News Northern Ireland sugar


tax is welcomed The new Northern Ireland Assembly should press on with comprehensive action to reduce sugar intake in the province following the UK Government’s announce- ment of a sugar levy. Roz McMullan, chair of


Calls to end decay epidemic


Tackling Northern Ireland’s “decay epidemic” is top of the British Dental Association’s manifesto in the run-up to May’s Assembly elections. Securing better dental health


for all sets out the five key priorities the association believes need to be addressed by the incoming Executive. The document calls for the delivery of a new oral health strategy, action on sugar, efficient and effective regulation, cuts to red tape and a plan for the future. The association has


described Northern Ireland’s existing oral health strategy, which is now over a decade old, as “creaking” and saying that day-to-day decisions are being based on “obsolete data” from 2003. It is also calling for an end to “ludicrous regulations that place high street dentists in the same category as hospitals, and the red tape that requires official approval for simple dental work costing over £280”. Roz McMullan (right),


chair of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Council, said: “The next Northern Ireland Assembly has a choice. It can accept that extracting over 22,000 baby teeth a year is the new normal, or it can tackle this epidemic head on. “Northern Ireland is topping


8 Ireland’s Dental magazine


the league table for rotten teeth. All decay is preventable, and dentists need to know candidates from all the parties are ready to step up and take their share of responsibility. “The government’s current


oral health strategy is a museum piece. We need a new plan, underpinned by the latest evidence, so we can save children, young people and their parents from unnecessary pain and suffering. “By 202ı we can turn the


corner on decay. So let’s ensure we’re training the dental professionals Northern Ireland needs. And let’s liberate patients and practitioners from the red tape that’s standing in the way of effective care.”


the BDA’s Northern Ireland Council, said: “Soft drinks companies have made huge profits from an ingredient that’s cheap, addictive and has no nutritional value. Now they have an incentive to do the right thing, and reduce excessive sugar levels in their products. “The next NI government


has to build on this, and find new ways to help families and business make the right choices. We will need action on advertising, food labelling and public education if we’re


really going to turn the tide on decay.” She continued: “Every


day dentists are seeing the results of an avoidable epidemic, with tooth decay now the leading cause of hospital admissions among our children. Government should consider everything within its powers to tackle this preventable disease and reduce the misery it is causing our children, young people and their parents. That means keeping every option on the table, whether it’s action on education, marketing, or taxation. “We have an opportunity


to put prevention at the heart of healthcare policy, and our politicians must not let their personal prejudices stand in the way of meaningful debate.”


EU approves Dentsply


Sirona merger A merger to create the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies has been approved by the European Commission. The deal between


DENTSPLY International and Sirona Dental Systems is believed to be worth around €7 billion and the new entity, Dentsply Sirona, is expected to have a net revenue of nearly €3bn. However, the deal was


referred to the EU due to concerns that the merged entity would be able to exclude competitors by closing Sirona’s chairside CAD/CAM system to other block providers to favour its own blocks. As a result Dentsply Sirona has agreed to extend the existing licensing agreements with


competing chairside CAD/ CAM block suppliers by 10 years – until 1 March 2026. Jeffrey Slovin, chief


executive officer of Dentsply Sirona, said: “With our merger complete, Dentsply Sirona can now focus its efforts on empowering dental professionals to provide better, safer and faster dental care. We will drive long-term growth by being uniquely positioned to deliver innovative solutions and support our customers with the broadest product portfolio and the largest sales and service infrastructure in the industry.”


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