NEWS GDC REJECTS CLAIMS OF PERVERSITY
FEATURE
The General Dental Council (GDC) strongly rejects the claim by Dental Protection – reported in the last issue of the BDJ – that the GDC has unnecessarily progressed many of the complaints it receives through its Fitness to practise (FtP) processes, and that the regulator sees no potential for improving the FtP system. The GDC said: ‘Dental Protection omits to say that we are actively working with the Department of Health on changing our legislation to allow for more streamlined and effective case handling. The introduction of case examiners – a power long held by the GMC – will help us to deal more speedily and effectively with cases’. The GDC also said that comparisons to other regulators do not ‘stand up to scrutiny because of the disparity of powers held by regulators in the UK and the very different health systems that exist abroad’. The GDC accepts that more work is needed, across the system, to develop a clearer picture of why complaints are increasing and to have effective arrangements in place for local resolution. It is currently working on a number of pilots with NHS local area teams aimed at ensuring that more complaints are handled at the right level and re-directed if necessary.
Graeme Dentith, Principal Dentist, Durham City Smiles, Durham, England We are a private family and cosmetic dental practice and since coming to Durham in 1985 after qualification, I am now on third or even fourth generation patients in some families. We carry out everything from prevention and routine examinations to complex implant restorations, and all three of us in the practice have taught for ten years or more at the Newcastle Dental School as visiting practitioners. We don’t have as many big sugar eaters as we used to. When I started in 1985 we used to have three general anaesthetic sessions a week to extract rotten teeth in kids and adults (my record was 85 teeth in 1.5 hours!), but fortunately those days are long gone –at least they are in the private sector – I hear very alarming stories from NHS colleagues!
SUGAR IS THE CULPRIT Sugars in the diet should make up no more than 3% of total energy intake to reduce the significant financial and social burdens of tooth decay, says new research from UCL and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.1 The study showed that sugars are the only cause of tooth decay in children and adults. Free sugars are those added to foods and those naturally present in foods. 1. Sheiham A, James P T. A reappraisal of the quantitative relationship between sugar intake and dental caries: the need for new criteria for developing goals for sugar intake. BMC Public Health 2014; 14: 863.
‘We don’t have as many big sugar eaters as we used to’ I love the fact that when I walk around the city (it’s a very small city) I invariably get stopped for a chat by one or more patients. I’m lucky to have a gift for putting names to faces even after many years in some cases, and that fosters a good relationship with my patients, both in and out of the surgery environment. I guess you’d say I like being part of the community; I’ve sponsored the local rugby and hockey clubs, and do talks for local scout groups and schools, and recently have become associated with the new dental nurse training facility at our local college. You can find out more about Graeme’s practice at www.durhamcitysmiles.co.uk.
A TALE OF TWO DENTISTS Twinned cities share a name but do they share more than that? Laura Pacey asked a UK dentist in Durham, England and a US dentist in Durham, North Carolina about the type of patients they see, the lifestyle and dietary choices of their patients and why they like working in Durham. Thomas Leech, Principal Dentist, Dentistry at the Park, Durham, North Carolina, United States I am a 57-year-old general dentist who has, until recently, practised solo in Durham, North Carolina. I now have an associate, Dr Noah, which allows our practice to stay open from 7 am to 7 pm. I am fortunate to live in an area with numerous drug and technical businesses that provide dental insurance, which cover most dental procedures. My typical day consists of two to three crowns, numerous fillings and exams, while my two hygienists clean teeth and treat periodontal disease. Several years ago I was certified to place implants and I place one to two a month. Most of my patients are very educated, understand oral health and do a fair job of keeping their mouths in good shape. Our patients from more rural areas are more likely to have teeth extracted then invest in saving them. It is a challenge to get them to see the value of investing in oral rehabilitation. In general I feel the American diet is too fatty and loaded with sugar. Our society has done a poor job in educating our citizens in the hazards of both fat and sugar. Our saving grace is most of our cities are fluoridated, which greatly reduces the cavity rate. North Carolina raises a lot of pork and as a result our southern culture consumes way too much of it. It sure tastes good, but those pounds add up and are difficult to remove. I must admit I have been fortunate to have a thriving dental practice. Presently I work about 36 hours a week and take about three weeks off during the year for vacation. I am married and still have a 14-yearold son in our home. I expect to continue working 10 to 15 more years. I employ eight to nine full time employees. We all have a good time working together. Life is good. You can find out more about Thomas’s practice at http://dentistryatthepark.com/.
