November 25, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: Though the relative benefits of chewing gum are often subject to debate, a number of studies have shown that the sugar-free varieties can promote oral health. On this topic, a recent review has found some evidence that chewing sugar-free gum could help to reduce the further development of dental caries in both adults and children.

November 22, 2019 | News

THORNTON-CLEVELEYS, UK: The UK’s professional association for dental nurses, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), has recently announced Jacqui Elsden as its new president for 2019–2021. The inauguration took place at the opening ceremony of the National Dental Nursing Conference in Oxford on 1 November.

November 21, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: The UK general election is just weeks away, scheduled to be held on 12 December. In recognition of the oral health inequalities that exist within the nation, the Labour Party has announced that, if elected, it will abolish charges for all dental check-ups in England.

November 19, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: The British Dental Association (BDA) has launched its 2019 manifesto, just prior to the upcoming general election. In the document, the trade union calls for politicians from all parties to cease overlooking oral health and to instead recognise it as an integral part of overall health policy.

November 18, 2019 | News

BELFAST, UK: Recent statistics from the Health and Social Care Board have revealed that children in Northern Ireland are three times more likely to have had primary teeth removed than children in England, pointing to possible oral health inequalities in the UK. In promising news, however, a report on health funding has recommended that a new oral health strategy should be developed for Northern Ireland in collaboration with dental professionals.

November 15, 2019 | Education

LONDON, UK: When it comes to implants, the Straumann Group has been one of the major dental brands leading the way. In a free upcoming Straumann Group webinar on Monday, 25 November, host Dr Abid Faqir will address the treatment of edentulous or soon to be edentulous patients using the Pro Arch treatment modality.

November 13, 2019 | Education

LONDON, UK: When it comes to implants, good outcomes and high predictability are crucial. In a free upcoming Straumann Group webinar on Thursday, 21 November, host Dr Eirik Salvesen will seek to answer the question of whether immediate treatment protocols can fulfil some of the primary goals of implant treatment.

November 11, 2019 | News

EDINBURGH, Scotland: Oral health in Scotland’s child population is generally improving, but the British Dental Association (BDA) Scotland has recently said that more needs to be done to address oral health inequalities. The comments come after a recent study showed a significant difference in general oral health between children from lower socio-economic parts of the country and those from wealthier areas.

November 7, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: According information gained via a freedom of information (FOI) request by Dental Protection and a report by The Telegraph, the General Dental Council (GDC) has been found to have spent over £17,000 on hiring a private detection agency to covertly investigate British dentists accused of wrongdoing. The tactics have angered Dental Protection, which stated that it is “disappointed and concerned” about the GDC’s legal, though ethically dubious, approach.

November 7, 2019 | News

BRIGHTON, UK/ATLANTA, US: The incidence of thyroid cancer and meningioma is increasing globally. New research has found that repeated exposure to dental radiographs may increase the risk of thyroid cancer and tumours in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. The researchers concluded that dental radiographs should, therefore, be prescribed only when the patient has a specific clinical need and not as a standard part of routine dental evaluation. Additionally, dental professionals should maintain dental radiographic records in order to avoid unnecessary screenings.

November 6, 2019 | News

BASEL, Switzerland: Webinars are a brilliant way to keep up to date with the latest developments in dentistry and gain continuing education (CE) credits. Two new webinars are coming up on the Straumann Group’s educational platform. On 11 November, Dr Maya Chmielewska will be looking at the practical implementation of digital workflows, and on 12 November, Dr Ryan Lewis will be focusing on contemporary protocols for digitally planned implant placement. This offers a great way to start the week, and dentists can continue to advance their skills and knowledge through the many more webinars still to come on the Straumann Campus.

November 5, 2019 | News

RUGBY, UK/BOISE, Idaho, US: Oral cancer incidence is on the rise globally and awareness of mouth cancer remains low. To tackle the issue, the Oral Health Foundation recently launched this year’s Mouth Cancer Action Month at a gathering at the Houses of Parliament and welcomed over 130 people from various organisations. During the event, a range of speakers reinforced the need for greater recognition of mouth cancer and its signs and symptoms.

November 4, 2019 | News

PLYMOUTH, UK: As worldwide oral cancer rates continue to climb, our understanding of what causes the disease to occur, thankfully, also continues to grow. Tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption have been established as primary risk factors, and researchers are now investigating another potential source for this condition: the bacteria that cause periodontal disease.

November 1, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: The premature wearing of teeth due to dietary or gastric acids is the third most common dental condition after caries and periodontal disease. A new study by scientists from King’s College London has shed more light on the topic of tooth wear in relation to obesity, exploring how the consumption of sugar-sweetened acidic drinks is a common factor in obesity and tooth wear among adults.

November 1, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: All dentists know how important vitamin D is for healthy teeth and bones. In a new study, researchers from the University of Sheffield have found that using a vitamin D spray is just as effective as taking vitamin D capsules. The discovery may help patients who suffer from reflux or other issues increase their vitamin D levels. The researchers noted that only 40% of people in the UK are considered to have a sufficient amount of the vitamin in their bodies.

