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.

Overseas registration exam: GDC announces more dates

The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed the dates of further sittings of the overseas registration exam (ORE).

NI - Dentists to 'shrink NHS element' to 'keep the lights on'

Dentists will have to reduce the NHS elements of their practice due to the hike in National Insurance contributions (NICs) this month, the Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee has warned.

How can we prepare a new generation to work in dentistry?

The Dental Leadership Network met to discuss the next generation of dental professionals and how best to train them for the demands of the profession.

Only 250 non-practising UK dentists actively seeking work

Fewer than 250 non-practising dentists are actively seeking work in dentistry, sparking caution from leading experts. Released today, the General Dental Council (GDC) has unveiled its second annual set of dentists’ working patterns data.

Mental Health NHS COVID-19 Dental Health Practice Management Regulation Dental Profession Finance

PAC report flags 5.5K gap in dental workforce

ADG cautions the need to take a ‘TOTAL TEAM’ approach The long-awaited Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ‘Fixing NHS Dentistry’ report lands today and the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) warns that the priority should be filling the massive gap in the total dental workforce. Read more

AI in dentistry and healthcare: understanding potential and risks is ‘critical’

Artificial intelligence in dentistry and healthcare should provide clinicians with information, not recommendations, in order for teams to offer the most appropriate treatment. Read more

Complaints about private dentistry rise by 133% in one year

Private dental complaints in the UK have more than doubled in just one year, with leaders saying it highlights the ‘challenging environment’ the profession is working in. Released today by the Dental Complaints Service (DCS), the report – which looks at complaints made in 2023 and 2024 – highlights the… Read more

Average pay for associate dentist rises for third year in a row

Average associate remuneration is up for the third year in a row to £90,161 – marking an 11.9% increase, according to new statistics. Today. the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NADSAL) published their annual benchmarking report for the financial period of 2023-24. Read more

BDA and Government relationship hits the rocks

After the 2024 election there seemed to be smiles all round when senior BDA and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) representatives first met. Little more than six months later that seems a distant memory. Figures on both sides might be wondering just what went wrong. Read more

Do direct-to-consumer orthodontics have a place in dentistry?

Dentistry.co.uk explores the rise of direct-to-consumer orthodontics – what does the term mean, is it safe and does the dental profession support it? Read more

Three in four employees work while physically or mentally unable

Two thirds of people said they felt self-imposed pressure to continue working while ill in a survey of UK employees on the topic of workplace wellbeing. Read more

BDA elects new General Dental Practice Committee chair

‘A make or break moment for NHS dentistry’: Shiv Pabary has been elected the new chair of the British Dental Associations’s General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC). Read more

Service costs for dental foundation training to increase

Service cost payments to practices hosting foundation dentists are set to increase for the first time in a decade. Read more

Pay increase for NHS dentists dubbed ‘inadequate’

A pay uplift of 4.64%for NHS dentists in England has been confirmed, as experts warn that this represents a ‘pay cut’ in real terms. This is despite the recommendation of a 6% increase by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body last year. The pay rise will be backdated to April… Read more

Dentistry’s 2024 round up

We’re back with our annual round up of the biggest dental headlines of the year. From ORE changes to the NHS dental recovery plan progress – check out 2024’s top dental stories below. Read more

Reflecting on 2024: progress and milestones in dentistry

Polly Bhambra reflects on different moments from an eventful year in dentistry and her goals for the coming year. Read more

Significant gap in dental workforce, says association

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has highlighted the significant gap in the dental workforce, as it awaits the government and the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) action plan to deliver on their election manifesto pledges for NHS dentistry. Read more

Dental Industry Awards 2024 – the winners!

FMC is delighted to present the 2024 Dental Industry Award winners and highly commended – congratulations to all who made it. The Dental Industry Awards was set up to recognise excellence in the UK dental industry. Read more

GDC publishes stakeholder perceptions research findings

The General Dental Council (GDC) today published the findings from its Stakeholder Survey 2023, showing both the progress made in recent years and areas where further improvements are needed to improve people’s views and experience of the GDC. Read more

Plans approved for new dental school

Plans to open a new dental school in Norfolk have advanced, supported by £1.5 million in funding. The new dental school will be built at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N) as part of the University of East Anglia (UEA). Read more

Dental recovery plan ‘unlikely to deliver target of 1.5 million extra treatments’

