News Awareness. Dental charity highlights the plight of patients in the developing world Toothache can kill
Thousands of people in the developing world are still dying unnecessarily from untreated tooth decay, claims dental health NGO Bridge2Aid (B2A). Speaking on World Oral
Health Day (Wednesday 20 March), Mark Topley, CEO of B2A, said: “It is 2013 and people are still dying from untreated dental decay. Here in the UK we complain about a toothache, but usually we can get treated within a few days at max. “The shocking reality is that
three-quarters of the world’s population have no access to even the most basic of dental services. “Dental caries is one of the
world’s most common diseases. It causes debilitating pain and
Wrigley launches online series
CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT
The Wrigley Oral Healthcare Programme has launched the first of a series of web-based continuing development sessions for dental professionals. The series is based on the recent book Saliva and Oral
relief leads to chronic suffering, the loss of ability to work or support the family, withdrawal of children from school (to help support subsistence farming), and complications that can and do lead to death. “Although access to a dentist
drastically affects a person’s ability to function.” Most developing countries
don’t have enough dentists: in Tanzania, where B2A is based, there is one dentist for approxi- mately every 100,000 people (in the UK the ratio is 1:2,500). In Rwanda, where B2A is
Health by Michael Edgar, Colin Dawes and Denis O’Mullane. The series – launched on World Oral Health Day 2013 on 20 March – will investigate the physiology of saliva and the mechanisms of its secretion. Other topics are: xerostomia, salivary clearance and the protective functions of saliva. Wrigley’s UK Oral Healthcare Programme Manager, Louisa Rowntree, said: “We want to support dental professionals in their role as oral care educators.”
about to launch a new project, there are just 11 dentists for the entire country. To make matters worse, these dentists usually live in cities and large towns, far away from remote rural communities where the help is needed most. This lack of access to pain
in every town, every village remains a utopia,” continued Mark, “we must all of us in the dental profession focus on relieving dental pain through training, so that local medics can carry out safe tooth extractions. “Otherwise, literally, a toothache can kill.”
® For more information, visit
www.bridge2aid.org
Composite masterclass NEW TECHNIQUE
Cornish dentist Jason Smithson visited Glasgow recently to present a two-day masterclass on posterior composites.
Smithson, who is devel- oping an international reputa- tion as a highly skilled expo- nent of direct resin ‘artistry’, presented to 26 delegates at the Hilton Hotel on 7 and 8 February. He demonstrated his ‘simplified technique’ which, essentially, uses only a probe and a microbrush to place the resin restoration and produce predictable and highly aesthetic restorations. The event focused on posterior composite restorations, with Smithson presenting the techniques he developed and the evidence behind his rationale, before giving a demonstration. Using an operating micro- scope, delegates could copy
14 Scottish Dental magazine
Jason’s placement of direct restorations during the hands-on sessions. Smithson has already agreed to return to Scotland for four days in November to teach his anterior composite resin techniques. Professor Michale Wise is coming to Glasgow on 4 October for a study day entitled ‘Aesthetics for tooth and implant-supported restora- tions, covering diagnosis, treatment, choice of ceramics and techniques’.
® For more information on these events, contact Ian Macmillan on 07900 803 738.
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