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Welcome News


Welcome to your


SOCIAL media is an increasingly important part of our personal and professional lives, with more and more details shared online. But while it may be acceptable for some to post any photo or comment they like, dentists must meet appropriate standards of personal behaviour both on and off-duty. MDDUS dental adviser Claire Renton offers advice on avoiding trouble on page 5. When a patient sits in the


dental chair and opens their mouth for a check-up, it’s safe to say they are consenting to treatment. But what level of treatment can be performed? Our article on page 4 explores the issue of implied consent. Treating children can be a rewarding, if not challenging, experience that requires good communication skills. Dentist Stuart Davidson and VDP Michael Dhesi have top tips and techniques on page 10. Life is never dull for Scottish


International Rugby squad dentist Fiona Davidson who regularly deals with needle phobias and anaesthesia issues in this formidable patient group. Alan MacDermid finds out more in his profile on page 6. Dental and maxillofacial radiology offers a career at the cutting edge of both dentistry and digital imaging technology. Find out more about the opportunities available on page 8. Cosmetic dentistry is a billion pound industry in the UK but it brings a number of practical difficulties. MDDUS dental adviser Doug Hamilton highlights some common risk areas in his article on page 12. Meanwhile on page 14, our case study looks at allegations of negligence and breach of contract over the provision of veneers.


• Martin Nimmo Editor


VIRTUAL FIRST IN DENTAL TRAINING


PHOTO MOOG INC


A VIRTUAL 3D mouth is being used for the first time at a UK dental school. Students at the University of Leeds Dental Institute have become the first in the UK to try out new simulation technology that demonstrates what it feels like to drill teeth. The virtual mouth uses haptic technology similar to that used in flight


simulators or in vibrating hand-held computer game controllers. It offers tactile feedback allowing students to distinguish between drilling into healthy enamel or decaying teeth and to judge how much pressure is required when drilling. It even includes a tongue that reacts to touch. The University of Leeds is the first UK institution to invest in enough virtual mouths for every student on its courses to use regularly. It’s hoped training on the simulator will bridge the gap between students practising skills on phantom heads and treating real patients. The virtual environment allows dental students to play back what


they’ve done and identify areas for improvement. It also prepares them for a wider range of dental procedures, building up more complex cases than a phantom head can offer, such as tackling decay on a single tooth through to opening teeth for root canal treatment. Director of Student Education at the University of Leeds Dental


Institute, Professor Paul Brunton, said: “Dentistry is all about skill, dexterity and most importantly, practice. So having a virtual mouth to test and perfect your skills on, time and time again, means our students are going to be very well practised before they treat a patient.”


EDITOR: Martin Nimmo


ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Joanne Curran


DENTAL CONTENT EDITOR: Claire Renton BDS FDS RCPS (Gla) MML


DESIGN:


CMYK Design www.cmyk-design.co.uk


t: 0845 270 2034 e: jcurran@mddus.com w: www.mddus.com


PRINT: Creative Print London www.creativeprintgroup.co.uk


CORRESPONDENCE: SoundBite Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA


MDDUS £1,000 GRANT WINNER


THE winner of the 2013 MDDUS VDP Education Grant has been announced as Nicholas Beacher. The University of Glasgow


SoundBite is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.


graduate has been awarded £1,000 to invest in educational training such as attendance at courses, conferences and seminars, practice training and the purchase of text books.


For more information on MDDUS


education grants, email Karen Walsh on kwalsh@mddus.com


PHOTO: ROSLYN GAUNT


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