'Previous studies indicate that inadequate denture hygiene can lead to an increase in accumulation of denture plaque, which can then increase the risk of developing oral and dental diseases such as dental decay, periodontal disease, and denture stomatitis.'

In the cover story of this November's online issue of BDJ Team, we present research originally published in the BDJ from researchers in Birmingham. Reading this article will earn you one hour of verifiable CPD.

'By a better use of skill mix, the introduction of orthodontic therapists has ultimately created the possibility of improved patient care within existing resources, which is the drive for every dental professional.' We explore the recently introduced role of orthodontic therapist in this October issue of BDJ Team, and why it is proving so successful.

In our core CPD article on infection control, practice management consultant Edward Sinclair looks at decontamination rooms, equipment, CPD, the law, staff immunisations and screening, dental water lines, safer sharps and much more.

Jo Kennedy mused over the prospect of starting her own business for 14 years. Then when the new rules over direct access to patients were announced in 2013, Jo seized the opportunity with both hands and - after a lot of hard work - The Sparkle Fairy was born. Read all about Jo’s journey, with her husband and young daughter along for the ride, this September in BDJ Team.

We are also pleased to announce this autumn that all GDC-registered dental care professionals are now invited to take part in BDJ Team CPD on the BDA CPD hub. Through registering on the user-friendly site you can also complete CPD on child protection and oral cancer. www.nature.com/bdjteam/cpd 

The state of children’s teeth in this country continues to be in the headlines, despite all of your best efforts as dental professionals and - I’m sure for many of you - as parents. But do all dental practices welcome children of all ages through their doors? 

In this July issue of BDJ Team, Michael R. Young, a former GDP with a special interest in children's dentistry, answers some of the questions parents and guardians might ask you about their child's dental care.

We also feature a core CPD article on resuscitation in the dental practice - essential reading. 

If the 'eyes are the window to the soul', the dental reception is the window to your practice! That first impression on a new patient is important to get right, according to Michael R. Young in this June issue of BDJ Team. Make sure that you 'have your patients at "hello"'.

This issue also features a CPD article related to the GDC-recommended topic of oral cancer: early detection. This original BDJ paper looks at whether dentists or DCPs have more accurate detection skills and emphasises the importance of adequate training for all members of the dental team.

Sugar is everywhere you look in the media at the moment. Rising numbers of children are going to hospital to have their rotten teeth removed under general anaesthetic. More children are also overweight than ever before. Will the Government's announcement of a tax on the amount of sugar in soft drinks make a difference to these trends? 

This May issue of BDJ Team also looks at the extremely sensitive topic of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). You might at first think that this has nothing to do with working in dentistry, but dental professionals have a duty to protect all child patients that come into the practice.

Every dental professional knows that there seem to be strong links between looking after your oral health and your health in general. Research has probed many of these links, and in this issue of BDJ Team we present a study that reviewed the available evidence of the potential association between periodontitis and Alzheimer’s disease. Are patients with gum disease at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s? 

We often hear about our 'ageing population'. Continuing the recent focus on elderly patients, in this issue we are pleased to include an original article from Paul Hellyer looking at spotting signs of elder abuse among older patients who may attend the practice accompanied by a family member or carer.

What is a complaint; what are people looking for when they make a complaint; and what should you do when a patient makes a complaint?

These are questions addressed by former clinician and established author, Michael R. Young, in the cover story of this issue of BDJ Team.

All dental professionals are advised to include handling complaints among their CPD topics, to be prepared for any eventuality in the dental practice.

In the cover story of this month's issue of BDJ Team Martha Walker, a medical management consultant specialising in CQC registration and compliance, explains what you need to think about when writing an effective infection control policy for your practice.

This issue also sees Editor Kate Quinlan return from maternity leave as we bid farewell to David Westgarth. @Editorkate2

Scope of Practice is a hot topic of discussion within our profession. There are seven registrant groups: dental nurses, orthodontic therapists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and dentists, while the title ‘dental care professional’ (DCP) encompasses registrants in all groups except dentists.

Here, Colum Durkan explores the knowledge of dental nurses at one institution of the scope of practice of dental nurses and the other dental team members.