‘Our saving grace is most of our cities are fluoridated’
330
BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 217 NO. 7 OCT 10 2014 © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
FEATURE
The General Dental Council (GDC) strongly rejects the claim by Dental Protection – reported in the last issue of the BDJ – that the GDC has unnecessarily progressed many of the complaints it receives through its Fitness to practise (FtP) processes, and that the regulator sees no potential for improving the FtP system. The GDC said: ‘Dental Protection omits to say that we are actively working with the Department of Health on changing our legislation to allow for more streamlined and effective case handling. The introduction of case examiners – a power long held by the GMC – will help us to deal more speedily and effectively with cases’. The GDC also said that comparisons to other regulators do not ‘stand up to scrutiny because of the disparity of powers held by regulators in the UK and the very different health systems that exist abroad’. The GDC accepts that more work is needed, across the system, to develop a clearer picture of why complaints are increasing and to have effective arrangements in place for local resolution. It is currently working on a number of pilots with NHS local area teams aimed at ensuring that more complaints are handled at the right level and re-directed if necessary.
Graeme Dentith, Principal Dentist, Durham City Smiles, Durham, England We are a private family and cosmetic dental practice and since coming to Durham in 1985 after qualification, I am now on third or even fourth generation patients in some families. We carry out everything from prevention and routine examinations to complex implant restorations, and all three of us in the practice have taught for ten years or more at the Newcastle Dental School as visiting practitioners. We don’t have as many big sugar eaters as we used to. When I started in 1985 we used to have three general anaesthetic sessions a week to extract rotten teeth in kids and adults (my record was 85 teeth in 1.5 hours!), but fortunately those days are long gone –at least they are in the private sector – I hear very alarming stories from NHS colleagues!
SUGAR IS THE CULPRIT Sugars in the diet should make up no more than 3% of total energy intake to reduce the significant financial and social burdens of tooth decay, says new research from UCL and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.1 The study showed that sugars are the only cause of tooth decay in children and adults. Free sugars are those added to foods and those naturally present in foods. 1. Sheiham A, James P T. A reappraisal of the quantitative relationship between sugar intake and dental caries: the need for new criteria for developing goals for sugar intake. BMC Public Health 2014; 14: 863.
‘We don’t have as many big sugar eaters as we used to’ I love the fact that when I walk around the city (it’s a very small city) I invariably get stopped for a chat by one or more patients. I’m lucky to have a gift for putting names to faces even after many years in some cases, and that fosters a good relationship with my patients, both in and out of the surgery environment. I guess you’d say I like being part of the community; I’ve sponsored the local rugby and hockey clubs, and do talks for local scout groups and schools, and recently have become associated with the new dental nurse training facility at our local college. You can find out more about Graeme’s practice at www.durhamcitysmiles.co.uk.
A TALE OF TWO DENTISTS Twinned cities share a name but do they share more than that? Laura Pacey asked a UK dentist in Durham, England and a US dentist in Durham, North Carolina about the type of patients they see, the lifestyle and dietary choices of their patients and why they like working in Durham. Thomas Leech, Principal Dentist, Dentistry at the Park, Durham, North Carolina, United States I am a 57-year-old general dentist who has, until recently, practised solo in Durham, North Carolina. I now have an associate, Dr Noah, which allows our practice to stay open from 7 am to 7 pm. I am fortunate to live in an area with numerous drug and technical businesses that provide dental insurance, which cover most dental procedures. My typical day consists of two to three crowns, numerous fillings and exams, while my two hygienists clean teeth and treat periodontal disease. Several years ago I was certified to place implants and I place one to two a month. Most of my patients are very educated, understand oral health and do a fair job of keeping their mouths in good shape. Our patients from more rural areas are more likely to have teeth extracted then invest in saving them. It is a challenge to get them to see the value of investing in oral rehabilitation. In general I feel the American diet is too fatty and loaded with sugar. Our society has done a poor job in educating our citizens in the hazards of both fat and sugar. Our saving grace is most of our cities are fluoridated, which greatly reduces the cavity rate. North Carolina raises a lot of pork and as a result our southern culture consumes way too much of it. It sure tastes good, but those pounds add up and are difficult to remove. I must admit I have been fortunate to have a thriving dental practice. Presently I work about 36 hours a week and take about three weeks off during the year for vacation. I am married and still have a 14-yearold son in our home. I expect to continue working 10 to 15 more years. I employ eight to nine full time employees. We all have a good time working together. Life is good. You can find out more about Thomas’s practice at http://dentistryatthepark.com/.
‘Our saving grace is most of our cities are fluoridated’
330
BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL VOLUME 217 NO. 7 OCT 10 2014 © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
