News roundup: Murder, Scottish Survey, Handpieces & more...
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- Published: Thursday, 03 February 2022 20:14
- Written by Peter Ingle
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After several weeks with some far-reaching dental news, it would be easy to miss some of the other dental stories. Here are some that you might have missed.
Dentist dies of stab wounds
Sadly a dentist has been found dead in his clinic in the Bekaa region of Lebanon, allegedly killed by an unhappy patient’s fiancé. The patient had attended with toothache, but the dentist did not succeed in relieving her pain.
Her partner who has a military background was said to have gone to the clinic and confronted the dentist. A heated argument ensued, ending in the dentist suffering multiple stabbing. The Gulf News reported that the perpetrator has been arrested and referred to a military court.
ASA rule on Acceledent
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that marketing claims made by Acceledent regarding its ability to speed up orthodontic treatment are misleading. OrthoAccel technologies which are based in Germany claims on its website that the products use can produce up to 50% increase in the speed of treatment, as well as major reductions in pain and discomfort. Following the ASA’s review of research and case studies, it ruled that the claims could not be substantiated and were misleading. In its adjudication the ASA stated that it has told OrthoAccel not to make these claims unless they have adequate evidence.
The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) welcomed this ruling. Director of External Relations, Richard George, said, “This is the third time in the last few years that the ASA has upheld a claim of misleading advertising in relation to an orthodontic product based on the lack of good quality evidence”
Scottish study shows the effects of the pandemic on dental teams.
Dental team members may not be surprised to read that an investigation into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected primary care dental team members showed, on average, a deterioration in their well-being. There was a good deal of variation in team members’ responses but more than half of primary care team staff (excluding trainees) rated themselves as ’emotionally exhausted’.
NHS Education for Scotland dental director, David Felix, spoke of the need for the development of measures to support the mental well-being of dental team members.
The project also raised concerns about the sustainability of dental services and training programmes in the medium and longer term.
The survey results fall in line with those published last year by the BDA on the pandemics effect on the mental health of Welsh dentists. This reported, “a great deal of stress as a result of the pandemic, and concerns for the future of dentistry in Wales”.
Patients return to Their Dentists in the US
Evidence of the wide variation in how the pandemic has affected dentistry around the world have been brought to light in an article in the Seattle Times. The article titled “The anguish of finally returning to the dentist” reported on patients returning to practices, often after a two year interval as a result of COVID-19.
It describes apologetic and self-conscious patients “skulking” back to their dentists. What may raise an eyebrow with some UK dentists is that the article is focussed on what are, by some standards, quite keen patients whose main concerns include “tartar build up”.
More familiar will be the increased snacking and brushing less, explained with, “I’m not going to see co-workers,” as a result of working from home. Breakages following an increase in clenching and grinding also featured. There was a feeling that the pandemic had given those who were already reluctant, an extra reason to stay away from practices. Other examples were given of recession, and one interviewee needed four fillings. One can only wonder what both the patients and dentists quoted would have made of Toothless in Suffolk.
Electrically driven Handpieces coming to the fore
From Leeds University a study funded by the British Endodontic Society has set out the case for the wider adoption of electric motor-driven handpieces as an alternative to air turbines.
Rather than mapping the water spray pattern researchers introduced a virus with similar size and structure to SARS-Cov-2. Aerosol patterns were then compared between the two handpiece types. Co-author of the report Professor David Wood said, “ this robust scientific evidence addresses how the risks associated with the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus via dental drills can be successfully managed,” and that adopting the recommendations in the report would, “help more people access the dental care they need.”
Some further information on the £50 million funding announcement.
According to information provided by NHS England (East) and related by Essex LDC:
“There has been some confusion about the patients that can be treated under this initiative, The commissioners have confirmed that patients can be seen who require stabilisation that will preclude more complicated treatment in the future, and accept that this may mean multiple visits in some cases.
Although the deadline for submissions has passed, the commissioners have confirmed that the initiative is ‘evergreen’, and that submissions will still be considered during February and March 2022.Consequently, if you find that you can entertain some, ’outside of contracted hours’ sessions within the next two months, you can still send a submission.”
Grish Malhotra
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