The dental recovery plan will fail to reach target of 1.5 million additional NHS dental treatments by March 2025, says new research, as delivery of NHS dentistry continues to sit below pre-pandemic levels. Read more

One third of Scottish patients have problems accessing dentistry

More than one third (34%) of Scottish adults reported having difficulties when visiting the dentist according to the government, the highest proportion since 2009 Read more

Obituary: Dental Giant Michael Watson

Michael Watson, retired dentist and ‘veteran‘ of the profession, has died following a short illness. Read more

Dental amalgam – everything you need to know about its use and ban

The use of dental amalgam will be banned in the European Union from January 2025 – we take a look at the health risks associated with dental amalgam, why it’s being banned, and the impact this could have on the UK dental profession. Read more

BDA: Government has a moral duty to future proof service

The British Dental Association has stressed the dentists catering for England’s most vulnerable patients need to be recognised and valued for their work, as the community dental service struggles to meet the demands placed upon it Read more

GDC releases data on dental care professionals’ working patterns

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published data about the working patterns of dental care professionals (DCPs) in the UK. Read more

BDA – Dentists: Treasury offer recycling, not a rescue plan

The British Dental Association has expressed grave concerns that the Treasury appears to have squeezed plans for new investment to underpin the Government’s “rescue plan” for NHS dentistry. Read more

Scotland losing dentists to early retirement, figures show

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have said dentistry has been left to ‘rot’ as data shows 324 dentists have taken early retirement in Scotland since 2020. Read more

Are dental therapists going to save the NHS?

Cat Edney examines how the role of dental therapists has evolved in recent years and explores whether they might be the solution to fixing NHS dentistry. First we saw the NHS FP-17 form altered to allow dental therapists to undertake examinations, then in came the personal number for dental therapists… Read more

BDA – Keeping dentistry on Westminster’s agenda

We have fought to put dentistry at the very top of the political agenda, and that’s continued into the political parties’ Autumn conference season We pressed ahead at both Government and Opposition annual conferences, to spell out the facts on the state of NHS dentistry. Read more

Using AI to engage gen Z in dental health

Alan Clarke explains how AI and a tech-driven approach can be used to engage millennials and gen Z in dental health. Read more

Dental research podcast featuring world-leading experts launched

A podcast series for oral care professionals featuring world-leading experts has launched. The ‘Let’s Talk Oral Health’ podcast will focus on the newest practices in periodontics and implant dentistry whilst discussing the latest dental research. Read more

Seven actions to transform UK dental care

Neil Carmichael introduces the Patients First paper, the ADG’s recommended strategy for government reform of UK dental care. Read more

UK healthcare visa applications fall by 82%

Nearly 3,000 visa applications for health and social care work were submitted in July 2024 – an 82% decrease from July 2023. Home Office data shows that 91,300 applications were received in July for the skilled worker, health and care, and student visa routes. This had decreased by 36% compared… Read more

Which country has the highest level of graduate dentists?

Romania has the highest rate of graduate dentists in Europe with 9.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to a new study. In 2022, 14,313 dentists graduated in the EU, representing 3.2 dentist graduates per 100,000 inhabitants. The number represents a slight increase from 2021, up from 3.1. Read more

Health expert condemns ‘appalling’ attacks on NHS staff amidst violent unrest

The chief executive of a medical defence organisation has issued a statement denouncing growing threats of violence against healthcare workers. Read more

GDC publishes new research on the public’s experiences of dentistry

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published the latest research on public views and experiences of dental care in the UK, highlighting significant barriers to accessing dental services, especially within the NHS. Read more

EU amalgam ban: dentists in Northern Ireland granted exemption

The European Commission has approved an exemption for Northern Ireland from the EU’s new amalgam regulation, sparking reaction from the dental profession. The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed it has secured a derogation from the EU’s new mercury regulations. The ban on the use of mercury fillings in dentistry kicks… Read more

Four-day work week pilot to launch in UK after trial success

Following the success of the largest UK public sector trial of a four-day work week, campaigners are preparing to launch a new pilot. Read more

General election 2024: is Labour’s dentistry plan already a done deal?

What will a new Labour government mean for dentistry? Practice Plan sales and marketing director Nigel Jones shares his thoughts on the election result. Read more

How has dentistry changed for LGBTQ+ professionals?

