Sebastian Evans

The Welsh director of the British Dental Association has accused local health boards of standing in the way of expanding NHS dentistry in Wales. Stuart Geddes has claimed that some LHBs are refusing to allow practices to take on newly qualified dentists, despite demand from patients. In written evidence to the Assembly’s health, wellbeing and…

In general, people view investing in property as a way to gaining financial security for their future. For many investors, they manage their investment properties alongside their regular full-time job, providing an extra source of income. However, full-time property investment is big business. Experienced investors know the pitfalls of doing it full time and can…

A referral from one dentist to another should be easy, professional and complemented by informative and eye-catching literature. Many dentists are capitalising on the extra training they have invested in, and offering services to other practitioners who cannot offer additional services over and above general dentistry. When approaching your peers, it is imperative that the…

During the past few issues Starting Out has been covering all of the different career pathways open to students and recent graduates within the dental profession. Many people mistakenly believe that becoming a dentist limits your career options, however, as we have discovered, there are many different avenues to explore. We have looked at a…

The Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD, announced the research and development of a new National Oral Health Policy last month and undertook a keynote address on the subject at Croke Park on 18 October. This new oral health strategy, the first in 13 years, will be undertaken by the Department of Health…

A proposed new contract for salaried primary care dentists in England has been approved by the Department of Health, and will now be the subject of a ballot. The ballot will begin on 12 November and the deadline for votes is midday on 30 November. If agreed, the contract, negotiated by the British Dental Association…

The Private Dentistry Event 07 is just around the corner, with some of the profession’s biggest names ready to impart their wisdom to hundreds of delegates. This breakthrough event is for anyone looking to move into private practice, or for those already involved but who want to get more out of it. The one-day inaugural…

A London Assembly report has revealed that the capital has one of the lowest uptake levels of NHS dentistry in the country. The number of NHS dentists in London is 52 per 100,000 people, compared with a national average of 42 to every 100,000 people, but only 51% of the city’s population went to an…

A woman in the US is suing her dentist after claiming he nearly drilled her eye while dancing to the disco classic Car Wash. Brandy Fanning, 31, says George Trusty was boogieing to Rose Royce’s 1976 hit when his drill slipped, reports the Syracuse Post-Standard. The inch-long bit punctured her sinus cavity, lodging by her…

The Key Skills in Primary Dental Care assessment for dental care professionals (DCPs) was launched at Showcase. Developed by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), the Key Skills assessment presents an exciting opportunity for DCPs to gain continuing professional development (CPD), and enables all DCP groups to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the seven…

Health chiefs in Scotland have approved plans for a new band of dental therapists to be trained in Edinburgh in a bid to improve access to NHS treatment. The new School of Dental Therapy in The Edinburgh Dental Institute at Lauriston Place will be introduced as part of a multi-million-pound overhaul of the building. Ten…

Gold foil (direct gold restoration) is possibly the oldest and best-documented dental treatment for repairing cavities. Giovanni Arcolani (Ioannis Herculani) published in 1483 his treaty ‘Pratica Chirurgica’ where first he described the use of gold to fill teeth. Stringfellow introduced in 1839 the technique of plugging metal in dental cavities1, and Arthur2 introduced in 1855…

Communicating in the written form is a lot like pulling teeth, once you have completed the deed there is no going back! But that clever use of dental analogy doesn’t justify members of the dental team launching associated careers as copywriters. After all, how many copywriters do you know who moonlight as dentists? Whilst some…

The cream of UK practices edge closer to the most anticipated night of the year as the shortlist for the Dentistry Awards 2007 is announced. After much deliberation, Dentistry magazine’s judges have settled on the best practices in each category for what promises to be the most exciting night in the dental calendar. The ceremony…

Kevin Lewis questions whether infection control standards are as widespread as they should be.   Talking dirty   There was a time when you went into hospital in order to get rid of a nasty infection. These days you go into hospital if you want to acquire one. The Healthcare Commission has recently published its…

New figures have revealed a drastic shortage in the number of people in Scotland registered with an NHS dentist. More than half of adults and almost a third of children are not registered, the statistics, from ISD Scotland, have showed. The number of people who have an NHS dentist increased slightly – by 0.3 per…

People who can’t get access to an NHS dentist in England are being forced to go without treatment or even pull out their own teeth, according to a new survey. The survey of 5,212 patients found that 20% of respondents had refused treatment because of high cost and 6% had treated themselves at some point.…

With your finances and strategy in place, it’s time to take the next step – choosing a reputable company to match your requirements with the best investment opportunities available. There are many companies in the property investment industry so you have to be careful about whom you choose to trust. Many advertised investment properties simply…

Arusha, a city located at the foot of Mount Meru in Northern Tanzania, became my home for two months this summer whilst I undertook my fourth year dental elective. I worked with an organisation called Work the World, alongside a team of medics and HIV project workers and spent my time volunteering in several busy…