British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

BAOMS has welcomed the launch of the Royal College of Surgeons of England's certification system for cosmetic surgery, which has been developed in consultation with BAOMS and other specialities in the field. Caroline Mills, BAOMS Surgical Specialty Interest Group Lead on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Surgery said that 'robust regulation for cosmetic surgery is vital to protect patients and will help them identify a highly trained surgeon'.

British Society of Paediatric Dentistry

Excessive sugar

The BSPD has welcomed the attention drawn by the Local Government Association to the unacceptably high number of decay-related extractions in children, as well as their call for Government to do more about excessive sugar consumption.

Spokesperson Claire Stevens said: 'I am one of the hospital-based paediatric dentists extracting children's teeth week in and week out, and the pressure is relentless. As soon as I have finished in theatre, another eight patients will have been added to our waiting list.

'I can be taking out all the baby teeth of a child as young as two or three in one procedure; at another appointment I am providing dentures for teenagers. This is sad, especially when we know that dental decay is a disease which is almost entirely preventable.'

Oral health and quality of life

The BSPD has also welcomed the State of Child Health report 2017 published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which recognises the impact of poor oral health on a child's physical health and quality of life. The RCPCH report makes the point that the health of children in the UK has not improved at the same rate as in other wealthy countries and the stark inequalities in health have widened, and says that universal early years public health services need to be prioritised with targeted help for families experiencing poverty.

Guide for parents of children with autism

A new guide has been published by the BSPD in support of parents of children with autism. The guide covers all aspects of children's dental health from introducing the child to tooth brushing at home to preparing for dental appointments. http://bit.ly/2jeHjq1