This year's Conference in Manchester will, for the first time, feature a panel session hosted by the BDJ. The interactive session will be on the topic of minimal intervention dentistry and chaired by both Professor Avijit Banerjee (pictured), Chair in Cariology & Operative Dentistry/Hon Consultant & Clinical Lead, Restorative Dentistry at KCL Dental Institute and Programme Director of the distance-learning MSc in Advanced Minimum Intervention Dentistry (AMID) at King's College London Dental Institute, and BDJ Editor-in-Chief Dr Stephen Hancocks. Using real-life case studies faced by coal-face clinicians every day, the panel, together with the audience, will explore a range of clinical, business, behavioural, and medico-legal aspects of minimum intervention (MI) oral healthcare delivery.

The panellists will be Drs Bhupinder Dawett, Fariha Hussain, Len D'Cruz and Professor Tim Newton (profiled below); their wide-ranging expertise reflecting the breadth of MI oral healthcare delivery. There will also be opportunity in this interactive session for input from the audience in addition to smartphone voting. Your views on cases and management options will be discussed in relation to those of the panellists.

Professor Banerjee said: 'MI Dentistry in 2017 is now clearly on the professional, public, industry and government radar. As knowledge is expanding along with the scientific and clinical evidence base for this MI approach to patient-focussed, team-delivered oral healthcare, it is clear that all stakeholders, including the profession, must now engage with the process. As with instigating any change within established systems and protocols, there is some justifiable concern about how to implement MI clinical practice.

'This BDJ interactive panel session, ideal for all members of the oral healthcare team, aims to help hardworking oral healthcare practitioners rationalise those relevant MI clinical decisions. Experts on the panel will offer clinical, business and behaviour management and dento-legal advice to help develop the MI practice.'

A themed issue on the topic of minimum intervention in dentistry, guest-edited and part-authored by Professor Banerjee, will also be published in the BDJ, summer 2017.

Bhupinder Dawett

Bhupinder is principal dentist at Hafren House Dental Practice, a multi-surgery practice which focuses on minimum intervention dentistry and practice-based research. He was also a past In-Practice Research fellow with the National Institute for Health Research, and is a clinical lecturer on the distance-learning Masters in Advanced Minimum Intervention Dentistry at King's College London Dental Institute.

Bhupinder, what do you like most about the BDA's Conference?

I like the variety of educational and practice-based talks that one can attend and then readily relate to their working environment.

Why do you think people should attend this BDJ MI panel session?

Our understanding of oral disease, especially dental caries, has evolved significantly and it is imperative that dental professionals keep updated as to the practical and medico-legal aspects of implementing the MI approach.

Fariha Hussain

Fariha is working in private practice in Buckinghamshire and is also Deputy Programme Director for the Blended Learning MClinDent in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics at King's College London Dental Institute where she is responsible for course design, delivery and hands-on components of this Masters programme. She is also Clinical Teacher in Conservative Dentistry for BDS Year 4 and 5 students at King's College. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive aesthetic techniques, managing older patients with failing dentitions, treatment of patients with tooth wear and all aspects of complex prosthodontic management in practice.

Fariha, what are you most looking forward to at Conference this year?

The opportunity to learn from and be inspired by the vast array of experts speaking on clinically relevant topics.

What are you hoping people attending the MI session will get from it?

I hope people will gain an insight in how an MI approach can be successfully incorporated in general practice, to benefit patients, dentists and the whole dental team. I am sure the session will generate meaningful discussion and stimulate ideas amongst clinicians for MI case planning and practical implementation in practice.

What are you most proud of in your own career to date?

I am proud of my role as an educator at King's College London. It is a privilege to be involved in guiding and training a new generation of dentists and postgraduates from the UK and from abroad. It is a vibrant and stimulating environment where I am constantly learning and as our profession continually evolves.

Len D'Cruz

Len is a general dental practitioner, running a six-surgery mixed NHS and private practice in North East London. He is an experienced vocational trainer for the London Deanery, a dento-legal advisor for Dental Protection Ltd and a dental tutor for Health Education East of England. Len is a member of the BDA Principal Executive Committee. He is also an MJDF examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons exam and is Lead Lecturer for the MA in Dental law and Ethics at the University of Bedfordshire.

Len, what are you most looking forward to at this year's Conference?

It is great opportunity to network with colleagues but to also access CPD topics that I wouldn't normally do such as periodontics and implants, and TMJ and bruxism with Andy Lane.

What are you hoping people attending the MI session will get from it?

I hope that delegates will see that this way of treating patients is a practice builder, evidence-based and supported by academics and clinicians the world over, and that it will revolutionise the everyday care they provide to patients.

Why do you feel the MI approach is so important in dentistry?

I strongly feel that if you are not managing patients with an MI approach it will leave you vulnerable to allegations of inappropriate care or not providing evidence-based care that is in the patient's best interests.

Tim Newton

Tim is Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry and Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist at KCL Dental Institute. Tim's particular interests include the management of dental anxiety, interventions to enhance oral health related behaviour and the working life of the dental team. In 2015 he was awarded the IADR Behavioural, Epidemiological and Health Services Research Distinguished Scientist Award.

Tim, what do you like most about the BDA's Conference?

The BDA Conference offers a great opportunity to meet with established colleagues and former students to catch up on their news and gossip. As well as that it provides cutting edge information on practical developments in the field of dentistry from experienced and skillful educators.

Why are behavioural aspects of care so important in MI?

Oral health is critically dependent on the behaviour of the patient. Each patient spends only a small proportion of their time at the dental practice, but with the guidance of the dental team they continue their dental care wherever they are. Working in partnership with patients to create the skills, motivation and opportunity for them to look after their teeth, gums and health is an invaluable part of the MI approach.

BDJ Interactive session: 'MI' management of patients we see every day in practice

This BDJ panel session will take place from 14:30-15:45 on Friday 26 May in the Exchange Auditorium at the British Dental Conference and Exhibition in Manchester. To register and download the programme, visit www.bda.org/conference.