinic and Groupon are likely to have been paid up front which improves their cashflow. But surely the ethics of this type of business are not those of a caring professional? Pile ‘em high and sell them cheap whilst upselling to a customer might work in some industries, but dentistry has the subtle difference of being driven by a core ethical requirement to do the right thing FOR THE PATIENT. With the change in the rules that allowed the increase in corporate dentistry and non-registrant ownership that had been restricted since the 1920’s, one could argue that the good old days were actually better for both the patients and the profession. Were ethics and professionalism more in the forefront of the profession those days?

Whilst all this is an example of what has happened in a case where a non-registrant is involved, I think there are probably registrants who should be taking a long hard look at themselves, possibly both individually and as members of corporate organisations.

I’m afraid that I for once agree with the GDC over their warnings of involvement with this kind of marketing practice.

This is a race for the bottom financially, but more importantly ethically, that I for one am not going to compete in.

Image credit -Gordon Joly under CC licence

Many great products and ideas are copied or counterfeited, but your patients need to be protected from fake products in order to avoid poorly made and uncomfortable appliances.

IAS Academy, providers of genuine anterior alignment orthodontic devices, are helping to put a stop to this – all Inman Aligners will now be supplied with a “Genuine Inman Aligner Authentication Card”.

Each time you fit an Inman Aligner you will be able to give your patient an authentication card so that they can enjoy increased reassurance. Patients can then enter their unique identifier code at the Inman Aligner website to ensure that they have received a genuine appliance.

All devices are fabricated at a certified Inman Aligner laboratory, with laser etched tubing on the tongue side of the appliance featuring the name Inman Aligner. They are also supplied in a presentation box with patient instructions and a custom appliance case to ensure the best possible results.

Make sure your patients are receiving ‘the real thing’ and only accept the best.

For more information on IAS Academy, providers of genuine anterior alignment orthodontic devices please visit  www.iasortho.com or phone 0845 366 5477

Dr Nikhil Shah of Brentwood Orthodontic and Implant Centre recently undertook a practice relocation project working with Clark Dental. He says:

‘We came to work with Stuart Clark, Matt Rowlingson and the team from Clark Dental because they helped me with my initial practice fit out ten years earlier, and I have worked alongside them ever since. The team are always professional and provide consistently excellent service, so we knew they would be the best company to work with. They get things done and resolve any problems that arise with experience and confidence. I can have an idea and they make that vision a reality.

“As far as managing the project, Matt from Clark Dental took care of all the dental aspects. They oversaw the dental fit and installation, including coordinating with builders and other contractors, and they were fantastic at ensuring this all came together for us.

“For anyone undertaking a relocation or renovation project, I would highly recommend working with the team from Clark Dental, this project would not have turned out as well as it did without them.”

For more information contact Clark Dental on 01270 613750,
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.clarkdentalsurgerydesign.co.uk

With near-invisible options available, plus faster treatment times, it is no surprise that more adults than ever before are embarking on orthodontic treatment.
 

With the means to afford it, they know that improving their teeth will benefit them professionally as well as personally, particularly if they add an adjunctive treatment like whitening. Orthodontics are now much more stable than they were in the past; correcting work they had done as a child is also highly appealing.
 

It is far easier to practice a successful oral care routine and keep the mouth clean if teeth are aligned properly and gaps closed up. Correct a patient’s bite and you can reduce toothwear too. A course of orthodontics may also prevent problems with the gingiva getting worse.
 

However, it might be the case that not only do you not currently offer orthodontic treatment, but that you have no plans to do so either. The cutting-edge OPG machines and 3D scanners on the market are exciting, yet out of the reach for many, particularly if you are only seeing a couple of potential cases a month. The technology is moving fast and staff need to be trained and retrained.
 

Referrals are not something to be feared - you will not ‘lose’ your patient. Instead, referring out can enhance and expand your treatment provision. It can also be a conduit to building and consolidating loyalty. By referring people out to a trusted partner, you are saying that, although you do not have the resources to provide the required orthodontics yourself, you want to give your patient a successful route through the (expensive) minefield. Especially if their previous experience of this kind of treatment was not a positive one, you will be supporting patients to improve their smile and oral health with the help of a clinician that you trust.
 

