DT UK 2110

Government to decide dentists’ pay and contract values / News / Good dress sense could keep tax bills down! / The 10th dimension… the power of ten / ‘Surprisingly relaxing experience!’ / Getting ahead / Infection Control Tribune / Transforming misconceptions / A growing market / Grinding down the pain of bruxism for your patients / Infection Control / Industry News / Thinking of starting your own practice? / Classified

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Table of contents

September 13-19, 2010

PUBLISHED IN LONDON
News in Brief
Dental anaesthetics seized
Drug dealers across Britain
are using dental anaesthetic
to dilute cocaine supplies.
The Serious Organised Crime
Agency has warned that dealers are using large volumes
of dental anaesthetics to bulk
up the cocaine they sell on the
streets. Officers are clamping
down on the industry and
have seized large amounts
of the dental anaesthetics
lidocaine and benzocaine. In
May alone, officers seized two
tonnes of benzocaine, one
fifth of the volume used by
dentists in the UK each year.
Tesco dental practice
Tesco is hoping to become
the first supermarket in Scotland to open a dental surgery.
The company has lodged
a planning application with
Glasgow City Council to open
a three-chair dental practice at its store in Silverburn
shopping centre in Pollok.
Figures show south-west
Glasgow has one of the worst
dental health records in Scotland. About three in four of
all children under five in
the area have a history of
tooth decay and/or dental
extractions by the time they
start school. Sainbury’s became the first chain in the
UK to open an in-store private dental practice in 2008
in Sale, Greater Manchester. Treatment prices at the
Sainsbury’s practice have
been kept similar to NHS
ones so the practice has
proved very popular.
Scottish registration figures
The figures for the number
of people registered with
an NHS dentist which were
recently published by NHS
Scotland are not accurate,
according to the British
Dental Association (BDA).
Robert Donald, of the BDA’s
Scottish
Dental
Practice
Committee, said: ‘‘As the
Scottish government has
acknowledged, recent estimates of the number of individuals registered with NHS
dentists in Scotland have
included
deceased
and
duplicated patients. Although
work to remove duplicate
patient records has begun,
some patient records are
not matched to Community
Health Index numbers. Until
they are, it will be impossible
to have complete confidence
that the registration figures
are robust.’’ Lifelong registration was also introduced
earlier this year and Mr Donald said: ‘‘Our understanding
is that almost a quarter of a
million individuals included
in today’s statistics haven’t
visited their dentist during
the last three years.’’
www.dental-tribune.co.uk

News

Infection Control Tribune

Not all white

Online retailers withdraw illegal
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page 2

A team approach

Richard Musgrave highlights the
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pages 15-16

VOL. 4 NO. 21
Education

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Beating Bruxism

Ortho interest

Andrew McCance details the
benfits to GDPs of orthodontics

Barry Oulton discusses Bruxism
Awareness Week

page 24

page 26

Government to decide dentists’
pay and contract values
The coalition government will be making all decisions on NHS
dental pay and contract values for the next two financial years,
after it told the dental pay body it is no longer needed.

he government has told the
chairman of the Doctors’
and Dentists’ Review Body
(DDRB), that it will play no role
in determining the remuneration
of independent contractor general dental practitioners (GDPs)
and general medical practitioners
(GMPs) in England for the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13.
In a letter, Andrew Lansley,
Secretary of State for Health, said:
I have decided that, based on the
financial and economic position
and the continued need for reduction in public sector expenditure
that it will not be necessary for
the DDRB to make any recommendations on the need for any
earnings or contract uplifts for independent contractor GMPs and
GDPs in England.
The government will make the
decisions on any gross uplift, based
on the efficiency assumption that
we wish to apply and the evidence
on non-staff expenses. He added:
I have therefore concluded that
there is no requirement to ask
DDRB to play a role in the
remuneration of independent
contractor GMPs and GDPs for
financial years 2011/12 or 2012/13.
We believe we have everything
necessary from your past recommendations on the formula to
take forward discussions with
relevant professional bodies. We
remain determined to secure continued efficiencies from the investments in independent contractor
GMPs and GDPs and therefore
will reach our decisions based
on the progress we can make in
those negotiations.

The letter was sent to the
chairman of the Review Body,
Ron Amy. Susie Sanderson, chair
of the BDA Executive Board said:
‘‘Dentists are aware of the financial pressures behind the
already-announced pay freeze for
NHS workers earning more than
£21,000 a year that have led the
government to instruct DDRB not
to make recommendations about
earnings for GDPs for the next
two financial years.
‘‘GDPs are facing soaring expenses and the impact of those on
contract values must be properly
considered. The BDA will be supplying evidence on this to government that will underline the very
real challenges dental practices
face. It is important to note that the
government’s intention to apply
efficiency assumptions to its calculations of contract values amounts to a pay cut and isn’t helpful.’’
Derek Watson, chief executive
of the Dental Practitioners Association, also expressed his concern: ‘‘It was announced in the
budget that the government has
imposed a two-year pay freeze on
public sector employees earning
over £21,000 a year which would
have included most dentists. This
would have left the Review Body
open to make an uplift recommendation based on expenses.
The government has now closed
this door by saying that it will also
estimate expenses.’’
The government will now need
to negotiate directly with professional dental associations such as
the BDA on how contract values

should be raised to reflect the increase in expenses.
In Scotland, after intervention
by the BDA, the government has
reconsidered the way it is implementing this year’s DDRB pay
award. The BDA’s Scottish Dental
Practice Committee (SDPC) argued that the DDRB had taken

the expenses element of the pay
award into account and that the
pay increase should apply to the
whole item of service rather
than just the expense element.
The Scottish government have
agreed that the uplift for independent GDPs should be 0.9 per
cent applied to the whole item
of service. DT

[2] =>

2 News

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

Streptococcus Earning figures draw criticism
link found in D
disease risk
entists earned on average
just over £89,000 last year,
while more than 400 dentists earned over £300,000, according to new figures.
This is an increase on the previous year (2007/8) which saw
all self-employed dentists in England and Wales earn on average
£89,100, compared to £89,600 in
2008/9.

U

K
researchers
have
found another reason
for us to keep brushing and flossing our teeth: the
same gum bacteria that cause
dental plaque can escape from
the mouth into the bloodstream and trigger clots that increase risk of heart attack and
heart disease.
The study that led to this
finding was the work of University of Bristol researchers,
in collaboration with scientists
at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland (also
known as the RCSI) and was
presented at the Society for
General Microbiology’s autumn
meeting which ran from 6-9
September at the University of
Nottingham.
Dr Howard Jenkinson, professor of Oral Microbiology
at Bristol’s School of Oral and
Dental
Science,
presented
the findings at the meeting.
He said in a press statement
that: “Poor dental hygiene
can lead to bleeding gums,
providing bacteria with an
escape route into the bloodstream, where they can initiate blood clots leading to heart
disease.”
He said we all need to be
aware that it’s not only diet,
exercise, cholesterol and blood
pressure that we should keep
an eye on, but it’s also important to have good dental hygiene
to reduce our risk of heart
problems.
In their study, Jenkinson
and colleagues found that once
Streptococcus bacteria get into
the bloodstream, they use a
protein called PadA which sits
on their outer surface, to hijack
blood platelets and force them
to clump together and make
blood clots.

Jenkinson described this as
a “selfish trick” on the part of
the bacteria, which completely
encase themselves in a clump of
platelets, enabling them to avoid
detection by the host immune
system, and also, to hide from
antibiotics.
“Unfortunately, as well as
helping out the bacteria”, explained Jenkinson, “platelet
clumping can cause small blood
clots, growths on the heart
valves (endocarditis) or inflammation of blood vessels that can
block the blood supply to the
heart and brain”.

‘Platelet clumping
can cause small
blood clots, growths
on the heart valves
(endocarditis) or
inflammation of
blood vessels that
can block the blood
supply to the heart
and brain’
The team are now investigating how PadA makes blood
platelets clump together so
they can find a way to block
it. They are doing it with the
help of a new blood flow model
that mimics the human circulatory system. The model was
developed by Dr Steve Kerrigan of RCSI’s School of Pharmacy. DT

A total of 410 dentists earned
more than £300,000 before tax
and after expenses, according to
2008/9 figures released by the NHS
Information Centre.
The number was an increase
of eight per cent on the 380 who
earned more than £300,000 in
2007/8, said the report ‘Dental
Earnings and Expenses, England
and Wales 2008/09’.
A total of 150 dentists earned
between £275,000 and £300,000 in
2008/9, while 130 earned between
£250,000 and £275,000.
Two hundred and forty dentists
earned £225,000 to £250,000 and
330 earned £200,000 to £225,000.

The data covers both NHS
income and money earned from
private patients.

Dentists who held contracts
with a Primary Care Trust (PCT
in England) or Local Health
Board (LHB in Wales) to provide NHS dental services fared
better.
Those with contracts earned
on average £131,000 (before tax)
- up 3.3 per cent from £126,800
in 2007/08.
While dentists who worked
in a practice, but who did not
hold a contract with a PCT or
LHB, earned on average £67,800
(before tax) – up 3.1 per cent
on 2007/08 when they earned
£65,700.
NHS
Information
Centre
chief
executive
Tim
Straughan said: ‘‘The England
and Wales report reveals that
the average earnings of NHS

dentists varied greatly depending on whether they personally
held a contract with a Primary
Care
Trust
or
Local
Health Board.’’
A spokesman from the Department of Health commented
on the figures and said: ‘The coalition government recently announced a two-year pay freeze
for all NHS staff earning more
than £21k a year and is currently considering how best to apply
this pay freeze to groups such as
GPs and dentists whose NHS income covers both their personal
pay and practice expenses.’’
The chief executive of
the Patients’ Association criticised the increase in earnings
for dentists.
Katherine Murphy said: ‘‘The
soaring cost of dentists’ pay
goes against this commitment
and will not deliver any benefits
for patients. We do not understand
how
these
pay
increases can be justified given
the financial pressures on
the NHS.’ DT

Online ban on illegal
tooth-whitening products

I

nternet sites, Amazon, eBay
and Google have said they will
stop selling illegal tooth-whitening products, after an investigation by the consumer watchdog
Which?

to urge online retailers to boycott
such harmful products being sold
in their marketplaces.’’
Which? policy adviser Re-

becca Owen-Evans said: ‘‘Selling
products
that
breach
the cosmetics regulations is prohibited and there is a failure
in policing.’ DT

Which? discovered that illegal
and potentially harmful toothwhitening products could easily
be bought from online retailers
such as Amazon and eBay.
One in 10 people buying tooth
whitening products ended up
with white spots on their gums
or lips, showing chemical burns,
and a similar number reporting brown stains on their teeth,
suggesting the enamel had been
damaged by the product, according to Which?
A European Union regulation adopted last year bans the
sale of tooth-whitening products
containing more than 0.1 per cent
hydrogen peroxide or chemicals
which release hydrogen peroxide.
The limit was introduced
due to concerns that the
chemical could damage teeth, lips
or gums.

Poor dental hygiene can provide bacteria with a route into the bloodstream according
to this latest research by the University of Bristol and RCSI in Dublin

Overall,
5,540
dentists
earned more than £100,000 a
year.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which? said: ‘‘These
products are illegal, but ineffective policing means they are
still widely available. We have
shared our findings with Trading Standards and will continue

Online retailers have pledged to cease the sale of illegal whitening kits

Published by Dental Tribune UK Ltd
© 2010, Dental Tribune UK Ltd.
All rights reserved.

Dental Tribune UK Ltd makes every
effort to report clinical information and
manufacturer’s product news accurately,
but cannot assume responsibility for

the validity of product claims, or for
typographical errors. The publishers also
do not assume responsibility for product
names or claims, or statements made by
advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors
are their own and may not reflect those of
Dental Tribune International.

Managing Director
Mash Seriki
Mash@dentaltribuneuk.com

Features Editor
Ellie Pratt
Ellie@dentaltribuneuk.com

Director
Noam Tamir
Noam@dentaltribuneuk.com

Advertising Director
Joe Aspis
Tel: 020 7400 8969
Joe@dentaltribuneuk.com

Editor
Lisa Townshend
Tel: 020 7400 8979
Lisa@dentaltribuneuk.com

Editorial Assistant
Laura Hatton
Laura..hatton@dentaltribuneuk.com

Sales Executive
Sam Volk
Tel: 020 7400 8964
Sam@dentaltribuneuk.com
Marketing Manager
Laura McKenzie
Laura@dentaltribuneuk.com
Design & Production
Ellen Sawle
Ellen@dentaltribuneuk.com

Dental Tribune UK Ltd
4th Floor, Treasure House, 19–21 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8BA

[3] =>

News 3

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

Editorial comment

W

elcome to
this issue
of Dental
Tribune! It seems ages
since we last spoke,
yet so much seems to
have happened.
Of course the biggest news
for many dentists is the decision by the coalition government
to take direct control over the pay
and contract values of dentists.
The Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body were sent their marching orders in a letter by Sec-

retary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, excerpts of
which you will have seen
on the front page of this issue.
Now, we all know the kind of
cuts have been being seen in all
parts of the governmental budgets, and I have no doubts that
organisations such as the BDA
will have their work cut out for

them with regards to negotiating
the best deal they can for dentists. It will be interesting to see
how this fits in with the plans for
implementing the recent Health
White Paper and delivering a
‘value for money’ service. We
will all ‘watch this space’.
With BDTA Showcase on the
horizon, thoughts have turned
to the next generation of products to be releasing and recently
I attended various meetings and

symposia on some of these. I look
forward to sharing some of the
thoughts of the key opinion leaders that were at these events and
enlighten you to some of the exciting things you’ll be able to see
and play with at Showcase. I am
also looking forward
to meeting with you
at conferences and
events coming up –
stop me and share your
comments (I’ll be by
the coffee stand!). DT

Do you have an opinion or something to say on any Dental Tribune
UK article? Or would you like to
write your own opinion for our
guest comment page?
If so don’t hesitate to write to:
The Editor,
Dental Tribune UK Ltd,
4th Floor, Treasure House,
19-21 Hatton Garden,
London, EC1 8BA
Or email:
lisa@dentaltribuneuk.com

Expenses
have ‘risen
dramatically’

D

entists’
expenses
including the costs of the
building, dental equipment, staff and materials, have
‘risen dramatically’, according to
new figures from the NHS Information Centre.
The Information Centre’s report, Dental Earnings and Expenses, England and Wales 2008/09,
shows dental practice expenses
have risen at a faster rate than
incomes have increased.
The average taxable income
for all self-employed primary care
dentists in England and Wales in
2008/09 was £89,600, compared
to £89,100 in 2007/08, according
to the report.
The expenses borne by dentists – the costs of providing the
building, equipment, staff and
materials necessary to provide
patient care – rose rapidly during
2008/09.
Practice principals saw their
expenses increase by 7.6 per
cent from £218,000 in 2007/08 to
£235,500 in 2008/09.
It is no surprise to John Milne,
chair of the British Dental Association’s (BDA’s) General Dental
Practice Committee, who said:
‘‘These figures underline what
the BDA knows from its own research and talking to members:
thatthe costs associated with providing high street dentistry have
risen dramatically.
‘‘Changes in the exchange rate
have had a pronounced impact on
the costs of equipment imported
from overseas and costs associated with compliance with a variety
of regulatory requirements.’’
He added: ‘‘Trends in expenses
will need to be monitored carefully to ensure that dental practices
are properly supported and are
able to provide the resources they
need to continue providing highquality care to patients.’’ DT

The entire dental team can get involved in the 2010 campaign focusing on
‘Discover 3 Essentials for an Even Healthier Mouth’.
Practice packs contain educational materials, motivational stickers, patient
samples and materials to enable dental teams to create their own display to
drive awareness of the 3 Essentials for an Even Healthier Mouth.
The 2010 interactive CPD programme ‘Putting Prevention into Practice’
providing verifiable CPD will be available to download by visiting
www.colgateohm.co.uk
If your practice has not previously been involved in Colgate Oral Health Month,
please call 0161 665 5881 to register.