As Pride Month draws to a close, Anna Peterson reflects on how the dental profession has become more inclusive for LGBTQ+ professionals and what still needs to change. Read more

Brine’s call to action on contract reform

We don’t need more discussions on contract reform. The Government needs to press ahead with change. This was the message that Steve Brine, the outgoing chair of the Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC), delivered to delegates at this year’s annual Local Dental Committees’ (LDC) conference in Brighton. Read more

General election 2024: dental professionals call for wellbeing support in manifestos

A survey found that 96% of respondents wanted political parties to include plans for health and wellbeing support for the dental workforce in their manifestos. The survey of 282 dental professionals was conducted by the Dental Defence Union (DDU) in May 2024. Eight in 10 (80%) of the participants also… Read more

Building a modern workforce for UK dentistry

Recruitment is at the heart of the dental workforce crisis, argues Neil Carmichael, but what is the solution? UK dentistry is in a state of crisis. Horror stories of pensioners pulling out their own teeth with garden pliers or children admitted to hospital in their thousands hit our headlines on… Read more

‘Disturbing’ rise in cancer cases linked to obesity

Cancer rates among under-50s in the UK have risen by 24% since 1995, with experts linking the increase to obesity and junk food. This is the sharpest increase compared to other age groups, with 10% among those over 75 and 14% among those aged 50 to 75. Read more

BDA- Provisional registration for dentists from abroad

As UK dentistry’s trade union and professional body, we want to ensure that the proposals for provisional registration for overseas dentists are fair and safe. We are considering the overseas dentists themselves; their supervising dentists; other colleagues; and the general public. We have explained our concerns in a detailed response to… Read more

Compulsory NHS tie-in for new dentists under consideration

The government has launched a consultation on a ‘tie-in period’ that would require newly-qualified dentists to work in the NHS for several years after graduation. Read more

Increased private care could lead to ‘inequalities’, says report

There has been a ‘relentless drift to the private sector’ within UK healthcare and dentistry, according to a new report by the Nuffield Trust. Published on 16 May, the Nuffield Trust report explores the changing role of the private sector in UK healthcare. Read more

CGDent presents President’s Award to John Gibson

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) has awarded the President’s Award to Professor John Gibson, founder and CEO of The Canmore Trust. Read more

Health budget underspent by £5.5 billion, says report

New analysis by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that the government has spent £5.5 billion less on health than it pledged five years ago. Read more

Over 60 per cent of dentists are thinking of leaving the NHS

The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to NHS data, which demonstrates morale amongst dental professionals is at an all-time low. Read more

Jason Wong announced as England’s new chief dental officer

Jason Wong has been appointed as chief dental officer (CDO) for England by NHS England and the department of health and social care. Read more

The number of NHS dentists is falling in Scotland, says minister

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, accused the Scottish government on April 14, 2024, of leaving NHS dentistry “to rot”. It follows research by his party, which revealed that the number of dentists providing NHS services has fallen from pre-pandemic numbers across most health boards. Read more

ChatGPT found to spread incorrect health information

Research has revealed that many artificial intelligence (AI) assistants such as ChatGPT do not have adequate safeguards in place to prevent health disinformation from being shared. Read more

Refugee dentists call on government to let them help the NHS

Refugees in the UK are calling on authorities to allow them to help the NHS in the face of dental access issues. This comes as members of the public increasingly face issues trying to access an NHS dentist. Read more

Provisional registration plans: Ministers try to fill leaky bucket

Once again government is failing to address the root causes of the crisis in NHS dentistry, with plans to fast-track in overseas dentists through a new system of provisional registration. Read more

Calls made to reform overseas registration exam in dentistry

Calls are being made for urgent reform to the overseas registration exam to help boost the dental workforce. The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is pushing its campaign to boost the UK dental workforce following alarming new statistics. Read more

Louis Mackenzie: 1968 – 2023

Louis Mackenzie, general dentist, clinical lecturer and head dental officer at Denplan, has died at the age of 55. Louis passed away shortly before Christmas. Tributes have flooded in from the dental profession, citing his impressive contribution to dentistry and hailing him an ‘incredible figure’ and ‘good friend’. Read more

More than 80 dentists claim interest for delayed COVID business interruption payouts

A group of 84 dentists have been awarded more than £380,000 from insurers as a result of delayed COVID-19 business interruption (BI) payouts. Read more

GDC to introduce an ORE application processing fee following consultation

The General Dental Council (GDC) this week announced that it will introduce an ORE application processing fee ‘to ensure associated cost are recovered’. Read more