Adult orthodontic patients have high expectations of aesthetically pleasing and stable results.  They are aware of the choice out there and will use the internet to look at practitioner reviews and compare pricing. They will know what they want to achieve, including a reassurance that they are in safe hands. Choose your referral partner wisely – you want to feel confident about a successful outcome every time. For example, The London Smile Clinic has world-class specialists, plus has the latest technology already in place to guarantee fantastic results for even the most complex problems.
 

Investing time and money in developing new services can be daunting and, for many practices, an impossible notion. Referrals can be an easy solution to the rise in demand for adult orthodontics. The right referring clinic will work with you to allay your patients’ fears and promote the benefits of the latest ethical and minimally invasive techniques. It is therefore crucial to find the best referring partner for you, to make life easier for your patients as well as guaranteeing excellent results.  

For more information, please contact The London Smile Clinic on 020 7255 2559 or visit www.londonsmile.co.uk.

Dr. James Tinning of Pinfold Dental Practice, Cheshire took the London Inman Aligner hands-on training course.

“Following a seminar I attended presented by Tif Qureshi, I quickly realised that being able to offer patients the Inman Aligner system would be a great skill to add to my armamentarium.

“The course was excellent and very impressive – not only an informative and interesting day, but also a really enjoyable one as well. Instructors Tif Qureshi and James Russell were very professional and they were happy to spend time discussing potential cases.

“The appliance itself is very simple to use in practice and I have been able to use both the online support forum and help from NimroDENTAL laboratory to develop my knowledge of the Inman Aligner and treating more complex cases.

“I was impressed by the IAS academy hands-on training course and I would definitely recommend it to other colleagues.”

Committed to providing the highest quality of training and support, IAS Academy runs courses for the Inman Aligner, ClearSmile Aligners and ClearSmile Braces. To find out more, contact the team today.

For more information, go to www.iasortho.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0845 366 5477.

How can the intervention of robots possibly make orthodontic treatment more personal and precise – especially when the robots are overseas? Orthodontic specialist Asif Chatoo knows from experience that they do.

The founder of the London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic, the UK’s first orthodontic practice dedicated to lingual braces, he has treated around 250 patients over two years with the groundbreaking Suresmile software. His clinic is one of only 3 centres in the world dedicated to lingual using Suresmile for lingual braces.

What’s unusual about Suresmile is the use of robots for the bending of wires. Needless to say, Asif sends a prescription to the robot, precise to a fraction of a millimetre because he has planned the treatment according to the software’s 3D design function.

Asif builds up the 3D digital image of the patient’s teeth using a small optical scanner about the size of an electric toothbrush. Assisted by a mirror, it takes thousands of pictures in just a few seconds to create the digital record of the teeth and their roots. These are integrated with X-rays and photographs so that every detail of every tooth is recorded.

He said: “With digital technology, you get so much detail. From the moment treatment starts, I know how the teeth will move and what will happen at each stage.”

Patients appreciate the software too, he says, because he can explain how the brackets and wires will work and the patient can visualise their smile at the end of the treatment. This gives the patient the opportunity to be part of the planning.

It’s not uncommon, says Asif, for patients to ask for small variations as the treatment nears its end. “This isn’t a problem. Being able to design custom made wires gives me the ability to finesse the final tooth movements to achieve exactly what the patient and referring dentist want. In other words, the digital software gives me control, freedom and flexibility.”

The Suresmile system was created by Orametrix which has its head office in Dallas, USA as well as offices in Germany with robots in both locations. It’s one of several lingual systems that Asif uses so he can offer patients a range of options. He has recently started providing bespoke aligners for mild treatments. These plastic aligners are designed by Asif and printed on a 3D printer.

The London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic was established by Asif 10 years ago with Didier Fillion as an associate. Asif is the only UK orthodontist to be accredited by both the World and European Societies of Orthodontics He is the current Secretary of the European Society of Lingual Orthodontics and a founder member of the British Lingual Orthodontic Society.