[4] =>

Tribune_aug:Precision

4 News

United Kingdom Edition

Should dentists use the title ‘Dr’?

his is your opportunity to
have your say on whether
you think dentists should
use the title ‘Dr’.

information or publicity material such as flyers or adverts about
dental services are legal, decent,
honest and truthful.

The General Dental Council
is holding a consultation on draft
guidance on ethical advertising,

The GDC wants to provide dental professionals with
more detailed information on
what is expected of them regarding
advertising and is asking
for views on the proposed
guidance.

One of the suggestions in the
document is that dentists should
not use the courtesy title ‘Dr’.
They should also not refer to
themselves as ‘orthodontist’, unless they are on the specialist list,
according to the guidance.
The General Dental Council
(GDC) wants to ensure that all

GDC chair Alison Lockyer
said: ‘‘This issue affects so many
of our registrants. We often
get queries from members of
the
public
concerned
or
confused about the information
they’ve seen.’’

‘‘We plan to ask patients what
they think, but we also need to
know the views of those we regulate. We hope that dental professionals and other people linked
to dentistry will take the time to
tell us what they think.’’
The consultation looks at a
number of issues including using specialist titles, advertising
the provision of dental appliances and information which
should be on dental professionals’ websites.
The consultation, which is
open to everyone, can be found
at www.gdc-uk.org and runs
until 1 October 2010. DT

Strategies for deprived children should start from birth

he NHS needs to put in
place oral health strategies for children from
deprived areas - from birth, according to a recent study.
The large-scale study of the
dental health of three-year olds
published in the British Dental
Journal, found that out of 4,000
children in Greater Glasgow,
a quarter of the children had
tooth decay.
In the deprived areas, a third
of the children had tooth decay.
The number of decayed,
missing or filled teeth (dmft) in
the children seen from the least
deprived areas was 0.3.
In the most deprived areas,

18/8/10

children had a dmft score of 1.5,
researchers from the University
of Glasgow Dental School found.
The dental examinations
were carried out by dentists between 2006 and 2008.
Andrew Lamb, British Dental Association director for Scotland, said: While there has been
a significant improvement in
the nation’s oral health over the
past 40 years, this study highlights the depressing fact that
poor dental health and inequality
are closely linked from very early
in life.
‘‘Given that tooth decay is totally preventable, it’s unacceptable that social deprivation is
still such a strong study of poor

dental health. This study reinforces the importance of providing support to children from deprived communities soon after
they are born.’’
He added: ‘‘We commend the
progress made by Childsmile,
which focuses not only on children attending nursery and
primary schools, but also on
identifying children at risk from
birth. As part of Childsmile, assessments are carried out by
health visitors in the first two
weeks of life.
‘‘As adult oral health can be
predicted by childhood dental
health, this targeted intervention is vital to closing the gap in
oral health inequalities.’’ DT

10:30

Page 1

September 13-19, 2010

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More than 3,000 dental care professionals taken off GDC register

ore than 3,000 dental
care professionals have
been taken off the General Dental Council register, after
they failed to pay their annual retention fee by the end of July.
Being registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) is a
legal requirement for dental care
professionals (DCPs) in the UK.
All dental nurses, orthodontic
therapists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians
and clinical dental technicians
must be registered.

all dental care professionals knew
about the deadline and understood what would happen if they
didn’t pay their annual retention
fee (ARF) on time. We are equally
committed to making sure those
who want to restore to our register are helped through this process. At the end of July there were
more than 58,000 DCPs on our
register and whilst 3,387 have
been removed for non-payment,
we are pleased that so many met
this year’s deadline.’’

Those who failed to pay their
fee by 31 July have been removed
from the register.

Dental care professionals who
didn’t pay on time and want to return to the register must complete
a form to apply for restoration,
have a medical examination and
provide a character reference.

Head of registration at the
GDC, Gurvinder Soomal, said:
‘‘We worked hard to ensure that

They must also pay a fee of
£120 and give evidence that they
have completed the required

amount of continuing professional development (CPD).
If they were practising overseas while off the register, they
must provide a letter of good
standing from the relevant authority of the country/state in which
they last worked.
If they were working in the
UK while their name was erased
from the register, they and their
employer will need to explain the
circumstances in a letter. If this
has occurred, they are advised to
contact their solicitor or defence
organisation before submitting
their application.
Patients, members of the
public and employers can check
whether someone is registered
by using GDC’s online register at
www.gdc-uk.org. DT

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[6] =>

6 News & Opinions

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2010

Good dress sense could
keep tax bills down!

D

ental practice owners
who provide their reception staff with uniforms
should make sure that each
garment bears the practice logo
or name. This advice from The
National Association of Spec-

ialist
Dental
Accountants
(NASDA) is based on tax legislation which states that unless
there is a logo or name on each
part of the uniform, it will be
treated as a benefit in kind

NASDA is alerting the dental
profession to the legislation as
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customers (HMRC) tax inspectors
who carry out dental practice
inspections may well ask about
reception staff uniforms.
Lee Muter, a tax specialist
with unw LLP, stressed that receptionists’ uniforms bought by
the employer are automatically
subject to tax at the full value unless there is a name or logo embroidered onto each garment. If

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Uniforms or surgical scrubs
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dental nurses fall into the category of a uniform worn for protective reasons and as such would
not be considered a taxable
benefit. Receptionists’ uniforms,
however, could not be considered
protective and should be declared
a ‘benefit in kind’ unless there is
a log on each garment.
HMRC carries out occasional
spot checks, said Lee, and were
also likely to ask whether team
members were getting free dental
treatment as this is deemed to be
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His colleague at unw, Chartered Accountant and dental
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added: “Inadvertently, HMRC
seems to be helping dental practices with their PR. Plenty of
exposure for the logo or name
should help make a positive impact on patients.” DT

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13:40

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Page 1

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

The 10th dimension…
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lthough one’s school and
college days may be long
past, cast a thought back
and consider whether those
classmates whom you would
have tipped to succeed have
actually done so. Conversely,
consider those who seemed
“vaguely
unprepossessing”,
and observe whether any have
achieved beyond expectation.
How is it that some individuals, who seem far less likely to
succeed than others, achieve
more in their lives than those
perceived as more gifted or
talented? The answer may be
in their respective attitudes
to life in general and work in

3. Where you are, what’s
around you - A strong determinant of attitude is the environment in which our previous
experiences were acquired as
well as the present environment. Never can an environment have been more daunting
than the Dark Ages, yet from it
came the Renaissance.
4. Who’s around you - It
is the nature of man to be in
fluenced by the thinking of one’s
parents and peers, by what we
read in newspapers and magazines. Poverty, divorce, illness,
education: it is up to each of
us to accept or go beyond these
influences.

‘Fear attacks us, wastes our energy and
makes us captive. The greatest chance of
failure is created by the fear of failing’
particular. Leadership expert
John Maxwell writes in The
Difference Maker that one’s
attitude is like the mind’s paintbrush, colouring every aspect of
one’s life.
If this is the case, what factors colour one’s attitude?
1. Who you are - We are all
unique individuals, determined
to some degree by our genetic
wiring, but not limited to it.
Our individual personalities
are capable of growth and
development, and the ‘who’ we
are now is not necessarily the
‘who’ we were, nor the ‘who’
we may yet be. What we will
become will be determined
by the attitude we can bring to
the life and work mix. We cannot perform in a way that is
inconsistent with how we see
ourselves.
2. What you think, what
you feel - Our present feelings are influenced by our
emotional experiences, past
and present. Your attitude is
the sum of your thoughts as
shaped by your previous experiences. It is difficult to
maintain a positive attitude
when there are wars going on,
bombs
going
off,
volcanoes
exploding
or
oilrigs gushing into the sea.
Difficult, but not impossible.
The times may be depressing,
but you don’t have to become
depressed by them.

5. Your dreams and expectations - If your internal thought
consensus is that you cannot
become rich, then chances are
you will not. On the other hand,
you can “think and become
rich”, the philosophy advocated
by best-selling author Napoleon
Hill. Sooner or later we will get
what we expect.
6. Fear of failure - The late
South African Prime Minister JC Smuts said: ‘A man is
not defeated by his opponents,
but by himself.’ Many of us
are self-sabotaging. John Maxwell writes: ‘There are three
types of people in the world –
the ‘wills’, the ‘will nots’, and
the ‘cannots’. The first accomplish everything. The second
oppose everything. The third fail
at everything. Fear attacks us,
wastes our energy and makes
us captive. The greatest chance
of failure is created by the fear
of failing.
7. Your perspective on problems - Maxwell says we may
view problems as normal/
abnormal;
soluble/insoluble;
temporary/permanent; controlling us/challenging us; making
us bitter/better; stopping us/
stretching us. If we can stand
back from a problem and look
at it objectively, then we have
a good chance of dealing
with it with a positive attitude.
One can be a “failure”, or “a success who sometimes fails” – depends on your perspective.

8. Develop a problem–
solving mentality - Embrace
each problem as an opportunity. Problems are wake-up calls
for sustained creative thinking,
and the pulling together of all
available resources (including other people). By focusing
on the mission ahead, one can
generate a number of possible
solutions and then choose the
most workable.
9. Worrying about problems
that haven’t yet happened Studies show that 95 per cent
of fear is baseless. Mark Twain
wrote: ‘I’ve been through some
terrible things in my life, a
few of which actually happened.’
Has it ever happened that
you have felt the world and its
galaxy was about to descend
on you, and then, when you
have had time to make intelligent inquiries, found it not
to be of substance? While it is
of major importance to take
as much care as possible to
pre-empt problems, worrying
about an un-occurred event will
actually expend a great deal of
energy leaving less available
for when - or if - the problem
actually occurs.
10. Overcome discouragement - We have all tried something that has not worked,
and it is easy to feel discouraged or to be discouraged
by others. Either way, the outcome of being discouraged
is to feel that you want to
give up the task. It is said that
90 per cent of those who fail
are not actually defeated –
they have simply quit. So,
give up or get up – banish
discouragement to where it
belongs: alongside negative
perceptions
and
fear
of
failure. DT

About the author
Adrianne Morris is a highly
trained success coach whose
aim is to get people from where
they are now to where they want
to be, in clear measured steps.
Ed Bonner has owned many
practices, and now consults with
and coaches dentists and their
staff to achieve their potential.
For a free consultation, or a complementary copy of The Power
of Ten e-zine, email Adrianne at
alplifecoach@yahoo.com or Ed
on bonner.edwin@gmail.com, or
visit www.thepoweroften.co.uk.

[9] =>

Interview 9

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

‘Surprisingly relaxing experience!’
Dental Tribune speaks with Baldeesh Chana about her upcoming webinar

he latest series of webinars
to be broadcast by Smileon in association with
Dentsply Academy begins this
month, kicking off on the evening
of September 27th with Baldeesh
Chana and Sarah Murray discussing Root Surface Debridement mechanical instruments versus
ultrasonic .
Bal and Sarah are no stranger
to the webinar format, having
presented a lecture in last year’s
Dentsply series. This year the
duo are looking to give an overview of available instruments for
root surface debridement and to
evaluate the efficiency of these
methods. Bal explains: “We’re really looking forward to presenting another webinar, this time
reviewing the evidence available
for different methods of debridement and techniques which can
be used.”
The CVs of both speakers is
very distinguished. Sarah is dually qualified as a Hygienist and a
Therapist and comes from a clinical and educational background.
She also graduated with a Masters
Degree in Primary Health & Community Care from the University
of Westminster in 1997. She currently teaches students studying
to become dental hygienists and
therapists both at Barts and The
London School of Medicine and
Dentistry and the University of
Essex. She was awarded the title
Hygienist of the Year in 2007.
Bal qualified in 1992 at Barts and The London School of
Medicine and Dentistry formally
known as The London Hospital,
where she is now Deputy Principal Hygiene/Therapy Tutor. She
also works part time in a general
dental practice. She is currently
Chair of The British Association of
Dental Therapists, and represents
BADT on a number of boards. She
is also a DCP Inspector for the
General Dental Council inspecting DCP training courses. Bal was
recipient of The Dental Therapist
of the Year award in 2006.
Their experience as lecturers has definitely helped them to
adapt to the format of the webinar, as Bal explains: “When we
first did the webinar last year we
were both very apprehensive, but
it was a surprisingly relaxing and
enjoyable experience! The technical team were great and it didn’t
feel strange presenting to only
a webcam because of the interactivity of the delegates writing
questions in to us and being able
to see them on screen.
“I think what also helped is
the format we chose to do the
presentation in. Working as a

pair was really nice as it helped to
break up the lecture and it gave us
both a chance to spend time reading the questions and comments
coming in as the other continued
with their part of the presentation.
We hope this year to deliver our
webinar in a similar way.”

So who does Bal think will
benefit most from their presentation this month? “It’s really a
subject that the whole team could
benefit from, but we expect that
many of the delegates will be dentists, hygienists and therapists.
Last time we were surprised at

how many dentists had signed
up, and I feel that dentists would
be the ones to benefit most as
this subject is not one they would
have covered in depth before. Hygienists and therapists will have
covered this in their training, and
this presentation will help to give

an update in that knowledge.”
To find out more about the
Dentsply Academy series or to
book your place on this or any
of the webinars, go to www.
dentalwebinars.co.uk
or
call
02074008989. DT

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when placing Class II Direct Composites
By Robert A. Lowe, D.D.S.
®

Prestige Dental Products Ltd.
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West Yorkshire, BD3 OEF. UK
phone: +44 (0) 1274 721 567
fax:
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email: info@prestige-dental.co.uk
web: www.prestige-dental.co.uk

“I love the Composi-Tight System. Every
once in awhile a product comes along that
truly fills a need, and this is one of them.
Thanks for a great product.”
Dr. David Sickinger Dover, Ohio

[10] =>

Behind Every Good
Company is a First
Class Team
A

s the UK’s largest
independent full
service dental
dealer, The Dental
Directory is second to
none. Combining
exceptional service that
guarantees fast, next day
delivery and highly
dedicated staff, The Dental
Directory is backed by a
national sales force and
the best dental sundries
and equipment in the
world. No wonder its
number one!
To maintain the standards
of such a highly respected
company, it is vital that
there is a team of
exceptional staff ready to
field any enquiry, support
consultants and deliver
top quality customer
service – not an easy job!
At The Dental Directory a
40 strong team of
experienced customer
service agents are waiting
to take your call.

