Sebastian Evans

Southampton City Council was expected, with neighbouring authorities, to exploit new powers to block the move – aimed at cutting tooth decay – which is due to start next year. But the cash-strapped council has now suggested it lacks the money to stage the detailed public consultation required to overturn the decision. Instead, the Labour-run…

Julian Webber, principal of the Harley Street Centre for Endodontics, welcomed the prospect of tighter restrictions on the prescribing of antibiotics. Dr Webber estimates that, for a significant number of dental patients with endodontic disease, antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately. If a correct diagnosis is made when a patient experiences their first symptoms, he says, the…

As one of the UK’s largest full service dental dealers The Dental Directory has made a name for itself by providing its customers with innovative products at low prices.   UnoDent is The Dental Directory’s own brand for a range of reliable and affordable products, that offer a good alternative to branded items.   UnoCore…

Private equity group Bridgepoint paid an eye-watering £185 million. Even though this was 25% less than the asking price, it is hardly a sum that the ordinary high street dentist can find in the petty cash. Since 2006, big money has entered dentistry and the chances of a hard-working dentist being able to own his…

Bridgepoint has acquired Oasis Healthcare, which is one of Britain’s biggest private dental chains, in a deal worth £185 million from buyout group Duke Street Capital, marking its second takeover in six years.  Total banking facilities of £146.5 million have been arranged through Bank of Ireland, Barclays, GE Capital, HSBC, ING and Societe Generale. Under the terms…

Health officials in the US state of Oklahoma have warned 7,000 patients their dentist may have exposed them to HIV and hepatitis B and C. Patients of Dr W Scott Harrington's practice in Tulsa were advised to test themselves at a free clinic set up by the state, health officials said. Health inspectors found rusty…

Dental experts say support from schools is key to the success of the Children’s Dental Health survey, which has been carried out every 10 years since 1973. More than 1,000 schools and up to 21,000 children will take part in the study which is an essential tool for planning future dental care services. The survey…

Research suggests that having teeth scaled once a year can dramatically reduce the chances of developing atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat – that is one of the major stroke risk factors. If further research confirms the link, it could mean routine dental checks become a simple and effective way of preventing many cases of…

Dr Cockcroft revealed that a series of successful pilots have shown that new measures would result in better outcomes for patients. He said: ‘The government has a commitment to provide a new system based on capitation quality and improving patient outcomes, so we have to use pilots to refine the learning and findings have to…

  A big shake-up in the way the NHS dentistry budget is spent will deliver 'higher quality services and better health outcomes', officials have pledged.   The pledge came ahead of a major overhaul – beginning in April – of the way services are commissioned, with the abolition of primary care trusts (PCTs).   The…

Taking a regular low dose of aspirin could prevent head and neck cancers by almost a quarter, according to new research. The results of the study concluded that people were almost a quarter (22%) more likely to avoid developing head and neck cancers if they took aspirin on a weekly and monthly basis. Throat cancers…

  The General Dental Council’s decision to allow direct access to some dental care professionals (DCPs) had a mixed reception from the profession.   Understandably the hygienists and therapists were jubilant, having campaigned for this result for years.   The British Dental Association (BDA), by contrast, described the decision as ‘misguided’, saying it undermined ‘best…