​With the coronavirus continuing to create chaos, it perhaps serves as a timely reminder of the importance of evidence-based information sharing.

As frontline health care workers, dental nurses are often required to pull out the stops when it comes to communicating with patients.

Whilst empathy and reassurance are key factors in your communications, sometimes the simple relating of solid evidence-based facts is all that is required to make a difference.

As the profession develops and adapts to meet increasingly high expectations from patients – often propelled by myths and rumour – it is important to educate patients so they understand what can be achieved and, more importantly, what cannot.

Informed consent is a basic principle in the delivery of ethical and safe dental health care and is underpinned by the expectations placed upon you by the profession’s regulators, the GDC.

Your role as prime communicator is often not helped by outside factors. Instagram influencers promoting risky teeth whitening options, teledentistry in the form of braces straight to the public, and ineffective fluoride-free eco-friendly toothpastes can all prove troublesome in a world where people rely on the internet for their information.

Similarly, the coronavirus outbreak has led to a multitude of ‘experts’ coming out of the woodwork to explain best practice when it comes to infection prevention and what happens to dental nurses from hereon in – and not all valid by any stretch of the imagination.

As infection control is a major part of the dental nurse’s role, I am sure many of you have been irritated at the panic buying of masks by the public, as much as you have despaired at the seemingly general surprise that we should all be washing our hands thoroughly. What were these people doing beforehand, one wonders?

In the April issue we feature an article that takes a look at the coronavirus in a dental setting – although of course many practices are now closed for business. However, you have a better understanding than most about infection prevention and control.

And on this note, may I remind you all that we are looking for teams to share their best practice in infection control by entering our annual competition.

Once again, we have teamed up with reveal Aura Infection Control, the industry leaders in dental infection control, for this year’s Infection Prevention & Control team awards.

All you need to do is send your registration by email to IPC@qwsonline.co.uk.

Every practice that registers will be sent a short questionnaire to complete.

Winners

The winners receive a £5k iClave + from NSK, travel expenses for team members to BDIA, ExCeL London, trophy and certificate.

Plus one place on the ILM Dental Decontamination Level 3 Qualification with Aura Infection Control and one year’s subscription to the Alpron Compliance Club with a Gold subscription, which includes a year’s supply of Alpron, samplers for auditing DUWL and BC San for cleaning water bottles.

The two runners-up receive a trophy and certificate to be presented at BDIA or at the practice.

Winner and runners-up to also receive an A4 guide on ‘How to make the most of your award’ and a Compliance Club Plus subscription, which includes a year’s supply of samplers and BC San for cleaning water bottles.

The remaining shortlisted practices will receive a Highly Commended certificate.

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