Kirby Noble is a Team
Leader within the
Customer Support and
Sales Team at
The Dental Directory and
explains her role,
‘I manage a team of four
staff members internally
within our office, and we
support four Business
Consultants that work
externally. I deal with their
customer orders and
queries, which can vary
enormously. In some cases
a query could be better
explained by the Business
Consultant, so my team
will facilitate the meeting
between the customer and
consultant.’
The Customer Support
and Sales team is like the
nerve centre of The Dental
Directory, behind the
scenes supplying all areas
with the flow of
information needed to
function effectively and

efficiently. The team
provides unwavering
support to customers,
Business Consultants,
other team members and
departments, which is
essential in terms of
customer service and
satisfaction. Kirby
Noble explains,
‘Our team is in constant
contact with customers via
phone and email; this
enables us to always
provide the quickest
responses and not miss any
important issues or queries.
In addition to dealing with
customers, we are also in
regular contact with our
Business Consultants to
ensure that they have
everything that they need
in terms of current prices
and information whilst
they’re out on the road. If
our Consultants are unable
to provide the customer
with the appropriate
information, the customer

is put straight through to us
where we will strive to
resolve any issues that they
may have.’
‘We provide a high level of
continuity within our
department which is vital;
we all have our own
specific customers and are
therefore always fully up
to date in terms of our
customer needs. This is
really essential as it helps
to avoid crossed wires,
inefficiency and provide
that personal service that
our customers deserve.’
Queries regarding prices
are the most common and
as Kirby Noble points out;
‘We are regularly asked
about prices. You find that

customers are, quite
naturally, always hunting
for the best deals and
are always pleased to
hear that we are able to
price - match.’
The pricewatch strategy
means that prices are
constantly monitored. This
ensures that whatever
happens in the market
place, dentists dealing with
The Dental Directory can
be sure that they will
always receive the best
possible deal.
‘We are frequently asked
to set up new accounts
and, once the new
customer is on the system,
their information is passed
onto the local Business

[11] =>

“We receive fantastic
customer feedback
and feel proud of
the services that
we offer.”
Consultant who will then
endeavour to develop that
relationship further. This
ensures that the customer
is always happy and has a
direct point of contact.’
Working as part of the
Customer Support and
Sales team within such a
well-respected company
can be hard work, but the
team at The Dental
Directory maintains a
remarkable level of

organisation, efficiency
and dedication. Kirby
Noble explains,
‘We are constantly busy!
We have a large volume of
incoming customer queries
requiring a constantly high
standard of customer
service, in addition to
which we are regularly
dealing with our Business
Consultants’ requests.
These are extremely
important as we are relied

upon to supply those on
the road with whatever
they need. Our team
focuses heavily on
prioritising our workloads
and maintaining high
levels of organisation so it
all runs smoothly.’
Keeping up to date
with the latest product
developments is essential
for this customer focused
team and Kirby Noble was
supported throughout her
training by The Dental
Directory. Training is
ongoing and regularly
given to maintain the
top quality service that
customers have come to
expect. Throughout the
year there is a set schedule
of external companies that
provide demonstrations of
new and existing products

to staff members enabling
them to understand and
visualise the product.
‘One of the fastest growing
areas of customer interest
is Decontamination and
HTM 01-05. We have
specific training in this
area so that we can answer
most questions. However,
if the customer wants more
detailed information on a
product, we can arrange
for a Business Consultant
to visit them.’
The Dental Directory
doesn’t boast outstanding
customer service without
good reason. Thanks
to the consistently
high levels of staff
communication, tasks are
always fully understood
and customers are always

considered the number
one priority.
‘At The Dental Directory
we believe that customers
should be treated in the
same way that we
ourselves would expect to
be treated. We receive
fantastic customer
feedback and feel proud of
the services that we offer.’
For more information
speak to your Dental
Directory Representative
or call 0800 585 586 or
visit us online at dentaldirectory.co.uk

Come and meet
The Dental Directory
team at BDTA
Showcase 2010
at stand A01, A02
& B01

[12] =>

12 Practice Manaegment
Does your legionella
control comply with
HTM 01‑05 and the Health
& Safety Commission’s
Code of Practice?
THE REGULATIONS
Paragraphs 19.1 – 19.68 in Section 3 of HTM 01-05 are
specifically focused on control of legionella in Dental
Practices and Paragraphs 6.75 to 6.9 address Dental Unit
Water Lines as well. Practices must also comply with the
Health & Safety Commission’s Approved Code of Practice
(L8) on the control of legionella bacteria in Water Systems.
THE RISKS
Walker et al (2000) studied 55 Dental Unit Water Systems
(DUWS) in 21 practices and found that 95% failed current
EU Potable water guidelines on microbial load and 83%
failed American Dental Association recommendations
for DUWS water quality. They also report 2 studies which
found legionella presence ranging from 6% to 25% in
dental environments.
THE PROBLEM
Dental Unit Water Lines are an ideal environment for microorganisms as they attach themselves to the tubing, forming
a layer of biofilm. As the water in DUWL’s often becomes
stagnant at the end of sessions or over a weekend it can
also act as a reservoir for micro-organisms to flourish.
THE SOLUTION
Continu Alcohol Free
Disinfectant for Dental
Unit Water Lines has been
specifically designed to
strip away biofilm. What’s
more, with a kill rate of
99.9998%, it prevents
colonies reforming
and, with its residual
decontamination effect,
it continues working for
several days after application.
THE RESULTS
Case studies often show high levels of microbial
presence particularly in water bottles, tubing and hand
pieces, which are eliminated after applying Continu.
Readings remain below recommended levels for up to
10 days even without further treatment, and a weekly
disinfection regime with Continu maintains the DUWL
above required standards.
MICROBIOLIGICAL
MONITORING
By using an ATP meter that
accurately measures the presence
of micro-organisms, Nuview is able
to provide a quick and verifiable
assessment of cleanliness, along
with a set of results that can be
used to establish trends over a
period of time.
Continu – the next generation of ultra-effective,
ultra-safe and environmentally friendly HTM 01-05
compliant anti-microbial disinfectants.

For further information contact
Mike Loftus, Nuview Ltd,
Vine House, Selsley Road, North
Woodchester, Glos, GL5 5NN
Tel: +44 (0) 1453 872266
Fax: +44 (0) 1453 872288
Email: continu@nuview-ltd.com
Web: www.voroscopes.co.uk

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2009

Getting ahead
It’s too easy to get stuck in a rut and lose the direction of your practice, says Jonathan Wood, who offers some simple solutions to help you move forward

ell-known
business
leader Sir John Harvey Jones once commented to an audience of dental
professionals that there is no such
thing as a neutral gear in business. He stated that there were essentially only two gears; forward
or reverse.
It is interesting to explain this
concept to the many practice owners that I have met over the years,
who are actively pouring all of
their efforts into making their
practice a success. Practitioners
in today’s financial climate are often dealing with a double edged
sword; on the one hand they are
celebrating an upturn in turnover, and on the other, they are
discovering that in reality, profit
is no better than the year before.
Sadly in some cases, a lot less.

‘Your patients need
to be able to see,
feel and identify
your clinical and
business values;’
In some instances, these practitioners decide simply to accept
that the turnover is as good as it
can be and instead launch into
an overhead cost-cutting exercise. Unfortunately, this is totally
counter-productive. Not only does
it generally reduce the likelihood
of turnover increasing, it also
lowers staff morale and therefore
affects potential earnings.
Stuck in reverse
I often hear of a practice carrying
on in this vein, while maintaining
an enthusiastic, ethical approach.
However, businesses like this are
sadly never engaged in forward
gear, but instead the profits are in
reverse and making a slow steady
decline. This said, there are some
notable exceptions. Some practices have chosen to embark on
major exercises whereby they
seek to grow the understanding,
skill set and team dynamics of the
practice in order to keep up with
21st-century demands; this puts
them firmly in forward gear even
during a recession.
So, if you are unsure as to
where exactly you are taking your
practice, please read on.
You may be one of many practitioners whose practice is situated in an “out of the way” area of
the country and who is currently
thinking that there is nothing else

Do you want your practice to go forward or in reverse?

you can do. This is a natural emotion and one that can be de-motivating and damaging for morale;
I felt the same anxieties and emotions in my first practice in Macclesfield back in the 1980s.
However, while each practice and each individual part of
the country will need a different approach, the basic ingredients remain the same. All over
the British Isles there are some
extremely experienced accountants, trainers and coachers who
successfully tackle this sort of
problem every day. There are no
quick fixes, but by adhering to the
model that successful businesses
use and employ professional expertise to assist you in developing
the skills that you and your team
need, it is entirely possible to
reignite your practice and deliver
above and beyond your current
expectations.
The basic ingredients:
Reviewing your leadership
skills
One key aspect all highly successful businesses have in common is
they are fronted by people with
outstanding leadership skills.
Some people naturally have these
qualities, while others do not.
Either way, you have the opportunity to hone your existing abilities or focus on developing these
skills; they are vital to running
an outstanding practice. Without
them you will only ever be running on neutral.
Understanding your practice
values
Your patients need to be able to
see, feel and identify your clinical
and business values; in essence
your brand. Branding is vital and
you cannot escape it. Without
a general consensus regarding
clinical protocols and attitudes to
patients, you won’t ever achieve a

really powerful brand.
Your vision – your plan
To get the process started, ask
yourself how, in an ideal world,
would your practice be run? If
you have difficulty, a professional coach can assist with this exercise, don’t be one of the many
people I hear saying, ‘if only I’d
been helped to do this at the start
of my career!’
The whole team must have a
clear understanding of the values and brand of your business
and what the expected customer
experience is. By having team
meetings, your expectations can
be laid out and staff members
will have the opportunity to raise
any issues or anxieties that they
have with regards to the direction that the practice is moving in. Whenever I have done
this in my own practice, outside
assistance has always proved
invaluable. DT

About the author
Jonathan
Wood is a coach
with
Breathe
Business
and
a dentist with
nearly 30 years’
experience. Currently he is a
partner in a sixroom private practice in Jersey
in the Channel Islands. He has
lectured internationally and now
enjoys utilising his experience
and wide range of skills for business coaching and development
for other dental practices through
Breathe Business. For more
information on how Breathe
Business can help you develop,
plan and achieve your vision for
your business, call the Breathe
Team on 0845 299 7209 or email
ernie@nowbreathe.co.uk.

[13] =>

Infection Control Tribune
Infection Control Tribune

A team effort

All the practical team is responsible for infection
control says Richard Musgrave

Infection Control Tribune

View from the hygienist

Mhari Coxon looks at infection control issues
from a solitary standpoint

pages 15-16

pages 17-18

So, when is good
enough, enough?
Are current methods of keeping infection at bay
broken and in need of fixing? Neel Kothari finds out

W

hen British surgeon
Joseph Lister first experimented with the
use of carbolic acid (phenol) during surgery to prevent infections,
he was able to quickly reduce
infection rates; this process was
to be known as antisepsis. Since
then, the adoption of further
measures such as thorough hand
washing and the wearing of disposable gloves has further helped
to cut infection rates.

have remained valid to this day.
Generally considered a precursor to minimising infection,
asepsis is where procedures are
carried out free from diseasecausing contaminants, such
as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and
parasites. However, elimination of infection is the goal of
asepsis, not sterility. So in today’s
modern age, why does this not
seem enough? The answer:
Prions.

Lawson Tait went from antisepsis to asepsis, introducing
principles and practices that

Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a family of rare

progressive neurodegenerative
disorders that affect both humans
and animals. They are distinguished by long incubation periods, characteristic spongiform
changes associated with neuronal loss, and a failure to induce
inflammatory response. The
problem they impart to dentistry

‘Prion diseases or
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a
family of rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders
that affect both humans and animals.
is that they cannot be effectively
removed with standard sterilisation measures.
Control guidelines
In 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) set control
guidelines on TSE and in section
3.2 stated that, ‘Although epidemiological investigation has not
revealed any evidence that dental
procedures lead to increased risk
of iatrogenic transmission of TSEs
among humans, experimental
studies have demonstrated that
animals infected by intra-peritoneal inoculation develop a significant level of infectivity in gingival

Hand washing is only part of infection control best practice

à DT page 14

[14] =>

14 Infection Control Tribune

United Kingdom Edition

ß DT page 13

and dental pulp tissues’.
WHO consultants agreed that
for procedures not involving neurovascular tissues, the standard
cross infection policies were sufficient, but they did not come to a
consensus on major dental treatments.
Now of course, as a minimum
standard, patients should expect
to be treated in a safe and clean
environment, but are our current
procedures broken and in need of
fixing? If they are then of course
measures to protect patients need
to be introduced, but given the
potential cost and burden of additional bureaucracy, are these
policy measures based on sound
evidence and is there any proof
that patients are actually better
off as a result?
The real question we must ask
in relation to our cross infection
policies is just exactly when is
enough, enough? After all, there
seems to be a real difference in
cost and burden between getting instruments ‘clean’ and getting instruments ‘sterile’. As yet,
it remains to be seen whether it
is truly realistic to work in a sterile field when an aseptic field is
more easily achievable; after all,
regardless of any measures designed to get instruments super,
super clean, the most bacteriaridden area in any dental operating field is likely to be in the patient’s mouth.
Further red tape?
Over the past few years, I think
we have all seen the burden of
bureaucracy imposed on us by
the tsunami of policy change designed to improve our profession.
While a drop in access figures,
complex treatment items and rise
in tooth extractions seem to be
among the main outcomes of the
2006 contract, it seems that what
central Government has introduced is further red tape through
the introduction of cross infection policies fit for complex brain
surgery rather than general dentistry. We are yet to see the stance
our new coalition Government
will take.
It seems that the profession is

deeply sceptical about the scale of
the standards demanded by HTM
01-05. Barring manufacturers, in
my opinion, it’s not yet clear who
else benefits from these changes. I would like to think that the
overwhelming reasons to introduce these changes are evidence
based, rather than merely to provide the Department of Health
(DH) some form of legal cover,
but I guess without objective external assessment the policies
imposed will continue to remain
questioned by GDPs like myself.
Carrying the burden

September 13-19, 2010

measures, such as disposable
gloves and masks. The challenge
introduced by Prions clearly
needs special attention, given its
potentially lethal consequences.
Another hurdle?
However, history has shown that
dentists have a clear willingness
to embrace change when that
change has a sound evidence
base. Clearly the DH has an important role in regulating practices that currently have less than
satisfactory cross-infection policies. But will introducing cross-

‘I feel the profession is quite right to question the science behind the guidance, given
that other industries where cross infection
may occur, such as tattooists, belly-button
piercers and even restaurants, are subject to
comparatively ‘light touch’ regulation.’
While many recent policies have
acted to standardise cross-infection guidance for many areas
within the NHS, if this is merely a
legal exercise rather than a practical one the issue of funding is
also raised; unlike the hospital
sector, GDPs are left to carry the
financial burden themselves.
I feel the profession is quite
right to question the science behind the guidance, given that
other industries where cross infection may occur, such as tattooists, belly-button piercers and
even restaurants, are subject to
comparatively ‘light touch’ regulation. Surely no one would suggest that pubs and restaurants
must have washer-disinfectors
or steam autoclaves, would they?
And if they did, how would their
trade organisations react?
In my opinion, dental practices across the UK can be proud
to embrace cross-infection measures based on available evidence
as science has progressed over
the past few decades. We have
developed Joseph Lister’s early
work, to a point where it is now
considered ‘bad practice’ not to
have simple barrier protection

GDPs are facing the challenges of providing safe care and managaing cost effectiveness

infection measures filled to the
seams with bureaucracy actually
raise the standards from the bottom up, or merely add another
hurdle for those already implementing good cross-infection
procedures?
We are yet to see whether our
new coalition Government will
also bring a new direction to dentistry, but for the time being, it
seems the age of austerity is upon
us. While the NHS budget has
been ring-fenced, this does not
mean that the coffers will be overflowing – all departments must
demonstrate ‘value for money’. Of
course patient protection must be
paramount for any Government,
but before new measures are implemented, let us hope the new
coalition is absolutely sure that
the old measures are in need of
fixing. DT

About the author
Neel Kothari qualified as
a dentist from
Bristol
University Dental
School in 2005,
and currently
works in Cambridge as an
associate within the NHS. He
has completed a year-long
postgraduate certificate in implantology at UCL’s Eastman
Dental Institute, and regularly
attends postgraduate courses
to keep up-to-date with current best practice. Immediately post graduation, he was
able to work in the older NHS
system and see the changes
brought about through the
introduction of the new NHS
system. Like many other dentists, he has concerns for what
the future holds within the
NHS and as an NHS dentist,
appreciates some of the difficulties in providing dental
healthcare within this widely
criticised system.

