Missed out on this week’s dental news? No problem, here’s what happened over the past seven days…
Report on UK dental market shows workforce trends and challenges
Staffing, Brexit and the Dentist Shortage shows how the market has changed over the last few years.
The report includes emerging workforce trends, regional differences in relation to supply and NHS dentists’ pay rates.
Dental workforce numbers have increased year on year since 2014, despite the number of EEA qualified dentists dropping.
Despite the increase in workforce numbers, many practices still struggle to recruit and retain dentists and dental care professionals.
The report also shows that staff quality and UDA contract fulfilment are key challenges facing operators.
Nine out of 10 dentists fear being sued by their patients
Nine out of 10 (89%) dentists fear patients suing them, new figures from Dental Protection show.
Of those, 74% feel that this fear is impacting on the way they practise dentistry.
Of those that fear patients suing them, 64% have made more referrals as a result.
Dental Protection has highlighted caries diagnosis, periodontal disease and endodontic treatments as key areas for claims.
Teenager dies from heart infection after visiting dentist
Daniel Elton, 18, died after contracting an infection after he had his tooth removed
The teenager died from a heart infection after visiting the dentist but doctors failed to pick up the condition, an inquest has heard.
Daniel Elton passed away at home in Castle Gresley, Derbyshire after contracting a deadly infection after he had his tooth removed during a dental appointment in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
Derby Coroner’s Court heard he had been released from Queen’s Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent the day before and the inquest heard that it was now likely a tooth extraction had caused endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart.
High levels of air pollution linked to oral cancer
Smoking, drinking and oral sex have all been linked with increasing the chances of having oral cancer.
This study, carried out by researchers in Taiwan, found that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could also increase chances.
Populations exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5, increased their chances of developing oral cancer by 43%.
However, the research claims ‘the mechanism by which this occurs is not yet clearly understood’.
New tannoy system shames smokers at hospital
Wakefield hospital is introducing tannoys to shame smokers ignoring the no smoking signs.
Staff and visitors can press a button to play pre-recorded messages, read out by children, through a loud speaker.
An exampled of one of the messages says: ‘A lot of parents come here for cancer treatment – please think before you smoke.’
New plans suggest calorie limits for pizzas, pies and sandwiches
New proposals suggest a limit of 928 calories in a standard pizza and 695 calories in a savoury pie.
This will see many restaurants having to cut the size and number of toppings on their pizzas.
The suggested limits come fresh on the back of figures showing obesity has reached record levels in children.
Levels of obesity in children aged 10-11 years old have risen by more than a third since 2006/7 to 4.2%.
The numbers of obese children in poorer areas is more than double those in the richest areas.
Enhanced CPD Dentistry UK is back
Running on the 1 February at the Novotel London West, talks will cover all GDC recommended topics.
This one-day seminar is completely free to attend and will provide you with eight hours of enhanced CPD.
For more information and to register your attendance at the show visit www.cpd-dentistry.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01923 851 771.
The NHS cannot do everything for everyone
They must prioritise what needs to be done for health and let the private sector deal with patients’ demands for treatments.
Calls for dental trainees to help educate school children
She is calling on practices to send their trainees into schools to help educate children on looking after their teeth.
The calls come after figures show Lancashire’s children have a higher rate of tooth decay than the rest of England.
Following the comments by Councillor Kay, the BDA called for national programmes in England, such as Childsmile found in Scotland.
