We take a closer look at what's in store for delegates at this year's National Dental Nursing Conference which will be held in Oxford in November.

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The 2019 National Dental Nursing Conference will be held at the Oxford Spires Hotel, Oxford (pictured) on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November 2019.

Conference presentations are aimed primarily at dental nurses, but all members of the dental team are welcome to attend. Places are limited though, so book early! Conference will be opened by Sara Hurley, Chief Dental Officer England, who will give the Keynote Speech following the inauguration of incoming President Jacqui Elsden.

The programme includes presentations on dental nurse apprenticeships, sedation, dealing with difficult people, volunteering in Morocco, human error factors, forensic dentistry and, of course, a GDC Update, offering seven hours of CPD over the two days. The Closing Ceremony will include the presentation of the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) Awards, BADN Fellowships and recognition of delegates' achievements over the past year.

Conference registration fees include discounts for BADN members, those booking early, and dental nurse students - and delegates can attend on either or both days. There is also a discounted B&B rate at the Oxford Spires hotel, although there are lots of other hotels nearby.

The Conference Programme is yet to be finalised, but will consist of:

Friday 1 November

  • Opening Ceremony/Keynote Speech/Inauguration of incoming President Jacqui Elsden

  • Three hours of verifiable CPD

  • BADN Annual General Meeting (current members only)

  • Buffet lunch, registration tea/coffee, afternoon tea/coffee.

Saturday 2 November

  • Four hours of verifiable CPD

  • Closing Ceremony

  • Buffet lunch, registration tea/coffee, morning tea/coffee, afternoon tea/coffee and networking.

Conference fees are discounted for BADN members and early bird bookings:

Bookings before 30 September 2019

  • Current BADN member, Friday only £49

  • Current BADN member, Saturday only £59

  • Current BADN member, Friday and Saturday £99

  • Non-member, Friday only £75

  • Non-member, Saturday only £85

  • Non-member, Friday and Saturday £149

For more detailed information, and to reserve your place, visit www.badn.org.uk/conference or contact conference@badn.org.uk.

The programme includes presentations on dental nurse apprenticeships, sedation, dealing with difficult people, human error factors and much more...

BADN awards

BADN will once again this year be running its four awards:

Outstanding Service to Dental Nursing Professional Practice

This will be awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the development and/or support of the dental nursing profession. That contribution should be to dental nursing as a whole, not to the nominee's specific workplace; have had a notable impact either UK-wide or across one of the home countries (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland); and have been to the benefit of the dental nursing profession generally, not just to a specific sector.

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Recipients of long membership badges with BADN President Hazel Coey at 2018 Conference

Exceptional Commitment as a Dental Nurse Student

This will be awarded to a person who has made an exceptional commitment to their own progression and personal professional development whilst studying for either a registerable dental nursing qualification, a post-registration or extended duties qualification, or a qualification at a higher academic level (eg an MSc or BSc, etc).

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Rebecca Silver receives the 2018 BADN Exceptional Commitment as a Dental Nurse Student Award from BADN President Hazel Coey

Exceptional Service to Dental Charities

This will be awarded to a person who has made an exceptional contribution to one of the dental charities. That contribution should be to a dental charity as a volunteer, in order to promote the charity's aims and objectives, and to have impacted upon the nominee's personal professional development. The contribution should have had a notable impact nationally or internationally and have benefitted those in genuine need of oral health interventions.

Exceptional Contribution to a UK Community Oral Healthcare Project

This will be awarded to a person who had made an exceptional contribution to one of their local UK Community Oral Healthcare projects. That contribution should be to a UK community oral healthcare project as a volunteer to promote the project's aims and objectives and to have impacted upon the nominee's personal professional development. The contribution should have had a notable impact locally and have benefitted those in genuine need of oral health interventions.

Nominations can be made by anyone; all nominees must however be current BADN members and Registered Dental Nurses (with the exception of nominees for the Dental Nurse Student award).

The Awards will be presented at the Closing Ceremony of the National Dental Nursing Conference on 2 November 2019. For more information, guidelines and nomination forms, please email pam@badn.org.uk - the closing date is 31 July 2019.

Long membership badges

BADN shall also be awarding commemorative badges to long term BADN members again this year. Emails to recipients will be sent out over the summer - but any BADN member who doesn't receive an email and thinks they are eligible is invited to contact Val Forshaw at val@badn.org.uk.

Badges will be presented to long term members at the Closing Ceremony of the National Dental Nursing Conference on 2 November 2019. Those eligible who are unable to attend Conference will receive their badges by post later in November.