News

UK dentists scoop international awards

Nigel Pitts has won The Trendley Dean Memorial Award. He was presented with the honour at the opening ceremony of the IADR meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

Professor Pitts is director of the Dental Health Services Research Unit in Scotland and dean of the Dundee Dental School. He was given the award for research in epidemiology and public health.

Another UK dentist to receive an award at the opening ceremony was Robin Seymour. Dr Seymour, of Newcastle University, was named the 1999 recipient of the Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology Research Award — one of 15 'Distinguished Scientist' awards conferred annually by the IADR. Dr Seymour's research focused on analgesics for post-operative dental pain and drug-induced gingival overgrowth.

The Award for Basic Research in Periodontal Disease also went to a dentist with UK links — it was picked up by Steven Offenbacher, a member of the British Dental Journal Editorial Board.

Boots to open dental practices in May

Boots the Chemist has announced that its first four Dentalcare practices will open in Bedfordshire and the Home Counties in May this year.

The first practice will open in Milton Keynes, to be followed by practices in Bedford, Slough and Maidenhead. The company acquired a Dental Body Corporate last year and immediately signalled that it intended to trial of a number of in-store and stand-alone practices.

Boots says the new practices will provide a full range of dental services and offer a 'holistic approach to dentistry'.

King's undergraduate wins restorative prize

Above: Mr Fadil Elamin ( second left ), a final year dental student at King's, has won the British Society of Restorative Dentistry Prize. He is pictured with vice-dean Dr Inglis ( left ), Dr Dunne, senior lecturer in conservation ( second right ) and Mr Bishop, consultant in radiology ( right ). Mr Elamin received a £250 cheque for his research on caries and restorative lining materials.

MANDEC looks ahead

The Trustees of the Manchester Dental Education Trust (MANDENT) have announced that the building costs for the Manchester Dental Centre (MANDEC) have now been met.

The Centre, which was set-up in 1997, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including clinics, seminar rooms, exhibition area and laboratories. Trustees now intend to focus funding on these facilities.

Prosthetics quiz

The Steradent/BDA Prosthetics Quiz has been won by a student from Sheffield Dental School.

Alex Jones, 26, picked up his winning cheque for £750 from brand manager Jim Purling and John Hunt, chief executive of the BDA. There was also a £500 cheque for the prosthetics department at Sheffield.

Entrants had to complete a set of 10 multi-choice questions and a 100-word 'tiebreaker' that advised patients on how to adapt to their new prosthesis and recommended a cleaning regime for them.

Eastman post

Steve Smith has been appointed as consultant in restorative dentistry at the Eastman Dental Institute.

Mr Smith has also been entered on the GDC Specialists' Lists in periodontics, prosthodontics and restorative dentistry.

New Products

Risky business

LMS has taken the latest developments in computer technology into account with its new leasing service.

The company says that as computerisation of a practice involves a major capital outlay dentists should assess the merits of cash purchase over leasing.

LMS believes that leasing offers dentists many advantages, especially in the purchase of high-value equipment that quickly becomes obsolete, such as personal computers and other high-tech goods. Leasing cuts out the risk of 'obsolescence' as the lessor retains ownership of the equipment and it can be easily upgraded at the end of the rental term.

Reader response number: 051

Freegenol for free

GC Freegenol is a eugenol-free smooth, creamy mixing and fast-setting temporary cement for the provisional fixing of crowns and bridges.

Once set, it is easy to trim post-operatively and exhibits no soft tissue irritation effects. As part of a special offer each single pack of Freegenol (55g base, 20g accelerator, costing £26.80+VAT) comes with a free second pack.

Reader response number: 052

Silent witness

The Society of Expert Witnesses has launched a scheme to help dentists who want to become expert witnesses by putting them in touch with experienced members.

Stafford Miller says that a recent review of studies looking at the prevalence of dental sensitivity suggests that between 8-35% of adults suffer from the condition. The company, which makes Sensodyne, is now conducting a 'National Sensitivity Census' ( above ) of all adults visiting the dentist to investigate the problem of dental sensitivity in-depth.

The 'mentor' scheme allows novice expert witnesses to join the Society as associate members. They can then be introduced to an experienced member in the same area of expertise. The scheme is informal, so the two members can discuss the situation themselves and decide how much support is required.

Reader response number: 053

Heraeus Kulzer team pass exam

All Heraeus Kulzer's relevant staff have now have passed the BDTA's Introduction to Dentistry exam.

The company says it is the first in the UK dental industry to achieve this 'maximum', which was reached recently when the last batch of 17 staff (some of which are pictured above) passed the exam, now an industry requirement for all relevant employees who change jobs.

Rocky Mountain

Orthologic and its sister company Claudius Ash have been appointed as UK distributors for the full Rocky Mountain orthodontic range. The addition of the US firm's products will allow Orthologic to increase its range for orthodontic specialists.

Products and services now available include: the Synergy Bracket System, Kussick Functional Bone remodelling appliances and the JOE32 diagnostic package.

Reader response number: 054

Smile channel

The Smile Channel is a new initiative from Caesy Education Systems which uses the latest technology to provide a reception area program to promote dental services.

Focusing on cosmetic dentistry, the Smile Channel covers topics such as porcelain veneers, bleaching, bonding and replacing old fillings with the aid of 3-D graphics, video and clear narration. The program is stored on Digital Video Discs (DVD), which can be played through an ordinary TV set.

Caesy Education Systems says that the system can work as an internal marketing device, generating questions from patients and relieving their anxiety.

Reader response number: 055