The Royal College of Surgeons has published new guidance for surgeons to help them understand the shift in the law and its implications, after a landmark judgment given in a Supreme Court case in 2015, Montgomery vs Lanarkshire Health Board, clarified their understanding of patient consent. The extent that this warning may apply to dentists is uncertain.
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Brushing teeth thoroughly to remove plaque may help prevent heart attacks and strokes by reducing inflammation in the body to levels close to those that can be achieved by statins, a new study suggests. Scientists in the US conducted a trial to see if a special toothpaste, which highlighted plaque on the teeth could improve cardiac health.
Read more: Brushing teeth ‘as effective as statins in preventing heart attack’
The market research store, Research and Markets, has announced that the global dental services market is set to grow 13.81% by 2020. A key trend which is boosting market growth is the collaboration with leading insurance providers. The dental services market is heading toward easing the expenses for individuals and reducing their out-of-pocket expenditures.
Alison Newlyn has been installed as the new honorary patron of the British Orthodontic Society for 2017. She paid tribute to her predecessor David Tidy speaking at the British Orthodontic Conference, she commented: “I am looking forward to following him as Honorary Patron in 2017, representing the Society, and meeting many of you, who are the future of orthodontics and of the BOS.”
A new toolkit from Public Health England will enable local authorities to make effective long-term investments in prevention. It will calculate potential returns on investment on children’s oral health initiatives over five and ten year periods including supervised tooth brushing, fluoride varnish, and provision of toothbrushes by post.
Changes to the GDC’s fitness to practise process came into force on Nov 1. Case Examiners will now carry out the decision making functions currently performed by the Investigating Committee. Jonathan Green, Director of Fitness to Practise at the GDC, said: “Introducing Case Examiners will benefit patients, the public and dental professionals and improve the efficiency of the GDC’s fitness to practise process.
Uber drivers have won a crucial legal battle in London after a tribunal ruled they are “workers” who are entitled to the minimum wage and holiday pay. The company claimed that they were independent and not employed by any company. The decision, which will be appealed, could have an impact on others such as dental associates who are self-employed.
Read more: Uber drivers’ decision could impact on dental associate contracts
The chair of the Commons Health Select Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in advance of the Autumn Statement due to be delivered on Nov 23. She says that her Committee has concerns that the Government does not recognise the severe financial pressures under which the NHS is working.
England looks set to reach five million type 2 diabetes diagnoses by 2020 – five years earlier than previously thought – prompting dental hygienists to call on health ministers to ‘take dentistry seriously’. Michaela O’Neill, president of the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy, says these shocking figures should serve as a warning to the government who must now invest time, money and energy into raising awareness of the importance of dental hygiene.
Read more: Type 2 diabetes ‘timebomb’ prompts call on government to ‘take dentistry seriously’