www.mddus.com APPLY FOR £1,000


TRAINING GRANT MDDUS dental trainee members can apply now for a £1,000 grant to use in education and training. Successful applicants must be working in


a dental training practice where both the trainee (commencing training in August 2012) and trainer are MDDUS members. MDDUS recognises that it can be tough financially embarking on a dental career and the grants can be used for any educational activity including attendance at courses, conferences and seminars, practice training and the purchase of text books. For more details, including full terms and conditions, contact kwalsh@mddus. com. The deadline for grant proposals is February 28, 2013.


BDA CALLS FOR ACTION ON TOOTH WHITENING


BE ALERT FOR


ORAL CANCER FAILURE to spot intraoral malignancy can have serious repercussions for patients – and also dentists, says MDDUS dental adviser Rachael Bell. Mouth Cancer Action Month was held in November to


raise awareness and improve understanding of oral cancer among both the public and the profession. MDDUS is reminding dentists of the crucial role they play in the early detection of the disease through routine screening and educating patients on the risks and warning signs. The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) estimates


that over the next decade around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer and without early detection half will die. Cases involving failure to diagnose and refer patients with oral cancer feature regularly among clinical negligence claims made against MDDUS members and in GDC fitness to practise investigations. Proper examination and good record keeping are


essential. Says Bell: “The only defence to a claim made following delayed diagnosis is if adequate examination of the patient was made, backed up with proper notes in the dental record. “Unfortunately, we are still seeing dental records that


amount to ‘Exam SP’, with no mention made of how an examination was carried out and what was examined or found.”


MDDUS recommends that all practitioners follow current


recommendations with regard to examination and dental records, such as those set out in the FGDP(UK) book, Clinical Examination and Record Keeping. Says Bell: “Where there is an allegation of failure to diagnose an oral malignancy, we would be looking for notes in the records of an extra-oral examination, soft tissues being examined and the findings – even if the findings are that the tissues are healthy. The notes also need to reflect whether smoking cessation and alcohol-related advice has been given and what was said. If there is any doubt about an intraoral lesion then refer early, keep a copy of any referral letter and any response from maxillofacial services.”


RISE IN COMPLAINTS


ABOUT PRIVATE DENTISTS THE number of complaints made about private dental treatment rose by 17 per cent last year, new figures show. A report from the Dental Complaints Service (DCS)


THE British Dental Association is calling on dentists, Trading Standards officials and the GDC to join forces to put an end to teeth whitening treatments being supplied illegally by non-qualified individuals. The European Council’s Directive on


Tooth Whitening Products came into effect on October 31 and means products containing up to 0.1 per cent of hydrogen peroxide will continue to be freely available to consumers on the market. However, for products containing


between 0.1 per cent and six per cent of hydrogen peroxide, a clinical examination and treatment plan by a dentist is required. The first cycle of treatment must be carried out by a dentist or an appropriately trained individual working under their direct supervision and within


their competence and scope of practice. Detailed, accurate and contemporaneous notes are an essential requirement of this first visit. Patients will then be able to continue the treatment unsupervised, although the use of these products by persons younger than 18 years will not be allowed. Tooth whitening products containing


more than six per cent of hydrogen peroxide will continue to be prohibited. The BDA is concerned that some individuals might choose to ignore the directive and is calling on dentists to report non-dentists offering tooth whitening to both their local Trading Standards department and to the GDC, and for both agencies to take robust action in response to such reports.


revealed it dealt with 1,887 complaints in the year to April 2012, compared to 1,559 complaints the previous year. The DCS’ Annual Review 2011-12 also showed the service received 14,145 calls compared to 13,522 in 2010-11, a rise of 4.5 per cent. The most frequent concerns related to patients feeling


they were not properly informed about treatment, being given unclear information and feeling their concerns were ignored. The top treatment types for complaints were crown (16 per cent), full and partial denture (15 per cent), filling (14 per cent), root canal (nine per cent) and implant (nine per cent). However, two-thirds of complaints were resolved within


a week with many cases resulting in remedial treatment, a refund, an apology or an explanation. The DCS, now in its sixth year, is a free service funded by the General Dental Council to deal with complaints about private dental care. Read the Dental Complaints Service Annual Review 2011-12 at www.tinyurl.com/b73rchx


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