The Welsh Government has told Local Health Boards (LHBs) that funding allocated for dentistry must not be diverted to fund any other type of healthcare. Health Minister Lesley Griffiths has written to LHB Chairs to remind them that budgets allocated for spending on general dental services should be used as intended, and that any underspends on these budgets should not be diverted to shore-up other services.

Frank Holloway, a retired army dentist based in Surrey, was installed as President of the British Dental Association (BDA). Dr Holloway, the first armed forces dentist to receive this honour since 2003, was presented with his chain of office and made his inaugural speech at the opening of the BDA Conference and Exhibition in Manchester.

The National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NASDAL) has stressed the need for dentists’ working in the NHS to receive the correct pension entitlement. David Paul, a Chartered Accountant and a member of the NASDAL superannuation committee, said that neither the Pension Regulations or the original guidance notes were fit for purpose, but they have now been improved.

Professor Jonathan Shepherd’s paper “Alcohol misuse: screening and treatment in primary dental care" advises dentists to screen their patients for alcohol abuse . He said: “The dental team has a responsibility to promote overall health and not just dental health. Dentists and the Government must work together to develop and deliver screening and treatment by intervening early.”

The General Dental Council (GDC) wants to hear views as it considers whether patients should be allowed direct access to different types of dental professionals. The GDC is now considering whether to allow ‘direct access’ for all patients. This would mean that patients could see other members of the dental team without seeing a dentist first, for example a dental hygienist or therapist.

Surprise has been expressed from many about some of those who have put themselves forward for election to the BDA’s new Principal Executive Committee (PEC). Names such as Susie Sanderson, Alison Lockyer and Paul Langmaid, who many assumed had no aspirations for high office at the BDA. Another surprise is that there were no nominations for the North West.