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Welcome News
DENTISTS MUST BE CLEAR
ON TREATMENT COSTS A RECENT report from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman urged dentists to be clearer with patients about what they charge to help avoid confusion about the cost of treatment. It identified 27 cases over the last two years where confusion about
Welcome to your
AFTER years of hard work, it’s a great feeling to finally graduate and enter the world of work. As dental professionals, we never really stop learning and there are many opportunities for us to build our knowledge and skills throughout our careers. One key element of that is CPD. Some may question its relevance but my article on page 4 explores some of the reasons why continuing professional development is more important than ever. Another great opportunity to
expand your skill set is by joining a professional organisation. There are numerous options, and our article on page 5 considers the merits of joining the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK. The old saying goes that “an
army that cannot bite, cannot fight”. Armed forces dentist Orianne Moxon talks about her work caring for military patients around the world on page 12.
COVER PHOTOGRAPH: CPL JAMIE PETERS
With nearly half the UK population suffering from gum disease, the need for periodontists is increasing. Our career article on page 8 looks at what it’s like to work in this challenging specialty. Being a good dentist is about
more than addressing patients’ clinical needs. MDDUS risk adviser Cherryl Adams highlights the importance of listening and communicating effectively on page 6. A recent court case has changed previously held views on the definition of informed consent. MDDUS dental adviser Claire Renton explains the changes on page 10. The GDC has renewed its focus on raising concerns about children and vulnerable adults – find out more on page 7. Our case study on page 14
looks at claims of dental neglect over an eight-year period.
• Sameera Teli Editor
DENTAL FACULTY GUIDANCE
NOW OPEN TO ALL ALL dental professionals can now access guidance and standards produced by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK). The Open Standards Initiative aims to raise standards in the
profession and improve patient care by allowing non-members to view the full text of information documents online. The Faculty hopes removing the pay-wall that previously blocked access
will increase their influence on the profession and wider dental health. Their stated aim is to “positively influence oral health through
EDITOR: Sameera Teli BChD MFDS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Joanne Curran Jim Killgore
DENTAL CONTENT EDITOR: Claire Renton BDS FDS RCPS (Gla) MML
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CORRESPONDENCE: SoundBite Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA
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education of the dental profession and the provision of evidence-based guidance,” but Dean Dr Trevor W Ferguson accepted their guidance would have “no impact if people do not have access to them.” He said: “The Faculty has long recognised that there is a disconnect
between its aims in producing the standards guidance and the method it uses to disseminate them. “[Our] standards and guidance will not have the influence on the
profession and therefore the nation’s oral health that they otherwise could while they remain behind a pay-wall.” The initiative is being rolled out over two phases. Under phase one, three of the Faculty’s publications have been made
available online free of charge. They are Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography, Clinical Examination and Record Keeping and Antimicrobial Prescribing for General Dental Practitioners. These will soon be followed by updated versions of Standards in Dentistry and Guidance for the Maintenance of Natural Rubber Latex Allergies. Phase two will be launched later this year and will see the release of e-book versions of FGDP standards and also a mobile app. Hard copies will continue to be available for sale. More information about the initiative is available at http://www.
GPst is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in 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
SoundBite is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered 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.
fgdp.org.uk/osi/open-standards-initiative.ashx Non-members can login with the username and password “openstandards”.
dental charging was an issue and found that the current system is confusing for both patients and dentists. Furthermore, it found that some practitioners fail to share treatment plans with their patients, despite an obligation to do so. MDDUS dental adviser Doug Hamilton suggests that, while the vast
majority of dentists would never intentionally misinform a patient over treatment options and costs, there seems to be an increasing number of complaints arising from fee-related misunderstandings. “Many of these disputes can be avoided by the provision of a cost
estimate to patients prior to dental treatment being provided,” says Hamilton. “Practitioners must also be sure to clarify whether charges are private or on the NHS and ensure patient interests are put first when considering treatment options.”
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