www.mddus.com DENTISTS HAVE ROLE TO PLAY IN DETECTING DEMENTIA


DENTISTS may have an important role to play in helping to detect the early signs of dementia in patients, according to the British Dental Health Foundation. People with dementia are often unable to adequately maintain their


oral health and this could be a key signal for early intervention. The BDHF believes that offering people with dementia proper care plans could ensure both their oral and overall health is not put at further risk. Currently there are more than 850,000 people with dementia in the


UK, according to estimates by The Alzheimer’s Society, and this number is expected to rise to over one million by 2025. Studies have shown that people with dementia have poorer oral health than those without the disease due to impairment of cognitive skills and a reliance on care providers. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel


Carter OBE, said: “Dementia patients in early stages of the disease may have trouble communicating the problems they are having with their oral health.


“These patients need to rely on their dental professionals to


recognise behaviour which is out of the ordinary and which may indicate mental health problems in order to get quick and effective support. “As dementia is progressive, recognising it early means that an


effective care plan can be put into place before it leads to further health problems, including painful and extensive dental health issues.”


CONSULTATION ON LANGUAGE CHECKS FOR DENTISTS


A CONSULTATION has been launched on a draft policy to introduce English language checks for dentists who want to work in the UK. The government unveiled plans late last year to extend language


testing to include clinicians from EU countries. Previous laws only allowed checks on those from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).


The new powers mean the General Dental Council can now ask for


evidence of a dental professional’s language skills prior to registration. It can do this if there are concerns that they don’t have sufficient knowledge of English. Would-be registrants who are unable to provide evidence


of their abilities will be asked to take an English language test.


The GDC has launched a consultation to gather


views on the type of information that will be accepted as evidence of language skills; the use of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam to assess applicants; and whether the draft guidance should be applied to all applicants, including those who have trained and qualified


from within the European Economic Area and those who have trained from outside the EEA (non-EEA). It is thought the new powers will come into effect in March 2016.


They must be enforced “proportionately” and so will apply to all dental professionals wishing to register or restore their registration with the GDC. This includes dentists seeking to re-register when they have failed to pay their annual retention fee. EU law forbids a “blanket” approach to assessing English knowledge so the GDC would be unable, for example, to require English tests from all EEA applicants. The government’s consultation document published


last year offered reassurance to UK clinicians, stating: “For graduates of UK universities, the fact that the registrar will be able to rely on the information supplied by applicants with their registration application should mean that a registrar should be able to be satisfied about the English language ability of UK qualified applicants with no additional procedural burden.” The consultation is open until January 4, 2016 on the


GDC website.


NEW ORAL CANCER TOOLKIT


AN online toolkit designed to help dentists and GPs spot the signs of oral cancer has been launched by Cancer Research UK. The resource details how to identify and respond to possible


cases of the disease, and also highlights risk factors. It includes a detailed image library, a referral guide, case studies, examination videos and a CPD quiz. The launch coincides with new statistics from Cancer Research


UK that show oral cancer is now the tenth most common cancer in men and fifteenth most common in women. Nearly all cases of oral cancer in the UK (90 per cent) are linked to


lifestyle and other risk factors with the highest risks from smoking. Drinking alcohol, the human papilloma virus (HPV), and poor diet have also been linked to oral cancer. The toolkit, supported by the British Dental Association and


approved by the Royal College of GPs, can be accessed at tinyurl.com/nax6b9u


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