What you’ve missed this week

Missed out on this week’s dental news? No problem, here’s what happened over the past seven days…

Who is left responsible for dentistry after cabinet reshuffle?

Matt Hancock is set to remain as Secretary of State and Social Care, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle.

Jo Churchill MP has been given the responsibility of dentistry under her new role as junior health minister.

Jo Churchill MP for Bury St Edmunds moves to health from the Whips office.

She replaces the outgoing Seema Kennedy, who held the dentistry brief previously.

Alcohol bottles and cans to contain updated drinking guidance on labels

alcohol

Alcoholic bottle and can labels will contain updated advice on low risk drinking guidelines published by the government.

The chief medical officer advises not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week on a regular basis.

If drinking more than 14 units the CMO recommends spreading consumption evenly across three or more days.

The updated guidance is more stringent than previous guidelines, which recommended no more than three to four units a day.

Health and Social Care Committee launches inquiry into dental services

The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is launching an inquiry into dental services in England.

It is inviting written submissions regarding the following:

  • What is the state of the relationship between the NHS and dentistry?
  • How could access to NHS dentistry be improved?
  • Where does dentistry fit within NHS primary care services?
  • What issues are affecting the wider dental workforce?
  • What are the issues in commissioning and payment systems for NHS dental services?
  • What needs to be included in, or removed from, the forthcoming NHS dental contract?
  • Is there enough focus on prevention in dentistry and what are the avoidable harms that could be addressed?
  • What should be done around fluoridation policy and what is the evidence base to support it?

Entries can be submitted via the Parliament’s written submission form found here: www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-and-social-care-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/dentistry-services-inquiry-17-19/commons-written-submission-form.

GDC closes consultation after receiving 79 responses

GDC

The General Dental Council’s (GDC’s) consultation on its plans over the next three years is now closed.

Results from the consultation ‘Working with the dental team for public safety and confidence’ will be published later this year.

The dental regulator received 79 responses from dental professionals and stakeholder organisations in the three months it was open.

In its consultation the GDC proposes decreasing the ARF for dentists, with a small increase for dental care professionals.

The GDC proposes:

  • An ARF drop of £150 to around £740 for dentists
  • An ARF increase of around £4 to £120 for dental care professionals.

Dental degree offers the greatest choice in homeownership

dental degree

Dental graduates have the greatest choice of property when getting on the housing ladder during their first year of work.

An expected starting salary of £34,480 would mean newly qualified dentists could get a mortgage up to £139,360.

Mortgage broker Trussle believes this would give them the option of buying a home in 172 towns across Britain.

Trussle has listed the degree subjects that offer the most and least choice of property locations across Britain.

The top 10 degree subjects offering the most choice include:

Subject Choice of location Value of home
1. Dentistry 172 £146,695
2. Chemical engineering 96 £133,996
3. Veterinary medicine 63 £123,048
4. Economics 57 £122,392
5. General engineering 57 £122,392
6. Mechanical engineering 52 £118,888
7. Aerospace engineering 46 £117,137
8. Civil engineering 44 £116,699
9. Electrical and electronic engineering 30 £111,225
10. Physics and astronomy 30 £110,787

However, these results depend on graduates having managed to save a 5% deposit for a house.

See Chris Barrow at the London Dentistry Show

What’s the difference between leadership and management?

Chris Barrow explains what he will be discussing at the London Dentistry Show.

To find out more and to register for free visit www.londondentistryshow.co.uk.

Smiledirectclub launches at-home teeth straightening in the UK

Smiledirectclub officially launches in the UK today, with its aim to make straightening teeth more affordable and accessible.

It is opening with nine shops across London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Well Pharmacy has also partnered with Smiledirectclub to offer four ‘Smileshops’ within its pharmacies.

Since launching in the US in 2014, Smiledirectclub has treated 650,000 customers with clear aligners.

It offers patients the opportunity to straighten their teeth from their home, without needing to visit a dentist.

Dentists can keep track of treatment remotely via pictures uploaded onto the Smiledirectclub software.


Here’s what happened last week.

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