Sebastian Evans

In the current economic climate, some households are choosing to be more selective about what they spend their money on and how or where they spend it. This has lead to some people choosing not to include dental care in their list of vital household expenses – in fact a recent survey has shown that…

Two grants, worth a total of almost £160,000, have been awarded by the Shirley Glasstone Hughes Trust Fund. This is for research projects that will examine the role of dentists’ anxieties in clinical decision making and the impact of the choice of linings under amalgam fillings have on outcomes for patients. The winning projects were…

Clinical advice at early stage of investigation of complaints against dental professionals is in the pipeline. The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced the latest in a raft of measures aimed at improving the handling of complaints against dental professionals. From early 2012, it will seek clinical advice at a much earlier stage than at present in…

A new study underlines the fact that the dental team are key players in keeping an eye on the health of the nation. Nearly 20 million Americans annually visit a dentist but not a general healthcare provider, according to this study. The study, conducted by a nursing-dental research team at NYU, is the first of…

The BDTA returned to the elegant One Great George Street, London on 8 December 2011 for its annual Midwinter Meeting. As in previous years, the event attracted representatives from across the dental industry, who were interested in the business and social programme on offer. As unsuspecting delegates gathered for morning refreshments, networking guru Will Kintish kick…

UK supplier of everyday consumables to dental practices, Gompels Healthcare Ltd, has been awarded a new three year contract by Integrated Dental Holdings (IDH) Group for the supply of their hygiene and janitorial products. The IDH Group has a total of 3.5 million patients and a network of close to 500 practices. This follows a…

AXA has announced the sale of dental insurance company Denplan to healthcare group Simplyhealth for £115 million. Denplan covers more than 1.8 million patients across the UK and 6,500 dentists, and was bought by AXA as part of its acquisition of insurer Guardian Royal Exchange in 1999. The sale follows a strategic review of the…

In honour of its 30th anniversary the AOG held its ever-popular Annual Ball at London’s Mayfair on Saturday 10 December 2011. The event was an all round success, befitting the organisation’s three decades as one of the UK’s leading dental community groups. The celebration is the highlight of the AOG’s social calendar. All the proceeds…

A law firm has been appointed to act for the General Dental Council (GDC) in its Fitness to Practise cases. A team from Blake Lapthorn has been appointed from 1 December 2011 and the contract is initially for a three-year period. The win completes a remarkable year for the firm’s professional regulatory team and follows…

Eight is a lucky number in China. The last Olympic Games started on 08.08.08 in Beijing. But will it be a lucky number in Wimpole Street? The Department of Health is ‘recommending’ that the size of the General Dental Council (GDC) should be reduced to eight, on the grounds that ‘this would be the most…

Dentaid is organising a 17-day dental mission to Uganda in June 2012. It will be led by Barbara Koffman whose experience in taking similar missions (for Christian Relief Uganda) will be very valuable. The team will conduct pain relief clinics on Kalangala Island during the first week, followed by a free weekend in the Ssese…

Missing teeth, sunken jaw bones and sloppy dentures are all signs of ageing. But for millions of people in the UK who have lost all their teeth there is a solution that will leave them looking younger and feeling more confident. Traditional treatment for missing teeth can lead to a considerable change in appearance. Replacing natural…

Patient care could suffer with worn out dentists forced to work longer due to rising pension contributions, government has been warned. Ministers announced an ‘improved’ offer on NHS pensions which would see 530,000 staff earning between £15,000 and £26,557 spared any rise in pension contributions next year. But it will mean higher-earning employees would be…

There is something for everyone in the 2012 dental implantology education programme on www.courses4implants.com. The online prospectus enables dental professionals to ‘pick and mix’ a training programme tailored to their individual needs.  According to Dr Ashok Sethi, of The Centre for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry, Harley Street: ‘Through its continuing commitment to education, Dentsply Friadent…

New figures reveal that most dental patients are happy with the sevice they get. But many fail to check whether their dentist or dental care professional is properly registered. That’s according to a survey commissioned by the GDC which suggests 94% of patients are confident in the dental treatment they’re receiving – and 95% are…

Practices with NHS contracts are highly prized in the sales market, research reveals. And bankers are now much happier to lend to dentists on a purchase of an NHS or mixed practice than a private practice. According to a goodwill survey conducted by NASDAL, the speciaiists in dental business and law, the average dental practice sale…