Most U Want Dental Lab Supplies

The Peterborough Dental Access Centre was last night named as the third winner of the British Dental Association (BDA) Good Practice Scheme Practice-of-the-Year Award.

The award, open to all members of the BDA Good Practice Scheme, recognises outstanding commitment to patient care by the whole dental team. The winning team was applauded for delivering a comprehensive range of NHS services to a population primarily with high needs, seven days a week. This includes gerodontology, periodontology and domiciliary services for housebound patients. The centre also accepts referrals from local dentists whose patients require minor oral surgery and general anaesthesia for extractions.

The 20-strong team received the award at the fourth annual BDA Honours and Awards Dinner in London, which is supported by the British Dental Trade Association (BDTA). The evening also featured presentations to individuals by the BDA in recognition of service to dentistry and the BDA, along with a range of awards presented by the BDTA and dental care professional associations.

The President of the British Dental Association John Drummond said: “This event has become a true celebration of the dental lab equipment, giving recognition to the commitment and talent of some very special individuals. We were delighted to be joined by so many friends and colleagues from across dentistry to mark these achievements.

“The Good Practice Scheme is recognised as a benchmark for excellence with 1,250 members who have successfully completed the programme, with a further 2,000 practices working towards membership.”

The honours and awards presented were as follows:

- BDA life membership to Richard Beardon, David Evans, Tony Glenn, Robin Graham, Richard Kendrick, Philip Lang, John Muir, James Robertson and Jim Watson.

- The 2009 British Association of Dental Nurses’ award for outstanding contribution to dental nursing: Janet Goodwin

- John Tomes Medal for scientific eminence and outstanding service to the dental profession: Richard van Noort and Geoff Craig

- The Orthodontic National Group award (ONG) for outstanding contribution to orthodontic nursing and distinguished service to the ONG: Fiona Grist

- BDA Fellowship for outstanding service to the Association and the dental profession: David Lester

- The Dental Technologists Association Fellowship award for outstanding contribution to dental technology: Brian Gordon

- The BDA Certificate of Merit for Services to the Association: Mike Hill

- The BDTA Award for outstanding contribution to the dental industry: Martin Mills

- The BDA Certificate of Merit for Services to the Profession: Jane Armitage, Bridget Ashton, Glenys Bridges, Jo Eisenberg, Ashiq Ghauri, Eric Nash, Malcolm Prideaux and Kenneth Stark*

- The Clinical Dental Technicians Award for outstanding achievement: Kevin Manners

- The British Association of Dental Therapists Roll of Distinction Award: Irene Ellis.

Plasma jets capable of obliterating tooth decay-causing bacteria could be an effective and less painful alternative to the dentist’s drill, according to a new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin – the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating – was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The findings could mean plasma technology is used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities – a practice that conventionally involves drilling into the tooth.

Scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modifications, Leipzig and dentists from the Saarland University, Homburg, Germany, tested the effectiveness of plasma against common oral pathogens including Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei. These bacteria form films on the surface of teeth and are capable of eroding tooth enamel and the dentin below it to cause cavities. If left untreated it can lead to pain, tooth loss and sometimes severe gum infections. In this study, the researchers infected dentin from extracted human molars with four strains of bacteria and then exposed it to plasma jets for 6, 12 or 18 seconds. The longer the dentin was exposed to the plasma the greater the amount of bacteria that were eliminated.

Plasmas are known as the fourth state of matter after solids, liquids and gases and have an increasing number of technical and medical applications. Plasmas are common everywhere in the cosmos, and are produced when high-energy processes strip atoms of one or more of their electrons. This forms high-temperature reactive oxygen species that are capable of destroying microbes. These hot plasmas are already used to disinfect surgical instruments.

Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University who led the research said that the recent development of cold plasmas that have temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius showed great promise for use in dentistry. “The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentin, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs.”

Dr Rupf said using plasma technology to disinfect tooth cavities would be welcomed by patients as well as dentists. “Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective. Presently, there is huge progress being made in the field of dental lab equipment plasma medicine and a clinical treatment for dental cavities can be expected within 3 to 5 years.”

A dental exam is much more than a cavity-spotting expedition. In addition to decay, dentists look for potentially life-threatening conditions including oral cancer.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 35,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with oral cancer, while 8,000 Americans each year die from it. Without early detection, survival rates significantly worsen.

Having regular dental exams is the most important step, but knowing what to look for between check-ups is also critical. Test your knowledge with a short multiple-choice online quiz. Then, go a step further and listen to a three-minute podcast with Dr. Cary Sun, a dental director at dental lab equipment. Finally, ask your dentist for an oral cancer exam at your next regular checkup.

“Since oral cancer is not in the news as often as other types of cancer, education is extremely important,” Dr. Sun said. “If people learn about the disease and its symptoms, oral cancer can be detected sooner.”

As part of CIGNA’s effort to help people improve their health, wellness and sense of security through health education, the quiz and podcast teach people about the signs of oral cancer:

- unusual spots
- unexplained tender areas in the mouth
- a feeling like something is stuck in one’s throat
- thickening of the tissue in the mouth or neck

“Screenings for oral cancer are usually quick and painless,” Dr. Sun said. “People need to make sure they get their regular dental exams, not just for teeth cleanings and cavity treatment, but to guard against more serious ailments like oral cancer.”