Dental Nurse News: Dentists best placed to spot mouth cancer

A visit to the dentist could save your life!

A recent article in the British Dental Journal makes the case for the dental profession being uniquely placed to spot early signs of mouth cancer. The point is being discussed at Westminster and the idea has cross party support. The British Dental Association has joined with Cancer Research UK to launch a “toolkit” to help dentists and other dental professionals identify the early signs of mouth cancer which poses a serious threat to public health.

Dental Nurse News: Dental Health Crisis

Dentists’ Warning!

An article intoday’s Daily Mail warns of a “crisis” in dental health care. It was revealed that 400 dentists had written to the Daily Telegraph complaining about the lack of NHS resources in dealing with a growing dental health crisis with many adult patients being ignorant of the most basic dental hygiene.

Dental Nurse News: Tax deadline for self employed dental professionals

31 January 2016 Deadline Approaches!

Dentists, hygienists, dental nurses and therapists can provide their services in a number of ways and there is wide variation between different dental practices, clinics and hospitals. This can be a very confusing area especially when use is made of personal service companies, agencies, umbrella companies and other more exotic contracts. The penalties for misunderstanding your tax status can be quite severe if HMRC think you have acted negligently or carelessly in dealing with your tax affairs. If you are self employed then the immediate hurdle is to file your tax return for the last tax year ended 5 April 2015 by 31 January 2016 and pay any outstanding tax on or before that date. Professional advice should always be taken if you are self employed.

 

Dental News: Sweets and children’s teeth.

An online poll conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation has shown that
parents are taking action against traditional sugar based sweets with almost 50% of those surveyed
saying they had would seriously consider giving their children a healthier sugar free alternative.
Statistics revealed earlier in the year showed that 26,000 primary school aged children were admitted
to hospital due to tooth decay in the last 12 months.

Christmas can be a high risk period for children’s dental health.

Dental News: Stopping tooth decay without the need for fillings!

An Australian University study over a prolonged period found that prevention is nearly always better than cure!
The need for fillings could be reduced by up to 50%.

Professor Wendell Evans from the University of Sydney advocates a Caries Management System (CMS):
procedures which cover the assessment of decay risk, the correct use of X-rays,
and treating early decay before it develops into an actual cavity.

The CMS has 4 main elements:

1. Use of high concentration fluoride where there is evidence of early decay.

2. Teaching better tooth brushing skills

3. Educating patients about the dangers of “snacking” and high sugar drinks.

4. Monitoring patients at most risk.

Dental News: Sugar tax report supported by the dental profession.

The British Dental Health Foundation supports the idea of a tax on sugar and in particular sugary drinks.
On 30 November 2015 The Commons’ Health Select Committee called for an introduction of a sugar tax in particular to support moves in imp-roving children’s held.
The committee said there was “compelling evidence” the tax would help to protect children’s health generations in particular to tackle such serious conditions as tooth decay and obesity.
A senior official of the British Dental Health Foundation has stated “What we are seeing is a paradigm shift, with this report real pressure will be put on ministers who have so far resisted a tax, they cannot now ignore the fact that it will have a real and hugely positive effect on the nation’s health”.

Dental News: New Therapy for Dental Phobia.

A new therapy could help people with a dental phobia. Fear of visits to the dentist can be overcome by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) enabling the patient to receive dental treatment without sedation. A new study by King’s College London has published its findings in the British Dental Journal.

It was found that patients with dental phobias typically have poorer dental health and experience more dental pain and discomfort.

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