Dental display

A display featuring highlights of the development of dentistry during each of the four centuries of the existence of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow is being set out in the Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow from 4th October until 11th October 1999.

The display will feature items on loan from the museum of the British Dental Association and from the Menzies Campbell Collection in the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

New appointment

From 1 October 1998, Dr Nigel Robb was appointed as Senior Lecturer Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry (sedation) at the University of Wales College of Medicine Dental School in Cardiff.

His position involves the co-ordination of the teaching of sedation within the school.

Two in a row

Postgraduate students from the University of Sheffield Dental School have won the BSDR/Unilever poster prize for the second consecutive year.

Picture left to right: Prof. Peter Robinson (University of Sheffield), Dr David Purdell-Lewis (Unilever Research), Dr Fiona Boissonade (University of Sheffield), Dr Helen Rodd, Prof. W. M. Edgar (BSDR President) and Prof. Colin Smith (University of Sheffield).

The prize-winner in 1998 (see above left) was Dr Alireza Keshvad for his poster 'Intercondylar width' as an aid to setting up teeth for complete dentures.

The prize-winner in 1999 was Dr Helen Rodd for her poster entitled 'Caries-induced changes in pulpal innervation: comparison between primary & permanent teeth.'

Ian Watson

On 14 June, Dr Ian Buchanan Watson, BDS, PhD, FDSRCPS (Glasg) was elected as the new Chairman of the Joint Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry (JCSTD).

Ian's main base is at Glasgow Dental Hospital and School where he is an NHS consultant in Restorative Dentistry. He is also an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Glasgow.

RADC Journal

The 1999/2000 edition of the RADC, the Journal of the Army Dental Service, is now available from the Regimental Secretary RADC, RHQ RADC, Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hants GU12 5RQ. Ex members of the Army Dental Service may obtain a copy by sending a cheque for £3.00 (includes UK postage) made payable to RADC HQ Mess General Fund.

DTB advice

In a series of articles, Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) explores the issues surrounding the circumstances of patients taking long term medicines who are then admitted to hospital for an operation. Some of the medicines should be continued while others need to be stopped temporarily.

DTB advises on which drugs can be continued and which stopped, concentrating on patients with diabetes mellitus or taking corticosteroids, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives, or drugs for cardiovascular disease.

In the first article, DTB advises continuing medication for high blood pressure, epilepsy, asthma and angina throughout the period surrounding surgery, but temporarily stopping warfarin, anti-inflammatory drugs and certain types of diuretics.

Sedation symposium

The Annual Dental Sedation Teachers Group Symposium was held this year at Guy's Hospital, London on 18th May 1999 and was sponsored by Blackwell Anaesthetic Supplies and the Central Committee for University Dental Teachers. The theme of the day was Undergraduate Training.

Above: Committee members from left to right are Dr Meg Skelly, Dr Nigel Robb, Dr Chris Bell, Dr Derek Debuse, Dr David Craig and Dr Carol Boyle.

Success for Scapa Dental Centre

Above: Partner Stuart Burgher being presented with the IiP plaque by Orkney Enterprise chairman, Eric Green. Looking on are the staff of the Scapa Dental Centre and Chessa Llewellyn-White, Business Advisor for Orkney Enterprise. The Scapa Dental Centre has finally attained Investors in People status after working towards it since 1997. Orkney now boasts one of the few dental practices in Scotland which has completed IiP.

First IiP in north west

Meredyth Bell's St Helens Dental Practice in Cockermouth has become the first in the north west to achieve the Investors in People (IiP) award, which was presented in June by Robin Mcleod, chief executive of North Cumbria Health Authority. Meredyth and her team's efforts have been rewarded by being chosen as one of the 'Six of the Best' series in the IiP magazine.

Queen's students awarded BDHF Shield

Above: The second year dental students at Queen's University in Belfast who conducted a project at St Bernadette's Nursery School in West Belfast were awarded the British Dental Health Foundation's Shield for the Best Oral Health Promotion Strategy. The project demonstrated an understanding of the principles of health promotion, the need for supportive environments, and the need for on-going reinforcement of the oral health messages.

Dental Students

Dental students in the UK are facing increasing debts according to a survey by the British Dental Association and the British Dental Students' Association. The average student debt on graduating in 1999 is now £9,700, an increase of 2.1% since 1998. The BDA estimates that the total debt for this year's 809 graduates is £6.9 million. This represents, on average, over £500,000 of debt for each dental school.

Above: Robin McLeod, chief executive of North Cumbria Health Authority presents Meredyth Bell with the Investors in People award.

The BDA is concerned that the level of a student's debt will affect which area of dentistry they go into. The survey found that one third (33%) of the respondents said their career choice was influenced by their debt level. More than half (52%) of students with debts over £9,000 said their debt affected their career choice.

The survey found that eight in ten students didn't wish to go into the Hospital or Community Dental Service where salaries are generally lower. This is likely to make the current shortage of dentists in hospitals and in the community even worse.

The BDA will be writing to Ministers and MPs to raise its concerns about the survey results.

BDA EGM

Notice is hereby given of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the University Dental Teachers & Research Workers Group to be held at 10.00am on Wednesday 27 October 1999 at BDA Headquarters, 64 Wimpole St, London, to consider the following business:

Group Accounts 1998 - 1999.

Details can be obtained from Martin Jones at BDA Headquarters.