NHS

One in five Brits visit the dentist only when there’s a problem with their teeth

Almost one in five (18%) Brits only visit the dentist when they think they have a problem with their teeth.…

Oral health

Lost dentures costing the NHS £1 million

Around 9,500 dentures are lost in NHS hospitals around England every year, costing the NHS about £1 million. That’s according to a…

Dentistry

What can the NHS provide under the latest Budget?

With the latest budget leaving little available for NHS dentistry, what effect would spending cuts have on treatments, Michael Watson…

Blog

Are ethical dentists underclaiming on the NHS?

The ambiguous wording of the NHS contract could leave many dentists underclaiming to err on the side of caution, Neel Kothari…

Blog

Jimmy Steele’s legacy in dentistry

Michael Watson discusses the impact Jimmy Steele had on dentistry, after the news of his premature passing broke last week. Last week we…

Blog

Pre-emptive strikes

Fraudulent claims by ‘imaginary’ patients aren’t the fault of NHS dentists, Kevin Lewis says. Climate change may be making it…

Blog

Dental fraud due to ‘discredited contract’

Figures published by the new NHS Counter Fraud Authority point to chaos within the dental contract system, the BDA has…

Dentistry

Are the claims about dental fraud accurate?

Are the claims of dental fraud amounting to £120.7 million by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority accurate, Michael Watson questions.…

Blog

More children admitted to hospital for tooth decay than broken arms

More children under 10 are admitted to hospital as a result of tooth decay than those needing care for broken…

Oral health

Quota of NHS dental treatments

The 2006 dental contract removes any incentive to take on new patients, Michael Watson says. The departing medical director of…

Blog

Rising to the complaints challenge

John Makin talks through the dos and don’ts of patient complaint handling. NHS complaints about dental treatment in England have…

Blog

BDIA Showcase – a generational gap

Is the future of dentistry optimistic or all doom and gloom, Michael Watson questions after this year’s BDIA Showcase. Last…

Blog

Shedding new light on contract reform

Nigel Jones discusses Sara Hurley’s recent briefing into the workings of NHS dentistry with Eddie Crouch and Paul Worskett. Earlier…

Dentistry

GDC appoints clinical dental advisers to FtP team

The GDC has appointed four new clinical dental advisers and a senior dental adviser to join its fitness to practise…

Dentistry

Rise in fines for incorrect claiming on exemption of NHS fees

Ensure your patients understand the rules about NHS exemptions to avoid future complaints, the Dental Defence Union (DDU) says. The…

Dentistry

World facing a ‘post-antibiotic apocalypse’

The world is facing a ‘post-antibiotic apocalypse’, Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer (CMO) for England, has warned. That’s unless…

Dentistry

Department of Health must save the dental indemnity ‘crisis’

The Department of Health (DH) must step in and save the ‘crisis’ over dental indemnity fees, the BDA says. DH has recently announced the…

Dentistry

A free market economy in dentistry

The Government should allow a free market in dentistry, Michael Watson says. Last week saw the leaders of both the…

Blog

Sixty per cent of dentists looking to leave NHS dentistry

Sixty per cent of UK dentists are planning on moving away from NHS dentistry in the next five years. That’s…

Dentistry