Six in ten patients more likely to trust their dentist if they use AI, survey says

Recently released data shows that 59% of respondents would be more likely to take the treatment recommendation of their dentist if it was supported by artificial intelligence (AI). The survey of over 1,000 US adults was conducted in October and released earlier in December by VideaHealth. Read more

Advocating for compassion: addressing anti-Muslim behaviour in dentistry

We hear from Muslim dental professionals about the issue of islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in the dental profession. ‘Maybe if you wore your hijab more fashionably then it would be less intimidating’ ‘There are no innocent civilians in Gaza, just human shields’ ‘They are being kept in a fence because… Read more

Disrespectful behaviour among colleagues in dentistry is increasing, says study

Newly-released data shows that 30% of participants have experienced more disrespectful behaviour from colleagues compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Smile Direct Club shuts down following bankruptcy

Smile Direct Club has shut down weeks after filing for bankruptcy, it has been revealed. The direct-to-consumer aligner company announced the ‘incredibly difficult decision’ to shut down operations at the end of last week. Read more

Medical Loyalty: Patients Prefer Dental Consistency

According to Denplan’s 2023 Oral Healthcare Report, 59% of the population say they are more likely to see a familiar face when they visit their dentist than their family doctor. Read more

The 2023 Dental Industry Awards – the winners

Last Thursday, the dental industry came together to celebrate excellence at the prestigious Dental Industry Awards – have a look at the full list of winners and highly commended. Read more

Former BUPA Practice Reborn

BUPA Dental made the shock announcement that they intended to dispose of 85 practices in March. This represented nearly 20% of their estate. Read more

GDC reform should be a cross-party commitment in 2024, says John Makin

John Makin, head of the Dental Defence Union (DDU), discusses what needs to be done to reform dentistry in 2024. The state of dentistry will be one of the big talking points on voters’ doorsteps when the prime minister calls the next general election. Read more

BDA England: Urgency and ambition needed from new team at Department of Health

With change at the top at the Department of Health and Social Care, real urgency and ambition are required to ensure NHS dentistry has a future. Read more

GDC’s new dentists workforce survey is “a welcome step in plugging the data gap” in NHS dentistry, says ADG

General Dental Council (GDC) has launched a workforce survey for registrants to complete, with the aim of helping it to understand more clearly the NHS dentistry crisis. Read more

Seven in 10 Jewish healthcare professionals report increase in antisemitism

Around 95% of Jewish healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the UK have reported that a rise in antisemitism has negatively affected their mental and emotional wellbeing. Read more

WHO considers regulation of AI in healthcare

Artificial intelligence technologies are being rapidly deployed in healthcare without a full understanding of how they may perform, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Read more

Smile Direct Club Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Disruptor Disrupted

Smile Direct Club (SDC), the direct to consumer aligner provider, has been no stranger to controversy. In the latest news associated with the US based disruptor, which was once valued at $8.9 billion, it has filed for Chapter 11 protection from its creditors. Read more

Five tips to avoid legal trouble in practice

Sarah Buxton, a BSDHT (British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy) partner, shares her top legal tips for dental hygienists and dental therapists. Read more

Your social media activity could sabotage your dental career

Your virtual life may feel distinct from your day-to-day practice – but you are accountable to the regulator for your online activity. This is according to Dental Defence Union (DDU) dentolegal adviser, Jo-Anne Taylor. Read more

GDC launches pilot to ‘improve timeliness’ of fitness to practise processes

The General Dental Council (GDC) has launched a pilot to ‘improve proportionality and timeliness’ of fitness to practise processes. Announced today, the GDC is launching a pilot that will test a change to the initial stages of its fitness to practise processes to improve proportionality and timeliness. Read more

NHS Dental Statistics: Dentist Numbers Down But Treatments Delivered Are Up

The NHS Dental Statistics for England 2022-23 have just been published and out of the myriad of numbers, percentages and trends, one statistic will see ministers cling to it like Titanic passengers to a life raft: the number of courses of treatment delivered over the past year is up by almost a… Read more

Dental Protection: Frustration over access to dental care fuelling abuse against dental professionals

In a Dental Protection survey of over 1,300 UK dental professionals, more than half (57%) say they have experienced or witnessed verbal or physical abuse from patients or their relatives in the past 12 months, with 64% of those saying the incidents resulted from frustration over long waiting times for… Read more

