20 free hours

As of this month, November 2017, there are now 20 hours of free BDJ Team verifiable CPD available on the CPD Hub. That's ten hours from 2016 and ten hours from 2017.

Any GDC-registered dental care professional (DCP) can take part in BDJ Team CPD. Each digital issue of BDJ Team contains one CPD article: just read the article then log into the CPD Hub and answer four multiple choice questions based on that article. You can then download your certificate to show you have completed an hour of CPD.

To access the CPD Hub, go to https://cpd.bda.org/index.php

What CPD is available? 2016 HOURS

January

CPD article: The knowledge of dental nurses at one institution of the scope of practice of the dental team members https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201610

February

CPD article: Infection prevention and control in your practice https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201632

March

CPD article: How to turn complaints into compliments https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201651

April

CPD article: Periodontitis: a potential factor for Alzheimer's disease https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201662

May

CPD article: What's in a bin? https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201680

June

CPD article: How accurately do members of the dental team detect malignant lesions? https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2016103

July

CPD article: Resuscitation in the dental practice https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2016120

September

CPD article: Cannabis: a joint problem for patients and the dental team https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2016146

October

CPD article: Keeping infection under control https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2016153

November

CPD article: Evaluating denture cleanliness of patients in a regional dental hospital https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2016171

2017 HOURS

January

CPD article: ‘Your teeth you are in control’ https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201710

February

CPD article: Radiography for the dental team https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201729

March

CPD article: Medical emergencies: refresh your knowledge https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201743

April

CPD article: An introduction to crowns https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201761

May

CPD article: What is safeguarding? https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201778

June

CPD article: The erosive potential of sour novelty sweets https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam201796

July

CPD article: Treatment of dental caries under general anaesthetic in children https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017116

September

CPD article: Stress and well-being in dental hygiene and dental therapy students https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017136

October

CPD article: The unbearable sweetness of sugar (and sugar alternatives) https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017156

November

CPD article: Trauma informed, sensitive practice https://www.nature.com/articles/bdjteam2017176

To access the CPD Hub, go to https://cpd.bda.org/index.php

CPD case study

Sarah Smith is a dental nurse in Leigh on Sea in Essex, working in a private dental practice specialising in cosmetic dentistry.

How does Sarah do CPD?

‘I usually complete my CPD through various courses, some of which are costly. I started reading BDJ Team last year and I have since completed over 12 hours of CPD, which I have found very useful. I have found the BDA's CPD Hub very easy to move around and find my CPD records, so useful in fact that I have recommended the Hub to my friends and colleagues.’

What does Sarah think about being a dental nurse?

‘My job as a dental nurse gives me much enjoyment and I am very enthusiastic about my position as team leader. I enjoy leading the clinical side of the practice and being the first point of contact with regards to cross infection and CQC.’

CPD case study

Susie McConnachie is a dental nurse in Perth, Scotland, working as an associate dental practice doing a mixture of private and NHS work.

When did Susie start dental nursing?

‘In 2004. I qualified in 2006 and worked until 2012 in the Western Isles, and until 2013 in Kyle of Lochalsh as a locum before taking a career break to work in GP practices as a dispenser then an office manager.’

When did Susie start doing BDJ Team CPD?

‘At the beginning of this year. I came across it while I was searching for good CPD to do. Once I found the CPD Hub, it has become a favourite first stop for CPD articles. The CPD Hub is very easy to use even from my smartphone, enabling me to read and then complete CPD when it appears rather than save it for later, when I might forget!

‘During the earlier years of my career, most especially after Agenda for Change and the compulsory registration of dental nurses and need for CPD, it was never made clear how best to get these hours and complete our CPD record. This has prompted me to share your site and all available CPD with my dental nurse colleagues at the practice in Perth, as well as dental nurses in my previous practices - making that search for CPD a little easier!’

What does Susie like the most about being a dental nurse?

‘I love that it is almost a partnership between the dentist and nurse, that you can go away from your working day feeling as though you have made a difference to that patient in pain, or that child who is scared by all the sights and smells. Working with my dentist to provide a very efficient, fluid service is a very satisfying career!’