[15] =>

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010 Infection Control Tribune

A team effort

Protection from cross-infection depends on
the commitment and co-operation of the entire practice team, says Richard Musgrave

H

ealthcare professionals
at every level and in every discipline can never
forget the ever-present risk of
cross infection. The knowledge
and application of preventive
protocols is today more important than ever before, with more
sophisticated and even international social intercourse likely to
introduce a widening spectrum
of pathogens into the clinical environment.
In the context of cross-infection, a pathogen is defined as a
transmissible biological agent,
which disrupts the wellbeing of
its host. Usually in the form of a
micro-organism, pathogens can
infect a host body via the skin
and mucous membranes, inhalation, ingestion, injection, implantation and through the placenta to an embryo in utero, and
all of these routes are relevant in
everyday dental practice.

Protecting yourself
Although advances in medical
science have greatly improved
the diagnosis and treatment
prognosis of pathogen-inspired
infections,
the
responsibility of practice staff to protect
themselves, their colleagues
and their patients from possible
cross-infection remains undiminished. The aggressive nature
of many pathogens dictates that all
blood, saliva and gingival fluids

should be regarded as potentially
dangerous reservoirs of transmissible disease, with control procedures scrupulously observed
in every case.

01-05 Decontamination Protocols, a comprehensive, updated
statement of the guidelines for
clinical hygiene procedures designed to ensure the safety of

‘To safeguard both the wearer and others within the practice from the dangers
of pathogen transfer, personal protective
equipment and clothing must be worn
without exception whenever appropriate.’
The most frequent occurrences of cross-infection are the
result of a failure to observe correct procedures in three principal areas – hand hygiene, equipment sterilisation, and omitting
to wear designated personal protective clothing.
Scrupulous attention to detail is vital during the cleaning,
disinfection and sterilisation of
instruments and equipment after
each use.
To safeguard both the wearer
and others within the practice
from the dangers of pathogen
transfer, personal protective
equipment and clothing must be
worn without exception whenever appropriate.
In 2009, the Department of
Health (DH) published the HTM

both clinical staff and the public from fluid-borne infections,
with particular reference to dental practices. These guidelines
cover:
• The use of personal protection
equipment
• Aerosols and splashes
• Surgery cleaning protocols
• The use of disposable instruments and sundries
• Instrument decontamination
• Sterilisation
• New instruments
• Aseptic storage
• Equipment repair
• Waste disposal
• The safe use and disposal of
sharps
• Training in hygiene procedures
• Communication
• The monitoring of infection
control techniques.
Rigid adherence to these
guidelines should ensure the
safety of staff, patients and practice visitors at all times throughout the practice.
Special treatment
Standard hygiene procedures
must be applied to every patient,
but there may be occasions when
special measures are needed, for
example if a patient presents
themselves with a pre-existing
transmissible medical condition.
A first appointment questionnaire should ascertain any
specific risks, which should be
monitored thereafter. Admissions staff should be aware that
patients may not know they are
carrying an infection, and some
who do know may not be prepared to admit it in response to
questioning. This lack of certainty emphasises the importance of
rigorously enforcing all standard
hygiene procedures for every patient at all times.
It is in the best interests of
the practice, as well as the individual, to ensure that all staff

Cross infection control within the practice should be a team effort

à DT page 16

15

[16] =>

16 Infection Control Tribune

United Kingdom Edition

ß DT page 15

are immunised against the more
common illnesses, typically
measles, mumps, rubella and tuberculosis, although today, this
is not the threat it once was.
Clinical staff who come into
contact with soiled instruments
or bodily fluids should also be
immunised against hepatitis B,
the only blood borne infection
against which this protection is
currently available. Staff should
always be familiar with their

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September 13-19, 2010

immunisation status, which
should offer peace of mind as
well as a measure of security.
Training staff
Protection from cross-infection
depends on the commitment
and co-operation of the entire practice team. The chain is
only as strong as its weakest
link, and a single breach of
procedure,
however
slight,
introduces
increased
risk
throughout the practice. All
staff should be fully trained
in hygiene procedures, with
particular attention being paid
to the competence of newcomers; they must understand
their respective roles and be
confident in their execution. In
addition to adequate training,

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‘It is in the best
interests of the
practice, as well
as the individual,
to ensure that all
staff are immunised
against the more
common illnesses,
typically measles,
mumps, rubella
and tuberculosis.’
which should be confirmed by
the issue of a signed copy of the
Department of Health protocols
to each individual, staff meetings should be held at regular
intervals to review and discuss
possible improvements to the
practice’s
infection
control
schedules. DT

About the author

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Richard
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the range of infection control products as well as the
acclaimed infection control
training division, Richard is
now responsible for the UK
marketing team. He attributes
the success of Schülke to the
quality of its product and its
dedication to providing the
best possible support to the
dental profession, both in the
UK and beyond. This commitment is demonstrated
through Schülke’s association with leading companies
such as Dental Protection, for
example. More information
on infection control training
is available from Schülke on
0114 254 3500 or by visiting
www.s4dental.com.

[17] =>

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

Cross infection: a
hygienist’s point of view
Mhari Coxon insists we must all take responsibility
for raising the standard of care in our profession

ith HTM01-05 now
giving a clear benchmark for us all, we
have to think about what we do
in practice. Keeping standards is
our professional duty, regardless
of the working environment.
At our practice, as a team
we’ve had several meetings to
iron out the small kinks in our
protocol and plan our own conversion of a small area of the
practice into our central sterilisation room. This is not easy in a
listed building, I can tell you.
Meeting standards
But infection control is tricky for
those of us in Locum positions
and self-employed. How do you
cope when you walk into a surgery that is not meeting the best
practice guidelines? I know this
should be a hypothetical question, but in reality, there will be
practices out there which are
not confirming.
Do we now include barriers and surface cleaners in our
ever-expanding work cases, to
ensure we meet standards? Do
we need enough instrument kits
to do a whole day, so we are not
relying on the practice facilities?
As it is unlikely we can transport
a washer disinfector with us,
how do we then transport our
instruments prior to cleaning?
In reality, as a self-employed locum, we do need to think about
this. Communication as always
is key to ensuring you have all
the things you need to facilitate
quality control.

Time management and infection control
All of these things need to be addressed while working within
the practice time frame. Unfortunately, many practices still offer
20-minute, unaided hygienist appointments. I think it is fairly obvious why these practices don’t
use permanent staff in a lot of
cases. So, how do you time manage effective infection control in
between clients?
More often than not, hygienists are not supported by nursing
staff in practice and are responsi-

thought out hospital departments, who else has time allocated at the beginning and end of
each day to allow for good practice? Most practices will expect
you to arrive early and stay late,
unpaid, to ensure the surgery is
prepared and cleaned down.
Assessing your current
practice
We do need to revisit our personal approach to infection control at regular intervals. Things
change and we all know that
corners can be cut when we are
under pressure and it is impor-

‘More often than not, hygienists are not
supported by nursing staff in practice
and are responsible for their own surgery
cleaning. To ensure adequate environment
control and to maintain the standards required, this can eat into appointment time,
unless it is well thought out’
ble for their own surgery cleaning. To ensure adequate environment control and to maintain the
standards required, this can eat
into appointment time, unless it
is well thought out.
Perhaps locum companies
should be asking for proof of
certification when this comes
into effect to ensure the safety of
their locums? Perhaps we need
to address this through our societies and groups to bring about
a change to appointment schedules? Apart from some very well

Maintaining standards is assisited by regular receiving of your approach to infection control

tant to recognise when standards are dropping and rectify
this. We are human and errors
do occur, which is why repeating knowledge is so useful to
minimise this. It is why the core
subjects came as compulsory
and quite right too.
CPD and cross-infection
Please do not take the following
information as anything other
than comment from experience.
The amount of CPD available,
with regards to infection control,
à DT page 18

Infection Control Tribune 17

[18] =>

18 Infection Control Tribune
ß DT page 17

is immense and its quality varying. You need to look at what you
hope to get out of your CPD then
chose the source that suits your
needs most.
I can highly recommend
Quintessences’s handbook on
Infection Control for the Dental
Team from its Quint Essentials
range ((Michael Martin, Martin Fulford, Tony Preston. ISBN:
978-1-85097-132-0 www.quintpub.co.uk). Having the pleasure

of meeting two of the three authors and enjoying their no-nonsense approach to infection control, I was looking forward to this
book. It did not disappoint. Laid
out in well-headed chapters, the
book makes it easy to access information on the subject you are
interested in. Each chapter has
clear aims and objectives, and
could be used for in-house development as a team, which would
be very useful.
Each chapter also has a

United Kingdom Edition

conclusion and further reading
suggestions for those needing
to understand each section in
more depth. The practical advice
on meeting best practice and
templates provided at the back
of the book make this a musthave book in practice, for
ensuring best practice. Our
practice
manager,
dental
nurse and practice head have
all referred to this book inour meetings and feel it meets
our needs in terms of in-house
training.

Don’t bury your head to infection control

There are also several com-

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September 13-19, 2010

panies who cover all core subjects in one day, which can be
a convenient way of obtaining
these points. If you need inhouse advice from a non-judgemental adviser, Carmel Maher
from Optident is the right person.
Her knowledge is fantastic and

‘It is not OK for us to
shrug our shoulders
and pass the buck.
Imagine if a member
of your family was
entering a clinical
environment you
didn’t think was
clean enough. Raising the standard of
care in our profession is all of our
responsibility.’
she can apply this into day-today practice effortlessly.
Don’t bury your head
Even if you work in one practice, and are employed, you are
still responsible for your own
actions and as a registrant of
the GDC, must follow a code of
ethics making sure you put your
patients best interests first. If you
have concerns about standards
where you work, your first port
of call should be the practice
principle, unless you have a designated line manager. Talking to
your dental protection company
is confidential and can help to
give you find the right approach.
It is not OK for us to shrug our
shoulders and pass the buck. Imagine if a member of your family
was entering a clinical environment you didn’t think was clean
enough. Raising the standard of
care in our profession is all of
our responsibility. DT

About the author
Mhari Coxon is
a dental hygienist
practising in Central London. She
is chairman of the
London British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy
(BSDHT) regional
group and is on the publications committee of its journal, Dental Health.
She is also clinical director of CPDforDCP, which provides CPD courses
for all DCPs. To contact her, email
mhari.coxon@cpdfordcp.co.uk.

[19] =>

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

Infection Control Tribune 19
This is an advertising feature

Essential quality requirements

Ken Turley, explains the implications of the new decontamination guidelines

A

s the new Department
of Health guidelines for
decontaminating dental
instruments begin to take effect,
uncertainty is rife across the industry. It’s vital that the person
responsible for ensuring compliance fully understands the
new requirements, and in most
practices this is more likely to
be the senior nurse or practice
manager than the dentist.
What do the guidelines
apply to?
Fortunately, the guidance is
straightforward, with the ‘Essential Quality Requirements’
stipulating the use of only validated decontamination equipment followed by advice on how
to achieve ‘Best Practice’ by using the ideal layout for the decontamination environment and
the optimum methods of storing
clean instruments.

‘Only the Essential
Quality Requirements will apply
immediately, but
dentists need to
think ahead as it
is certain that Best
Practice will eventually
become the only acceptable standard.’

complacency.
With leading infection control
specialists offering compliance
surveys, there is no excuse for
any dental practice not to meet
the new minimum standards.
Volume is the principal factor,
which determines a practice’s

decontamination system. Backlogs can only be avoided with a
sound policy, adequate and reliable equipment and trained staff.
How can YoYo help?
Yoyo provides a comprehensive,
turnkey service, which brings
hospital standards of surgery

hygiene and clinical decontamination to dental practices
nationwide. The service comprises a survey of the existing
regime, a policy review and ultimately installation of the latest
technology, including full fitting
of the LDU (extending to flooring and cabinetry). For smaller

practices, a fully compliant LDU
can be installed in an area only
1.6m x 2m.
No practice can afford to
compromise on decontamination standards and an effective,
à DT page 20

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Only the Essential Quality Requirements will apply immediately, but dentists need to
think ahead as it is certain that
Best Practice will eventually
become the only acceptable
standard.
The new guidelines are not
expected to advocate major
changes in methodology (it’s
unlikely that the concept of
separate Local Decontamination Units (LDUs) will be abandoned), but their more stringent
decontamination requirements
will make investment in highquality solutions advisable as
soon as possible.
Who needs to seek guidance?

Even practices where procedures have been specifically designed to meet present requirements should seek advice from
a reputable provider of hospital-standard
decontamination
solutions to ensure that their
confidence is not misplaced.
Several Primary Care Trusts
have already noted that their
practices are not meeting the
Essential Quality Requirements
– a clear indication of dangerous

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[20] =>

20 Infection Control Tribune

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2010

This is an advertising feature
ß DT page 19

of both budgets and planning.

bespoke solution can be tailored to suit the practice budget. The stakes are high, as any
failure in hygiene may lead to
legal action.

What does the service entail?
The initial survey should identify the actions needed to meet
the new guidelines and enable
progress towards Best Practice,
and offer objective advice based
on the practice’s individual circumstances.

Upgrading
decontamination systems is a major step
and cannot be undertaken incrementally, but with the right
support and advice, dentists can
achieve compliance while still
remaining in complete control

A company such as YoYo will
then consult with the dentist to
develop a planning strategy. The
ideal LDU requires a separate

room, with used instruments
moving from the inspection area
housing the washer disinfector
to the clean area containing the
steriliser and packing surface.
Bespoke solutions are available
for difficult or confined locations. Sporicidal disinfectants for
surfaces and decontamination
systems for water lines are also
available.
How will I benefit?
The latest generation of UKmanufactured autoclaves and

The ideal LDu requiresa a separate room

washer disinfectors is not only

reliable, in correct use these
units will automatically meet or
exceed the standards demanded
by the new memorandum. Many
feature touch-screen controls
and other advanced attributes,
which constrain the possibility of
human error and include cycle
validation and test programmes
that reduce the frequency of
engineer maintenance visits.
Validation data is wirelessly
received and stored on the practice computer and can be recalled
whenever confirmation of a cycle
is required.

‘Several Primary
Care Trusts have
already noted that
their practices are
not meeting the
Essential Quality
Requirements.’
YoYo has itself designed an
autoclave, drawing on the experience of specialist decontamination engineers, which has its own,
easy-to-clean, detachable used
water reservoir to eliminate the
risks and inconvenience associated with separate water containers.
Is YoYo accredited?
Dentists investing in an upgraded
decontamination system need to
be confident they are dealing with
a reputable company which will
not only service, but guarantee
its equipment satisfies mandatory
standards both now and into the
future. YoYo undertakes to support its client practices and ensure
compliance with HTM_O1- 05 for
up to five years post installation
and offers a wide range of service
and call-out packages. DT

About the author
Ken Turley
is the founding director of
the YoYo Dental
Group. Following a 17-year
military career,
Ken worked globally in the mobile telecomms
industry until 2003 when he
became the managing director of Salpharma, a 35-year-old
hospital autoclave company providing decontamination equipment which he later acquired
and re-branded as YoYo in 2006.
For more information, call
YoYo on 0845 241 5776, email
info@yoyodental.com or visit
www.yoyodental.com.

[21] =>

[22] =>

22 Education

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2010

Transforming misconceptions
Many potential patients are intrigued by facial aesthetics have been put off by horror stories in the press,
but are likely to relax and consider a treatment plan if
things are fully explained, says Bob Khanna

C
The UK’s leading supplier of
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onsumers are becoming more and more
aware of what is going
on in the world of facial aesthetics. The sheer amount of
information available in the
media means there are now
millions of patients around
the country who feel they
are ‘specialists’ in the field,
despite the fact none of
them have ever picked up a
syringe, or are ever likely to.
It can be frustrating when
a patient enters your surgery
and appears to know all there
is to know about the treatment
you are about to carry out,
simply from reading something
in Heat magazine about the latest treatment a celebrity has
had. I understand that people
are keen to research the treatment they are about to undergo, however, the media only
ever seems to write about nonevidence
based
procedures
and the horror stories – neither
of which are necessarily the
best information to base one’s
beliefs on.
Negative impact
If people come to my clinics,
having read countless horror
stories in the press in the run
up to their appointment, they
are often nervous and uncommunicative, with their mind
full of negative preconceptions. It is then very difficult for
them to absorb any positive
suggestions that my staff or
I might make, and they may
leave the clinic having not got
the best out of their visit.
Having said that, some patients are very well informed,
and have obviously spent a lot
of time and effort finding out
all they can about the procedure
they are planning to embark on,
although unfortunately, they are
in the minority.