Consultation opens on plan to relieve NHS dental access

The government has opened a public consultation on a proposal which could see dental hygienists and therapists alleviate access issues. Read more

GDC reports more registrants and fewer removals in 2023

The GDC has released new data suggesting that the total number of UK registered dental care professionals has increased this year following the annual review period. Read more

GDC acts quickly avoiding dental nursing crisis

It is a delight to be able to write something positive about the GDC, and recently they demonstrated that they could act quickly, use common sense, and put patients first. In what may become an example of right touch regulation, a potential crisis was averted. Read more

More than one third of dentists use AI in practice, study says

More than one third of dentists are using artificial intelligence in their practice, according to research. Read more

Why dental hygienists and therapists are key to expanding access to dental care

With Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighting dental therapists as key to the UK’s dental access issues, we hear from Miranda Steeples, president of the BSDHT, about what this means for the profession. Read more

How does the public perceive dentistry?

Do you want to know more about public perception, views and experiences of dentistry? Miranda Steeples delves into the latest data published by the General Dental Council. Read more

Access to dentistry isn’t just a UK problem

Bristol Dental School invests in £36 million facility

After more than 80 years at Bristol Dental Hospital, the Bristol Dental School is moving to a £36 million location with brand new facilities. Read more

GDC triples Overseas Registration Exam capacity

Sara Hurley, chief dental officer for England, to stand down

Chief dental officer Sara Hurley will stand down this summer, NHS England announced today. England’s CDO Sara Hurley is stepping back from the role at the end of June after eight years in the job. Read more

GDC versus Williams – the profession reacts

After the High Court overturned the GDC’s decision to erase a dentist for charging top-up fees, we hear from people in the profession about what this means for dentistry and the GDC Read more

The CDO and reputation management

“I am not doing nothing, I am a woman with a plan.” These were the words of the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) of England, Sara Hurley, at the recent House of Commons Health Committee hearing. Read more

There isn’t a dental nurse shortage, and here’s why…

‘Practices should be looking at their dental nurses as an investment, not a cost for the practice’: dental nurse Rebecca Silver discusses some of the reasons why practices could be struggling with dental nurse recruitment. Read more

Therapy dogs could help dental access and reduce missed appointments

In contrast to the UK’s problems with availability of dental care, where more dental professionals are needed, a recent study in America has looked to enlisting dogs to help improve access Read more

Four in 10 dentists likely to quit NHS in next five years due to ‘intolerable’ pressures

Four in 10 dentists and doctors are likely to quit the NHS due to ‘intolerable’ pressures in the next five years. In addition, more than eight in 10 (86%) dental professionals say that workplace pressures have increased in the past two to three years. This is according to a new… Read more

Oral Health Practitioner: A New Role

The Prime Minister must have been acutely aware that he needed to get a grip on the various challenges facing the UK. After careful consideration to develop an action plan to turn around the UK, and his party’s fortunes, the PM and his expert advisers have now set out their vision; teach… Read more

New Year’s Honours & Dentistry

Three dental team members have been included in the New Years Honours list. This is the first of its kind from King Charles, and continues the tradition of recognising those who have served in a wide variety of roles. Read more

Brexit warning

The ADG has issued a “Brexit warning” for dentistry in 2023 following the publication of Health and Brexit by the Nuffield Trust which found the number of EU-trained dentists registering in the UK has halved since the referendum and “has never recovered”. Read more

New dental training initiative for rural Wales

A new recruitment initiative aimed at encouraging future dental trainees to take up opportunities across rural Wales has been launched by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). Read more

BDA: GDC ARF payment reminder

We are reminding the profession that the General Dental Council (GDC) is currently collecting dentists’ Annual Retention Fee (ARF) for 2023. Payments must be made by the end of the day on 31 December 2022. Read more

Access crisis – not only a British problem

With constant news coverage of the UK’s dental access crisis it would be easy to conclude that this is a particularly British problem. Read more

‘I am determined that the BDA will continue to be there to advise and support members, whatever mix of care they provide’

After another extraordinary and tumultuous year, it feels like an appropriate time to stop and reflect on the impact of the wider political and economic chaos on our world of dentistry. We perhaps thought that coming out of the worst of the pandemic, we would experience a more stable environment… Read more

