Smile Escapes

Why being present is just as crucial as your dental skillset

Raabiha Maan shares a heart-warming tale of why your presence is as valuable as your skillset. They weren’t coming for check ups, not really. Every six months, without fail, they’d walk through the doors together, an elderly couple, hand in hand, with the kind of closeness you don’t see much anymore. He’d beam as she… 

NHS to private dentistry – you can choose the pace

Moving completely away from the NHS is not the only way to shift towards private practice – we hear why. Rising costs and a disappointing expenses uplift are causing more NHS dental practices to consider handing back their contracts. However, turning off the NHS tap all at once isn’t the only way to introduce private… 

Periodontal disease and litigation: what really causes gum disease?

Julian Perry explores the true causes of gum disease and how to communicate this to patients to avoid unnecessary litigation. It’s easy to assume gum disease is caused by poor brushing. But in practice, I’ve seen something different. Some patients with immaculate oral hygiene still develop periodontal disease. Others with average habits don’t. So, what’s… 

Is dentistry at the back of the queue for reform?

All of the healthcare professions are crying out for regulatory reform, says Kevin Lewis – when will it be dentistry’s turn? In making such a big show of having accepted in full the pay recommendations of the NHS Pay Review Body (NHSPRB), the Review Body on Doctors and Dentists Remuneration (DDRB), and the Senior Salaries… 

NHS 10-Year Plan: profession responds to therapy-led model

A greater emphasis on therapy-led dentistry was among the measures announced in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, but how will this work? Dental therapists share their thoughts. Released on 3 July, the 10-Year Health Plan introduced several key changes for dentistry as part of the government’s future plans for the NHS. One of these was…