Mr Sebastian Evans

England’s chief dental officer has dismissed a TV documentary highlighting the dangers involving mercury amalgam as ‘scare mongering’ and ‘sensationalist’. CDO Barry Cockcroft, who appeared in the episode of ITV’s Tonight programme, entitled What’s in your mouth?, was unhappy with what was broadcast on Monday 16 February. He said: ‘I was interviewed for over an…

Bleaching teeth with carbamide peroxide in a custom tray is an exciting service to offer patients and a tremendous adjunct to restorative dental treatment. One of the side effects noticed when bleaching teeth is that the use of 10% carbamide peroxide applied nightly in a custom-fitted tray is effective to remove plaque, reduce caries bacteria…

There are currently a number of innovative systems on the market that allow general dental practitioners to include orthodontic procedures in their treatment lists. At a time when more and more people are becoming conscious of the state of their teeth, these developments have been timely. Patients want affordable and effective systems that don’t intrude…

Advert watchdogs have upheld a decision to stop a dentist calling himself ‘doctor’ in his magazine adverts. The move will upset many in the profession who are keen to use the title ‘Dr’, giving them the same privileges as their counterparts in other European countries.   In response, many doctors have complained that dentists could…

Dear Editor,As I prepare to demit office at the end of this week, I was reflecting back on the past six years since I was first honoured with the confidence of the profession to lead the General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC). What a turbulent and unsettling few years it has been; the most difficult in…

Drinking just half a glass of wine a day can increase the risk of cancer, research has found.   And scientists add that no amount of wine is ever good for you. The study, from the National Cancer Institute in Paris, found one unit of alcohol – the equivalent of half a standard 175ml of…

An oral health charity is urging ministers to fund a nationwide NHS-led oral screening programme. The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has called on the government to act upon new research revealing that oral screenings can provide the all-important early detection that can save the lives of mny mouth cancer patients. But chief dental officer…

The final decision on plans to add fluoride to tap water in Southampton and parts of South West Hampshire is to be taken this month. The decision will be taken by South Central Strategic Health Authority following months of public consultation in the area. It will take place at a special meeting on Thursday 26…

Dentists are being threatened with prosecution for performing a technique used for decades to whiten patients’ teeth. An MP has warned that some practitioners have received written warnings from trading standards officers for carrying out dental bleaching using strong concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.   Under European law, selling tooth-bleaching materials containing more than 0.1% hydrogen…

Bringing a little sunshine into November will be the aim for the British Dental Trade Association at this year’s Showcase. The event has become well known for its award-winning advertising campaigns and themed activities linked to the exhibition, and once again the BDTA has spent substantial time and resources to enhancing Showcase 2009 for the…

The World Aesthetic Congress (WAC) – the UK’s leading and largest aesthetic dentistry event – is back for its eighth consecutive year. The two-day event takes place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 June at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in central London’s Westminster.   WAC provides a chance for dentists to enhance their…

The dental industry is gearing up for another all-action summer as plans for National Smile Month 2009 progress before the campaign’s 17 May start date.   Surgeries, hospitals, Primary Care Trusts, schools, colleges and businesses across the UK are set to support the British Dental Health Foundation’s campaign once more.   Participants will be taking…

Oral health checks upon hospital admission must become routine practice to help eradicate mouth cancer, says a dental charity. The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has expressed concern after the online journal for BioMed Central (BMC) published a survey stating that less than half of hospital nursing staff carried out routine oral health checks.  …

Cardiff University’s new £1.6 million research unit to help tackle dental disease has been officiallyopened by First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan. The new Translational Research facility based at Cardiff University’s School of Dentistry on theHeath Park campus is a joint investment in research by the University, Cardiff and Vale NHS Trustand the Higher Education…