Dental Tribune United Kindom Edition

I f you wanted an example of “cats among pigeons” in dentistry, the recent Channel 4 Dispatches docu- mentary, The Truth about Your Dentist, has certainly got feathers flying. Undercover re- porters were sent to identify problems facing both den- tists and patients, particu- larly in NHS dentistry where the pressures of time, mon- ey and contracts are enor- mous and according to the programme’s presenter, Sam Lister, “the fundamentals of good NHS care and full dis- closure are being badly com- promised.” One of the undercover re- porters needed a root canal treatment for an infected mo- lar tooth and although an NHS patient, he was encouraged to go privately. By all the dentists he saw he was advised that the only option for safe and successful care was to pay far more than the NHS rate. Focus on failure The programme raised many issues – and more than a few hackles too - but a TV docu- mentary such as this will in- evitably focus on professionals failing patients and patients being exploited. However, the inference that viewers might have taken that referral to a specialist endodontist is be- cause the GDP is too lazy, insuf- ficiently skilled or fee-focused, is simply wrong. Endodontics is difficult, time consuming and poorly remunerated. Suc- cessful outcomes may involve multiple visits and hours in the chair and the equipment we use for greater efficiency - rotary NiTi instruments, new obturation materials and clamps for instance really add to the cost of a procedure so I have every sympathy with very conscientious NHS den- tists doing a good job within financial constraints. Extension Endodontic specialists act as an extension of the re- ferring dental team to pro- vide quick and precise treat- ment. Patients presenting with severepainfrompulpitismoften need urgent attention and the skills and knowledge of a specialist will usually be the most rapid route to returning patients to dentists free of pain, comfortable and confident they have received quality treat- ment. It is entirely at the den- tist’s discretion as to when a case is suitable for referral and can range from diagno- sis to checking the endodontic status of teeth prior to crown and bridgework. A special- ist endodontist will be famil- iar with anxious patients who may find the very thought of a root canal treatment terrify- ing. In my experience, despite understandable apprehension, patients are invariably pleased to be referred to a professional who can efficiently sort out the problem. Similarly, most referring dentists are delighted to have a resource that specialises in root canal treatments, as pro- cedures can hugely disrupt the daily schedule and are of- ten stressful, slow and labori- ous. Dealing with anaesthetic problems and other challeng- ing issues such as hot pulp cases and re-treatments will also have an impact on your dental team, practice and oth- er patients, so referring en- sures that your management of time is optimised, while your patients receive immediate care and excellent results from an experienced specialist. Why do a difficult endo your- self when you would be much happier and more confident doing the crowns? Dentists Michael Sultan talks television page 12DTà The fallout from Channel 4’s Dispatches ‘I have every sympathy with very conscien- tious NHS dentists doing a good job within financial constraints’ Endo TribunE Wave One An interview with Julian Webber Endo Tribune pages 13-14 Retreatment case A presentation by Dr Konstantinos Kaloge- ropoulos Endo Tribune pages 16 Radio limits Daniel Flynn talks radiography Endo Tribune pages 18-20 Are you sitting as you should ? Are you seeing all you should ? Contact us The Dental Magnification Specialists for current offers and recommendations on how to meet these challenges.