News

Where it is not possible avoid the use of medical sharps, the new law requires employers to use ‘safer sharps’ where it is reasonably practicable to do so. A ‘safer sharp’ is defined as one that incorporates features or mechanisms to prevent or
minimise the risk of accidental injury.

The biggest issue in the dental sector is the use of syringes and practices will need to ensure that they have adopted safe procedures to comply with the legislation.

Members of the BDTA are happy to work with practices to help with compliance issues and BDTA Executive Director, Tony Reed, comments, ‘The dental supply chain is working hand in hand with dental teams to ensure that surgeries are able to
fully meet the requirements of the new Sharp Instruments legislation.’

The industry can offer a range of compliant syringes and dental equipment and Reed adds, “A number of disposable needles and syringes, featuring safety devices to minimise the risk of needle stick injury are already available, with new designs under development”.

Manufacturers and suppliers have new single-use cartridge syringes specifically designed to overcome the risks, but they are not yet widely used in practice. One of the reasons for this may be cost, though trials have found that once the cost of the syringe and its sterilisation had been taken into account, disposable syringes and needles can actually provide a cheaper solution.

Give me 10 good reasons for choosing the DTA Indemnity Package:

• Cover          £4,000,000 for £39 per year
• Its 4 policies in 1. Professional Indemnity, Public & Products Liability and Legal Expenses including Tax and VAT investigation
• It covers representation and defence costs in GDC Disciplinary Hearing
• It covers the consequences of past work undertaken.
• Not extra premium to pay after you stop work e.g. retirement , maternity . Unlike most other Policies it is not necessary to continue to buy additional cover after you stop work.
• No Excess to pay in the event of a claim
• Covers your potential liability arising shading consultations , advice supplied to Dentists , the supervision of process workers etc and the defence costs in GDC fitness to practice proceedings.
• Do I need cover ? Can I rely upon my Employers cover. - What happens if you change job ? Will your employer continue to cover you ? If you change Employer it is likely that you will lose the benefit of cover for past work undertaken?
• The DTA believes that all Technicians should have their own cover FULLY PORTABLE to ensure that their professional responsibility and potential liability is covered whoever you may be working for.
• Simply its the best package on the market

What does the DTA receive from this Policy?

We receive no commission. The benefit is knowing we are making available to our members the Best Policies at the Best Possible Price.

As part of its primary role protecting patients, the GDC is carrying out an information gathering exercise to investigate whether there are risks to patient safety in the transition from qualifying and first registration to fully unsupervised practice in the UK. This is both for dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs).

Please find attached a letter inviting you to submit evidence and views on the risks to patient safety during the transition period from graduation. You can access the questionnaire here https://response.questback.com/thegeneraldentalcouncil/y25l1luvy4/ to set out your evidence and views.

We are keen to hear from as many people as possible on this important piece of work and if you know of any other groups or organisations that might be interested, please feel free to forward it on.

Please read the covering letter here

The deadline is Monday 3rd June 2013.

The principle duties of dental technicians are described in our Scope of Practice guidance. For example they

can plan and make a range of custom-made dental devices according to a prescription. A dental technician

carries out this entire process from start to finish and is expected to use their professional judgement

throughout. In essence the dental technician has the ultimate responsibility for the product, including its quality

and safety. They will be held accountable by us should concerns be raised.

The GDC defines a process or laboratory worker as a person who does a particular part of that manufacturing

process but does not see it through from beginning to end. A process or laboratory worker does not necessarily

need GDC registration but they are not legally allowed to carry out the duties of a dental technician.

Put simply:

Dental technicians need to register with the GDC as they oversee the entire process and are

accountable for their work

Process workers do not need to register with the GDC as they have limited duties and are working under

the supervision of a registered dental technician

Student dental technicians who are employed by a laboratory or practice and enrolled on training course leading

to registration which has yet to start can be defined as ‘in training’. Technicians who are employed by a

laboratory or practice with a view to enrolling on a training course for which enrolment has not yet opened can

also be defined as ‘in training’.

In both these cases:

a. Before the student dental technician undertakes any duties in the laboratory or practice he or she must

receive an appropriate induction, which must include confidentiality and health and safety in the practice and

immunisation (if appropriate, e.g. in a clinical setting);

b. The student dental technician must keep a log book of the training they receive in the laboratory practice.

A named supervising registrant must take responsibility for supervising a student dental technician. By

undertaking this responsibility, the supervising registrant agrees to be accountable for the work of the student

dental technician.