For more information please
contact your dental retailer
www.septodont.co.uk
Anaesthetics • Endodontics
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Prosthetic Dentistry • Disinfection & Hygiene

As a practitioner, I feel that
it is my responsibility to fully
explain the treatment options
available to each individual
patient. Every face is unique,
so it is impossible to suggest
that a standard treatment can
be performed in order to solve
every concern. For example,
even if you have two patients who want a treatment to smooth out crow’s
feet, you may not necessarily
suggest you peform the exact
same procedure. Other factors
may have to be considered, and
it is the role of the professional

to explain this fully to the patient.
Open to suggestions
Fortunately, I find that regardless of how informed they
are, most patients are open to
suggestions. People enter my
clinics wanting to leave feeling
relaxed and refreshed, but are
not sure how best to go about
it. I am usually able to offer
them a treatment plan designed
to give them the final effect
they desire, but maybe not using the processes that they were
expecting. Technology in this

The fact that these new and
exciting treatments are well
publicised in the press, both
trade and consumer, means
not
only
are
the
patients
themselves
more
aware
of
the
treatments,
but their GPs and dentists are
also kept more inthe loop –
meaning referrals are more and
more commonplace.
The
numerous
articles
in the press and on websites dedicated to speculating who’s had what done,

‘If people are educated in the correct way, a
little bit of background knowledge can be a
distinct advantage. However, it entirely depends how and from whom the patient has
received the education. ’
field is moving so fast, I can
often suggest new and exciting evidence-based methods to
patients they haven’t even heard
about yet.
If people are educated in
the correct way, a little bit of
background knowledge can be
a distinct advantage. However,
it entirely depends how and
from whom the patient has received the education. In order
for any professional to fully
explain the benefits of facial
aesthetic treatments, they would
need to understand the procedures and treatments available.
This is knowledge that frankly,
most people just do not have. In
my opinion, if a practitioner is
not 100 per cent confident in
the information that they are
planning to pass on to patients,
they should not say anything
at all, and instead should refer
the patient to a trained professional who can offer clear, trustworthy advice.
If a patient receives different information from various
people, the issue becomes more
and more confused and the poor
patient can often end up with
unrealistic, unobtainable expectations that simply cannot
be achieved.
Products available
One area that patients are
starting to become more aware
of is the wide range of uses
products such as Botox and
dermal fillers have, in the
area of facial aesthetics as
well in medical treatment.

and television programmes
such as Ten Years Younger
are making the public more
aware of facial aesthetic treatment than ever before. However,
word of mouth remains one of
the most effetive tools for
spreading information.
Now that treatment has become commonplace, most people know someone who has had
a facial aesthetic treatment. It is
human nature to be fascinated
by something like this, and I see
a lot of patients who enquire
having seen a friend who has
had treatment. Most people are
surprised at the natural look that
can be attained, and are keen to
see what they could achieve. DT

About the author
Dr
Bob
Khanna
is
widely regarded as one of the
world’s leading
exemplars of
dentistry and facial aesthetics. President and founder of
non-profit organisation The
International Academy for
Advanced Facial Aesthetics
(IAAFA), Dr Khanna heads
the only UK organisation to
combine medical and dental professionals. He is the
appointed clinical tutor in
facial aesthetics at the Royal
College of Surgeons and has
trained thousands of dentists
and doctors through the Dr Bob
Khanna Training Institute.

[23] =>

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[24] =>

24 Education

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2010

A growing market

Andrew McCance looks at how general dental practitioners
can benefit from the increasing interest in orthodontics

entistry in the UK has
seen an exponential
growth in orthodontic
treatment over the past decade.
The reasons for this are varied
and include the developments
in techniques and materials
relating to orthodontic work, as
well as increased patient awareness about the options available
to them.
New technology has allowed
a progression towards preventative dentistry that doesn’t
require invasive treatment, extractions or intensive interproximal reduction.
There has also been a shift in
the cost to the patient for treatment. Whereas veneers were
often quickly dismissed as an
option due to the costly, invasive
and time-consuming nature of
the treatment, alternatives can
now offer solutions to a range
of malocclusions that are affordable and quicker.
Better smiles
The private dental market has
seen an increased number of
adult patients seeking elective
treatments to improve their smile
aesthetic. The motivation for this
could be attributed to media portrayals through ‘makeover’ programmes, which promise radical
changes in appearance, thanks
to whitening and porcelain
laminate technology.
It could be a greater sense
of awareness about appearance
that prompts people to take ac-

willing to undergo orthodontic
treatment for tooth alignment
and malocclusion. (1)
In
an
ever-increasingly
competitive market, and with a
greater need to retain patients
in the practice, being able to offer an attractive package of treatments is now easier to achieve,
thanks to the development of
new techniques and materials.
One area that traditionally required clinicians to refer their
patients away from the practice
was orthodontic treatment. Naturally, the knowledge and skills
gained from the years of postgraduate study are invaluable,
but GDPs are now able to offer
patients with a wide range of
malocclusions a treatment plan
that, whilst designed by a trained
orthodontist, is delivered by the
general practitioner.
Three types of treatment
Traditionally, there are three
categories of orthodontic appliances: removable, fixed and
myofunctional. Each has their
share of advantages in terms of
patient compliance, speed and
cost, as well as their detractors,
in terms of aesthetic, impact on
health and longevity. For instance, there is evidence that
small cracks in the enamel surface are seen following removal
of orthodontic brackets. Such
cracks provide the potential for
caries to develop, discolouration
and possible partial tooth fracture (2) and that there were more
cracks with chemically bonded
ceramic brackets. (3)

‘Most clinicians would be amazed at the
range of malocclusions they can treat, in
child patients as well as adults, including
functional jaw correction and extrusion.’

tion over a smile they may deem
‘unattractive’: whatever the motivation, it has been noticed that
patients from higher socio-economic families/groups, and predominately females, are more

For most adults, fixed braces would not be a treatment
option because of their lack of
aesthetic appeal. From a clinician’s point of view, fixed braces also mean referring the pa-

For most adults, fixed braces would not be a treatment option because of their lack of aesthetic appeal.

tient away from their practice.
The technology behind removable positioners has developed remarkably over the
past five years. Most clinicians
would be amazed at the range of
malocclusions they can treat, in
child patients as well as adults,
including functional jaw correction and extrusion.
Aesthetically pleasing
Clear positioners have been
available to clinicians for several
years now and the capabilities
of systems like Clearstep have
improved immeasurably since
their inception. Two advances
of note have been the integration of clear positioners with
traditional mechanics to create
‘hybrid’ devices that remain essentially undetectable to anyone
except the wearer and clinician.
In fact, the range of potential
treatments is much greater than
when clear positioners were first
introduced; general practitioners
might benefit from a reappraisal
of the systems available.
The other development has
been in the way the clinician
can communicate the treatment
outcomes with the patient. Often,
relying on description alone isn’t
enough to convince a patient
how successful the treatment
will be. Now clinicians can use

a computer generated visualisation that gives a clear view of
how the alignment will occur
over the course of the treatment
plan. It’s a simple yet effective
way to gain patient acceptance
of the proposed treatment plan,
especially when the graphics
are based on the patients actual
teeth, and not a generic model:
the reaction to seeing the alignment being achieved is consistently positive.
Growing treatment ranges
As a general practitioner, being
able to address a wide range of
malocclusions in patients visiting the practice is a simple way
to broaden the range of treatments being offered, made more
attractive when the system also
offers finishing such as home
whitening. The system that
utilises clear positioners as well
as innovative appliances meets
the patients’ requirement for a
form of treatment that is noninvasive, avoids damaging the
dentine and is almost invisible
when being worn.
Clinicians can tackle orthodontic treatment of a wide range
of malocclusions confidently

when they have received suitable training and can rely on the
support of expert diagnostic and
laboratory support. DT

About the author
Since qualifying in dentistry from Glasgow University,
Dr
Andrew
McCance has
gained a wealth of experience
in multi-disciplinary practices.
He has held several distinguished positions including
senior house dental surgeon
at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and senior lecturer at Great
Ormond Street, developing his
expertise through a PhD at University College London. In the
mid 1990s, Dr McCance began
to develop the Clearstep brace,
based on the demands of the
4,000 patients treated annually
in his specialist practices. He is
currently taking his Clearstep
vision to a worldwide audience.
For more information, call the
OPT Laboratory & Diagnostic
Facility on 01342 337910, email
info@clearstep.co.uk or visit
www.clearstep.co.uk.

Refernces
1. Mitchell: An Introduction to Orthodontics, chapter 1. Oxford University Press, May
2007. 2.Zachrisson BU, Skogan O, Hoymyhr S. Enamel cracks in debonded, debanded,
andorthodontically untreated teeth. Am J Orthod 1980; 77: 307–319. 3. Artun J. A posttreatment evaluation of multibonded ceramic brackets in orthodontics . Eur J Orthod
1997; 19: 219–228

[25] =>

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INNOVATION BRINGS THEM TO LIFE.
Passion is the driving force through which Castellini achieves that accomplished blend of tradition and
technology. In each detail, the mark of design expertise intent on creating operative efficiency and
comfort in the dental environment.
SKEMA: a Castellini concept

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CASTELLINI Ltd.
Spare parts & Assistance
Ph. 0870.7560219
Fax 0194.2245809

LONDON & SOUTH EAST
CAPITAL DENTAL
0208.9429751

LONDON & SOUTH CENTRAL
DENTEC SERVICES
01582.492749

GLASGOW
C.E.I. SERVICES
01236.875059

WEST MIDLANDS,
SOUTH WALES & SOUTH WEST
CADENT Ltd. 01527.576345

EAST MIDLANDS,
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JGM DENTAL 01949.869085

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R.P.A. DENTAL 01942.245808
Free phone 08000933975

[26] =>

26 Feature

United Kingdom Edition

September 13-19, 2010

Grinding down the pain of
bruxism for your patients
Dr Barry Oulton discusses the troubling condition of bruxism

F

or millions of people
across the UK, waking
up with a headache, stiff
neck or aching jaw every morning, is as common as waking up
on a Monday and wishing it was
still the weekend. As dentists,
many of you will see patients
everyday that complain of issues
such as these, and if so, then it
is more than likely that they are
suffering from bruxism.
Affecting up to 80 per cent of
the population, bruxism is a condition that is not only incredibly
common, but also worryingly
under-diagnosed and poorly understood by a large percentage
of dentists. Broadly characterised by teeth grinding and jaw
clenching, bruxism causes tooth
wear and breakage, disorders of
the jaw and headaches to name
but a few symptoms. Although
sometimes a problem during
the day, nocturnal bruxism is
the most common and is usually the most damaging due to
our lack of motor or conscious
control over our movements or
their intensity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bruxism are wide
ranging, and include: TMD,
limitation of mouth opening, facial myalgia, migraines,
ear ache, stiffness in shoulders and neck, abnormal tooth
wear, fractured teeth, recession
of gums, excess tooth mobility and premature loss of teeth.
Although not technically a
dangerous disorder, bruxism
can be potentially debilitating as
it can cause insomnia, intense
pain and tinnitus for example,
which can result in the sufferer’s inability to function at a
‘normal’ level.
Dr Barry Oulton, Cosmetic
Dentist at the Haslemere Dental
Centre, has a long-term, passionate interest in the treatment
of bruxism, and in creating
greater public and professional
awareness of the condition. Dr
Oulton explains his dedication
to providing treatment for sufferers of bruxism, and also why
he thinks it is so important that
awareness of the condition becomes more widespread.
‘‘As dentists, we are all too
often fixated by teeth, and, as a
result, often miss problems with
muscles. Bruxism can cause
muscle tension, which in turn
can lead to referred pain. Some

patients presenting with a generalised toothache, more often
than not have a trigger point in
their temperoralis or masseter
that is producing a referred pain
which feels like toothache. I refer to Travell and Simons trigger point chart, and, once the
muscle has been massaged,
very often the pain goes away. It
is now commonplace for me to
focus initially on treating muscles before teeth, whilst of
course ruling out any dental
problems too.’’
In October 2010, S4S is
launching the first Bruxism
Awareness Week in order to
bring the issue into greater focus for both patients, and dental
professionals. Although many
practices across the country do
provide treatment for bruxism,
there is still a large number that
don’t. By raising awareness it is
hoped that more surgeries will
follow suit and offer the treatment that is necessary for this
troubling condition. It has been
reported that a frightening 50
per cent of staff in combat during the Gulf War have experienced PTSD; a condition that
has been heavily linked with the
occurrence of bruxism.
An increasing understanding
Dr Oulton welcomes the prospect of Bruxism Awareness
Week: ‘‘I think, and hope, that
the Bruxism Awareness Week
could potentially herald the
arrival
of
an
increasing
understanding in people with
regards to this incredibly common but highly destructive
condition. Not only does bruxism physically damage the
teeth and, by extension, the aesthetic appearance of the mouth,
it can also have a potentially
massive impact on a person’s
emotional wellbeing. I treated
a patient recently who had
been suffering from migraines
everyday for the last twenty
years and who had become extremely depressed and despondent as a result. After my initial
assessment, I concluded that
she was suffering from bruxism and so, after briefly explaining the condition and its symptoms, I prescribed an NTI-tss,
which I constructed chairside
and sent her home with. At
her two-week check-up, the
results were simply incredible.
She told me that after only a
day or two her migraines had
all but disappeared and that her

Dr Oulton: ‘‘I think, and hope, that the Bruxism Awareness Week could potentially herald the arrival of an increasing understanding in
people with regards to this incredibly common but highly destructive condition’’

quality of life had improved 100
per cent’’
Psychological effects
As Dr Oulton explained, the
psychological effects of bruxism can be as damaging as its
physical impact on teeth, and
without the right level of knowledge and understanding, dentists will continue to overlook
the condition and send patients
away without the treatment that
could so vastly improve their
life. In terms of treatment, there
are ways in which by using the
appropriate science and clinical understanding, symptoms
of bruxism can be limited and
controlled, and therefore tooth
damage and discomfort in the
patient can be alleviated. As a
condition, bruxism cannot be
‘cured’ as such, there will always be, to whatever extent, a
base level at which it occurs, but
the symptoms can certainly be
managed effectively if patients
are correctly diagnosed.
From regularly treating patients for bruxism, Dr Oulton
is well versed in the practical treatment options available
for sufferers, as he explains:
‘‘Most commonly, bite guards
and occlusal splints are used
in the treatment of bruxism.
Full coverage splints may
well protect the teeth from the
effects of bruxism, but usually do not result in a decrease
in muscle problems. For the
vast majority of my patients
who are being treated for

bruxism, I recommend the NTItss, which vastly reduces muscle problems.’’
Used since the 1930s, bite
guards and splints have played
an important role in the treatment of teeth clenching, bruxism and TMJ disorders. The
NTI-tss (Nociceptive Trigeminal
Inhibition – tension suppression system) from S4S is an increasingly popular and effective choice for dentists treating
patients for bruxism. Dr Oulton
himself wears an NTI device
nightly, and can’t stress enough
the difference that it makes.
‘‘The NTI-tss is such a simple device but one that makes
such an outstanding difference.
I wear one every night, and on
the occasions that I’ve been
unable to, I’ve woken up in intense pain which will then last
for several days. I am so confident in this device, that when
I prescribe them to clients I always offer a money back guarantee. That’s how good this
product is!’’
Grindcare
In addition to the NTI device,
S4S has also recently launched
a new treatment for bruxism
called Grindcare. Using groundbreaking technology, Grindcare measures the movement
of facial muscles during sleep
through a small electrode placed
on the temple. Clinical studies have shown that Grindcare
can reduce instances of bruxism by more than 50 per cent in

just three weeks, and up to 80
per cent after six–eight weeks.
Dr Oulton’s surgery is the first
Grindcare centre in the UK, and
he is confident in the positive
trajectory of the treatment.
‘‘I think that the Grindcare
solution from S4S is a really
important development in the
treatment of bruxism. If we
as dentists really get behind
the Bruxism Awareness Week,
and embrace the idea of expanding our knowledge and
ability to treat the condition,
I think that the millions of
people throughout the UK suffering from bruxism will benefit
immeasurably.’’
Bruxism Awareness Week
The need for a better, more comprehensive understanding of the
condition of bruxism is clear,
and, with the exciting launch
of the first Bruxism Awareness
Week in October, perhaps we are
on our way to providing patients
with the information and clinical expertise and understanding
that they deserve. For dentists
interested in the new Grindcare
treatment and occlusal splints,
S4S has a range of options to
meet the requirements of every
patient, and also offers comprehensive training on this specific
area of dentistry.
For your free information/
promotion pack, contact S4S on:
0114 250 0176. Or email: info@
s4sdental.com DT

