The General Dental Council has issued standards covering conduct, performance and ethics that apply to all dental care professionals and set out what patients should expect from them. Practices need to be aware of the standards and their implications
Dental nurses have professional responsibilities around the use of social media, in and outside the surgery, and must be aware of potential risks around patient confidentiality. This article is the first in a short series on regulatory developments of relevance to dental nurses
Harris CM, Welbury R, Cairns AM (2013) The Scottish dental practitioner's role in managing child abuse and neglect. Br Dent J214: E24
What is influence, how is it developed and what can be done with it? Dental nurses can and should be able to use influence to promote change that benefits themselves, their profession and, most importantly, their patients
Neglect is the commonest and one of the most harmful forms of child abuse. Dental professionals need to be aware of general and dental neglect, how to identify these problems and the action they need to take
How are contracts of employment dealt with at your practice? Victoria Patterson provides some guidance on the law, including the legal obligation to provide written particulars, and offers some practical tips on key things to consider when looking at contracts of employment in the dental sector
It's January and everyone is thinking about the upcoming year and what opportunities this year may bring. So what's in store for dental nurses in 2013 and how can you get involved more in supporting your profession?
Many things can complicate holiday entitlement. The rules and regulations around holiday pay and conditions can be difficult to navigate. Legal expert, Victoria Patterson, answers questions to tell you all you need to know
Social media is changing how dental nurses communicate with colleagues and patients, and how practices promote themselves. While it opens up opportunities to reach more patients and boost professional development, nurses need to know how to avoid potential pitfalls
Missed dental appointments waste staff time, increase time spent waiting for appointments, incur financial costs and damage dental health. This article looks at what causes patients to miss appointments and what can be done to minimise the problem
Dental decay is the most common preventable childhood disease. Oral health educator for the British Dental Health Foundation, Karen Coates, discusses the importance of establishing good oral health routines for children and why encouraging parents should be top of the priority list
Dental nurses need to hold professional indemnity to be able to practise in the UK. It is offered by employers and by dental defence organisations; the latter also provide legal advice and assistance on professional and workplace issues
This article is the fourth in a series of case studies illustrating the roles and responsibilities of the registered dental nurse. It will describe the guidance that is available, and the steps necessary, to avoid the legal and ethical problems that will be discussed
One of the best ways to improve communication in dental teams is through regular meetings. Well-run meetings can be used to keep track of work, disseminate information, collect staff views and provide clear, concise records that can provide an audit trail
There is an art to getting your message across and it is vital to your personal and career success that you master the skills of communicating with confidence. Kate Atkin, author of The Confident Manager, sets out strategies and techniques for improving self-confidence, effective networking and clea
.jpg?width=150&height=100&scale=canvas)