GDC alters FTP aiming to reach conclusions sooner

Recent changes to the Fitness to Practice (FTP) process have now been put into operation by the GDC. Read more

Kevin Lewis – fourteen wrongs don’t make a right

Don’t believe everything you hear via social media, chatrooms and the professional grapevine, warns Kevin Lewis. Just because the GDC gets a decision wrong doesn’t make everybody else right. Read more

Supporting patients during the cost of living crisis

Anna Middleton looks at what dental professionals can do. There can be little doubt that UK dental services have had a challenging time over the last couple of years. Read more

More NHS dentists could be forced to close after major cyber attack leaves some nearing financial ruin

'At a time when NHS dentistry is already broken it will only mean that some of those services become unsustainable,’ said Dr Sam Shah, former director of digital development at NHS England Read more

The dental recruitment crisis: what you need to know

In this article, Phillip Barker will discuss the current recruitment crisis and its implications for the dental industry. The dental recruitment crisis is one of the most pressing issues facing the dental industry today. Read more

Domestic abuse – how dental teams can identify early warning signs

Dental teams are urged to help raise awareness of domestic abuse and learn how to identify the early warning signs. Read more

Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister – everything the dental profession needs to know

Rishi Sunak has officially replaced Liz Truss as Prime Minister – but what does that mean for dentistry? Here’s everything we know so far… Read more

Monkeypox back in the news

Jeremy Hunt found himself in trouble recently for starting a Twitter thread with, “Whilst I have one or two other things in my in-tray today,” as an introduction to his thoughts on a serious healthcare issue. Read more

GDC increases ARF payments – reaction from the profession

Last week, the GDC released the new ARF levels for dentists and dental care professionals in 2023. Read more

Consultation on learning outcomes and behaviour expectations in dental education launched

As part of the General Dental Council’s (GDC’s) statutory role in setting standards in dental education, the regulator has launched a 12-week public consultation on proposed changes to learning outcomes and behaviour expectations for education and training programmes leading to registration. Read more

UEA dentistry school plans raised with health minister

Plans for a new dentistry school to help plug the shortage in dentists are to be raised with the health minister. Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew wants a training school in Norfolk to be set up to boost the numbers of local dentists. Read more

Therapists not riding to NHS dentistry rescue anytime soon

The faltering NHS contract reforms and attempts to improve access have taken another body blow, with an uncompromising announcement from the British Association of Dental therapists (BADT). Read more

Around 400 people diagnosed with preventable cancer every day

More than 400 people are diagnosed with preventable cancer every single day, sparking health warnings from experts. Read more

Forget Big Brother – The GDC Will Take It From Here

Fears that the General Dental Council may be monitoring the social media posts of registrants have been confirmed as fact Read more

Dentists ‘should prescribe antibiotics to those at risk of heart infection’

Dentists in the UK should be able to prescribe antibiotics to patients at high risk of heart disease, according to a new study. The new data suggests that bacteria entering the bloodstream via the mouth during dental treatment could explain 30 to 40% of infective endocarditis cases. Read more

First dental practice in the UK to achieve B Corp certification

Cornwall-based Smile Together is now officially a certified B-Corporation, and the first dental practice in the UK to achieve this prestigious accreditation. Read more

Reduction of Post-July DCPs on the register ‘remains stable’ says GDC – but it’s not good news for practices looking for nurses

The General Dental Council has said that the number of UK registered dental care professionals ‘remains stable’ following the July 31st renewal deadline. Read more

GDC publishes ethnicity data for the first time

A disproportionately high number of GDC concerns were raised against Asian or Asian British dentists in 2021, the GDC report says. The GDC has today published its 2021 annual statistics, using equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data for the first time. Read more

Overseas dentists with no training in dental therapy or dental hygiene now outnumber UK trained new registrant therapists and hygienists

The General Dental Council has published its registration and fitness to practise report for 2021. Read more

Dentistry’s veteran campaigner downs drill to fight for future of service in Scotland

The British Dental Association is delighted to announce dentist and experienced campaigner Charlotte Waite will take on a leading role in the fight for the future of dental services in Scotland. Read more

‘Dental desert’ to lose fluoridated water

With a focus on the access crisis and contractual changes, the potential of preventive dentistry has taken something of a back seat. A good deal of the current backlog of untreated disease might have been prevented by nationwide fluoridation. Read more

