Latest Blog Posts

• Extracting a laugh: dental cartoons

  In a new exhibition London’s leading political cartoon gallery is tackling dentistry. And we can take pride in the fact that dentists and dentistry do actually lend themselves to comedy.

  Blog Date 13 September, 2018

• Want to write for dental publications? Here's how...

  Interested in writing for dental publications? The British Dental Writers and Editors Forum can help you gain confidence and network!

  Blog Date 13 September, 2018

• LDC Conference 2018: a round up

  ​The Irish Sea did not pose a hurdle in the journey to LDC Conference 2018 in Belfast, and it was great to see a lot more younger members of the profession in attendance this year.

  Blog Date 13 September, 2018

• The vision behind dental loupes

  Dental Roots founder Dr Saeid Haghri explains the benefits of using dental loops.

  Blog Date 12 September, 2018

• Worrying trends: the fall in earnings for dentists in Scotland

  The Scottish Government's recent below-inflation pay award of two per cent to general dental practitioners will be of little comfort to a profession grappling with a crisis of morale, writes Scottish Dental Practice Committee Chair, David McColl.

  Blog Date 5 September, 2018

• Investment needed not austerity: the viability of dentistry in Northern Ireland being put at risk

  While Stormont continues to be ‘on hold’, the range of issues that need to be addressed within dentistry continue to stack up. We've submitted written evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee Inquiry - Funding priorities for the 2018-19 Budget: Health, to make the case for investment, and an end to austerity, for dentistry in Northern Ireland.

  Blog Date 5 September, 2018

• The state of oral health in Wales: what dentists' think

  Following the announcement that the Welsh Government’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee would be undertaking an inquiry on dentistry in Wales, we asked for you views on the state of people’s oral health, what your experiences are of practicing dentistry in Wales and what needs to be done to help improve things.

  Blog Date 5 September, 2018

• NHS dental charges: Stoking a hostile environment

  How aggressive Government campaigning is sending the wrong signal to hard-to-reach patients.

  Blog Date 5 September, 2018

• Why the dental profession should embrace secure digital collaboration

  NHSmail is the national secure email and collaboration service for health and social care in England - here's some reasons why dentists should sign up.

  Blog Date 30 August, 2018

• Running on fumes: data on dentists' earning

  ​Austerity is meant to be over in the NHS. Yet the latest data on dentists earnings is a timely reminder of how far Ministers need to go to guarantee its future.

  Blog Date 30 August, 2018

• Dental practices can take advantage of social media – here's why and how

  Have you thought about using social media to help promote your dental practice? If not, here's why you should seriously consider it and some top tips on how to start to build your presence online.

  Blog Date 30 August, 2018

• Time to review your dental associate contract? Update on the BDA associate agreement

  ​We have updated our template dental associate agreements to reflect feedback from members and developments in law - now might be a good time for you to review your contract with your practice owner.

  Blog Date 29 August, 2018

• Dentists: are you exceeding your annual allowance for your pension?

  ​The sometimes forgotten issue of the financial implications of exceeding your annual allowance within your NHS Pension came up at a recent BDA "Preparing for Retirement" seminar, and it made me wonder how well informed many dentists are about it.

  Blog Date 20 August, 2018

• Dentists’ pay and expenses - Who is getting what, and when?

  An update on pay and expenses following this summer's pay body recommendations.

  Blog Date 15 August, 2018

• Myth-busting about natal teeth: dental anxiety and good oral health

  Charlotte Waite explains why and how babies born with natal teeth can be treated and seeks to reassure parents and carers that their baby will feel no pain if the tooth needs to be removed.

  Blog Date 9 August, 2018

• Academic pensions: at a stalemate?

  An update on the issues facing the Universities Superannuation Scheme's financial difficulties and how this might impact on dentists working in universities signed-up to this pension scheme.

  Blog Date 8 August, 2018

• Disappearing dentures: A simple way to ensure dentures don't get lost in hospital

  A new campaign might help the problem of dentures 'disappearing' in hospitals and save the NHS money, as well as saving patients' dignity.

  Blog Date 8 August, 2018

• The state of teeth in Wales: is enough being done?

  Tom Bysouth explains why we need your help to make the case to Welsh Government that maintaining the status quo for dentistry is not enough.

  Blog Date 7 August, 2018

• Action is needed on protected slots for urgent dental care

  Nick Stolls says there is a need for more urgent care slots to be commissioned to ensure dental patients can be treated quickly and appropriately, especially out-of-hours.

  Blog Date 7 August, 2018

• Helping smokers to quit is key to fighting oral cancer in Scotland

  We know that smoking is one of the main causes of oral cancer, so it is deeply concerning that in Scotland there was a 40% drop in GP prescriptions for smoking cessation products between 2005-06 and 2016-17.

  Blog Date 30 July, 2018