For more information, contact Caroline Holland on 020 8679 9595/07974 731396

Wrights, one of the UK’s oldest and dedicated independent dental supply companies, is delighted to announce the addition of G&H Orthodontics quality products to its wealth of product ranges.

G&H Orthodontics boast an enviable reputation with 99.9% customer satisfaction on products including archwires, elastomerics and brackets.

Wrights will be supporting the orthodontic product launch with a dedicated brochure. There will be excellent offers and promotions across a range of top-selling products such as Focus™ Brackets, Titan™ Bands, VIPER™ Low Profile Buccal Tubes, G4™ Niti Wires, and Enchanted™ Elastics.

All available with guaranteed next day delivery and excellent support from the highly experienced team across the UK.

Request your brochure today to make sure you don't miss out on the exceptional promotions currently exclusive to Wrights.

To contact Wrights for more information, call 0800 668899 or visit www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

When Dr Nikhil Shah of Brentwood Orthodontic and Implant Practice undertook his recent practice renovation and relocation, he chose the new Nomad Pro 2 hand held X-ray device to fulfil his radiography requirements.

“The Nomad Pro 2 handheld X-ray machine is great for our practice. The beauty of it is that we can walk around and there is no clutter on the walls – just one fully mobile machine.

“The advantage to us is that radiographs do not have to be taken in only one X-ray room as before. We can move around across multi-surgeries and so our patients don’t have to, which helps them to feel more at ease. As it’s handheld the practitioner can work around the patient much more freely, ensuring they get the most appropriate radiographs.

“The images quality is great too, and perfect for our practice needs.”

To learn more about the fantastic Nomad Pro 2, and the benefits it will bring to your practice contact the Clark Dental team today.

For more information contact Clark Dental on 01270 613750,
email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.nomadhandheldxray.co.uk

The Dental Technology Showcase (DTS) is well established as the event of the year for dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and lab owners. The 2015 show welcomed more than 1,500 professionals through the door and so it remains the best-attended event in the UK, with 84% of delegates rating the show as excellent or good[1].

Highlights of 2015

• 95% of delegates discovered new products and services and / or suppliers among the extensive exhibition.
• 47% of delegates made purchases while at the show.
• More than half of those in attendance were interested in CAD/CAM solutions.

New for 2015, the CAD/CAM Theatre proved highly popular, with leading experts presenting inspirational cases, fresh ideas and cutting-edge technologies. Also introduced for the first time was Launchpad UK, introducing the latest products, materials and equipment on the UK market following global launches at IDS 2015 only a few months previous.

Further highlights of the event included the Association of Dental Implantology’s (ADI) Implant Theatre and copious networking and socialising opportunities. The Lecture Theatre also hosted a selection of world-class speakers, plus there were opportunities to witness live demonstrations in the Practical Theatre and then get hands-on with new materials in the workshops.

What’s New for 2016?

As the Dental Laboratories Association’s flagship event, DTS has long received support from various leading dental organisations and societies. In 2016, we are delighted to welcome two brand new educational features run in conjunction with the Orthodontic Technologists Association (OTA) and the British Association of Clinical Dental Technology (BACDT).

Orthodontic Technician’s Seminar Stream – Supported by the OTA

This brand new seminar stream will offer a combination of exciting lectures and workshops suitable for both experienced orthodontic technicians and those who work in other fields and are interested in finding out more. A range of topics will be discussed from cleft lip and palate care to multi-stranded wire retainers and positioning stent, orthodontic technology materials and poly(methyl methacrylate)- free appliances. Sessions will also be run by top names in the field, including:

• James Green, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
• Andrea Johnson, Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Paul Mallett, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
• Rye Mattick, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Edward Mapley, Cardiff Metropolitan University
• Daniel Shaw, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Paul Mallett, OTA Chairman, comments:

“The OTA is happy to be contributing to the educational programme at DTS 2016, where we will be presenting highly informative and relevant sessions for delegates to enjoy. DTS has been a great event in previous years, giving us, as the representative association for orthodontic technicians here in the UK, a valuable opportunity to engage with our fellow technicians and to continue to work as an education partner with DTS. We look forward to connecting with more orthodontic technicians during the next event.”

