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Barrie Semp, a member of the BACDT board and owner of leading denture clinic The Smile Centre, said: “The BACDT has become increasingly concerned about the rise in illegal dentistry and the website we have launched is aimed at helping to stamp out the problem.

“Our profession has very clear rules which state that only properly registered Clinical Dental Technicians are able to consult patients and provide members of the public with dentures.

“Dental technicians, while qualified, are usually based in dental laboratories or, with further training, permitted to assist CDTs or dentists.”

A Devon man recently pleaded guilty to carrying out illegal dentistry practices. Stephen Sickelmore was found to be running an illegal denture fitting and supply business from his home in Dawlish following an investigation by Devon County Council’s Trading Standards officers.

Roger Croad, a Devon County Council Cabinet Member, said: “The law protects patients by putting a strict duty of care on dental care professionals to be suitably qualified and medically competent before they can treat a patient.”

Anyone considering using the services of a Clinical Dental Technician, should visit the BACDT’s website - www.dentureprofessionals.org – and can also verify their choice of CDT by visiting the GDC’s website at www.gdc-uk.org

Click here to read the full press release (pdf, new window)

After a short break, Alden Arnold provided an overview of the activities of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, highlighting that their independent audit of media performance gives advertisers a valued stamp of trust.

BDTA President, Edward Attenborough, then delivered a BDTA Update summarising the achievements during his presidency before handing over to the incoming President for 2012-13, Simon Tucker. Simon thanked Ed on the Association’s behalf for his dedication and hard work as President, and announced the dates for the next BDTA Annual Conference as 21-23 June 2012, which will take place at the conveniently located Runnymede-on-Thames hotel. Brochures and booking forms will be circulated to BDTA members in January 2012.

The event concluded with a drinks reception and a delicious three-course lunch. The delegates agreed that the day was thoroughly enjoyable and informative, and in particular the relaxed atmosphere meant it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with old contacts as well as meeting new ones.

Over 70 people including over 60 DCPs listened to a succession of speakers sharing their research experiences and findings.

The packed full-day programme featured seven speakers addressing topics including NHS funding for DCP research, undertaking a Phd and the research of dental hygienists in the Netherlands. All of the presentations from this free symposium are available on the FGDP(UK) website (www.fgdp.org.uk).

Among the people presenting the results of their research was Marina Harris, who outlined the results of a BSDHT/FGDP(UK) backed survey into dental hygienist skills usage. Harris reported that there was a demonstrable mismatch between procedures that people had been trained to do, and the degree to which those skills were utilised in areas such as taking impressions and giving ID blocks. Harris also outlined significant skills training and usage differences between Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygienists/Therapists.

The Symposium was introduced by Russ Ladwa and chaired by Ario Santini, Chair of the FGDP(UK) Research Committee. In addition to the speakers there was also a poster session, as well as breakout sessions that allowed attendees to discuss issues arising from the presentations. The event was made possible by the kind support of Proctor & Gamble and Woodside Management Services Ltd.

Feedback from the Symposium has been extremely positive. One DCP member of the FGDP(UK) said of the event: “I feel that this alone justifies the paltry membership fee”. Planning is already underway for a 4th DCP Research Symposium late in 2012.

Undergraduate prize
1st prize
Luke Blythe and Andrew Wilson, Bristol Dental School
“The potential hazards of respirable particles in dentistry”

2nd prize
Chee Keong Yeap, Western Australia Dental School
“Considerations and management of a pregnant adolescent presenting with an abscessed molar tooth”

Postgraduate prize
1st prize
Anchal Puri (Glasgow 2009) and Gillian Smith (Newcastle 2009)
“Medicines reconcilation on admission to the oral and maxillofacial surgery wards”

2nd prize
Lauren Hardwick, Sheffield, 2009
“Audit on doctors' assessment of mental capacity”

DCP prize
1st prize
Jack Colclough, Dental Hygienist
“A study into the personal protective equipment used by dentists in general dental practice”

2nd prize
Francesca Mignone, Dental Hygienist, Australia
“Minimising risk and maintaining societal trust in the dental profession”

All the entries this year were of a very high calibre and Andrew Collier, Senior Dento-legal Consultant, who presented the awards took time to encourage dentists and DCPs from all regions of the UK to participate again next year.

Kevin Lewis, Dental Director of Dental Protection said, “The entries for this year’s Awards have once again exceeded our expectations, with so many different projects being submitted by a wide variety of dental professionals from throughout the world. The Awards focus on raising the awareness and management of risks within the practice, and we are delighted that so many of this year’s entries were so relevant to many of the hot topics in dentistry.”

