Dental professionals are being given help with the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease in the form of a new elearning module from the Dental Defence Union (DDU) and the British Society of Periodontology (BSP). Allegations of failure to diagnose or treat periodontal disease account for about 10% of claims notified to the DDU each year and some claims can reach £220,000 in compensation and legal costs.

The course, which has been co-written by the BSP and the DDU, combines the expertise of both organisations on the clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis, as well as the dento-legal aspects surrounding the condition.

Divided into six modules, the new online course is worth three hours of verifiable continuing professional development (CPD), and is free for any dental professional to complete. The CPD gained will also help professionals meet the new GDC CPD requirements, due to come into force in 2018. The six modules are: Communication, Initial assessment part 1, Initial assessment part 2, Classification of periodontal disease, Treatment part 1, and Treatment part 2.

The course covers areas such as taking a detailed history, getting consent, using the Basic Periodontal Examination effectively, assessing periodontal conditions, formulating treatment plans, and techniques for producing patient behaviour change. At the end of the course, participants will take part in an assessment to test their knowledge.

The elearning module can be accessed at: https://www.theddu.com/learn-and-develop/free-cpd-modules-from-the-bsp-and-the-ddu.