Features in 2008

Annie Morgan looks at the cause and effects of dental caries and what role DCPs can play in advising and protecting their young patients.

Oral hygiene for the orthodontic patient

Dr Richard Cure and Professor Robert Ireland describe an innovative outreach centre developed to provide training for the whole orthodontic team, including orthodontic nurses and orthodontic therapists.

Principal Sunita Verma and her practice manager travelled all the way to India to spread some Christmas sparkle.

Katherine Wilson explains that it is the professional responsibility of all members of the dental team to adhere fully to recommended guidelines on providing conscious sedation to patients.

Joanna Lyall spoke to the dental team behind the greenest practice in the country.

Partial to a spot of pampering? Enter our competition to win passes for the Best Spa in the world*, Thermae Bath Spa. Kate Maynard tested the waters just for you.

Dentist Anne M. Milarvie reflects on dental nurse evolution, registration, and contribution to VDP training in general practice.

Mariyah Nazir describes a practical workshop for dental professionals that was held in Manchester and which focused on effective communication with patients.

Education Programme Manager at the BDA, Elizabeth Clark, speaks to a dental nurse who took part in the BDA's online course in Dental Radiography.

Christine Macleavy describes the stages of stress and how they can be managed for optimum teamwork in dental practice.

Vital met dentist Dan Shaffer and experienced a truly twenty-first century dental practice.

Shivani I. Patel, an FTTA in Orthodontics, had a life-changing experience providing much-needed dental treatment to the villagers of Uganda.

Retired dentist Cynthia Harper recounts her early experiences of dental nursing in the not-always-swinging sixties.

Clinical dental technician Phil Tucker tells Julie Ferry how CDTs have achieved one of their ultimate goals.

Welcome to the ninth article in the Vital Guide Series. At the end of the article are some CPD questions, which are designed to get you thinking about the article and to help you remember some of the key points. The answers to the questions in the summer issue can be found here. Here, Anthony Ireland, Sarah Bain and Jonathan Sandy summarise orthodontics, discussing how patients are selected and when treatment should be carried out.

Zoe Greenhough speaks to multi-tasker Sandy Stillman, a dental therapist of over 40 years' standing who manages to balance Special Care Dentistry and oral health promotion with mentoring students!

Christine MacLeavy addresses the tricky business of managing child patients in dental practice, and recommends some strategies for approaching them.