National CDT Conference – in partnership with the BACDT

Providing headline speakers, verifiable CPD and a professional trade show, the BACDT Annual Conference has always been a great event. By partnering with DTS 2016, the experience will be taken to a whole new level for all those in attendance. The conference will be open to all clinical dental technicians and dental professionals with an interest in the spectrum of topics explored.

Alan Forest, Director for Membership at the BACDT, says:

“DTS, co-located with The Dentistry Show, is the perfect venue to hold the BACDT Conference due to the mix of high profile speakers, great trade turn out and great networking opportunities.”

Don’t miss out

All the favouriteswill also return for 2016 including the CAD/CAM Theatre, ADI Implant Theatre and an array of stimulating lectures, live demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Up to 14 hours of vCPD will be achievable for every delegate and Steve Campbell RDT will be chairing the educational programme to ensure standards remain high. He comments:

“I believe this is the most important show in the UK for dental technicians and lab owners. I hope that we can make a real statement about the quality and passion of UK dental technology by showcasing some of the world class technicians we have working in the UK labs, that are now lecturing all over the world.”

The exhibition floor will also be the perfect place to source the very latest innovations, materials and products, with fantastic deals on offer and all the experts on hand to help.

So, for the chance to discover something new, develop your skills, expand your professional network and have a great two days, make sure you don’t miss DTS 2016!

DTS 2016 will be held on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd April 2016 at the NEC Birmingham, co-located with The Dentistry Show

For more information visit www.the-dts.co.uk, call 020 7348 5263 or email dts@closerstillmedia.com

A lot of research into the benefits of using Water Flosser as opposed to string floss has been conducted to date. Independent research studies have shown that the Water Flosser was up to 50% more effective at reversing gingivitis, up to 93% more effective for reducing bleeding and can remove 29% more plaque than string floss.[1]^,[2] It is also significantly more effective for implant and orthodontic patients who are more susceptible to developing gingival inflammation.[3]^,[4]

But, this research would mean nothing without the endorsement of professional hygienists who have a working knowledge of oral irrigation products. Michael Wheeler is a dental hygienist at Bramcote Dental Practice in Castle Cary and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent. When asked about the products available from Waterpik International, Inc. he said:

“I am a firm advocate of the Waterpik® Water Flosser – both for those patients who are having difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene with bridges or crowns, and those who already demonstrate good oral hygiene routines. The Water Flosser is a very effective product and is relatively easy to use, so it’s really beneficial for all. 

“A patient I’d been treating for several years recently highlighted this. She’d had a bridge fitted about 30 years previously and although her oral hygiene was exemplary, she expressed that the bridge caused her some difficulties, especially when it came to maintaining such a high level of oral hygiene. I suggested she incorporate one of the Water Flossers from Waterpik® into her daily cleansing routine, in an attempt to offer her a logical solution to these issues.

“The next time I saw her she was delighted with the results of the oral hygiene adjunct, stating: ‘It’s absolutely life-changing and the best thing I’ve ever used!’ Even I was slightly taken aback by the level of her enthusiasm, but it was great to hear!

“A second patient of mine, a reformed heavy smoker, also noticed an improvement in his oral hygiene with the use of a Water Flosser from Waterpik®.

“It just goes to prove with the right patient, even if their oral hygiene is beyond criticism, you can provide further motivation with the right product.”

Discover the many benefits of clinically proven solutions from Waterpik International, Inc. for yourself, and contact the team today.

For more information on Waterpik International, Inc. please visit www.waterpik.co.uk. Waterpik^® products are available at Amazon, in

Boots and at Superdrug stores across the UK and Ireland.

Wrights are delighted to be launching at this years BDIA showcase an orthodontic range from one of the leading providers of clinical solutions, G&H Orthodontics.

Don’t miss out on amazing discounts and promotions on quality brackets, bands, buccaltubes, wires, elastomerics and pliers. Cutting-edge products from G&H Orthodontics include:

• The innovative miniPrevail™ metal bracket system.
• The Premium M5™ Copper Nickel Titanium wire.
• The sleek and stylish VIPER™ Low Profile Buccal Tubes.

