News feed - Practice Plan

All the latest dentistry news, all in one place.

Our dental news feed will be regularly updated to help you stay informed and keep up-to-date with everything that's happening in the industry.

Dental landscape, NHS

Figures show drop in the dental profession

News publication Express has shared official figures which reveal trends in the NHS dental profession in 2020-2021. During this time, 23,733 dentists performed NHS activity – a decrease of 951 on the previous year…

NHS

BDA calls for changes to NHS dental contract

The British Dental Association (BDA) has reiterated their opposition to the recent rise in dental targets…

NHS

Boris Johnson says government delivered ‘record investment’ in NHS dentistry

He made the statement when facing queries from MPs at yesterday’s session of Prime Minister’s Questions. The Prime Minister was asked whether he will commit to increasing the number of NHS dentists in the UK.…

NHS

CDO Sara Hurley releases 2022 update for NHS dentistry

Chief dental officer Sara Hurley has unveiled the latest targets for NHS dental practices in the run up to Christmas. Between January and March 2022, dental staff are asked to deliver 85% of their contract.…

Contract Reform COVID-19 Finance Mental Health NHS Practice Management Regulation

New SOP guidance and appendix for dentistry

Decon Pete covers the updated SOP guidance and explains what the changes actually mean for dental practices. The UK Health Security Agency have issued new standard operating procedures (SOPs), on 24 November, for infection prevention and control for seasonal respiratory infections in health care settings. The new guidance supersedes the… Read more

How mandatory vaccinations are going to impact NHS and private practices

Nigel Jones caught up with HR and employment lawyer, Sarah Buxton, to explore mandatory vaccinations, look at who it will impact, and discuss how practices can comply with regulations. Read more

What’s new in the latest IPC guidance?

Changes to pathways and distancing are just some of the updates from the latest infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance. The government yesterday released new guidance for healthcare settings, including dentistry. This refers to the advice clinicians have had to follow since the onset of COVID-19 early in 2020. It… Read more

‘I’ve never seen my colleagues so demoralised” – Dr Eddie Crouch

The extent of the NHS dental crisis was brought home to viewers yesterday, when Dr Eddie Crouch appeared on the BBC’s Breakfast programme to outline the problems facing the dental health service. The British Dental Association Chair had been asked to discuss the crisis on live TV, with presenters Dan Walker and Sally Nugent. The interview was carried out… Read more

COVID-19 vaccines ‘mandatory for NHS staff from April’

Vaccination against COVID-19 will be ‘compulsory for NHS dental staff’ in a bid to boost uptake. But the measure will not start until April down to fears it could lead to a shortfall in staff over the winter. Latest figures reveal that around 90% of NHS staff in England have… Read more

Welsh dentists calling for the relaxation of COVID rules

BDA Wales is calling for the relaxation of COVID rules to avoid patients unnecessarily losing teeth and allow more dental check-ups. Russell Gidney, chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, says delays will mean tooth decay, gum disease and cancers will go unspotted. He highlights strict hygiene measures and fallow time reducing… Read more

Two fifths of dentists say it will take ‘at least a year’ to clear COVID backlog

Around 40% of dentists report it will take 12 months or longer to tackle the backlog of patients at their practice. This is according to latest research carried out by the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It reports that four in 10… Read more

Your NHS dentistry and oral health update

Sara Hurley, chief dental officer England, and Ed Waller, director of primary care NHS England, have recently provided an update regarding self-isolation policies and retuning to work for those who are a healthcare provider. In their statement, they said, “We are writing with further information on the government's announcement that if there… Read more

New SOP Revisions Bring Little Change

The revisions to the Standard Operating Procedure announced last week, received an underwhelmed response from many dental professionals. Many practitioners felt that the revisions made very little difference to current daily procedures, falling well short of the much-needed relaxation of fallow times. Read more

COVID-19 – dental standard operating procedure updated in England

‘Not yet business as usual’ – this is the key message that has been put out to the dental profession by chief dental officer Sara Hurley ahead of next week’s easing of restrictions. But the CDO has confirmed a number of changes to England’s standard operating procedure (SOP). This falls… Read more

BDA’s ‘Freedom Day’ Plea To Sajid Javid

The British Dental Association has written to the new Secretary of State for Health asking for his commitment to developing “A clear roadmap to recovery.” In an open letter sent to Sajid Javid, signed by Chair Dr Eddie Crouch and Dr Shawn Charlwood, the BDA said “As we approach ‘Freedom Day’ our members continue to operate… Read more