October 28, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: Workplace stress can lead to mounting anxiety or even depression. As is the case with other healthcare providers, dentists and doctors are often faced with burdensome situations that could affect professional and personal performance. To tackle the issue, the Department of Health and Social Care has recently announced the launch of a mental health support service for dentists and doctors working in the National Health Service (NHS). The service will help staff manage stressful situations and address other issues that could negatively affect their emotional and mental well-being.

October 23, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: In a further development in the fight against sugary drinks, the Oral Health Foundation has called for people in Britain to change their habits and choose healthier alternatives. The call to action comes after new research has shown that increasing sugary drink consumption by 100 ml a day over four years will increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes by almost 16%.

October 23, 2019 | News

BASEL, Switzerland: In order to continue advancing dental care through dental education, the Straumann Group has expanded its global educational online platform, the Straumann Campus. In the future, the website will offer up to 60 webinars per year in five languages to its international users free of charge. The overall aim of the platform is to build a true global e-learning community.

October 22, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: The Dental Defence Union (DDU), a not-for-profit organisation that helps dental professionals address dento-legal issues, complaints and claims, has recently introduced a new, members-only e-learning course. The course is aimed at helping dental professionals effectively manage and respond to patient complaints.

October 21, 2019 | News

ROME, Italy: World Food Day is celebrated annually on 16 October, marking the day the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a United Nations agency, was founded in 1945. This year, more than 150 countries worldwide participated in a multitude of events under the theme “Healthy Diets for a #ZeroHunger World”. People were encouraged to shift from a highly processed, sugar-laden diet to one rich in seasonal vegetables and fibre that could provide benefits for both oral and systemic health.

October 18, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: The discussion around a link between periodontitis and hypertension is not new. Acknowledging this and the fact that there is still not enough evidence to establish a causal connection, authors of a recent study which investigates the correlation believe that more randomised tests are needed to determine the impact of periodontal therapy.

October 17, 2019 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Score Dental, a Dutch company with almost four decades of experience, manufactures ergonomic dental seats designed to promote the health and well-being of dental professionals in all environments. The company caters not only for members of the dental practice team but for those in the dental laboratory as well and is exhibiting its entire range of ergonomic seating solutions at this year’s BDIA Dental Showcase.

October 17, 2019 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: The 2019 British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) Dental Showcase has opened its doors to dental professionals. The annual event is the largest dental trade show in the UK, and this year’s version promises a variety of hands-on demonstrations and lectures, and numerous opportunities for dental professionals to gain verifiable continuing professional development credits.

October 17, 2019 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Though manual skills are still required, the future of dentistry looks increasingly digitally based. The 2019 BDIA Dental Showcase is catering for this growing demand by providing, for the first time, a Digital Workflow Showcase, in which attendees can explore a range of digital technology and equipment from some of dentistry’s leading companies.

October 17, 2019 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Since its launch almost a decade ago, Septodont’s Biodentine has gone on to establish a high standard for vital pulp therapy. At the 2019 BDIA Dental Showcase, Septodont is demonstrating the dental material’s proven ability to counteract irreversible pulpitis in teeth, which potentially saves patients from undergoing root canal therapy.

October 17, 2019 | News

BIRMINGHAM, UK: Miglionico, the first manufacturer of dental units in southern Italy, is exhibiting NICE ONE L, the latest version of its orthodontic dental unit, at the 2019 BDIA Dental Showcase. The unit comes with an ambidextrous delivery arm that can rotate 180° to the left or right and a multifunction display with a glass surface for easy cleaning.

October 14, 2019 | News

COVENTRY, UK: The impact artificial intelligence is having on the healthcare industry is becoming more and more evident on a daily basis. In dentistry, some of the advances have helped to improve outcomes and increase productivity. Now in a recent pilot study, researchers in the UK have developed an algorithm that helps predict the chances of a patient surviving oral cancer. The study, which focuses on patients from Pakistan, may be hugely influential in helping a country with almost 13,000 new cases of oral cancer every year.

October 14, 2019 | Interviews

Dr Vitor Neves, a dentist who qualified in Brazil and in the UK, believes that the profession needs innovation, but that, to its detriment, dentistry has moved away from biologically based treatment modalities in favour of a more technical approach. Neves, a lecturer and periodontics registrar at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London, recently wrote an opinion piece on the topic for the British Dental Journal, and he discusses it in this interview with Dental Tribune International.

October 14, 2019 | News

LONDON, UK: Some dentists, especially newly qualified ones or those with a low income, may struggle to pay the annual retention fee of the General Dental Council (GDC). Fortunately, the GDC has recently announced that it will be reducing its fee for dentists and dental care professionals. The new fee will remain unchanged for the next three years to provide more certainty for dental professionals.

October 14, 2019 | News

ST HELIER, Jersey: Patients on the island of Jersey are having to wait up to five years for orthodontic treatment, according to local newspaper the Jersey Evening Post. The patients are primarily children, and a government spokesperson has described the waiting times as “unacceptably high”.