For a full list of products available, visit Wrights at stand M145 and find out how you can fulfil all your orthodontic supply needs.

For more information contact Wrights on 0800668899 or visit the easy to navigate website www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

With over 100 years’ of experience, Wrights is dedicated to providing top quality dental supplies, services and equipment to practices across the UK.

Exhibiting again at this year’s BDIA Showcase, Wrights is delighted to be launching an orthodontic range from one of the leading providers of clinical solutions, G&H Orthodontics.

Wrights is also pleased to reveal a new partnership with Dentally, provider of ingenious practice management software designed to simplify and enhance communications and daily workflows.

Whatever you need, you are sure to find it among our 30,000+ products, ranging from cutting-edge surgical equipment to handpieces and innovative infection control solutions. What’s more, they are all offered with a free next day delivery service for maximum convenience.

Providing a 24-hour accessible service, products can be browsed via E-Catalogue and purchased online through My Wright Place, where web only offers are always available. 

If you need an excellent, customer-centred and reliable service, the experienced team at Wrights comprises of various professionals including sales consultants, service engineers and service technicians, all here for you.

To find out more about how Wrights can help you with all your supply needs, visit us on stands M120 and M145 at the BDIA Dental Showcase 2015.

For more information contact Wright on 0800668899 or visit www.wright-cottrell.co.uk

The Dental Directory had a busy stand at the Scottish Dental Show. Thousands of practices already use The Dental Directory, for everything from consumables to cabinetry and delegates were able to discover just why people keep coming back: fantastic deals, unbeatable customer service and a huge selection of products.
 

The Dental Directory also stocks specialist ranges for facial aesthetics, oral hygiene and orthodontics. With dedicated, knowledgeable reps who want to make dentists’ lives easier and save them money, The Dental Directory offers innovative solutions to common problems such as stock control and how to reduce the time spent ordering.
 

Quality is second-to-none and free next-day delivery is available on most items. If you missed meeting The Dental Directory at the Scottish Dental Show, contact the team today and see how your practice can benefit.

For more information, contact The Dental Directory on

0800 585 585, or visit www.dental-directory.co.uk.

Friday 28^th March was an exciting day for the team behind the IAS Academy, as it brought with it the launch of the very first hands-on training course for the ClearSmile Brace.

A select group of forward-thinking GDPs attended the two-day course, which was led by professionals at the forefront of anterior alignment orthodontics. ClearSmile Brace trainers Professor Ross Hobson, Anoop Maini, Nick Simon and Andrew Wallace were all in attendance of the inaugural course, as were Inman Aligner trainers from IAS Academy Tif Qureshi and James Russell.

About the innovative training course, delegate Geoff Stone from Bannockburn Dental Practice said:

“Having been an Inman Aligner provider for several years, I was looking to advance to a fixed system that involved labs within the UK. With the introduction of the IAS Academy, ClearSmile Brace and UK labs, this was a perfect opportunity for me to develop my orthodontic training with a team I trust.

“I really enjoyed the course – it was comprehensive, the format was excellent and the quality of instruction was first-class. Training provided the relevant skill set and knowledge with which to approach simple cases of adult anterior orthodontics, while also covering the limitations involved. I left confident to commence treating patients, knowing that there is a network of orthodontists and experienced dentists at the IAS Academy available to support me.”

Reiterating the calibre of the instruction and support provided, Dr. Greg Marshall from Bramcote Dental Practice commented:

“The two day course was of a very high standard. It was boosted by the presence of Professor Ross Hobson, a Consultant Orthodontist, who added to the content wherever necessary. The course improved and increased my knowledge of case selection and when referral elsewhere would be appropriate. The safeguard of mentoring prior to any treatment taking place is reassuring.”

Dr. Gareth Hargreaves from Victoria Street Dental Practice added:

“I like the IAS Academy’s approach as it's firmly based upon correct diagnosis, treatment planning and informed consent, and the good support available offers peace of mind in an area of dentistry that's not without its detractors and increasing litigation. I thought the content, format and quality of the training course were all good. I would certainly recommend the ClearSmile Brace and training course from IAS Academy to other GDPs.”

