Mr Sebastian Evans

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has confirmed that it would be happy to consider a review of the evidence base for decontamination in dental practice. The confirmation came in a letter from NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon to BDA executive board chair Susie Sanderson this week, following the BDA’s earlier call…

Probably because my local hospital (Colchester) had its chairman removed and another in Essex (Basildon) hit the headlines because of serious ‘under-performing’, I began to take an interest in the problems of hospitals and their inspection. The latter had been rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) but was condemned for having ‘blood-spattered walls’,…

The investment firm Intermediate Capital Group is in talks to take a stake in Oasis, the dentist chain that runs a network of 170 practices, The Times reports. Duke Street, the buy-out firm, has been looking for several months to attract a new investor into Oasis, which it acquired just over two years ago for…

Children who add a handful of raisins onto their breakfast cereal will not increase their chances of developing tooth decay, a study has found. Bran cereals with raisins that do not have added sugar is no worse for children’s teeth than regular bran flakes. Scientists suggest eating raisins, which contain a natural source of sugar,…

There is a growing view that things are getting better. But the end of a recession is the most dangerous time. If it’s true that recovery has started, this will be the time when more businesses than ever go bankrupt. It will also be the time when businesses invest too early and the economy dips…

Burnley is to get a dental super-centre with facilities for 10,000 NHS patients. The venture has been hailed as a major step forward in solving the town’s dental crisis. NHS East Lancashire bosses have earmarked the landmark former Aenon Baptist Chapel, in Red Lion Street, for the ambitious project, which will be one of the…

Santa should share Rudolf’s snack of carrots and celery sticks rather than brandy and mince pies and swap his reindeer for a bike or walk, says a public health expert. The doctor says the current image of Santa promotes obesity, poor oral health, drink-driving, speeding and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr Nathan Grills, from Monash…

A miniature dental team is making a massive meal out of cleaning teeth in one London dental practice. Dentist Ian Davis has created a world where cavities are the size of craters, drills are of the workmen variety and teeth really are as large as tombstones. He has used real-life casts of his patients’ mouths…

The Mouth Cancer Foundation is £1,000 riched thanks to a donation from dental implant company, Straumann. The money will help to fund vital public awareness of a disease that is relevant to the entire dental profession and patients alike. Stephen Booth, the company’s managing director, said: ‘Donating £1,000 to the Mouth Cancer Foundation is a…

A home video of a boy groggy after a trip to the dentist is the second most watched YouTube video of 2009. The video – shot by the seven year old’s father –  notched up more than 37 million views. ‘David After Dentist’ features the son recovering from some dental work that left him feeling…

A new course for busy dentists who wish to learn advanced techniques while continuing to work in their practice in any country in the world has been launched. The blended learning team at the King’s College London Dental Institute has developed the  flexible graduate programme, an MSc in aesthetic dentistry, with time-poor dentists in mind.…

Professionals have five top reasons to log on to eGDC (www.eGDC-uk.org) says the General Dental Council on the first anniversary of the site’s launch. Professionals who create an eGDC account are able to: 1. Save time – no more paper form filling and let the website do the maths when adding up Continuing Professional Development…

A new mouthwash formula that may provide long-term protection against tooth decay has been developed. A team of experts has developed a novel drug delivery system to carry antimicrobial agents directly to teeth. Their study was published in the November issue of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. The team was led by Dr Dong Wang, associate…

The vast majority of dental professionals have historically approached their professional responsibilities with an impressive desire to do what is best for their patients. Patients, in essence, partner with their dentist and hygienist with an implicit expectation that this partnership will assist the patient in successfully managing their oral health. Unfortunately, the focus in the…

A charity appeal by the children’s television show, Blue Peter, has challenged a dental group from the north east to get creative. The ‘Send a Smile’ appeal supports the charity Operation Smile, which sends volunteer medical professionals to India to provide free reconstructive surgery for thousands of children suffering with a cleft lip and palate.…

Dentists are blazing a trail by being the first in the UK to sign up their surgery loos to a global toilet twinning campaign, linking them with latrines deep in the African bush. The unusual charity fundraiser is making a splash with staff and patients alike at the Chipping Manor Dental Practice in Gloucestershire. For…

The world’s first ever eco-friendly toothbrush has been launched. It was unveiled in front of dentists at the Greater New York Dental Meeting and Convention earlier this month. The Aqua Free Toothbrush made its debut in front of 57,000 healthcare professionals. It contains a special liquid that flows from a built-in tank in the handle…

New NHS figures show that dental staff are among those least likely to be absent from work due to ill health. According to an NHS Information Centre report, Sickness Absence Rates In The NHS: April-June 2009, the sickness rate for dental and medical staff over this period was on average just 1.1%. Figures show the…