Catch up with this week’s dental news – 17 August 2024
It’s been a busy week in the world of dental news. Missed the headlines? Here’s what’s happened over the past seven days… Covert surveillance will be used ‘sparingly’ in investigations, says GDC The General Dental Council (GDC) has released new legal and ethical framework on the use of covert surveillance during fitness to practise investigations. The…
Romania tops EU list of dental graduates
BRUSSELS, Belgium: High educational standards and affordable tuition fees make Romania an attractive destination for aspiring dental professionals from around the world. According to new data from Eurostat, the country remains the top producer of dental graduates in the EU by population, followed by Portugal and Bulgaria.
Damira Dental saves two dental groups from administration
Damira Dental Studios has acquired Astradent Dental Group and Compass Clinics following both groups entering administration. Astradent Dental Group operated a number of practices across the UK, offering both NHS and private dental treatment. Similarly, Compass Clinics operated two mixed practices in Norfolk. As of July 2024, both groups entered administration leading to the abrupt…
DDU: supporting young dentists
Anne Budenberg shares some of the reasons why young dentists should join the Dental Defence Union (DDU) early in their careers. Over the course of your career, you will develop your clinical knowledge and skills. Having a strong support network is vital to this. By becoming a member of the DDU, you can rely on…
A level results: dentistry acceptance rate up from 2023
Following A level results day, the number of applicants accepted onto dentistry and medicine courses through clearing has increased by 5%. In total, 11,450 students have accepted clearing places to study dentistry and medicine in 2024. This is the highest number since 2021, when 11,810 applicants were accepted through the clearing process. The lowest levels…
Bupa launches dental allowance within health insurance
Bupa has launched a new dental allowance for its consumer health insurance customers to help people to stay on top of their oral health. Bupa consumer health insurance policies now include access to a dental appointment every policy year. Customers receive a £300 allowance towards restorative treatments, including crowns or fillings for every individual named…
Covert surveillance will be used ‘sparingly’ in investigations, says GDC
The GDC has released new legal and ethical framework on the use of covert surveillance during fitness to practise investigations. The updated guidance, according to the GDC, highlights its commitment to transparency, legality and the protection of individual privacy during both fitness to practice (FtP) and illegal practice (IP) investigations. The new guidance reads: ‘Where investigations…
Advice from the Dental Practice Accelerator mentors
With the Dental Practice Accelerator programme in full swing, Hannan Saleem gives an insight into the journey, and shares the best tips and advice from the four mentors. Once I graduated from university, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to get into business. So, in the short-term I…
Mastering communication as a dental professional
Umair Afzal shares his strategies for clear and precise communication, explaining why it’s crucial for dental professionals. It’s a familiar scenario for many of us. Through an email, you get a response that doesn’t answer your questions. During a presentation, you see eyes glaze over and phones emerge. Despite your relentless effort with patients, they…
Mastering dental composites
Dental composites are an essential part of everyday practice in dentistry – but are clinicians using them correctly? Rachel Derby shares her top tips. While I love all aspects of dentistry, restorative procedures – especially working with dental composites – truly captivate me. As I prepare to speak at the Dentistry Show London, I want…