Today (10 May) NHS England launched its ‘golden hello’ recruitment scheme – hear from MP Andrea Leadsom on the £20,000 bonus for dentists in under-served areas. Around 240 dentists will be offered a £20,000 ‘golden hello’, NHS England has confirmed. NHS guidance was issued to practices today to encourage them to advertise the dentist recruitment scheme. The scheme was first announced as part of the dental recovery plan published by the government in February. The ‘golden hello’ scheme is one of several measures aiming to improve NHS dental access in the UK. Dentistry heard from parliamentary u ..read more

Steven Scannell and Anna Peterson discuss what preventive dentistry looks like and how it creates both greater results and better patient engagement. Steven Scannell, dental hygienist A prevention-led approach to dentistry is to help maintain a patient’s longterm oral health, and where possible try to keep the need for invasive treatment to a minimum. This involves focusing on educating patients during regular visits to the dental hygienist and during examinations with a dental therapist or dentist. If treatment is carried out without a prevention-led approach then the outcome of that treatmen ..read more

Join us as we get together and walk to support the mental health of your dental teams for the Walk & Talk 4 Dentistry campaign. In 2024, the landscape of UK dentistry faces a myriad of challenges, from navigating the complexities of a profitable NHS contract amidst rising operational costs to grappling with recruitment and retention hurdles.  While dental teams valiantly strive to bridge these gaps, the toll on their wellbeing, both physical and mental, cannot be overlooked. As we confront these challenges head-on, it becomes imperative to prioritise the holistic health of dental team ..read more

The cost of smoking to England’s economy has shot up by 25%, according to new figures published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). MPs recently voted in favour of legislation that will effectively ban smoking for those born after 2008. As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill Committee begins to scrutinise the bill, ASH has released data from Landmark Economics that estimates the cost of smoking to the economy. The figures suggest that the cost has risen from £17 billion to 21.8 billion, an increase of one quarter on previous figures. This includes: £1.9 billion to the NHS £1.2 billion in social car ..read more

DD presents a brief guide to some different endodontic motors and what to consider when choosing which motor to buy. Endodontic motors, commonly known as endo motors, are motor-powered files which can be used to help shape and finish root canals, allowing for quick and easy preparation. There’s much to consider when purchasing an Endo Motor, such as the file system, the customisability of the settings, whether an apex locator is included etc. This variety of choice can make it harder to effectively determine which Endo Motor is right for you and your practice’s needs. For t ..read more

Now that the 2023/24 tax year is over PFM Dental looks forward to the 2024/25 tax year and what you as a dentist need to do to be prepared for the new year.  Firstly, there have been a few changes to the tax rules after the chancellor’s budget in March 2024.  Several of these changes will affect self employed dentists: Lowering of national insurance rates for the lower rate of Class 4 NIC from 9% to 6%. The lower rate of Class 4 NIC is paid on self employed earnings between £12,570 and £50,270. For income above this you will pay at the standard 2% rate The high-income child benefit ..read more

Join Colin Campbell on 16 May at 7pm for Ridge preservation, a comprehensive live session on atraumatic surgical tooth removal and ridge preservation. This live event will provide a detailed walkthrough of the latest techniques and materials used to perform minimally invasive extractions and subsequent ridge preservation. We will explore the critical importance of preserving the alveolar ridge during tooth removal to maintain the integrity of the jawbone and provide a solid foundation for future restorative work.  Learning outcomes: Grasp the principles of atraumatic tooth extraction tec ..read more

Introduction Dental loupes are integral to precision and efficacy in treatment. They are indispensable tools that magnify and illuminate the oral cavity, allowing for meticulous examination and precise intervention. Choosing dental loupes is a pivotal decision for any practitioner. Making the right choice can influence the clinician’s ability to perform procedures accurately and shape patient perception of their professionalism and expertise.  Historically, dental procedures were conducted without magnification, relying solely on the practitioner’s visual acuity. As dentistry progresses t ..read more

Last week, we asked the dental profession if direct access has proved effective – find out what people said here… Dentistry’s Big Questions is a brand new feature exploring the hot topics of the profession. Last week we asked the dental profession: Has direct access proved effective? Based on our poll, 79% of people believe it has proved effective and 21% thinks it hasn’t. Find out what was said below… Scroll to the bottom for next week’s Big Question. Rachael England, public health and education manager at FDI World Dental Federation It depends what you are defining as ‘effective’? In my opin ..read more

The Bank of England has announced that interest rates will remain the same but said it is likely they will reduce shortly. Today (9 May) the Bank of England revealed that interest rates would be held at 5.25%. However it also suggested that cuts are likely in the future, perhaps as early as next month. The Monetary Policy Committee voted seven to two in favour of keeping the rate the same. This is the sixth time in a row that the rate has remained at the 16-year high of 5.25%. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said he was ‘optimistic’ that inflation would continue to decrease. He said: ‘W ..read more