Figures released by the General Dental Council (GDC) in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that 72 per cent of Dental Care Professionals (DCPs) did not have legal representation when facing a GDC Fitness to Practise hearing.
November marks the annual Mouth Cancer Action Month, the most extensive campaign for mouth cancer awareness. The latest NHS update from Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry, and Jason Wong, deputy chief dental officer of England, focused on spreading this vital message.
New research by Action on Sugar (based at the Queen Mary University of London) has revealed worrying levels of sugars have been added unnecessarily to breakfast foods intended for babies and toddlers, with some containing four teaspoons of sugar per pouch. That’s despite government guidance that no added sugars, including those from processed fruit, should be consumed by children up to two years old.
The number of people in the UK being diagnosed with mouth cancer has doubled within a generation but too few people know how to spot it early, according to the Oral Health Foundation.
From November 14-18, 2022, children across the country will be celebrating Anti-Bullying Week, and Kidscape and Queensway Orthodontics are hoping that by working together, they will help children to feel able to ask for support when they need it.
Orthodontic therapists and dental nurses are being given the opportunity by the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) to gain additional skills in fluoride varnish application by completing the new fluoride varnish teaching package. The training is available on the BOS Virtual Learning Environment.
Figures collected by the Oral Health Foundation show that 8,864 people in the UK were diagnosed with the disease last year. This has increased by 34 per cent compared to 10 years ago and has more than doubled (103 per cent) within the last generation.
On November 1, 2022, Sarah Hurley, chief dental officer for England, and Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry, released their latest bulletin.
An All Party Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health heard on November 1, 2022, the results of a survey showing that the majority of tobacco retailers support existing tobacco laws and also tougher regulations in future including a levy on tobacco manufacturers to pay for measures to help smokers quit, and raising the age of sale to 21.
Dental charity Dentaid has launched an urgent appeal to repair two of its mobile dental units and buy a new vehicle so homeless and vulnerable people can access dental care.
The National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN) appointed a new chair of the board of trustees at its Annual General Meeting in October 2022. James Ashworth-Holland was appointed as chair, taking over from Sarah Young (chair from 2020 to 2022).
The Dental Defence Union (DDU) issued guidance on October 31, 2022, concerning the potential risks and pitfalls of communicating with patients via direct messaging apps.