Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

PUBLISHED IN LONDON Prices you can smile about Christmas Offer Brochure... OUT NOW - Phone for your copy or download from www.topdental.org CALL FREE on 0800 132 373 FREE Kindle or DSi** ** for details see page 12 of Christmas Offer Sheet Receive a £10.00 voucher every time you spend £150 * FREE Vouchers * excluding orders for adult X-ray films and gloves and all other offers SEASONAL OFFERS AND GREAT PRICES !! OfferscloseWednesday21stDecember2011 Easy Tips™ NEW The ‘Clear’ Alternative• Easy and fast handling• Separation of air and water• Prevents cross contamination• between patients EAS0001 - Bag of 250 RRP £49.98 NOW ONLY £24.99 SPECIAL OFFER PRICE £24.99only Dental Tribune_Front page NOV2011.indd 1 7/11/11 12:21:07 November 14-20, 2011 VOL. 5 NO. 26 John Lennon’s tooth sold One of John Lennon’s teeth has been bought by a Cana- dian dentist at an auction in Stockport for £19,500. Alber- ta-based Michael Zuk won the tooth after a phone bid. The tooth was originally giv- en to Dot Jarlette, who was John’s housekeeper in the 60’s. Other items being sold included oil paintings from John Squire of the Stone Ros- es and gifts from politicians. Mr Zuk, who has written a book on celebrities’ teeth, said in a BBC report: “Once I heard it was up for sale I had to have it.” According to the report, Mr Zuk not only plans to display the tooth in his surgery, but he plans to take it on a tour of other dental surgeries and dental schools. “Some people will think its gross, others will be fascinated by it,” he added. Teeth’s a crowd A unique study from the Fac- ulty of Dentistry at Malmö University has shown that the size of our jaw is de- creasing with age. The study started in 1949 and has since followed several den- tists throughout their adult lives. Plaster moulds were taken of the participants this procedure was repeated in 1959 and 1989. On that occa- sion the researchers were in touch with 18 of the original 30 participants. The study found that the jaw shrinks a few millimetres, result- ing in the front teeth crowd- ing. “We can also eliminate wisdom teeth as the cause, because even people who have no wisdom teeth have crowded front teeth”, Bon- demark said. Researchers are yet to discover why our jaws change as we get older. www.dental-tribune.co.uk A Royal encounter Laura Hatton reveals part II of Harry Baldwin’s career The surgical microscope John Woods on improved clarity Stop the World Michael Young on disappearing dentists News in Brief Implant Tribune FeatureFeatureNews Men’s health November is the month to raise awareness page 2 pages 7-10 pages 15-18 pages 24-25 “I don’t use the NHS” NHS Commissioning Board head ‘not a patient of NHS’ A ccording to a report in Pulse, the Government’s n e w l y - a p p o i n t e d chair of the NHS Commission- ing Board Prof Malcom Grant (pictured) has admitted that he doesn’t use the NHS. The claims came during a session with the House of Com- mons Health Committee last week, where Prof Grant failed to demonstrate his ‘passion’ for the NHS. “Come on, what do you want me to say?” he reportedly asked the Committee. “I find it difficult to demonstrate because I am not a patient of the NHS.” Prof Grant, who is currently chief of University College Lon- don, will be trusted to spend the £60 billion budget on the NHS wisely; however, after his re- cent outburst GP leaders have branded Prof Grant’s position as controversial and have called for the post to be filled by a GP. Even MPs are reportedly unconvinced of Prof Grant’s suitability for the role. What comes as a further blow is that health secretary Andrew Lansley supported Prof Grant as his ‘preferred candidate’ to chair the NHS Commissioning Board. Writing in the Sunday Mir- ror in response to the admission, shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: “It really does say it all. The first choice to control your NHS doesn’t believe in it enough to use it himself.” According to the Telegraph Prof Grant, who will be paid £63,000 a year for chairing the NHS Commissioning Board two days a week, was unwilling to give details of any private health cover. A Department of Health spokesperson said on the issue that: “Professor Grant was se- lected as Chair of the NHS Com- missioning Board because he was the best candidate for the job. His choice of healthcare is a personal matter.” However, the feeling of un- certainty continues throughout the health profession. Neel Ko- thari, a practice owner in Cam- bridge, commented: “Given the vast funding and extensive recent reform to NHS dentistry it’s a shame that Prof Grant feels that he has to go outside of the NHS to meet his dental needs. “Perhaps it is now time to question what the NHS needs to do to attract patients like Prof Grant to use its services, or alter- natively focus on a core budgeted service where every patient has a clearideaofwhattheycanexpect. After all let’s not forget the high street chain Woolworth’s tried to offer something for everyone but ultimately failed as the world moved on.” DT