Sebastian Evans

A vaccine is being developed that will treat periodontitis – and could be available to dentists if human trials are a success. Australian drug makers CSL say the vaccine in is the advanced stages of development and is sealing a deal with a global vaccine maker that would initially support further and expanded research. An…

A company aiding dental practices in their bid to create space for local decontamination units (LDUs) has cleaned up. Workplace design specialists, Space Solutions, has secured a contract with NHS Lanarkshire to manage the design and implementation of local decontamination units (LDUs) at 12 health centres across the Lanarkshire region in Scotland where decontamination is…

A dental technician has set up a one-stop-shop for patients in need of dentures. Mark Maley qualified as one of the first to work directly with patients to create dentures. A-Line Dental Services, on Hylton Enterprise Park, supplies dentists across the North East with false teeth. But A-Line’s owner, Colin Caster, says he can now…

Belt-tightening Brits who neglect their teeth in the hope of saving money risk a shocking rise in the price of restorative dental treatments. The amount spent on corrective dental surgery has more than tripled in the last two years, according to figures released this week. This hike follows a dramatic increase in cancelled check-ups and…

Nicky Bartholomew, dental nurse tutor from the School of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry (SPCD), scooped Dental Care Professional Teacher of the Year 2009. She beat seven other finalists and collected the award for making the greatest educational impact on her students. The annual educational awards, run by the Dental Defence Union (DDU), recognise the achievements…

Good team building and team planning means involving all team members in decisions wherever possible. This is particularly important because employees in your practice are often well positioned to see where improvements to working methods can be made, or when patient demands are changing. Furthermore, team members who have been involved in planning are more…

For decades, oral healthcare has been focused on the effects of fluoride and how it prevents enamel demineralisation caused by acidic food, drink and plaque because it helps to reinforce and strengthen enamel. This is because when fluoride interacts with enamel hydroxyapatite, it results in fluorapatite, which is less soluble and more mechanically resistant. Indeed,…

I was recently interviewed for a regional television programme. Commenting on activity data, the journalist said: “Surely, the reduction in treatments is an indication that the new system is not working?’ I pointed out that what we wanted to see was a system which encouraged both patients and dentists to work towards improving oral health…

The number of adult braces has shot up dramatically in the last four years as more and more people become obsessed with having the perfect smile. Traditionally associated with the awkwardness of teenage adolescence, orthodontic braces are now one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, behind Botox, fillers, veneers and breast enhancements. According to research,…

Dentistry’s PCT survey closes for good in little more than a week. Filling out the form – which is completely confidential – takes less than a minute, so don’t miss the chance to have your say before 31 January 2010. As we the closing date looms closer, each reply becomes even more crucial, helping add…

A poll of dental practices throughout the UK reveals that the recent snow has meant a massive rise in patients missing out on appointments. Last week’s online survey found that almost 75% of practices reported an increase in the last two weeks due to the severe weather. And 75% of these practices reported fail to…

Music mogul Simon Cowell dedicated his award to his dentist as he celebrated the X Factor‘s triumph as Most Popular Talent Show at the National TV awards last night. Cowell’s whitened teeth have been the subject of both ridicule and admiration  in the press. After accepting his award, Cowell dedicated it to his dentist, Rob…

A trip to the International Dental Conference in Chicago in February 2011 could prove an incentive to dental therapists considering a vocational training scheme. The scheme is designed to equip dental therapy graduates with the necessary training and education required to work successfully in a general dental practice without the pressures of an oversized patient…

Bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay could be blasted away by plasma jets. That’s the latest dental innovation, according to a new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology. Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin reduced the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The findings…

Parents should use toothpastes that contain fluoride with a minimum concentration of 1,000 parts per million to prevent tooth decay in their children, says a new report. But parents concerned about the risk of fluorosis should consult their dentist to discuss benefits and risks. Researchers for the Cochrane Oral Health Group, based at the School…