Changes to dentistry following the COVID-19 pandemic

An all-encompassing survey has revealed how COVID-19 has changed the lives and attitudes of dental professionals. Dentistry reports. COVID-19 has changed life for us all but how has it impacted dentistry? A major new study carried out by Dentistry and Dentistry Online has shed light on what life after COVID-19 could look like for… Read more

Dentistry takes top spot for most delayed healthcare service

Dentistry comes first on the list of the most delayed healthcare services in the UK. In an Oral Health Foundation survey, almost half (45%) reported dental appointment or treatment delays in the last 12 months. This is the top reported service delay, climbing above other healthcare services including: GP surgeries… Read more

Are you eligible for the COVID-19 bonus payment?

Dental professionals with an NHS contract in Wales are eligible for a one-off bonus payment as a result of COVID-19. In March, the Welsh government announced that NHS and social care staff will be awarded a bonus payment as a thank you for their work during the pandemic. The one-off… Read more

Good Oral Hygiene May Be Protective Against Severe COVID-19

Good oral hygiene and gum health may be the key to saving patients from developing severe COVID-19 illness. New research has demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 present in infected people’s saliva could pass into their lungs by moving directly from the mouth to the bloodstream, particularly if the individuals are suffering… Read more

COVID Has Led To Bruxism ‘Pandemic’

Dentists worldwide are reporting a surge in tooth grinding caused by pandemic stress. Practitioners from the UK and many other countries have been noticing a substantial increase in the numbers of cracked teeth caused by bruxing since COVID-19 was identified and lockdowns were imposed. The Irish Dental Association said this week “While… Read more

COVID-19 – pandemic led to spike in dental-related redundancy queries

Redundancy and absence queries were among the top five reasons for dental professionals requesting advice and guidance. This is according to a new survey carried out by the Dental Defence Union (DDU). The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant increase in the number of queries coming from dental professionals. The top… Read more

Suspension on requirement for patient signature on dental forms extended

The government has confirmed that the exemption on patient prescription signing will be extended by three months. The Department of Health and Social Care have announced that patients will not have to sign dental forms up until 30 June 2021. Last November, the government enforced the move in a bid to reduce… Read more

NHS dental targets increase to 60% from April

NHS dental practices will need to hit 60% of their pre-COVID activity under new requirements. This was announced under a new statement from CDO Sara Hurley and director of primary care commissioning transformation, Gabi Darby. From 1 January 2021, dental practices were asked to deliver 45% of their contracts in order… Read more

NASDAL’S Verdict On The Pandemic Not All Gloom

The coronavirus pandemic didn’t bring all gloom to dentistry according to NASDAL’s ‘State of the Nation’ press conference. The National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers has said that against what many may have expected, the latest period showed very little reduction in practice values due to the pandemic. Read more

Pandemic Was A ‘Dental Disaster’ Says FDI

The President of the World Dental Federation (FDI) has called the oral health aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic ‘A dental disaster.’ Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger said "Restrictions have certainly played a part in oral health hesitancy, but they don’t tell the whole story.” He added "Let’s call it for what it is—a dental… Read more

New research sees consumer fear over visiting dentists grow

New research from GSK Consumer Healthcare, in partnership with IPSOS, has revealed changing attitudes towards dentistry within the UK, as more British people than in any other European country have stopped visiting the dentist as a result of the pandemic. While 64 per cent of Europeans plan to visit a… Read more

The threats to dental practices as we come out of lockdown

Johnny Minford looks at the biggest of the current threats to dental practices as lockdown eases. As we went through last autumn, progressing past the sometimes confusing messages given during that lockdown, there was a hopefulness in the air that practising would continue to get more straightforward. Few thought it… Read more

The Future Of Dentistry Roundtable – Coronavirus Exposed Issues

The coronavirus has “exposed and exacerbated the issues facing mixed and private practices across the UK,” a roundtable on the future of dentistry has heard. Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at SimplyHealth told a virtual roundtable “We all know from first-hand experience, that over the last 12 months practice teams have done… Read more

‘They feel undervalued’ – how has COVID-19 impacted dental nursing over the last 12 months?

