Dental Showcase is challenging visitors to learn not only from their peers, but also from those outside of the industry. In a captivating lecture, entitled 'Lessons from the Cockpit', Steve Hawkins, BA's Chief Training Pilot, will compare aviation and dentistry.

Surprisingly there are a lot of similarities between the two. Risk is inherent in both – for the provider (pilot/dental professional) and the customer (passenger/patient). Similarly, dentistry and aviation are overseen by regulatory bodies, who set the standards, risk management, training and ongoing assessment of competence. Safety is key to both industries; however, Steve will explore how attitudes to the reporting cultures of the two industries may differ.

The aviation industry actively encourages mistakes to be reported, without fear of recrimination. Readers will be all too familiar with the growing number of cases brought against dentists by the General Dental Council. Clearly there is some disparity between the open reporting culture of the airline industry and the sometimes 'closed loop logic' of healthcare.

Steve will be just one of the captivating speakers assembled as part of the Dental Update Study day on Thursday 4 October, hosted by Professor Trevor Burke, who will be giving a lecture entitled 'Minimising Failure with Direct Restorations and Crowns'. John Milne, Head of the CQC, will also present an engaging and potentially contentious session on regulatory matters whilst Tara Renton, will look at specific risks associated with oral surgery

A full programme of lectures continues Friday and Saturday, with presentations by Louis MacKenzie on anterior composites. Paul Bachelor will explore the topic of dementia-friendly dentistry and Bob Cummings will explain some of the HMRC challenges associates face.

To register, or for more information, visit dentalshowcase.com.