East meets West in London

A new initiative has been launched to improve the dental health of Chinese children living in Central London.

The Dental Treatment and Training Centre and the Chinese National Healthy Living Centre, which have been under one roof at The Soho Centre for Health & Care since March 1998, joined forces after identifying a high level of caries among local Chinese children.

The two organisations will attempt to harmonise Western ideas about dental hygiene with Eastern values and beliefs by forging links with the Chinese community and encouraging families to register with their GDPs.

New booklet for dentists to survey

A new booklet has been published which could help dentists involved in research and surveys.

Survey research methods is a medical education research booklet from the Association for the Study of Medical Education. Written as a general guide to all aspects of surveys, from designing the most appropriate survey to analysing and presenting the findings, the booklet uses practical examples from medical eduction. Contact the ASME for more details (Tel: 0131 225 9111).

Lean Memorial Award 1999

Above: Group Captain J Reid (right), this year's recipient of the Lean Memorial Award. He is pictured receiving the award from Air Marshall J A Baird (left), Surgeon General to the Armed Forces. Group Captain Reid, who is serving at RAF Halton and is now deputy director of plans and resources at the Defence Dental Agency HQ, has been involved with restructuring the RAF Dental Branch — changes that became even more important following the Defence Cost Study. The award was made for Group Captain Reid's professionalism, dedication and commitment.

New products

Astra and Zeneca merge

The merger between Astra and the UK bioscience company Zeneca is now complete. AstraZeneca hopes the two companies' research and marketing operations will make a winning combination and give the new organisation a leading position in key therapeutic areas.

AstraZeneca will have the third largest R&D budget in the pharmaceutical industry, with 14 new products earmarked for release by the end of 2001.

More to read

MagPak, the magazine subscription service for dentists, has expanded its range of titles to include Marie Claire, Your Garden and Practical Parenting.

Established in 1993, MagPak offers 23 titles and has built up a nationwide client base. The magazines are all within two months of the publication date, and the service helps dentists to keep waiting rooms stocked with a wide range of reading matter.

MagPak is currently offering clients a faster service — it can now deliver within the first 10 working days of any month.

Reader response number: 051

Risk test in ten minutes

I voclar-Vivadent's new Caries Risk Test system enables dentists to identify patients at a high risk of periodontal disease or caries.

The two simple tests can be performed in as little as 10 minutes by the hygienist or dentist. A bacteria test estimates the bacteria content of the patient's saliva, while a buffer test determines salivary secretion rate and buffering capacity. Ivoclar-Vivadent says the combined results give an excellent indication as to the patient's risk of developing caries or periodontal disease.

Until the end of April Ivoclar-Vivadent is offering a free Intro test kit worth £25.95 with all purchases of their incubator, needed to process the tests (rrp £149, inc. VAT).

Reader response number: 052

Plan for the year 2000 is bug-proof

Above: The British Dental Health Foundation Year 2000 appointment books, to help dentists plan the start to the new Millennium. Available in black, blue, brown, green and red, the books offer 15-minute appointments from 8am-8pm, Monday to Saturday.

Reader response number: 054

Corsodyl offer

DHB has a new offer on Corsodyl: all customers get a 15% discount and dentists ordering three or more cases of the product get a free display stand.

Corsodyl is available as a mouthwash, gel or spray and can be used to tackle plaque, gingivitis and ulcers.

Reader response number: 053

See Komet in West

Komet's comprehensive range of tungsten carbide and diamond burs, TC cutters and root cutting systems is now available through West One Dental Supplies.

West One says the high quality of Tungsten carbide makes TC bone cutters almost pore-free, resulting in sharp blades, a perfect surface, increased wear resistance and extraordinary bending strength. Shanks are made of stainless steel and precisely ground for vibration-free operation.

The TC bone cutter uses unique 'staggered toothing' to allow gentle, smooth bone cutting and reduce the risk of high thermal loads on the jaw bone.

Komet manufactures a wide range of IK burs with internal cooling to help avoid excessive trauma — useful for implantology and applications that involve a reduction of the bone structure.

Reader response number: 055

MiDAS touch

MiDAS Dental is now the direct sales and service office for Dental/Medical Diagnostic Systems.

DMDS is a US-based company with direct sales teams around the world and 150 years' experience of manufacturing dental products.

Reader response number: 056

Dentists stay in touch

A grant of £90,000 has gone to an Aberdeen-based research group to evaluate the use of videoconferencing technology in the delivery of dental consultant services to remote areas of Scotland.

The grant — awarded as part of the NHS Primary Dental Care Research and Development Programme — will fund consultant support in remote rural areas, where services are currently limited by the distances involved. New technology, such as ISDN telephone links and videoconferencing via desktop PCs, will allow dentists anywhere in the north of Scotland to arrange a live consultation for their patients in with a consultant in Aberdeen.

The project involves GDPs, a restorative consultant and research workers from Dundee and Glasgow. It is headed by Martyn Steed, a GDP from Aberdeen.