We recognise that there are many different roles in a lab but the GDC hopes that the guidance on our website

www.gdc-uk.org and the statement above helps explain our viewpoint. We are also happy to talk to anyone who

would like their, or a dental colleague’s, situation clarified. We can be contacted on 0845 222 4141.

http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessionals/Applyforregistration/Documents/Process%20workers%202012.pdf

By law all dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK. This is to ensure only appropriately qualified and skilled dental professionals are part of the dental team looking after patients.

On Thursday 21 March 2013 Mr Gavin Empson appeared at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the offence of unlawfully practising dentistry he also appeared as the Director of New Smile Denture Clinic and pleaded guilty to carrying on the business of dentistry.

This is contrary to section 38 (1) and (2) and Section 43 (1) and (3) of the Dentists Act 1984 respectively.

Mr Empson was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay GDC costs in the sum of £1,000.

New Smile Denture Clinic was fined £1000 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. The clinic was also ordered to pay GDC costs in the sum of £1,250.

The case was brought after an investigation found that Mr Empson was operating a denture clinic in Doncaster without being a registered dental technician.

 ‘Like many organisations in the dental industry, we have admired the creative and fresh approach, and the rapid success, of the Dentistry Show and its organisers.

“We are very proud of the DTS but we feel we have taken the event as far as we can with our limited resources in-house. The sale of DTS to CloserStill allows us to concentrate and focus on delivering services and benefits for our members and increasing the DLA’s influence in the industry over the next decade.  We are excited about our partnership with the Dentistry Show team who we are confident will develop and scale DTS significantly over the coming years and take it to the next level for the benefit of our members and the wider dental community.

“The DLA’s collaboration with CloserStill and the Dentistry Show team will mean that we will continue to be very much involved in DTS, representing the interests of our members and ensuring the show continues to be successful and grows in stature and scale. Under the terms of our agreement, both members, and the association itself, will continue to benefit directly from the DTS on an on-going basis.”

Dentistry Show, Chris Brown, says: It is an honour to be given the responsibility of sustaining the important role that DTS plays within the UK dental laboratory market and for the DLA’s membership.

“We look forward to continuing the evolution of this well-supported event, with the backing and guidance of the DLA. Throughout our discussions with the DLA on this deal, it was evident from very early on just how much both parties are committed and excited about the opportunities and advantages to the profession brought about by staging the DTS and The Dentistry Show alongside one another,” said Brown.

“We are excited about creating an event that truly delivers for all stakeholders in dentistry and one that realises the synergy and interdependence of dental labs and dental practices.  We can’t wait to get started,” he added.   

Brown outlined just some of the benefits of the combination and co-location of The Dentistry Show and the Dentistry Technology Show from next year:  

• Fostering stronger and closer relationships between dental practice teams and laboratories
• The DTS will now be able to run annually - an increased frequency demanded by the accelerating rate of change in exciting new technologies
• Allowing trade suppliers to meet both sides of the dental sector in one place
• Allowing both dentists and labs to have access to developing, cutting-edge technologies via one major platform
• Increased investment in high-quality technical and clinical lectures and CPD education content made available for lab owners, technicians and CDTs at the DTS - for free.
• The 2014 DTS event will introduce “hands-on” technical training sessions for technicians as well as dentists and will also benefit from a dramatically expanded marketing campaign and a new VIP programme to attract senior buyers.

• The DTS will retain its own distinct content and brand identity - with all the ingredients that make it so popular - but will run alongside a complementary event that will significantly expand the audience and the number of relevant suppliers, a “whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.”

DTS 2014 was previously scheduled to run at the Ricoh Arena from 16th -17th May, and will now take place alongside The Dentistry Show 2014 on 28th February and 1st March at the Birmingham NEC.

The vast majority of regulated healthcare professionals are in receipt of cover by virtue of their employer’s liability, or via a professional body which offers an indemnity arrangement as a benefit of membership.

It will be for individual healthcare professionals to assure themselves that appropriate cover is in place for all the work they undertake. Unless healthcare professionals can demonstrate that such arrangements are in place they will be unable to be registered as a healthcare professional and so be unable to practise.

The consultation and supporting documents can be found at:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/02/indemnity-i/

A maximum of four awards, of up to £5000 each, will be made on the basis of an application for support of
investigations of clinical relevance, particularly in the field of preventive care. Whilst the applicant must be a DCP, it is
anticipated that a research team will be formed to include a mentor or supervisor with an established research record.

Applications should be received by Friday 18th January 2013

For full details click here (pdf)