Sebastian Evans

Eve Martin looks at the changing face of dentistry since she was girl in the 1950s Apparently in 1956, when I was born, the done thing when faced with a screaming baby, was to dip its dummy into jam, the more frequently the better. I suspect it was my mother alone who, in desperation, invented…

Should GDC registrants who are employed by, belong to, or are involved in, a dental body corporate be required to declare it in their practice literature? That’s the question being asked by the General Dental Council in its current consultation Declaration of involvement with a Dental Body Corporate. Following amendments to the Dentists Act in…

It only seems five minutes ago since the government pledged to increase the number of dental students in the UK by 25%. In fact, it was 2004 and the first cohort of students will graduate next year and go on to face a year of Vocational Training. Of course, the increase in numbers was widely…

Growing your practice in a tough climate is the theme as keynote speaker and self-confessed ‘leadership junkie’ René Carayol addresses the Private Dentistry 2008 National Conference in November. We look at how he embraces times of change . . . Inspirational speaker René Carayol is probably best known for his BBC series Pay Off Your…

Ireland’s National Dairy Council (NDC) has failed to convince the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that dairy products promote dental health. The NDC recently sought scientific substantiation by the EU of its health claim that dairy foods – milk and cheese – reduced dental caries development. However, the EFSA considered that the foods for which…

NHS dentists and their patients still face significant problems two years after the introduction of the new contract in April 2006. That’s according to reports by the NHS Information Centre. They show that more than one million fewer patients in England have been able to access NHS dentistry since the introduction of a new contract…

New EU legislation should make it easier for British cpatients to overcome the difficulties of finding an NHS dentist and seek private dentistry abroad instead, it’s been claimed. According to EU health commissioner Androula Vassiliou, British consumers may soon be able to visit another European country for dental treatment and claim the cost of the…

Olympic athlete-turned-television-personality Kriss Akabusi will take the stage on 12 December to compere the event, adding his exuberant personality and infectious laughter to proceedings. The announcement of Kriss Akabusi is particularly topical with Team GB doing so well at the Beijing Olympics! Kriss’s enthusiasm and attention to ‘focus, innovation and teamwork’ (FIT) when giving motivational…

Researchers in Japan have successfully made stem cells from wisdom teeth, creating an alternative source of pluripotent cells for research and treatment of diseases. It will be welcomed by many who argue against the ethics of using embryonic stem cells. Scientists at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology said they used wisdom…

Scientists have now found that regularly burning joss sticks increases the risk of certain mouth, throat and lung cancers. That’s according to a report at www.guardian.co.uk. The 12-year study apparently backs up previous research showing that incense smoke contains cancer-causing chemicals such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, carbonyls and benzene, which cause mutations to DNA in human…

New research reveals that the original Pretty Woman, actress Julia Roberts, has the best smile of all time. Eighteen years after her starring role as down-on-her-luck prostitute Vivian Ward almost half (47%) of the great British public voted for Julia as having the most beautiful and genuine smile around. The poll was conducted by smile.co.uk,…

A campaign to highlight the needs to patients of taking care of their teeth begins next week. September is Colgate Oral Health Month and the timing could not be more pertinent as fresh data reveals that an average child in the UK has 1.5 rotten teeth by the age of just five – and in…

Your co.ukAt Dental Focus Web Design, I always begin by advising new dentist clients to secure and use a co.uk domain name as it speeds up the ranking process on Google.co.uk. I also recommend that you secure .com and have it forward automatically to co.uk to protect your intellectual property. Your homepageA website’s home page…

Warnings have been issued following a rise in the number of overdose cases linked to the painkiller Paracetamol. That’s according to a report at www.walesonline.co.uk. Victims include those who have been treating themselves for tooth pain. Top A&E consultant Dr Rupert Evans, of Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales, said he is becoming increasingly worried that…

A new dental mouthguard is being hailed in the States as an unusual performance-booster and a vital key to any athlete’s success. Makers of the Pure Power Edge boast that it improves body alignment, strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. That seems like an incredible claim, but athletes are buying it at a cost of $900…