News & Notes

Study links stress in dentists to unhealthy behaviour

High stress in the dental profession may be linked to unhealthy behaviour such as increased alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, skipping breakfast and poor sleep, as well as minor health problems, according to a survey.

The study, by Dr Lynn Myers and Dr Howard Myers of University College London, was presented at The British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, held at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

It has been suggested that dentistry is one of the most stressful professions. However, there is a lack of studies which have investigated factors associated with stress in dentists.

Results were presented from 228 replies received from dentists in East and West Kent as part of the nationwide questionnaire survey. These preliminary findings represented less than 10 per cent of the whole survey. Results from the whole nationwide survey of over 2500 replies will be presented at the BDA Conference in May 2001 at Harrogate.

Student takes top honours

Celine Sturridge (left, front) has been awarded the Best Student of the Year Award at King's Dental Institute. The prize recognises the overall results achieved in the Bridge Course and is sponsored by Panadent.

Quality rewards

Three dental practices in North Derbyshire have been rewarded for improvements in services and facilities for patients by North Derbyshire Health Authority.

Stubley Lane Dental Centre, Dronfield was overall winner of the Quality Development Award and received £250 in prize money and a certificate. Dental practices Gordon F. Partington of Chesterfield and Adrian Dunning & Associates, Dronfield, each received a prize of £50 and a certificate as runners-up.

The Derbyshire scheme continues in the tradition of the BDJ's Quality Development Award, which was a joint initiative between the British Dental Journal and Denplan.

New appointment for Women In Dentistry

Jeannie MacMillan has recently joined Women In Dentistry in a newly created post as Regional Contacts Co-ordinator.

Jeannie will support Women In Dentistry regional organisers who arrange local meetings and activities. An experienced practice manager and dental nurse, Jeannie previously worked in a similar role in the Red Cross.

UDT & RW Group AGM

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the University Dental Teachers and Research Workers Group will be held at British Dental Association Headquarters, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS on Friday 3rd November at 10.00am to transact the following business:

• 1 Apologies for absence

• 2 Minutes of the meeting held on 21 April 1999

• 3 Matters arising from the minutes

• 4 Report of the Honorary Treasurer

• 5 President's annual report

• 6 Election of office bearers

• 7 Any other business

Contact: Ms Joanna Woodcock Group Secretary 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS Tel: 020 7563 4140 Fax: 020 7563 4561 Email: j.woodcock@bda-dentistry.org.uk

Court case finds in favour of Opalescence

The Administrative Court in Dusseldorf, Germany has found Opalescence products to be medical devices and has confirmed their CE authorisation is valid.

The court found in favour of Ultradent Products Inc and its Opalescence products in the case entitled Schultz and Partners Medical Product Consulting vs the Regional Government of Dusseldorf. The court upheld the European CE marking authorisation issued to Opalescence products by a German Notified Body, confirming the status of Ultradent's tooth bleaching products as medical devices under German law.

Earlier this year in the UK the Appeal Committee of the House of Lords considered the petition by Optident Ltd and Ultradent Products Inc for leave to Appeal to the House of Lords against the decision of the Court of Appeal. The Appeal Committee granted leave and in due course the House of Lords will hear the appeal in full.

GM and tooth decay

The British Dental Association has welcomed the findings of scientists at Guy's Hospital and the Horticultural Research International in Kent into possible ways of preventing tooth decay.

The researchers have designed a peptide protein that acts as a 'vaccine' by blocking the adhesive mechanism that anchors the bacteria to the sticky plaque coating the teeth. It leaves other, potentially beneficial bacteria untouched.

Researchers are now trying to find a way of delivering the agent to people. One way would be developing genetically modified fruits which would release the bacteria- beating vaccine into people's mouths.

Pilot scheme

Mr J. D. Price is the first dentally based consultant to be awarded a Masters of Education in Medical and Dental Education in a pilot scheme for the degree run by the University of Sheffield.

Mr Price is a Consultant Oral Surgeon at the Barnsley District General Hospital.

Building relationships

The practice was recently recognised as an Investor in People and one of the objectives was to expand and build a new surgery.

BDA executive board member Alison Lockyer (pictured top left) and the staff at No. 1. Dental Practice in Leicestershire are pictured (right) outside their newly completed surgery extension.

'IiP has really made a big difference to the way our practice works', says Alison.

Four dental practices in East Kent have also recently achieved the Investor in People standard. Dentists and staff attended a presentation ceremony at Leeds Castle to receive their awards along with others from a wide range of companies in the South East.

The awards were received by St Dunstan's Dental Practice (Canterbury), St George's Dental Practice (Canterbury), Golding House Dental Practice (Cranbrook) and Hospital Lane Dental Practice (Rochester). Achieving the award was the culmination of a programme of hands-on training courses run by Fiona Stuart-Wilson (UMD) and Mike Grace.

Pictured from left to right are: Richard Ebanks and Tony Auger (Hospital Lane Dental Practice, Rochester), Sarah Elworthy (Golding House Dental Practice, Cranbrook), Ian Small (St Dunstan's Dental Practice, Canterbury), Emma Rolfe (DSA) and Richard Browne (St George's Dental Practice, Canterbury) and Christopher Cox (St Dunstan's Dental Practice, Canterbury.)