If you are interested in personal development and would like to go on a course to help you in your job or to improve your job prospects, there are lots of courses available. Here is a list of courses and conferences run by various organisations for hygienists both nationally and internationally. Though it is not comprehensive it does includes useful ideas and leads.

The following listing of courses have been supplied by the British Dental Hygienists Association:

Edinburgh Postgraduate Dental Institute - Donna Shawwww.epdi.org.uk/pcd Tel: 0131 536 4970 A variety of one day courses covering implants, fissure sealants, behaviour management, stress management and relaxation, alternative therapies, sedation, assertiveness training.

Eastman Continuing Professional Development - Ruth Gloverwww.eastman.ucl.ac.uk/cpd Tel: 020 7905 1239 Back to work and extended duty courses

Barts & The London School of Medicine & Dentistrywww.smd.qmul.ac.uk/courses/pcd Tel: 020 7377 7634 One year part time course in Oral Health Education

Certificate in Dental Radiography Suffolk College, University of East Anglia Chris Cobb Tel: 01473 296606, www.suffolk.ac.uk/transit/courses/part-time University of Keele/Luton Postgraduate Centre Tel: 01582 497199 University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Tel: 01707 284800/284968 Kent, Surrey and Sussex Dental Deanery Tel: 020 7415 3400 www.kssdeanery.co.ukExtended duties, retaining and returning to work, personal development, first aid and computers in dentistry.

Extended Duties & Back to Work Courses Gail Vernon Tel: 01706 645240 Email: gailvernon@vsmeurope.com

PCD Training and Education Centre, University College of Wales, Cardiff Tel: 029 2074 4251 www.uwcm.ac.uk/study/dentistryShort refresher, update and ‘return to work’ courses for hygienists.

BDHA Regional Groups Spring Meetings February - April 2004 www.bdha.org.uk

BDA/BDHA Bournemouth International Conference Centre 8 May 2004 www.bdha.org.uk

British Society of Periodontology ICC, Birmingham 23-25 May 2004 www.derweb.ac.uk/bsp

16th International Symposium on Dental Hygiene Madrid, Spain. 8-11 July 2004 www.ifdh.org Registration: www.siasa.es/online Venue: Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones Theme: Oral Health and Preventions during the different stages of life

BDHA Annual Scientific and GAM Edinburgh International Conference Centre 12-13 November 2004 www.bdha.org.uk