The Awards were presented during the annual Premier Symposium, a risk management event created for all members of the team. This year saw more than 300 dental professionals attend the day. The organisers also wish to thank Denplan, Henry Schein Minerva, Smile-on The Dentist and Wesleyan for their sponsorship of the symposium that helped to make the day possible.

If you would like to receive details of next year’s Awards you can register your interest by emailing nicola.photiou@mps.org.uk                                                                                                   

Click here to read the full press release (pdf)

Interested applicants will have a good understanding of the GDC’s role and the importance of regulation. They will be able to demonstrate sound judgment and effective communication skills and grasp complex information. The Council is made up of 12 registrant and 12 lay members.

Chair of the GDC, Kevin O’Brien said:

“The perspective of registrant members on the Council enables us to make sure our plans are proportionate, effective and in the best interests of patients and the public. You’ll be working directly with the GDC executive to help shape and improve key areas of its work like Fitness to Practise as well as delivering important projects such as the reviews of Standards and CPD.”

Council members are asked to commit approximately 20 days per year to the role.

For more information about the role and to hear from current Council Members about their experiences log on to www.gdc-uk.org

The recruitment itself will be carried out by the Appointments Commission which is independent of the GDC. For further information please contact the Appointments Commission via their website www.appointments.org.uk or by emailing Julie.roche@appointments.org.uk or by calling 0113 394 2975 quoting reference number: DH1219

Council members can expect to spend approximately twenty days on Council business. This will include attending Council, committee and task and finish group meetings, training and appraisal days and stakeholder events. In addition, there can be occasional ad hoc requests to travel to the London office that can happen at relatively short notice, dictated by events.

Recruitment information

Details about how to apply can be found on the Appointments Commission website: https://www.appointments.org.uk/jobdetails.aspx/1398/General_Dental_Council_GDC_Member/?Ssimple=dental

The Appointments Commission is independent of the GDC and oversees the whole recruitment process. The Appointments Commission ensures that all appointments of chairs, non-executives and members to public bodies throughout England are made in a way that is open, transparent and fair to all applicants. All appointments are made on merit.

The deadline for applications is midday on Thursday 28 July. We hope you will help us encourage applications from your membership.

Dame Williams acknowledged that there had been difficulties with the application of CQC regulation to dentistry, and she explained that even though the organisation has a single process for registration, using it for dental practices had been cumbersome. Dental practices are being faced with constraints due to the regulations even though some of them apply less to dental practices than to hospitals.

Following sustained questioning by Labour MP Rosie Cooper on CQC’s failure to publish up-to-date information about its investigations on its website, the CQC Chair also faced a suggestion from Select Committee Chair Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP that providing this information to the public should have been a higher priority than registering dentists. However there was no explanation behind why the registration of doctors has been delayed to 2014.

Here are some simple rules which can help avoid getting into these situations:-

• Make sure that Contracts of Employment are in place and up-to-date for every employee, including part-time and temporary staff, and irrespective of their level of seniority.
•  Make sure that your Disciplinary Procedures are up-to-date and accessible to all employees.
• Follow your Disciplinary Procedures to the letter, and at every stage (including after every meeting) confirm the position in writing.
• Keep your staff files, including absence records, disciplinary records etc up-to-date at all times because they’ll prove to be invaluable if an issue arises at some point in the future.
• Draw up and publish an Absence Policy and follow it. This ideally should  link with your Disciplinary Procedures.
• Make sure all communication with customers is clear and easy to understand, and give the earliest possible notice of any charges they will incur, and of any changes to your normal terms and conditions.
• State your payment terms on each and every invoice.
• Issue invoices in a timely manner and follow up if it remains unpaid – don’t leave it for months on end before reminding. And ring up to remind – most people respond more readily to a gentle reminder by phone than to a letter.

And finally, use the legal advice line sooner rather than later – don’t wait until you’re at the door of the court before ringing – early advice could save you time and money.

You can ring the DTA Legal Helpline 24 hours a day – please see the reverse of your membership card for details.

Kevin Lewis, Dental Director said: “Time will tell if the removal of expert witness immunity will lead to a significant increase in claims against expert witnesses. Members of Dental Protection are protected by an indemnity that extends to expert witness work and we will be closely monitoring the impact of this recent decision.”

