Sebastian Evans

Frequently during my career as a dental hygienist I have thought to myself – who designs these chairs? Since this period is closer to four decades than three, I have pored over a good many dental chairs. But, hang on – pored is too passive a verb for what I have done. I have sweated,…

Last month we explored the notion that dental practice principals must assume a number of different roles, including those of entrepreneur and manager, and should not see themselves simply as dentists. This implies a clear need for leadership within the practice. Leadership isn’t often discussed in relation to dental practice and yet if one’s vision…

Ask the average man in the street for his opinion as to whether or not dentists experience stress, and your query will, in all probability, be met with a look of incredulity and a snort of derision. After all, isn’t stress the domain of the poor patient rather than the high-earning, fast-living, Porsche-driving dentist? A…

The development of adolescents (typically ages 12 to 18 years old) is expected to include predictable physical, social and mental milestones. Understanding adolescent development, that is how young people are changing physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and behaviourally, is important in the design and implementation of health promotion and prevention strategies. Understanding adolescent development will aid…

In last month’s Outlook I presented the first five of Lee Cockerill’s strategies from his book, Disney, Creating Magic. The final five of these 10 strategies for common sense leadership are:1. Learn the truth2. Burn the free fuel3. Stay ahead of the pack4. Be careful what you say and do5. Develop character. Learn the truth…

So why bother taking the quiz? With the loss of the dental benefit scheme in the last Budget and a competitive jobs market out there, dental practices are looking at all factors that affect their viability and profitability. It is important that patients are receiving quality dental treatment delivered by professionals who are knowledgeable and…

My day begins as soon as I wake up, really. I am definitely a morning person and my brain engages as soon as my eyes open. I can be a bit noisy to live with. If I’m working in the Leicester practice then a simple quarter of an hour’s drive gets me there. I still…

I tend to find myself at my most productive in the first two hours after getting in to work, and I wouldn’t try to get a sensible answer out of me after 5.00pm. Fortunately, I haven’t any home commitments first thing, so this lets me make a quick escape. I’m in the office just after…

A growing number of patients are suffering with bruxism due to stresses brought on by the recession. That’s according to Edinburgh dentist Yann Maidment who says he has seen had seen an increase of 10-20% in patients grinding their teeth over the past 18 months, especially those working for the city’s banks, fund managers and…

A company has taken steps to warn consumers of potential health risks associated with long-term excessive use of denture adhesives containing zinc. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare issued a warning last week (18 Febraury) about the potential health risks associated with long-term excessive use of zinc-containing denture adhesives. The company has now taken global action to…

The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has announced the death of Madeleine (Bunty) Lee, nee Winter, the Association’s founder member and first secretary. Mrs Lee, who was 89, died peacefully in her sleep while recovering from a fall just before Christmas. Madeleine worked for general practitioner Philip Grundy in Leyland, Lancashire, during the war…

Dental practices have the chance to collect reward points in a new scheme from the UK suppliers of TePe. As a thank you for their custom and support of the TePe product range, Molar Ltd is offering dental professionals the chance to collect TePe reward points in exchange for free goods. The scheme will run…

Software of Excellence’s National User Day Conference returns this year at two locations – The Emirates Stadium, London on 25 March and The Lowry Centre, Manchester on 24 June. The User Day will be filled with new product launches and industry updates from SoE’s managing director Brian Weatherly. This year, Brian will be looking at…

Dentists are among the occupational groups facing a higher than average risk of developing mesothelioma, the cancer caused by asbestos, a report suggests. The report at www.asbestos.net claims that dentists may be exposed to asbestos, which historically,  has been used within the profession, as a lining material for casting rings for example. Continued exposure naturally…

Celebrity dentist, Surinder Hundle, of TV’s 10 Years Younger fame has had conditions placed on his registration by the General Dental Council (GDC) that include having a chaperone when treating female patients. The conditions were imposed for 18 months by the interim order committee (IOC) of the GDC and follow allegations made against him by…

Health minister Ann Keen has welcomed new NHS figures on dental access as ‘great news for patients’. The figures, from the independent NHS Information Centre (IC), reveal that 28.2 million people saw a dentist in the two years to the end of 2009 – up 18,000 (0.1%) on the two years to the end of…

Major changes to the NHS dental contract will be piloted from the autumn, the government has confirmed, as new figures showed the amount of dentistry undertaken by the NHS has risen. The Department of Health has invited formal expressions of interest from dentists and PCTs keen to test recommendations contained in last year’s Steele Review.…

It has been a hectic second term! We have had a number of competencies to complete so that we are able to carry out as many procedures as possible in clinic! Our amalgam competency seemed to be quite a high hurdle to get over for some, as well as completing our anterior composite (which I…