Platform for success

Design Specific's revolutionary dental platform for patients in wheelchairs has been relaunched. The dental platform, which raises, lowers and tilts the patient to the correct position, was designed by the University of Brighton Product Design Services staff. The platform was first launched in late 1998 but has been redesigned after major interest in the product. It is the aim of the company directors to have a community dental suite for the disabled in every major centre of the population.

Delaware city council support fluoridation

Delaware City Council in Ohio, USA, have unanimously approved fluoridation of the city's water. The 6-0 vote followed one last exchange between fluoridation backers and Liberty township resident John Yiamouyiannis, a longtime leader in anti-fluoridation campaigns around the country.

Fluoridation of the city's water – one part of fluoride per million parts of water – will proceed unless a referendum filing halts it. Delaware was among a handful of Ohio communities that voted down fluoridation after the state Legislature passed a water fluoridation requirement in 1969. On May 5, 1970, fewer than 3200 voters in a much smaller Delaware defeated fluoridation 2-1 in a one-time referendum allowed by the Legislature. City council considered fluoridation again in June 1983, but did not act.

Yiamouyiannis and others opposed to fluoridation campaigned against it prior to the 1970 referendum and the 1983 council discussion.

Dental negligence firm launched

Two dentally qualified solicitors have established a niche claimant dental negligence law firm, The Dental Law Partnership.

The firm is unique in two respects – it is the only firm in the country to specialize exclusively in dental claims and both partners previously practiced as dentists. The firm, which was established on August 1, already has over 200 clients nationwide.

Recent restrictions imposed in legal aid funding mean many patients who have received sub-standard dental treatment are unable to afford the cost of pursuing a claim against the dentist. Because of their dental training, David Corless-Smith and Greg Waldron are able to identify claims which have good prospects of success and fund these claims on a 'no-win-no-fee' basis.

Belfast Dental Students' Shield Winners

Second year dental students at Queen's University in Belfast who carried out a health promotion project at St Anne's Primary School, Finaghy, were awarded a shield by the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) for their Oral Health Promotion Project.

The eight winners are Norazah Abu Bakar, Justin Barnes, Una Barrett, Philip Boles, Laura Brown, Lisa Burns, Andrea Caulfield and Helen Douglas. The students were invited to the school to carry out activities to involve the children in understanding what is required to keep teeth healthy, appreciate the importance of a good diet and the importance of visiting the dentist regularly.