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.

Budget 2021: What does this mean for you?

Luke Moore discusses what the chancellor’s plans mean for dental professionals. The UK held its breath as the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2021 budget. By this point, it was clear that the focus would…

Government recommends 1% pay rise for NHS dentists

The government has recommended that NHS dentists receive a 1% pay rise in 2021 to 2022, sparking calls for a ‘fair deal’. This follows the latest report of recommendations to the Review Body on Doctors’…

Keep Britain Smiling campaign gains momentum

The KeepStokeSmiling campaign has been running since 2018 and is going from strength to strength. Its aim was to highlight the importance of teeth, and the importance of looking after them. Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire has some…

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…

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

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