Going back to last March, up until now, how has dental nursing been impacted by the pandemic? I can only answer in relation to my own experience as BADN president – certainly in the very beginning we had lots of calls into the office. It was a real unknown, the… Read more

Good News On Practice Sales, Despite Pandemic

Despite the pandemic and lockdowns, interest in dental practice ownership appears to be growing. A report released by Christie and Co showed some unexpected results during the lockdown - an increase in enquiries from first-time buyers. The specialist business property advisor said in its ‘Dental Market Review 2020/21’ that the age profiles of first-time… Read more

One third of practice owners have a higher revenue now than before COVID-19

This is according to the latest dental market review from Christie & Co. In March 2020, dental practices were forced to close as countries across the world were plunged into lockdown. But the report states that as reopening plans became clearer, confidence in the dental market began to return. Some… Read more

Anti-Covid Effectiveness Of Mouthwash To Be Investigated

A clinical trial has been launched to test whether mouthwash can reduce a person’s risk of spreading coronavirus. Although laboratory experiments have shown mouthwash can quickly kill coronaviruses, there’s no evidence yet available to show mouthwash can prevent the virus from infecting people. The Adams School of Dentistry at the University… Read more

Swapping local anaesthetic syringes for COVID-19 vaccines

As the COVID vaccine rollout gathers pace, Keshana Kuruparan explains why dentists should help with the vaccination programme. As we approach a year since England’s first lockdown, it is important to reflect on the insurmountable challenges we have all faced. But to also acknowledge how far we have come as… Read more

NHS staff inundated with almost 140,000 spam emails in 2020

NHS staff were inundated with more than 137,000 spam or phishing emails last year. This is according to the latest figures from NHS Digital. Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, NHS employees reported 27,958 suspected phishing emails targeting their email service. These were drafted in a bid to encourage… Read more

London worst affected by lockdown dentist closures

New data released by the NHS has revealed the impact of lockdown-enforced dentist closures in England, with patients in London worst affected as available appointments plummeted to 21 per cent less than 2019. Almost a year on from the initial government-enforced national lockdown, the NHS has released figures which highlight… Read more

‘Forgotten healthcare profession’ – dental nurse turned away from vaccine appointment

A dental nurse was turned away from a vaccination centre – despite dental team members qualifying for priority access to the COVID-19 jab. Michelle Martin, a dental nurse at Barrowford Dental Practice, said her colleague, Lisa Clarkin, was denied a vaccine at her local hub after turning up for her appointment. The… Read more

Study Shows Hygienists At Low Risk Of COVID-19

A study carried out in the US suggests dental hygienists have experienced a low rate of COVID-19 infection, despite being considered high-risk. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) and the American Dental Association released data from nearly 4,800 dental hygienists working in all 50 US states, as well as Puerto Rico. HealthDay News reported only… Read more

NHS Calls For Pay Concerns To Be Aired

NHS dental associates who haven’t been paid fully during the pandemic are being encouraged to give voice to their pay concerns. NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) has launched a new pay concerns year-end form on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement. The BSA has said “The expectation from NHS England and NHS Improvement… Read more

COVID-19: Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds, study finds

Oral rinses containing 0.07% of the ingredient cetylpyridinium chloride show "promising signs" of reducing COVID-19. Mouthwash is able to kill COVID-19 within 30 seconds of exposure to it in a laboratory, a scientific study has found. The preliminary findings, which are yet to be peer reviewed, come ahead of a… Read more

Coronavirus: Dentists warn millions of treatments have been missed

Dentists have provided around 19m fewer treatments in England since March this year compared to the same period last year, figures show. British Dental Association (BDA) analysis, seen by the BBC, shows practices operating at a fraction of their capacity during the pandemic. It warns hundreds of practices could be… Read more

Dental profession calls for permanent VAT exemption on PPE

Dentists are calling for a permanent VAT exemption on personal protective equipment (PPE) to help healthcare settings fight COVID-19. Kicked off by James Goolnik, a petition has been launched calling on the government to scrap VAT on PPE, including gloves, masks and aprons. Earlier this year, a temporary exemption was… Read more

England lockdown from 5 November

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday evening, we are seeking urgent clarification as to the position of dental services during the four week period of additional restrictions from 5 November. Based on the Government guidance so far published our interpretation is that dental practices will continue to operate as at present.… Read more