Sebastian Evans

A few weeks ago our trusty old washing machine, which had lasted us a good 10 years, finally tried its last cycle and failed terminally, meaning that we had to buy a new one. Now try as I might, I just can’t get excited about buying a washing machine, I compare it to putting new…

The UK’s largest union is calling on the government to act swiftly to cut the number of needlestick injuries that occur in the UK every year. Unison is demanding a rapid introduction of safer needles available to health workers to reduce figures that, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), currently stand at 85,000…

More and more parents and their children are undergoing orthodontic treatment together. That's according to the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS) who say there are more instances of families embarking on treatment together and sharing advice on their braces, hygiene and diet, as well as going to the practice together for shared appointments.   Historically,…

  Here's several tips which I've found to work well when dealing with strong personalities in clinical settings Remain calm in spite of adversity If you're feeling hungry, angry, late, tired or stressed (HALTS), you're much more likely to attract patient complaints because your more predisposed overreact to events. Whenever possible between patients is a…

The General Dental Council’s measures to improve its performance have been recognised by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE).   In its review of performance in 2011 just published, the CHRE noted the GDC’s 'changes to its established processes, as well as its new processes, policies and systems to enable [the GDC] to become…

A cautious consensus of positivity surrounds the NHS dental pilots – one year on.   This was the general view as key players in UK dentistry met yesterday (Thursday) at the Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar to discuss ‘Dentistry 2012 – quality, access and regulation’.   Drawn from all interested stakeholders, speakers addressed the topics…

Government has no power to ensure foreign dentists can speak English as many come and work in the private sector, health secretary Andrew Lansley has admitted. He said while moves announced by government last month setting out strict language criteria for doctors wanting to practice in this country should apply in the same way to…

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is launching a new dental clinic on its Preston campu s– and dental professionals are invited to visit the new facility on a special open day on 9 August.   The UCLan Dental Clinic (UDC) will open in September to provide dental services for students, staff and the wider…

  The General Dental Council (GDC) will reduce from 24 to 12 (six dental professionals and six lay persons). All will be appointed and take office in the autumn of 2013. In addition, the chair will be appointed rather than elected as at present. There is no requirement for him or her to be a…

With depressed property prices and the offer from funders of relatively easy finance for dentists at low interest rates, despite the general economic gloom there may not be a better time to contemplate a buy-out of your practice, if it is for sale. However, as you are no doubt aware, a buy-out is a complex…

There are those that claim dentistry is purely a science. Based on scientific principles and taught within narrow confines, the volumes of scientific literature available are certainly immense. Everything has been studied, reviewed and meta-analysed; enough documentation to consume a mini rainforest! But what about the actual mechanical instrumentation and physical crafting itself that consumes…

‘Whose bright idea was this?’ is sadly a question that one hears with depressing regularity in dental circles these days. And it tends to be asked with a somewhat different emphasis than when it was first used. Its easy to imagine the rush as Humphrey Davy and Thomas Edison lurched to take the credit for…