“As a matter of good practice, expert witnesses should follow the relevant guidelines and rules, including the Civil Procedure Rules and the General Dental Council’s guidance. Provided they follow these guidelines and standards, allegations of negligence can be rebutted.”

Mr Lewis added: “We would advise members who are involved in expert witness work to keep us fully informed about the type and extent of professional work they are doing, so that they have access to the appropriate indemnity at all times.”

The team-focused evening event provides a practical look at topics that are relevant for all members of the dental team, both GDC registered and non-registered.

Speakers Brian Edlin, Stephen Henderson, Jane Merivale and Alasdair McKelvie will be presenting at the evening events which this year will be entitled Choices.  During September 2011, Horizons will visit Exeter, Elstree, Cardiff, Leeds, Blackpool and Belfast.

In a difficult economic environment, this is a challenging and difficult time for most dental health professionals. Regulation, scrutiny and accountability is increasing and change is all around us. This creates uncertainty and unseen risks at a time when economic considerations will also affect patients’ choices and their expectations of treatment outcomes. This seminar is designed to explain important facts, dispel some dangerous myths and provide powerful insights into several important areas of patient care which are also potentially important medico-legally.

Kevin Lewis, Director of Dental Protection, said,
“We were overwhelmed by the response to last year’s Horizons events in the UK, and are pleased to be running more of them and visiting new venues. Our aim is to bring quality programmes closer to home for more of our members, and in that spirit this same programme has recently been taken to our members in seventeen cities all over Australia.”

Including 2.5 hours verifiable CPD the evening will also give delegates a chance to meet some of the Dental Protection advisory team face to face in order to explore the full range of benefits available to members.

Tickets cost £60 for members and £80 for non-members. Tickets for DPL Xtra Practices and their staff are priced at just £50 per person, and accompanying staff members (dental nurses, reception team and technicians) can attend for the nominal fee of £5 per person, when accompanied by a full-paying dental professional.

• The role of choice and competition for improving quality;
• How to ensure public accountability and patient involvement in the new system;
• How new arrangements for education and training can support the modernisation process; and
• How advice from across a range of healthcare professions can improve patient care.

Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“I believe passionately in the NHS. It is our most precious national asset. And it is precisely for this reason that we want to safeguard the NHS for future generations.  But we also recognise that there are some big questions about what we’re doing. 

“This listening exercise is a genuine chance to make a difference. Where there are good suggestions to improve the legislation, those changes will be made.  But let me be clear, it is only through modernisation that can we protect the NHS and ensure the country has a truly world-class health service.”

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“The NHS is our most cherished national institution and this Government will never waver from the basic principle that you get treatment when you need it. Not when you can afford it. At the heart of our reforms are some simple common sense ideas – less bureaucracy, more power to local communities and more responsibility to those who know most about their patients. These ideas stay true to the vision of the founders of the NHS.

“But there are concerns that need to be addressed and some people have come forward with good proposals to improve our plans. That is why we are taking the time to pause and listen so we can build a better NHS for the future.”

Andrew Lansley today also announced that a new group of patient representatives, doctors and nurses will be brought together to listen and report back to Government.

Chaired by Birmingham GP and former Royal College of General Practitioners Chairman Steve Field, the new 'NHS Future Forum’ will provide a valuable channel for the thoughts and opinions of patients and staff on the ground.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“Good progress has been made so far in modernising the NHS, such as the 6,500 GP practices and 90 per cent of local authorities signing up to play their part in improving services for patients.

“We are taking the opportunity of a natural break in the passage of the Bill to pause, listen, reflect and improve. This will help realise our ultimate goal of modernising the NHS to protect it for the future.

“This is an opportunity for people to share their views and have their voices heard."

Steve Field, the Chair of the new NHS Future Forum said:

"It’s a great pleasure to chair the NHS Future Forum.   Listening to people on the ground is vital, and I see this as a real chance for people to have their say in shaping the future of the NHS."

Patients and the public wishing to leave their own feedback and find out more about the Government’s modernisation plans can visit www.dh.gov.uk/healthandcare

1. The Robert Wakefield Dental Surgery, Driffield
2. Ghyllmount Dental, Penrith
3. Naidu & Naidu Dental Care, Essex
4. The Dental Care Centre, London

Tony Reed, Executive Director at the BDTA, comments, “Many dental practices were keen to be actively involved with the BDTA’s Change4Life campaign which was very encouraging as it was a perfect way to get children interested in dental health. Thank you to all the practices who promoted the campaign and congratulations to the winners!”