During the reception drinks in the evening of the first day, Tif thanked everyone for their time and efforts in organising the course, also thanking delegates for being a part of such an exciting new endeavour. Anoop went on to mark this as an occasion he was personally very proud of saying:

“This first ClearSmile Brace course is a very important moment for me in my career, and it is a milestone I am delighted to have reached. The process of designing the course and working with Ross Hobson has been enlightening and has completely changed the way I approach orthodontics.

“I have spent several years of my career fighting for GDPs performing orthodontics – some specialists still unfortunately believe that GDPs should not be offering any orthodontic treatments. To have someone like Ross, an orthodontic specialist, embrace our goals and help us achieve them is fantastic – he provided me with the vision, direction and the passion to change my philosophy. We are all looking forward to the future and we aim to build a network of mentors around the world, who can provide any support clinicians might need with cases. We want to raise the bar for modern GDP orthodontic training.”

As a further thank you to delegates, a raffle was organised and the lucky winner was awarded a Venus® Pearl PLT Masters Kit donated from Hereaus Kulzer.

Professor Ross Hobson, Specialist Orthodontist, later addressed delegates, highlighting the importance of adequate skill and experience in order to ensure ideal case selection and delivery of appropriate treatment:

“I love what I do and I am very passionate about dentistry. I feel that anyone can perform orthodontics, but it’s important that the right person does the right thing on the right patient at the right time. This guided learning programmed designed provides a comprehensive process. More importantly, it also enables you to explain to the patient what they need, whether you can deliver the treatment yourself or not. I look forward to working with this pathway for years to come.”

The guided learning pathway offered by IAS Academy has been created to prove an appropriate solution for general dentists looking to carry out orthodontics, from simple removables to comprehensive orthodontics. The ClearSmile Brace is an innovative aesthetic fixed appliance, now available in addition to the popular Inman Aligner and ClearSmile Aligners to resolve anterior alignment issues.

Each ClearSmile Brace course is a continuum and following completion of the initial hands-on training, delegates must submit five cases for evaluation in order to gain full certification. On-going advice and guidance is also available both from GDPs and specialist mentors via the online support, ensuring clinicians have all the tools they need to treat patients safely and effectively from their very first case, with emphasis on quality assurance. At the top of the pathway, IAS Academy also offers a ClearSmile Advanced course which spans over 13 months for those GDPs seeking more advanced, comprehensive orthodontic training to resolve complete malocclusions in children and adults.
 

For more information, go to www.iasortho.com, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0845 366 5477.

The one thing that has been a constant in my entire career so far, and has been the fundamental guiding force to everything I do, has been my ethical compass.

Where it came from originally I suppose was my upbringing, but then further refined by exposure to teaching (particularly clinical) of such a style it helped me to understand what an important position we as professionals hold, and the huge responsibilities we have to other people, primarily our patients.

Whilst clinical experience and techniques have doubtless changed through my practicing career as it does for all of us, the ethics of how and what I do have remained a fundamental baseline that cannot be compromised in my opinion.

I’m sure for the majority of the profession this rings happily true. So much so I have wrestled with even submitting this blog for publication. After all, none of us know anyone in the profession who could do with taking a good look at themselves and thinking about what I’ve written here…..

There are times when I have had to wrestle with what the right course of action is clinically, but these dilemmas have always been fairly straightforward when put in the perspective of how other medical professionals might have to act, and I’m actually quite grateful that for the vast majority of us our day to day decisions are rarely likely to have life changing impacts on our patients, especially when compared to the huge responsibilities of cardiac surgeons or oncologists for example.

But….

If our ethical compasses have become somehow magnetized by a malign influence that we fail to see, ignore, or indeed we positively allow to affect us in some way, then our actions will have potentially life changing impacts on our patients. Ok, so maybe not as severe as for the medical professionals mentioned above; but certainly at odds with the ‘First do No Harm’ principle we swear an oath to.