[27] =>

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

One Wipe Goes a LONG Way
One Saniswiss biosanitizer wipe will clean,
disinfect and decontaminate in one covering
up to 4sq m with just one wipe saving time
and money.
These unique wipes available exclusively
through Bambach are made from
biodegradable paper. Being larger than the
average wipe, biosanitizer wipes cover a
much larger area, over 4 times greater than
other wipes on the market.
SaniSwiss biosanitizer is a revolutionary
product. It does not contain alcohol, aldehydes or other chemicals found in
most disinfectants, which are known health hazards. SaniSwiss biosanitizer
converts germs utilising a unique patented super oxygenised water solution.
This product in effect ‘digests’ the virus, bacteria or fungi leaving no residue;
the surface will be cleaner than ever before.
Being a water product, Saniswiss biosanitizer is in contact with the surface for
longer - it will not evaporate in seconds like alcohol, meaning it is even more
effective at killing germs and allows your wipe to be used more effectively.
To find out more please call 0800 581108, e-mail info@saniswiss.co.uk or visit
www.saniswiss.co.uk

Trust Blackwell
Supplies for effective
decontamination
products
Effective cleaning products
are essential to any successful instrument decontamination, and the new
thermo-disinfection Nusonic MED from Blackwell Supplies offers consistently
superior decontamination of hand instruments.
Nusonic MED is designed specifically for use in washer-disinfectors, and
has a number of notable advantages. Thanks to the non-foaming triple
enzyme bacteriostatic action of Nusonic MED, instruments are left effectively
decontaminated. As a non-corrosive, and pH neutral formulation, Nusonic
MED will help to preserve the longevity of hand pieces being reprocessed,
whilst leaving them residue-free. Available in a four-litre bottle that allows for
120 reprocessing cycles, the new Nusonic MED is an economical and effective
cleaning detergent that is essential prior to thermal disinfection. Totally
biodegradable, Nusonic MED is just one example of a wide range of products
supplied to the dental profession by Blackwell Supplies.
Nusonics MED complements the Dental Surgery decontamination regime in
the compliance of HTM01-05 recommendations
For more information, please call
Supplies on: 020 7224 1457, fax
john.jesshop@blackwellsupplies.co.uk

Kemdent revive the 3 Rs- Recycle, Refill, Reuse.
Buy 4 Economy or Heavy Duty Dry Wipe refill rolls
plus 1 x 5L PracticeSafe or ChairSafe and receive a
25% discount. A saving of up to £23.45.
The new versatile range of Kemdent Wipes should
be used with confidence to clean sensitive and nonsensitive surfaces within the treatment area and the
decontamination area of a Dental Practice. These
low odour wipes are also excellent for surfaces in
toilets and waiting areas. PracticeSafe Disinfectant
which contains alcohol, is perfect for disinfecting
silicone and polyether impressions as well as non-sensitive surfaces.
ChairSafe Heavy Duty and Economy wipes, which do not contain alcohol,
are specially formulated to clean sensitive surfaces and equipment including
the leather and synthetic facings of dental chairs. The recent DOH report
Decontamination health technical memorandum 01-05 Decontamination
in primary care dental practices recommends that dental chairs are cleaned
between each patient. The ChairSafe Economy wipe is ideal for this.
Phone Jackie or Helen on 01793 770090 to take advantage of the special offers
on this new wide range of Kemdent wipes or visit our website www.kemdent.
co.uk.

schülke – Confidence in surface
decontamination
Cleanliness and disinfection should be
second nature to all dental professionals
and a vital part of the process is having
the most effective disinfectant products
available.
schülke, industry leaders in the
manufacture of infection control
products, understand your requirements
and offer an extensive range of products
designed to provide solutions to all your

Continuing Professional Development
Certificate

John Jesshop of Blackwell
020 7224 1694 or email:

Prestige Medical now offers
Verifiable CPD
Prestige Medical say they are
receiving increasing numbers of
Service Supplier
requests Programme
from dental professionals
Accreditation
for information and advice about the
decontamination guidelines.

Verifiable CPD: 1 hour
This is to certify that

has attended the course entitled
‘Update of Dental Decontamination Equipment and Techniques’

Date: ...................................................................

Provider: Prestige Medical Ltd.

GDC Registration No.:...........................................

Signature:...............................................

They have therefore designed a
special
hour-long
presentation
called ‘Dental Decontamination:
Techniques & Equipment’ which can,
by arrangement, be given to groups
of practitioners. This can even be
arranged over a lunch break if more
convenient to the practice.

The presentation and feedback form allow attendees to receive verifiable CPD
(Continuous Professional Development) points and a CPD Certificate.
More information is available from Prestige Medical direct by calling 01254 844
103 or email to sales@prestigemedical.co.uk

The DAC Universal combination autoclave,
cleans, lubricates and sterilises 6 instruments
in 12 minutes!
The DAC UNIVERSAL supports the practice staff by
automatically cleaning, lubricating and
sterilizing handpieces intended for non-critical,
semi-critical and critical applications. The function
of the NITRASEAL unit is to wrap instruments prior
to sterilization in the DAC PROFESSIONAL.
According to the hygiene guidelines of the Robert Koch Institute, “non-critical”
applications do not involve any contact with the mucous membranes. “Semicritical” applications involve contact with the mucous membranes, whereas
“critical” applications involve contact with diseased tissue. In this last case the
dentist must deploy the dental instruments immediately after sterilization.
The Sirona DAC PROFESSIONAL autoclave handles large sterilization loads
quickly and with the utmost reliability. The DAC PROFESSIONAL is the ideal
complement to Sirona’s DAC UNIVERSAL and NITRASEAL systems. With the
introduction of the new DAC PROFESSIONAL Sirona Dental Systems has closed
a gap in the sterilizer market. Firstly, this autoclave can accommodate up to
six trays. Secondly, it can be preheated, which significantly reduces cycle times.
The rapid sterilization program can be completed in as little as ten minutes.
The DAC PROFESSIONAL is a “Class B” sterilizer in accordance with EN 13060
– in other words, it fulfills the stringent requirements laid down for largecapacity sterilizers deployed in hospitals.
For further information please contact: Sirona Dental Systems 0845 071 5040
Info@sironadental.co.uk

Receive a complimentary Touch Free Hand
Decontamination System from schülke
Due to popular demand, schülke has increased
its stock of Touch Free Hand Decontamination
Systems. Complying with the new HTM 01-05
requirements, the state-of-the-art dispenser
optimises hand hygiene in the dental practice
with exact dosing and a long battery life. The
product has proven to be so popular that
clinicians have been ordering multiple systems
at a time.
As part of the Touch Free Hand Decontamination
System launch, practitioners will receive a free dispenser when they purchase
cases of sensiva wash lotion or desderman Pure liquid/gel sachets. For offer
details please contact your dental dealer. The offer is valid for a limited period
only so dentists are advised to contact their dental dealer to make the most of
this exclusive deal!
schülke – the plus of pure performance
Call schülke for more details on 0114 254 3500 or visit www.schulke.co.uk

UnoDent has your Cross Infection
Control Solutions!
Do you know which viruses and fungi
represent a health risk to patients and
The Dental Team alike?...So do we….
That’s why we’ve created a range of
hygiene products for you, the dental
team, surgery and practice that are
specifically designed to eliminate the threat posed by micro-organisms.
UnoDent is the reliable, high quality, value for money range exclusively
available from The Dental Directory. The UnoDent range of cross infection
control products takes the guesswork out of disinfection procedures, giving
you all the answers you need to comply with decontamination guidelines.

hygiene needs.
Included in the range offered by schülke is mikrozid® aroma, an alcohol based
spray for fast effective cleaning and disinfection of high-risk surfaces. As a
powerful, effective surface disinfectant, mikrozid® aroma is active against a
broad spectrum of fungi, viruses and bacteria and is now considered effective
against HCV. Ready to use, with no mixing required, mikrozid® aroma is easy
to apply in all areas of the surgery, even those not easily accessible. Drying
quickly and leaving no residual deposits, this product is also highly costeffective and produces minimal wastage.

Infection Control 27

The UnoDent cross infection range is vast and includes amongst others
disinfectants, handpiece cleaners, surface cleaners, aspirator cleaners and
hand care cleansers. Many products are also proven to be effective against
major viruses such as HIV, CDIFF, MRSA and H1N1 etc.
The most popular products in the range are listed inside The Dental Directory’s
new Pricewatch Eighteen Catalogue. For your copy of the catalogue and to find
out more about the UnoDent Cross Infection range, speak to your local Dental
Directory Representative or call us free on 0800 585 586. Alternatively check
online at www.dental-directory.co.uk

Fiesta Colour Coded Clamps &
Roeko Flexidam
The Perfect Dental Dam Solution
from Coltène Whaledent
Using
Dental
Dam
within
endodontic
treatments
help
protect the Patient from inhaling
or swallowing instruments, isolates
the treatment area, protects soft tissue and the risk of cross infection is greatly
reduced. Fiesta colour coded clamps provide easy identification and selection
during the dental dam procedure, and feature a non reflective matt finish for
better visibility during clinical use. 9 popular clamps available supplied on a
stainless steel organiser which provides easy storage and cleaning, available
in both winged and wingless design. Flexi Dam non latex is easier to apply,
saving chair time. The excellent retraction properties ensure close contact
around the tooth for effective isolation and best possible moisture control.
Flexi Dam non latex is more tear resistant than latex dental dam with no latex
reaction, powder free and a pleasant smell. Flexi Dam non latex has a violet
colour to prevent confusion with latex dam, available in boxes of 30 pieces of
approx. 15 x 15 cm.
For further information call free phone 0500 295454 exts 223/224 or visit our
website www.coltenewhaledent.com

For more information call 0114 254 3500 or visit www.schulke.co.uk/dental

Industry News
Confused over HTM-05
(Decontamination in primary dental care
practices)?
Not surprising given HTM-05 is still very
much a working document, this together
with differing interpretation of the
requirements being proffered many dental
professionals remain unsure
Would you welcome a simplified clearer
understanding of the requirements in
ensuring that the whole team operate in accordance with professionally
recognised guidelines for the control of cross infection?
The Alkapharm ‘Learning Lunch’ is designed as a refresher for the whole team
and covers the day to day routine aspects of cross-infection control in the
dental surgery, held in your own practice a session lasts just 2 hours and can
be scheduled during an extended lunch period or if preferred at the end of
the clinical day. Sessions are designed for the whole team with each attendee
receiving 2 hours of verifiable CPD.
Learning Lunch is available to dental practices with a minimum of 6 staff
members and attracts an administrative charge of just £150.00 including VAT
per Dental practise with no upper limit to the number of attendees.
For more information and/or to arrange your own learning lunch call
Alkapharm on 01785 714919.

Chlorhexidine without the disadvantages!
No staining, no after taste, no alcohol, Curasept ADS
from Curaprox is the ideal adjunct for controlling
bacteria in the oral cavity.
Offering effective chemical plaque control,
Curasept ADS inhibits the formation of plaque
without the side effects of other chlorhexidinebased products.
Available as a mouthwash in either 0.2% or
0.05% concentrations, Curasept ADS is uniquely
formulated to offer all the benefits without the
disadvantage of discolouration of the teeth and alteration of taste perception
often experienced.
In addition, Curasept ADS is completely alcohol-free, so the mucous
membranes do not sting during use, making it ideal for before and after
invasive interventions as well as preventing post-operative complications.
The Curasept range also includes a handy gel formulation (0.5%), for easy
application directly to the gum or periodontal pocket, and a toothpaste
(0.05%) that can be used as part of a daily oral healthcare routine.
Curasept is just part of the range of premium healthcare products available
from Curaprox.
For free samples or for more information please call 01480 862084,
email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.curaprox.co.uk

Rugby Ref stays match fit with
Under Armour Performance
Mouthwear™
Prominent rugby officials are
starting to see the benefits of
using Under Armour Performance
Mouthwear™ during matches as a
way to keep them on top of their
game both mentally and physically.
Powered by Bite Tech’s patented Armourbite technology, Under Armour™
mouthpieces and mouthguards help athletes to perform at their best
for longer. By repositioning the jaw, thereby short-circuiting the neurophysiological stress response that appears to be activated by teeth clenching,
airways are opened and physical endurance is increased, allowing players and
referees alike to remain alert and focused during physical exertion.
Developed by a clinician as a result of personal experience, Under Armour
Performance Mouthwear™ has been rigorously tested over a fifteen-year
period and is now the mouthwear of choice for many top sportsmen, including
the Welsh rugby team and the London Wasps.
For more information on how your patients can benefit from Under Armour
Performance Mouthwear™, call Dacus on 01 35 1 429 1302 or visit www.dacus.
ie. Or UK call Eric Solem on 07590 573 668 or visit www.bitetech.com

[28] =>

28 Industry News

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

BioHorizons Laser-Lok 3mm available NOW in
the UK
BioHorizons are pleased to announce the launch
of their new ground-breaking Laser-Lok 3mm
implant to the UK. The first 3mm implant that
incorporates Laser-Lok technology to create a
biologic seal and maintain crestal bone on the
implant collar, it is designed specifically for limited
spaces in the aesthetic zone. The Laser-Lok
3.0 dental implant comes with a broad array of
prosthetic options making it the perfect choice for
high profile cases.
The launch of Laser -Lok 3.0 follows the introduction of Laser-Lok by BioHorizons
in 2008. Laser-Lok is a patented laser- machined surface treatment with over
15 years of in vitro, animal and human studies. Laser-Lok microchannels are a
series of precision-engineered micron grooves on the collar of dental implants.
BioHorizons has a proud history of introducing products based on science and
evidence based research.
For more information on Laser-Lok 3.0 or to arrange a meeting with your
BioHorizons product specialist please call 01344 752560 NOW,
email: infouk@biohorizons.com or visit our website at www.biohorizons.
com.