New Bangor Dental Academy set to open before the end of the year

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed a new Dental Academy in the north of Wales could be established before the end of the year. The minister confirmed the timetable after being quizzed about the state of NHS dental services in the north of Wales by Arfon MS Siân Gwenllian. Read more

BDA – Dental tourism: Patients need to know the risks

We have been working with the BBC to highlight the pitfalls of seeking dental treatment overseas. Earlier this year we asked dentists to tell us about their experiences. Now it's leading the news, shining a light on the rise in demand for treatment overseas and the issues patients can face… Read more

Calling all dental professionals! – charity seeks volunteers to provide vital treatment to school children

A dental charity will provide vital dental health screenings free of charge to more than 250 children in the face of current access issues. The Dental Wellness Trust is treating pupils at Waulud Primary School and Nursery in Luton, Bedfordshire, as part of its Livesmart Dental Care programme. Read more

University of Suffolk dental centre planned to boost NHS care

A new dental centre is being created at a university aiming to ease the "crisis" in the number of NHS dentists. The centre for dental development is planned for the University of Suffolk's campus in Ipswich. Read more

New Case Threatens Employment Status Of Associates

The self-employed status of associates may have survived for decades, but there have been regular threats. A recent court case will be of interest and the judgment has potential wide-reaching implications for thousands of dentists. Read more

UEA could create a dentistry school to ease shortage

Two MPs have backed plans to create a dentistry school at a city's university to ease a dentist shortage. Conservative Norfolk MPs Duncan Baker and Jerome Mayhew met with NHS bosses and the government to discuss the potential plans for the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich. Read more

The legal eagle – we are all paying for exorbitant clinical negligence costs

Action to fix our warped system is long overdue, says the DDU’s John Makin on clinical negligence costs. No one would question that when a patient is injured because of negligence, they should be fairly compensated. Regrettably, fairness is not a notable feature of a civil litigation system. Read more

British Dental Industry Association supports BADN Menopause Policy

The British Dental Industry Association (BDIA) has announced its support for the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) 'Menopause Policy' launched in March this year. Read more

‘We’re not following a trend’ – trans inclusivity in dentistry

Dental therapist Leon Bassi talks us through the importance of supporting the trans community and why this will make dentistry a better profession. Why did BSDHT make a stand on the trans community? It was prompted by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests but even prior to that we were… Read more

Dentistry Census – mental health worsened by pandemic

Two-thirds of dental professionals say their mental health worsened during the pandemic. Many revealed that they felt ‘nervous’, ‘depressed’ and ‘insecure’ as a result of working within dentistry. Read more

BDA England: Call for feedback ahead of Health Committee inquiry

With the exodus of dentists from NHS dentistry accelerating, we have been called to give evidence direct to Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee as part of their ongoing inquiry into recruitment, training and retention across health and social care. Read more

The GDC Forecasts expenditure increase for 2022

The General Dental Council has forecast an expenditure increase of 5.8% for 2022, compared to 2021. Read more

Toothless in England marches against lack of progress in NHS dentistry

Toothless in England will take to the streets to mark the passing of 12 months since the event that sparked the group’s formation. The campaign group kicked off in Suffolk last year after the last NHS dental practice in the town of Leiston closed its doors. Read more

Why dental students need to be taught about business

Dundee dental student Priyanka Shah talks about why she thinks the business of dentistry needs teaching to young dentists. How is it that after going through five years of dental school, and even upon graduating, we have the faintest practical training on the business that encompasses dentistry? Read more

‘Associates bore brunt of pandemic’ – average associate remuneration drops by £7,000

‘Associates bore the brunt of the impact of the pandemic,’ suggest experts at NASDAL following the release of new findings. According to their latest statistics, associates have experienced a reduction in both income and profit. Read more

Assembly ‘must deliver real change’ to save dentistry in Northern Ireland

The profession is urging all candidates in the upcoming Northern Ireland Assembly elections to state their commitment to rebuild and reform dentistry. The British Dental Association (BDA) says dentists delivering Health Service dentistry are concerned about the impact of increasing costs. Read more

Dentist successfully fights vicarious liability claim in court

A dentist successfully challenged a vicarious liability claim at the Court of Appeal, in a case that had ‘serious repercussions’ within the profession. The claim was brought against dentist Raj Rattan last year by a client of the Dental Law Partnership (DLP) over treatment carried out by associate dentists at Mr Rattan’s… Read more