I am purposely NOT going to go into the potential malign influences of the NHS contract and how it might be abused or gamed; I leave readers to draw their own conclusions about this after reading this piece. What I will say is that my examples below probably only scratch the surface of what might be happening in our profession.

There is huge increase in the cost of indemnity, and whilst we have a GDC that is not fit for purpose causing at least part of this increase, it surely cannot be solely due to that alone. We can blame no win-no fee solicitors to a degree, but don’t forget that cases have to have some merit to be paid out, even if only on the balance of probabilities. Otherwise, they are defensible.

So, consider the parallel increase in availability of orthodontics and implants in recent years. This blog incidentally is NOT aimed solely at the orthodontic aspect although it may seem so; it is purely written from my personal experience of one aspect of our profession that I have experience in so feel able to comment on a bit more.

These treatments are by their very nature high value items, and potentially have a higher profit margin that some of the more routine treatments offered. The courses maybe expensive, as is the equipment needed to carry out the treatment. Being the principal of a practice that offers both these treatments, I am pretty well placed to know the financial aspects of them. What is worrying is that there seems to be a section of the profession that immediately has a new direction on their ethical compass when they start to offer these services, sometimes after only a weekend course. Admittedly this might apply more to the orthodontic side of things as I think it is now more recognized that implants are not quite as simple as Meccano to install.

But with the increase in availability (or is it an increase in higher pressure marketing and selling??) we see the parallel, and often steeper rise in litigation and Fitness to Practice associated with these treatments. Personally, I think a good chunk of this is due to the magnetism that potentially affects the compass of some of the profession after being exposed to these treatment modalities.

It’s one thing coming away from a weekend composite course having learnt what is likely to be a refinement of an existing technique, to actually introducing a whole new treatment modality to your patient base that wasn’t taught at all at undergraduate level. The ethics of such a situation are different in my eyes. When at least some of the course is given over to how to sell the new treatment to your patients on some courses (rather than spending it further exploring the ethics, assessment, case selection etc) it is not surprising that magnetism is already starting to alter the direction of the needle on your compass…

There is nothing wrong with a return on investment, but it’s how you go about getting that return that might be the problem.

Let me give you some background with regard to my orthodontic experience to put into perspective where I am coming from.

I was fortunate to work as a clinical assistant in the mid 90’s in orthodontics. One morning per week I treated patients under the supervision of a consultant in a regional hospital, and this continued for about 4 or 5 years. By that time I had seen and indeed treated some pretty advanced cases under very close supervision. I was also treating simpler cases in practice as an associate. Along with another general practitioner, we estimated this experience prepared us to treat perhaps 30% more of our orthodontic patients in practice, but more importantly it had taught us how to identify what we definitely couldn’t or shouldn’t treat. The ethics of what we could now do was drilled home all the time since we often got to see the slightly more ‘random’ orthodontic treatments that had failed in the hands of practitioners with experience only of removable appliances at undergraduate level.

We had begun to Know what we Didn’t Know.

Since then I have also been on the courses for commercially available appliances of different types, and had the advantage of my previous experience in looking at the systems and the teaching a little more objectively than perhaps some of the other delegates.

The problem comes when some of our profession don’t have these limiting factors in their internal ethical system. Some are possibly not enough motivated by the desire to always only do the right thing by their patient, but by their own financial and even egotistical drives. There have always been those in our profession who seem to have a sliding scale of principles, and are more driven for their own gains (and the patients may or may not gain as a result). I actually don’t feel that there are any more truly ‘bad guys’ in dentistry now as a percentage than in the past despite what the GDC think; but I think the potential for damage to our patients has increased because perhaps the fundamental ethics we should all have in place, in some are allowed to erode.

Combine this with the further issue now that with a lack of experience at undergraduate level for some aspects of dentistry, the starting point for not knowing what you don’t know is now much lower than perhaps it was in the past. This is where the ethics should come in to play, and whilst I applaud the efforts to fill a gap in the treatment needs by offering training in fields not covered by the undergraduate training, there doesn’t seem to be an ethical ‘lock’ in place with some practitioners to prevent them seeking their financial gain over that of the patient.

