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21/10/2002: Dental Technicians Association - LAUNCHED
The Dental Technicians Association (DTA) is not just a new name for The Dental Technicians Education and Training Advisory Board (DTETAB) but a radical change both in it’s image, concept and function.
The DTA will continue to use the heritage of DTETAB in training and education, but will broaden it’s horizons, with the build up to Statutory Registration in 2003. The DTA has launched a new internet site for easy access by the members, together with a revamped newsletter. Coming shortly will be a free legal help line, indemnity insurance and discount schemes.
The DTA will be supporting it’s members by entering into discourse with employers on such issues as working conditions and pay schemes.
Dame Margaret Seward kindly gave the address at the launch and she reflected on the history of the organisation, from Dental Technicians Education and Advisory Group under the aegis of the GDC to DTETAB and now the Dental Technicians Association. She was involved with both the original group and DTETAB. Following her speech Tony Griffin paid tribute to Dame Margaret, referring to her vision for dentistry and particularly her support of dental technicians. He then presented her with a paperweight in recognition of her unstinting support over the years and her recent retirement as Chief Dental Officer.
Another presentation was made by Stephen Lawry, President of the British Dental Trades Association. Stephen presented the DTA with a President’s Chain of Office to Tony Griffin, who accepted the gift on behalf of the Association.
After the launch Tony Griffin, Acting Chairman of the Association, said ‘I am delighted to have been part of the DTETAB Task Force who examined the pros and cons of change. Today sees the culmination of that work and the beginning of a new phase for dental technicians. I wish the Association well in its endeavours to support the dental technicians role as changes to oral health care provision are put in place’.
If you would like to find out more about the DTA please contact Sue Adams – Company Secretary and Registrar on Tel: 01280 702600.
07/10/2002: National Minimum Wage is on the Increase
From 1st October 2002, the National Minimum Wage went up to £4.20 an hour for workers aged 22 or over. The rate for workers aged 18 to 22 increased to £3.60 an hour. For further information, or you think you are being underpaid, phone the helpline. Workers' details will remain confidential. You can also visit our website www.dti.gov.uk/er/nmw Helpline number: 0845 6000 678 (local rates apply)
During 2002, Steradent, the denture cleaning experts, have been working with the Dental Technicians Association to gain a greater understanding of the role of the technician and provide a more valuable and tailored service to this essential sector of the dental team. Over 150 members of the DTA participated in a postal survey, and their feedback has helped to shape the Steradent Dentsply Sampling (SDS) Service.
Tony Griffin, President for the DTA, said of the activity, “We were very pleased to work with Steradent on this survey, and to enable real information regarding the care of dentures to be generated. The care and support provided by the professional dental technician is too often neglected in surveys and planning programmes. It was therefore especially encouraging that Steradent were pro-active and considered a partnership approach with dental technicians would enable them to gain a valuable insight into the application of their denture care products".
Steradent is very grateful to all members of the Dental Technicians Association who participated in the survey, and it is thanks to their efforts that the Steradent Dentsply Sampling (SDS) Service was launched. For further information about how you can receive free denture care packs for your patients via SDS please call SDS on 01753 441023 or email on steradent@inkfish.co.uk
The findings of the survey, summarised below, provide a valuable insight for Steradent and the Dental Technicians Association, on the activities of dental technicians at a ‘grass roots’ level;
Principle sources of work
The respondents all receive work from a variety of sources including hospitals, other dental laboratories and direct from the public however the majority (70%) of those who responded still received most of their work from a UK based dentist.
Types of work
Despite evidence to suggest that full dentures are in decline, the most common procedure carried out by the respondents was construction of new full dentures. However, construction of new partial dentures and repairs to damaged dentures also made up a large percentage of the work.
Common causes of damage to dentures
There is the misconception that bleaching is the most common cause of damage to dentures. For many years this was thought to be due to specialist denture cleaners, however several recent studies1-5 have conclusively demonstrated that water in excess of 800C is to blame. This is backed up by the experiences of those dental technicians who responded to the survey. In their experience the most common cause of damage is where it has been dropped during cleaning. Fracturing whilst in the mouth was also a very common cause. As expected, one of the least common causes of damage to dentures was the mis-use of specialist denture cleaners.
Denture hygiene
The most horrifying results were that a third of the respondents said that over 60% of the dentures they received for repair were visibly unhygienic, some even said they used Steradent themselves to clean the denture before doing handling it!
Patient advice
Where the denture has been neglected, 60% of dental technicians said they make suggestions to these patients on how best to rectify the situation. 42% recommend specific products or methods for cleaning and of these, 60% suggested using Steradent. Whilst when they are supplying new or repaired dentures almost half of dental technicians included information on daily care for the denture, either directly to the patient or via the dentist.
- Robinson J G, McCabe J F, Storer R, The whitening of acrylic dentures. The role of denture cleansers. Br Dent J 1985: 159: 247 – 250
- Crawford C A, Newton J P, Yemm R. Denture bleaching: a laboratory simulation of patients’ cleaning products. J Dent 1986; 14: 258 – 261
- Arab J, Newton J P, Lloyd C H. The importance of water temperature in denture cleaning procedures. J Dent 1988; 16: 277 – 281
- Crawford C A, Newton J P, Yemm R. Bleached dentures: misuse of a denture cleaning agent. Dental Update 1987; 14: 29 – 32
- Davenport J C, Wilson H J, Spence D. The compatability of soft lining materials and denture cleansers. Br Dent J 1986; 161: 13 - 17
The DTA and Council would like to express their congratulations to Colin Lee, who received an MBE for services to dental technology in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours.
Colin was a member of the original Dental Technician Education and Advisory Group (DTETAG) which was created and funded in 1986 by the GDC and was chaired by Dame Margaret Seward.
Colin was an original Board member of DTETAB when it was formed in 1989 and was elected, as its first Chairman; he served in this position for the maximum of four years and then served for a further four years as Vice Chairman.
He is widely respected for his contribution to dental technology over the years having served as Vice Chairman, Chairman Elect and Chairman of the DLA; he was also a member of the Nuffield Inquiry into PCDs and more recently spent some time in his role with the BIDST and also represented the DLA on the Board of DTETAB prior to the change to DTA.