Clean injection with Rotor
Blackwell Supplies’ innovative and fully
autoclavable Rotor Syringe range uses
quality stainless steel and unique Peek
thermoplastics.
These light, moulded components, with
a secure snap-fit assembly, maintain
mechanical strength, stability and stress
cracking resistance when exposed to the
repeated, long-term high temperature
autoclave cycles necessary for infection
prevention.
Eeliminating the use of barbs, the Rotor S/A Syringe design uses the elasticity
of the cartridge and thumb disk to induce carefully and easily controlled
aspiration, and allows the dentist to check the correct position of the needle.
They also stop leaking anaesthetics and are resistant to a broad range of
chemicals. The range includes the 2.2ml and a 1.8ml self-aspirating, imperial
hub thread needle-accepting syringe and is compatible with the Astra SelfAspirating Cartridge. Blackwell Supplies’ Rotor Syringe range helps you
achieve best practice pragmatically, combining effective infection control with
durability and ease of use.
For more information please call John Jesshop of Blackwell Supplies on 020
7224 1457, fax 020 7224 1694, email john.jesshop@blackwellsupplies.co.uk

“Since joining up with Dental Phobia we
have seen an increase in new patient case
acceptance!”

“Quick and simple to use…SDR™
makes sense.”
Flowable posterior composite
restorations with SDR™

www.dentalphobia.co.uk offers both patients and
practitioners extensive support, advice and up-todate information on accepting and dealing with
dental treatment and its consequences. The site
is the highest ranking website on search engine
Google for the key phrase ‘dental phobia’, and it provides visitors with useful
features such as patient case studies, information on the latest treatments
available, and detailed explanations of the most common dental procedures.
Not only is the site an ideal hub of information for directing nervous patients
to, but it is also a useful research tool for practitioners who wish to learn more
about how best to treat phobic patients. Dr Chris McConnell of St. Piran Dental,
Cornwall is listed on the Dental Phobia website. He says, “Since joining up
with Dental Phobia we have seen an increase in enquiries for sedation and an
increase in new patient case acceptance. Dental Phobia has been incredibly
helpful in setting everything up for us with no fuss and has been supportive
throughout. For anyone serious about treating anxious or phobic patients, you
should talk to these guys. Thanks Dental Phobia!”
For more information about Dental Phobia Certification or to find out how to
qualify for placement on the dental phobia directory, visit www.dentalphobia.
co.uk

DENTSPLY is proud to be able to
offer dentists SDR™ (Smart Dentine
Replacement) – an innovative
new dental product that provides
clinicians with a more efficient way of handling Class I and II posterior
restorations.
Dr Amanda Dixon of the Station House Dental Practice in Glossop, has been
trialling SDR and had the following to say about her experience with the
material. ““Quick and simple to use, SDR makes posterior restorations that
much easier for both patient and operator. “The flowable nature of SDR means
you can be confident of good adaptation to your cavity, and the compulestyle tip gives excellent placement control. “Bulk-filling means no incremental
curing - saving time for yourself and your patients, so SDR™ makes sense!”
Offering bulk filling of up to 4mm increments, SDR is also compatible with
most existing adhesives and composites, removing any need to switch.
Fast, efficient and easy to use, SDR can reduce shrinkage stress by 60% and
cut down chair time by up to 40% - all evidence of DENTSPLY’s ongoing
commitment to investing in better dentistry.

Effective support for treating
periodontal disease
In cases of adult patients with
moderate to severe periodontal
disease, Dentomycin is an effective
adjunct to scaling and root planing
(SPR), giving practitioners a reliable
medicament to support treatment.
Dentomycin is clinically proven to
assist in the challenge of maintaining the reduction in bacterial levels achieved
through mechanical debridement.
A study showed that pocket depth could be reduced by up to 42% in just
twelve weeks when Dentomycin is used in conjunction with SPR.
Formulated as a gel for ease of placement and adherence to the tooth surface,
Dentomycin contains 2% minocycline, an antibiotic that is recognised for its
capacity to eradicate pathogens linked to periodontitis.
To highlight the importance of healthy gums, Blackwell Supplies has produced
a leaflet, entitled ‘How Healthy are your gums,’ designed to provide patients
with advice about their oral health, which is available to all practices.
For more information please call John Jesshop of Blackwell Supplies
On 020 7224 1457, fax 020 7224 1694 or email john.jesshop@
blackwellsupplies.co.uk

“Cavitron THINsert™ causes minimal
disturbance to the soft tissues but maximum
disturbance to the biofilm!”
The new Cavitron THINsert ultrasonic insert
delivers ultrasonic ease with hand scaling access.
Carrie-Anne Taylor often uses the device in surgery:
“I chose THINsert to try and reach the base of deep
periodontal pockets, especially in areas of limited
access such as the interproximal area. I’ve found it
gives superior access to the base of the pocket that
could not have been accessed with other inserts.”
“I also found the THINsert best for fine root surface debridement and excellent
for sub gingival plaque disturbance.” The THINsert is particularly useful for
treating patients with a controlled periodontal condition, where pockets
remain stable between 4mm and 6mm, and there is a tight gingival margin.
It causes minimal disturbance to the soft tissues but maximum disturbance
to the biofilm!” Designed to simplify debridement in areas with limited access,
the Cavitron THINsert ultrasonic insert works with any 30k Cavitron to reach
areas like interproximal surfaces, concavities and locations with tight tissue
attachment without losing the tactile sensation you rely upon.
For more information, or to book an appointment with your local DENTSPLY
Product Specialist, call 0800 072 3313 or visit www.dentsply.co.uk

To find out how SDR can support you in your practice call +44 (0)800 072 3313
or visit www.dentsply.co.uk

DENTSPLY Academy launches live
webinars for 2010
Following the success of DENTSPLY’s
2009 webinars and in response to
popular demand, the DENTSPLY
Academy is offering clinicians a new
series of free of charge webinars due to
begin in September 2010.
High profile speakers from various
fields of expertise will take to the virtual stage and offer delegates a new
insight into each topic of discussion. Throughout each event attendees will
have the opportunity to put their questions to the speaker and delve deeper
into any issues raised of particular interest to them.
Webinars offer practitioners a convenient way to study and accrue valuable
CPD points in the location of their choice without having to travel to lectures
and seminars. The session can be accessed from any computer with an Internet
connection, whether it be the office, the dental surgery or in the comfort of the
participant’s own home.
DENTSPLY Academy’s comprehensive range of webinars forms a vital part of its
programme of popular continuing education events and lectures, which have
been designed to inform, inspire and improve clinical standards in dentistry.
For more information or
www.dentalwebinars.co.uk.

to

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webinar

go

Smart Dentine Replacement™
The No.1 durable, bulk-fill base
composite
SDR™ (Smart Dentine Replacement)
is a revolutionary bulk-fill, flowable
composite base material’ proven to
save the clinician time by up to 40%
compared to conventional layering
composites. This innovative product
offers a new way of making posterior direct restorations less cumbersome for
the practitioner.
No longer will the dentist’s time and effort be wasted on mastering the complex
layering techniques normally associated with conventional filling techniques.
SDR can be bulk-filled in 4mm increments quickly using a compula tip.
With an impressive 60% reduction in shrinkage stress versus other composites,
SDR also reduces the incidence of microleakage, post-operative sensitivity and
recurrent decay. What’s more, over 90% of practitioners who sampled SDR
stated that they would use it to replace or use alongside their existing material!
Indicated for Class I and II restorations, SDR complements the other products
in DENTSPLY’s comprehensive range of restorative materials and equipment
manufactured for all kinds of dental procedures.
For more information, or to book an appointment with your local DENTSPLY
Product Specialist, call 0800 072 3313 or visit www.dentsply.co.uk

to

The EndoCare Experience
Winner of the 2009 Private Dentistry award for
Best Referral Practice, EndoCare is renowned for
its high quality referral service.
The EndoCare experience is available at three
state-of-the-art surgeries, located in Harley
Street, Richmond and Watford. The surgeries are
equipped with the latest technologies, ensuring
your patient receives the best possible treatment.
Even the busiest dental professional can make initial contact simply and
quickly using an online referral option, and the EndoCare team ensures that
the referring practitioner is constantly updated with details of treatment plans
and procedures, as well as recommendations for restoration and follow-ups.
To further support you and your ongoing dental care, all patients are scheduled
a free after-care appointment six months after treatment.
The highly-skilled team at EndoCare understands that referrals can be complex
and time consuming, both for the referring dentist and patient. Nevertheless,
EndoCare staff do all they can to ensure that the process is as painless as
possible for all involved, and are dedicated to providing the best care for both
patients and referring dentists.

Genus: ‘The quality of their work is
superb!’
Philip Oag of Medicaprop has worked
with Genus Dental Interiors Ltd many
times over the past few years, and has
always found them to be one of the best
Design and Build companies working in
the healthcare market.
‘Genus is a highly reliable and efficient company to work with, they always keep
to the time frame and budget agreed and consistently provide outstanding
customer care. Genus is a company that really understands the way the
dental and Healthcare profession works; this quality gives clients a sense of
confidence and a feeling that their project is in safe, professional hands. I’ve
worked with Genus on a number of different projects, and can genuinely say
that I’ve never been disappointed. The quality of their work is superb, I would
recommend them to anyone.’
For more information call Genus Dental Interiors Ltd on: 01582 840484 or
email: info@genusgroup.co.uk
www.genusinteriors.co.uk

For more information about EndoCare or to receive your free referral
pack please call 0844 8932020, email info@endocare.co.uk or visit
www.endocare.co.uk

UCL Eastman Diploma in
Implant Dentistry - the
next step in your career
The UCL Eastman Dental Institute offers a challenging and progressive parttime modular Diploma programme in Implant Dentistry, which is delivered
two days a month over a period of three years.
The newly revised course format now consists of a taught programme
conducted through a combination of interactive lectures, live surgery and
hands-on procedures, delivered by an experienced multidisciplinary team of
GDC registered specialists, and supported by international guest speakers.
Year 1 mainly focuses on patient selection, diagnosis, planning and basic
surgery, with opportunities to undertake supervised patient treatment; whilst
Year 2 aims to help participants develop their skills and knowledge on the
restorative aspects of implant dentistry.
More advanced areas such as immediate loading and grafting will also
be introduced. The final year emphasizes the consolidation of knowledge
and integration of skills, along with advice on patient care and practice
management.The next intake of participants is in October 2010. Places are
limited and acceptance to the course is based on competitive entry.
For more information or to register, please contact Charlie Waldren, Programme
Administrator, on 020 7905 1272 or email c.waldren@eastman.ucl.ac.uk or
visit www.eastman.ucl.ac.uk/cpd

Dr Dattani speaks at Medway Dental
Association meeting
Dr Shushil Dattani, Clinical Director
and Implantologist at the Kent Implant
Studio in Maidstone, was proud to attend
Medway Dental Association’s meeting
in July as a keynote speaker. With his
experience in placing implants and his
practice’s reputation as a reliable referral
centre, Dr Dattani spoke with authority on his work in Implantology.
As well as his wide-ranging experience, Dr Dattani can also boast a string of
academic achievements. He is a member of the Faculty of General Dental
Practice and the Association of Dental Implantologists, and is also accredited
with a Diploma in Implant Dentistry and Advance Certificate in Implant
Dentistry (Bone Grafting) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Able to accept complex cases involving Sinus Grafts, Bone Grafts and Ridge
Expansions, Dr Dattani’s team prides itself on completing treatments quickly
and effectively, returning patients back to their practitioners ready for either
Implant prosthetic treatment or routine dental care. Kent Implant Studio is
dedicated to building long-lasting relationships with patients and referring
practitioners in Kent and the South East and the team works hard to ensure
that everyone involved has access to excellent advice, treatment options,
ongoing support and up-to-date information.
For further information on the Kent Implant Studio or to obtain a referral pack
please call 01622 671 265, or visit www.kentimplantstudio.com

[29] =>

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

No Prep Veneers
If you want to find out more about the
latest developments in ultra-thin minimal/
no prep veneers then you need to attend
the joint AACD/BACD meeting, ‘Esthetics
meets Aesthetics’ in London, 23-25th
September.
Luke Barnett will be speaking with James
Russell alongside Juergen Wahlmann between 9am and 12pm on the morning
of Friday 24th. Items to be covered will include:
• The importance of orthodontics
• Improved communication between dentist and technician
• Minimally invasive contouring and how it can improve aesthetics
• Advantages and disadvantages of layered and stack feldspathic ceramics
To find out more call Luke Barnett on 01923 251537 or to book call the AACD
on +1 608 222 8583.

Nobel Biocare – offering solutions to
every problem
Knowing that every patient and procedure
is different, Nobel Biocare has developed a
range of products designed to facilitate all
kind of procedures.
All-on-4™ - A cost effective implant option
that enables practitioners to fit a fixed bridge on the same day as extraction.
The benefits of this to the patient are that it shortens treatment time and offers
greater comfort.
NobelProcera™ - Allows practitioners to deliver high quality aesthetics
simply, quickly and importantly, affordably. This is achieved by combining
industrialised production processes with individualised, versatile aesthetics..
NobelActive™ - A breakthrough in implant design. With an expanding tapered
body and built in Platform Shifting. Drilling blades on the apex enable
optimum initial stability and users will also benefit from the back tapered
design on the coronal portion.
NobelReplace™ - The fastest growing product on the market for GDPs. Colour
coded parts allow for fast identification of components, including a step-bystep drilling protocol for predictable surgical procedures. Its unique root
shape ensures reliable initial root stability.
For more information, contact Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300 or visit
www.nobelbiocare.com

The best image quality with EyeMag
Smart Loupes and V2 Illumination
System
Practitioners looking for optimum
image quality and superior illumination
technology should look no further
than Nuview’s range of loupes and
magnification systems. EyeMag Smart
loupes designed by world-renowned
Carl Zeiss provide optimum image quality at 2.5X magnification. The V2
illumination unit uses state-of-the-art LED technology for superior intensity
and minimal power consumption. Dr Chris Eves of Whitegates Dental Practice
uses the EyeMag Smart and the new V2 illumination system at his surgery.
“I am impressed with the EyeMag Smart loupes and have found them to be
especially beneficial for lower arch work. As for the illumination system, the
light intensity is just right, and the batteries long-lasting. My patients have
taken quite an interest in them too!” The V2 illumination unit uses two lithium
ion batteries allowing up to 14 hours of continuous bright, white light with
exceptional colour clarity, and does not promote curing of composites.
Nuview offers its clients a wide selection of magnification and illumination
products, along with first class customer care including full installation and
training. It also boasts the Continu range of alcohol-free disinfectants.
For more information please call Nuview on 01453 872266
or email info@nuview-ltd.com
www.voroscopes.co.uk

PDS Dental Laboratory: The natural choice for
award- winning smile designs and implants
PDS Dental Laboratory is delighted to announce the
opening of its second full service dental laboratory in
Newcastle as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
Technician-owned, PDS performs all work in-house
within its purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities, which
are continually updated with the latest technology,
including the most up-to-date CAD cam scanning
systems. Technicians also benefit from owner, Brendan Hudson’s ongoing
commitment to skills investment and training, which means high levels of
competency and increased customer satisfaction. PDS Dental Laboratory
strives to deliver consistent quality and outstanding service through its
team of dedicated account managers and expert technicians, who focus on
building close working relationships with their dental clients and supplying
them with bespoke solutions. All implant work is offered at a set fee, which
means no hidden costs, and crown and bridgework is always performed under
magnification, ensuring excellent attention to detail. PDS also offers clients a
choice of two services, based on delivery times and specifications. Whatever
level your patients choose, dental professionals can be assured of efficiency,
reliability and good value for money.Thanks to their efficient, personalised
service and high quality workmanship, PDS is the ideal partner for dentists
aiming to provide the best quality implant and restoration treatment to their
patients.
For more information and a Laboratory Pack, call 0191 232 4844 or visit
www.pdsdental.co.uk and www.futureveneers.com

