Dental professionals have warmly welcomed Labour Party proposals to introduce ‘supervised toothbrushing’ into schools and nurseries in the 20% most deprived areas of the country where tooth decay is at its most prevalent amongst young children.
No commentsRead more: BSPD Gives Thumbs Up to Labour's Supervised Toothbrushing Plan
The language may be dull, but the message could be career ending.The GDC along with other medical regulators, has produced a variety of rulebooks over the years. Periodically a new set are introduced, for example the bans on naming practices, and insistence on putting recalls in envelopes, have long been consigned to dental history.
It was a revealing conversation that started as two attendees guiltily explained the quantities of sugar going onto their cardboard cups of tea. Happening well into the afternoon inside the Dentistry Show London at the Excel centre, it was between the professions future and its past. A nineteen year old student dental nurse attending their first dental show, and a grizzled veteran who long ago lost count of the number of trips made to the NEC and other venues.
Read more: Changes in Dental Exhibitions Reflect the Profession
GDPUK recently reported on the dentist who also happens to be the Jamaican, and formerly Icelandic national football team manager.
Read more: Meet the Colleague Who Relaxes - At His Dental Practice
Team members of a certain age will remember the concept of Independent Dentistry. This idea of dental care which is not provided under the NHS, is paid for by the patient, and does not call itself Private. The Independent movement emerged as part of the profession’s response to the 1992 contract, when many practices sought to reduce their dependency on the NHS.
The stands are barely dismantled from the Conservative party conference in Manchester, but the day after the Prime Minister’s attempt to relaunch his administration, Labour has made its first policy pledge ahead of their own conference. Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to end the “horror stories” of DIY dentistry..
It is nearly three months since the ambitious NHS dental workforce plan was announced. When it came to dentistry there was the “jam tomorrow” of enlarged intakes to training programmes, which would eventually add many extra dental professionals.
Read more: Education Body States - Foreign Dentist Backlog is Concerning
It cannot be easy being a junior health minister, tasked with representing the department and government, especially on matters relating to NHS dentistry.
Read more: Dentistry Given Pass the Parcel Treatment by Minister
Every patient’s dental records flag up their allergies, with antibiotics enjoying pride of place. Antibiotics are widely prescribed to treat dental infections and account for an estimated 10% of all antibiotic prescribing across NHS primary care.
Read more: Are Your Patients Really Allergic To Antibiotics?