More controversially with regards to their ethical direction, perhaps they Don’t (want to) know what they Don’t Know about ethics?

So when the treatment goes awry because of not knowing enough about what wasn’t known, and the ethical direction was slightly (or massively) off, the profession has a HUGE potential for life changing impacts on both patients and its members.

This brings me on to the thorny subject of ‘selling’ in dentistry. Now, I have absolutely NO issues with dentistry as a retail environment, offering services to patients. Indeed, in order to keep a viable business in this ever competitive age, you have to consider how best to let your patients know the services you can offer them. I certainly do, and I feel it is another method of protecting ourselves from criticism that we are not offering a full range of options to our patients.

But ‘selling’ has to be fundamentally and overwhelmingly in the patient’s benefit, and not ours. I worry about some of the techniques I know can be used by some industries that if (or should that be when?) used in ours would exert an influence on the patient designed to get them to agree to treatment whether that is the right thing for them or not, or even more worryingly, whether the practitioner is truly capable of providing the treatment correctly or not. The pound signs appear, the ethics can get completely switched off, and it becomes a one sided benefit.

But what if you actually CAN’T solve those issues? (and are either aware you can’t, or just bite off more than you can chew?). The classical ‘Over Promising and Under Delivering’ is a guaranteed route to problems for patients and the reputation of the profession.

This is where the huge problem occurs. The practitioner that doesn’t know ENOUGH about what he/she doesn’t know, having been blinded by clinical and other courses that seem to offer all the answers to patients problems and get them to agree to treatment, with an underlying anaesthesia of the ethical values (if they ever had one in some cases) for what ever reason is not doing the best for their patient.

At all.

Without the ethical compass pointing in the correct direction, then there are those in the profession who cannot with their hands on the hearts say that they are truly driven by doing the right thing for patients. Take the ego and the financial aspect out, and their direction is quite possibly completely lost.

Until we make sure all our ethical compasses are calibrated properly, I’m afraid the GDC (in whatever guise it takes) will continue to be on our backs, and our Indemnity will continue to rise. The press will see us in the wrong light, and so will patients.

We need a return to the fundamental values of what we do and what that means to us and the patients.

And to do that, The Only Way is Ethics.

Image credit - Paul Downey  under CC licence - not modified.

Those of you who are still ave dwelling after the wettest winter on record may have missed the strong discussions on GDPUK regarding a US development in Fixed Orthodontic mechanics.

Wake up at the back ….  Ortho fills diaries …  You might say it whets your appetite as opposed to your gardens.

There is a fascinating shift occurring in Orthodontic practice in UK Dental Practice.

For much of the profession, ortho remains the remit of a local specialist.  For a significant cadre however, the skills and learning required are well within the grasp of a competent GDP. Indeed many specialists with a teaching bent are want to publicly encourage us GDPs to take up the baton in a responsible and measured manner.

But …

There appears to be a rapidly strengthening sense of threat.

The specialists are feeling threatened by the GDPs marching across their patch, and the not-long-past British Orthodontic Society advert in a national broadsheet ruffled more than a few feathers. The GDPs are thinking this can’t be all that difficult and are starting to strut their stuff on this fertile ground for business – after all, every year another cohort of young patients pop into your sights.

So how interesting it is, then, to observe on one side of the vested interest fence we have Dr Viazis and the Fastbraces® brand becoming the torch of vocal GDP protagonists, to the evident irritation of many.

On the other side of ethical glass screen see how Align Technologies & Invisalign® are quietly starting to insert themselves into the postgraduate teaching programmes, in  manner of poacher-turned-gamekeeper,  and are now part of 7 centres in the UK

Influence, Sir? That'll cost you ...

We have always known that money buys influence. How you use that money determines how effective your influence might be.

Orthodontics appears to be a good example of the same desire to apply money and buy influence having opposite effects from differing companies.

As a GDP, if you are doing ortho, it’s Caveat Emptor.  Dark forces of corruption lurk, seeking to separate you from your money and are not far beneath the surface.

Cynical? Qui , moi?

“Come along there, move along please, another QuickBuck will be along in a minute.”