Symposium Marks the Launch of
Septodont’s Revolutionary New Product,
Biodentine
Over 80 key opinion leaders and leading
dentists from across the country came to hear
how this cutting edge technology, which, for
the first time, offers a bioactive substitute to
dentine, could revolutionise their practice. Following introductions by Olivier
Schiller, CEO Septodont Holding, and the symposium moderator, Professor
Trevor Burke, University of Birmingham, leading international experts in the field
of endodontics, including Professor Pierre Colon, Professor Tim Watson, Professor
Gilles Koubi, Professor Callum Youngson and Dr Julian Webber, took to the stage
to give a variety of insightful and inspirational presentations on the benefits
and clinical applications of this exciting new material. What makes Biodentine
so unique is the fact that it is the first all-in-one, biocompatible and bioactive
material that can be used wherever dentine is damaged, both in the crown
and the root. The benefits of the product include: • Preservation of pulp vitality
and promotion of pulp healing • Ability to replace the natural dentine with the
same mechanical properties • Biocompatible and bioactive dentine substitute
Professor Watson added, “Biodentineis a material that, for the first time, allows
a dentist to achieve biomimetic mineralisation within the depths of a carious
cavity. Biodentine has the potential to revolutionise the management if the deep
carious cavity in operative dentistry, whether or not the pulp is exposed.”
For more information on Biodentine please contact your dental dealer
directly. Alternatively contact Septodont on 01622 695 520, email sales@
septodontont.com or visit www.septodont.co.uk

Gendex Gives Dentists The Vision To Advance Quality of Care!
Gendex introduces the all-new GXS-700™ intraoral sensors,
designed to make migrating from film, or upgrading an existing
digital system, easier than ever. These eighth generation digital
sensors from Gendex come from a strong lineage of imaging
excellence, raising the performance bar for other digital sensors.
From enhanced image acuity and improved patient comfort, to
portability, ease-of-use and product sustainability, these new
sensors underscore the company’s desire and commitment to
help advance dental practices with innovative and affordable
solutions. The sensor’s advanced CMOS technology delivers
over 20 visible line pairs per mm, and its small 19.5μm pixel
size highlights the smallest details and emphasizes distinctions in density. The
result: Brilliant high-resolution images. Offering the flexibility to meet the needs
of all patients in the practice, the GXS-700 system is available in two ergonomically
designed sizes suited for both children and adults. Rounded corners and smooth
edge finishes comfortably fit the anatomical shape of the mouth. In addition,
the durable materials and components used in the manufacture of this product
increase its life span. As an additional time-saver, the unique ‘Always Ready’ feature
automatically recognizes the presence of radiation; there’s no need to initiate
image capture through the software. Plus, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity offers
optimum portability—without controllers, adapters, or docking stations.
The sensor simply plugs directly into USB 2.0 port on the computer for
speed and efficiency. For information on the imaging products, handpieces
and equipment available from KaVo Gendex contact you preferred Gendex
supplier or call 0800 281020. www.gendex.c

Sylc for Aquacut
The team at Velopex are delighted to
announce that ‘Sylc for Aquacut’ is now
available. This Bioactive glass material is
packed into green plastic containers which
will fit into any type of Aquacut (or Alycat)
unit from the early version through to the
latest Aquacut Quattro units.
‘Sylc for Aquacut’ is a Phosphosilicate based
bio-glass material designed to replace Velopex fine grain Sodium Bicarbonate
in the left hand chamber of your Aquacut unit – it will fit into any Aquacut unit,
no matter how old.
The product is designed to offer an ability to remove stain, plaque and
biofilm efficiently without the soft tissue sensitivity often associated with the
crystalline structure of Sodium Bicarbonate. As a Silica based product there
is no salty taste as there is with Sodium Bicarbonate. Sylc is a rounder, harder
particle when compared to Sodium Bicarbonate making stain removal much
more efficient at the same air pressures.
‘Sylc for Aquacut’ is packed into standard Green Velopex Containers and is sold
in packs of 4 (I/PDR0034F) it is available from your normal supplier, or Velopex
direct at £75.00 + VAT
Mark Chapman, Medivance Instruments Ltd, Barretts Green Road, LONDON
NW10 7AP
Tel 07734 044877

BACD Study Clubs - Stay ahead of the game
Committed to excellence in cosmetic dentistry and CPDverified since 2005, the BACD encourages the pursuit of
best practice and innovation through education.
BACD regional Study Clubs help to keep members abreast
of the most up-to-date information on advances within
dentistry, including the latest techniques and ideas, from
a range of speakers from around the globe, all of whom
are at the forefront of their field. Upcoming events during
2010 include:
• Birmingham Study Club – ‘Realistic, Fast, Fixed Cosmetic Orthodontics for
GDPs by Dr Anoop Maini on Friday the 16th of September
• Belfast Study Club – ‘10 Top Tips To Survive And Prosper In The Next 10 Years’
by Mr Chris Barrow on Wednesday the 27th of October
– BACD Accreditation Workshop by Dr Christopher Orr on Thursday the 16th
September
• Bristol Study Club – ‘The Million Pound Dental Practice’ by Mr Chris Barrow on
Tuesday the 19th of October
– Empress Direct Hands-On Road Show by Mr Chris Parker on Thursday 18
November. This session is STRICTLY limited to 12 participants, so book early!
The BACD wishes to thank Ivoclar Vivadent for sponsoring its study clubs
during 2010.
For more information, or to reserve your place, please contact Suzy Rowlands
on 020 8241 8526 or email suzy@bacd.com

Industry News 29
Nobel Biocare’s New York symposium
A focus on clinical ideas and techniques
Nobel Biocare’s New York symposium brought
together top clinicians from around the world to
update attendees on the latest procedures, ideas
and techniques in the field of dental implantology.
Dr. Riz Syed of www.leadingdentalimplants.com
had this to say after attending the event: “Any
practitioner who is serious about dental implants
needs to learn continuously and keep themselves
up to date with what’s going on. I attend about
five or six courses around the world every year
to learn from the best and keep ahead of the
game; Nobel Biocare’s New York Symposium is an
excellent place to do this.”
“The event took the form of an open forum with plenty of room for discussion
and a lot of hands-on training. There was so much going on and a wide range
of topics were covered. This year was much more scientific than previous years
and there was a much stronger emphasis on ideas and techniques. Despite
its glamorous location, the Symposium’s more compact size made the whole
experience much more personal, keeping discussions related to the specific
subject in hand. I would definitely recommend it.”
For more information please call Nobel Biocare on 0208 756 3300 or visit
www.nobelbiocare.com

Strong and easy to use
- Heraeus iBOND Total Etch
iBOND Total Etch has outperformed one of
its main European rivals during in vitro tests
using the most difficult protocol. In a study
conducted by the independent Reality Research
Lab, the Heraeus adhesive was shown to have
higher bond strength to dentine and enamel
than the US market leader OptiBond Solo Plus.
The clinical experience of UK dentists who use
iBOND Total Etch suggests that the adhesive’s
advantages far exceed its internationally recognised strength, ‘It is the first
choice bonding material’, for Cross House Dental Practice in Lanarkshire,
according to Dr James Judge, who enthuses: ‘It is reliable and easy to use, with
a simple one-stage application after pre-etching”. Endorsing the timeliness
of the launch of the latest Heraeus dental adhesive, the Reality Research
Lab report said, ‘iBOND Total Etch is in the right place at the right time’. This
comment was based on the observation that “Total-etch bonding agents
seem to be making a comeback, due to their long track record and consistent
performance, especially on enamel”.
Full report: www.realityesthetics.com
For further information and reader enquiries contact: Amy Compton, Heraeus
Kulzer Ltd, Heraeus House, Northbrook Street, Newbury, RG14 1DL
Tel: 01635 30500 Email: admin.uk@heraeus.com
Website: www.heraeus-kulzer.com

The Dental Directory is cheaper than
Henry Schein Minerva on 200 of its
bestselling branded products!
The Dental Directory slams Henry Schein
Minerva in branded product price
comparison!
When dental dealer The Dental Directory
compared 200 of its bestselling branded products with rival dealer Henry
Schein Minerva, the results revealed the exact same products at Henry Schein
Minerva were a staggering 27.9% more expensive!
By purchasing from The Dental Directory’s Pricewatch 18 product range, your
practice will make massive savings on exactly the same quality brands that are
listed in Henry Schein Minerva’s 2010-2011 catalogue.
The Pricewatch 18 range includes the dealer’s most popular restorative and
orthodontic items and surgical equipment, from needles and syringes to face
masks and disinfectants; just another reason for dental professionals to use The
Dental Directory as their number one dental supplier!
To order, simply contact your local Dental Directory Representative, call 0800
585 586, or alternatively visit: www.dental-directory.co.uk.

Admor adds Charity Calendars to its 2010
Christmas Collection
As part of its dedication to the marketing needs
of dental practitioners, Admor is delighted to
announce the addition of a new range of Charity
Calendars to its popular collection of personalised
Christmas products.
The calendars offer dentists the opportunity to
support two worthwhile dental charities, namely
Dentaid and the Benevolent Fund, whilst also
providing practices with a way to stand out
from the crowd with their customised corporate
stationery.
In keeping with the Christmas spirit, Admor will
donate 10% of all calendar sales to charity, five
percent of which will go to the Benevolent Fund, a registered charity that
provides financial assistance to dentists in need through a scheme of grants
and interest free loans. The other five percent will be donated to Dentaid, a
UK-based charity dedicated to improving the oral health of disadvantaged
communities around the world. And for every Christmas card purchased, 5p
will be donated to each of the above charities.
With over 30 years of experience, and a wide range of high quality, affordable
products, Admor is well-placed to help your business attract and impress
patients.
For more information or to purchase your cards, call 01903 858910 or visit
www.admor.co.uk

[30] =>

30 Events

United Kingdom Edition

Thinking of starting
your own practice?
Sim Goldblum offers some key advice in relation to
The Dentistry Business’s recent webinar on the subject

here aren’t many people
who can claim to have
gone head to head with the
Brazilian national football team
and come out on top. However,
early on in this year’s World Cup
competition, my colleague and
practising dentist Lester Ellman
and I presented our first Smile-On
webinar, at the same time a Brazil
game was on television.
The webinar, organised by
Smile On, was a first for us. The
presentation covered the five Ws
– those questions that need to be
asked before making the decision
to set up a practice – Why, What,
Where, With Whom and When

The technology provided worked smoothly. A list of attendees
could be seen alongside a “comment box”, where those watching
could post messages to either individuals or to the whole group during the course of the lecture. We
are pleased to report that 34 delegates signed into the webinar at
7pm and 34 remained at the end.
Why?
Throughout our presentation,
Lester and I related our thoughts
to the practicalities of setting up a
practice. We pointed out the negative factors of increased stress and
responsibility that are a natural
result of running a business, and
highlighted the importance of objectively analysing your own skills
(both business and clinical) at an
early stage. We also encouraged
those taking this first step to seek
help and advice from external
sources, to guide them through
the specific aspects of planning
and executing a business plan.
What?
This question again begs for objectivity and an ability to assess
one’s whole life objectives. Will
your practice be NHS, private
or mixed? This question is one
that requires early consideration,
along with whether you will buy
or just set up? Lester, who has run
both private and mixed practices
in Manchester, pointed to the different expertise required for each
type of practice and the generic
skills required to run any practice:
efficient patient flow, patient handling techniques and good communication skills are vital aspects
of all modern day practices.
Running a practice with any
mix of NHS patients in England
currently requires an NHS contract. The ability to present a tender in front of a PCT panel is a
skill that many dentists find ardu-

ous. Any tender proposal needs to
ensure the proposed UDA value
is both competitive and also of a
high enough value to enable you
to operate efficiently and also that
the contract is long enough for you
to be able to absorb start up costs
and ultimately make a profit.
And remember, even if you
take on a practice with an existing
contract, there is no obligation on
the part of the PCT to either maintain the contract or honour the
previous UDA value. Some practitioners who have taken on existing
contracts have found themselves
in the process of re-tendering in
any event.
When you take on any kind of
practice, always make sure that
the business information you receive and base your decisions
on is up to date. The question is
not, “How many patients do you
have?” but “How many ACTIVE
patients do you have?”
Where?
Once again, the vision you have
for your life plays an important
part in the decision to make on
where to establish your practice, both in wider geographical
terms and also with reference to
high street or suburban locations.
Clearly, key things to consider are
whether there are enough patients
in the locality to support a practice
and what the competition is like?
One of the most valuable pieces of advice we offer is to make
sure your ideal location is not only
ideal for you, but takes into consideration the needs and wants of
prospective patients. Accessibility
has not only been the watchword
of every government for the past
20 years, it is a vital factor in terms
of transport links and parking, as
well as disabled access into the actual building itself.
With whom?
Probably one of the most difficult
and soul searching questions to
be considered is who you might
choose to set up practice with.
Lester recalled his own experiences, to highlight the importance
of choosing the right partner – one
who empathises with your own
vision and ideally one whose own
skills compliment your own. He
also extolled people considering
a partnership that they must remember that both partners are
equally liable for the debts of the
business. He urged the listeners
to have in-depth, realistic discussions with a potential partner and
to have a comprehensive legally

binding agreement written before
staring out on any joint venture.
Of course there is always the
option of being a sole practitioner
and in this case, you need to ensure you have the requisite skills
to establish and run the practice
or that you have access to help that
will fill any skills shortfall.
When?
When to set up your practice is a
question that requires both a micro and a macro response. Particularly pertinent at the moment
is to consider the overall economic environment and whether
the time is right to establish any
small business. Added to this is
the current uncertainty over access to NHS dentistry and what
an NHS contract may look like in
12 months time, all of which adds
to hesitancy on the part of wouldbe NHS practitioners. For those
considering private practice, even
practitioners who would seem
safe bets are finding it hard to
secure finance, which is causing
some to postpone decisions until
the economic waters have become
calmer.
On a micro level, you must
ask yourself if you are personally
ready to become, not only a clinician, but also a business person –
whether NHS, private or mixed is
the practice of choice, the need for
business skills is a prerequisite for
success.
The Smile-on webinar was considered a great success, thoroughly enjoyed by those who logged
in and with the ability to access
this type of information from the
comfort of your own home surely
holds the key to the future for this
type of dental education.
Key points to consider when making your choices:
• Planning is the key to success
• Be patient and wait for the right
opportunity
• Your selected practice must tick
all the boxes
• Make sure your practice will fulfil your ambitions, both personally
and professionally. DT

About the author
Sim Goldblum is a partner in The
Dentistry Business and has a wealth of
experience in business planning, marketing and finance. The Dentistry Business will be running a series of one-day
seminars aimed at helping you make
real improvements to your practice life.
‘Starting a new practice’ and ‘Making
the most of your practice’ seminars are
taking place between now and December 2010. For more information on The
Dentistry Business, contact 0161 408
2030, info@thedentistrybusiness.com
or visit www.thedentistrybusiness.com.

September 13-19, 2010

[31] =>

Classified 31

United Kingdom Edition September 13-19, 2010

info@medicsfinancialservices.com
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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Medics Professional Mortgage Services is a trading style of Global Mortgages Ltd.,
which is an Appointed Representative of Home of Choice Ltd., which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

MPMS 95x50 Dentists.indd 1

11/12/2006 21:56:19
Ñ10 colours 1st Choice range
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Page 1

For more information please contact
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Firstchoice Scrubs & AWB Textiles are brand names of AW Bent Ltd

Untitled-4 1

19/10/09 17:03:31

Practice Valuations…
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Contact: Oswald Browne
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[32] =>

80% extra protection

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Studies show that the combination of Sensodyne Pronamel
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For patient samples visit
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References:
1. GlaxoSmithKline data on file Guibert et al 2010.
2. Fowler C et al. J Den Res 88 (Spec Iss A): 3377, 2009.
3. Gracia L et al. J Den Res 88 (Spec Iss A), 3376, 2009.
4. GlaxoSmithKline data on file Young and Willson 2008.
SENSODYNE and PRONAMEL are registered trade marks of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

RECOMMEND PRONAMEL PROTECTION FOR YOUR PATIENTS

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[cover] => DT UK 2110

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Table of contents

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