Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

T he Association of Den- tal Administrators and Managers (formerly the BDPMA) is delighted to an- nounce the first ever ADAM Awards to recognise practice managers, administrators and treatment co-ordinators who perform above and beyond the call of duty. The ADAM Awards, gener- ously sponsored by Denplan, are very special; they are awarded by the industry to in- dividuals within the practice administration team who dem- onstrate commitment to their ever-changing roles. Each category winner will receive a cheque for £500, an engraved award and a framed certificate, which will be pre- sented at the ADAM Con- ference Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Harrogate on Sat- urday, May 19. ADAM president, Jill Tay- lor, said: “There is no other as- sociation in the UK specifically for practice managers and administrators and the ADAM Awards have been launched to recognise and acknowledge excellence within dental prac- tices. “Practice managers, ad- ministrators and treatment co-ordinators play a vital role and can make a tremendous difference to the success of a dental practice. We feel that their hard work and dedication deserves to be officially recog- nised.” The judging panel consists of Denplan’s chief dental of- ficer, Roger Matthews, Jill Tay- lor and ADAM’s honorary vice- president, Hew Mathewson, who brings with him a wealth of experience as a past chair- man of the GDC and an adviser to the MDDUS. Individuals can enter the awards themselves or can be nominated by a colleague. The deadline for entries is February 14, 2012 and an ap- plication form is available to download from www.adam- aspire.co.uk. DT The ADAM Awards: recognising excellence within the dental team T otal Orthodontics was re- cently announced as the winner of the Best Cus- tomer Service category at the Sussex Business Awards 2011. A group of specialist ortho- dontic practices based in Sussex and Kent, Total Orthodontics is the largest provider of NHS orthodontic care in the South East. To compete against a wide range of local and national busi- nesses from the private sector and to be crowned the winner was a huge achievement. The awards ceremony, which was held at The Grand Hotel in Brighton in Decem- ber, was hosted by Ruth Badger, business woman and star of TV’s The Apprentice. Director Richard George, said: “The whole team was thrilled when Ruth announced us as the winner. Providing exceptional customer service to our NHS and private patients has always been a major fo- cus for our company. Our aim will now be to defend the title in 2012!” DT Smiles for Total Orthodontics at the Sussex Business Awards Total Orthodontics directors receive the award D entaid is organising a 17-day dental mission to Uganda in June 2012. This will be led by Barbara Koff- man whose experience in taking similar missions (for Christian Relief Uganda) will be very valu- able. The team will conduct pain relief clinics on Kalangala Island during the first week, followed by a free weekend in the Ssese Is- lands with the options of visiting the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary and other attractions. The second week will include oral health education by the team in Entebbe schools, and the visit will be concluded with an option- al 10 km run. The fees of the trip will be £2500 (£1500 to cover individual expenses; £1000 for transport and other expenses). Places are limited and appli- cations should be made by 1st February. DT For further details telephone Barbara Koffman on 07970 163 798 or email bkoffmancru@hot- mail.com Dentaid Ugandan Expedition in June 2012 Oral Health lesson in Uganda T housands of vulnerable peoplearebeingreminded they should look after their oral health this winter after scien- tists further linked oral bacteria toanincreasedriskofpneumonia. The study found changes in bacteria in the mouth preceded the development of pneumonia, and lead author Dr Samit Joshi of Yale University School of Medi- cine concluded this process “sug- gests that changes in oral bacteria play a role in the risk for develop- ing pneumonia”. It is thought pneumonia af- fects over 620,000 people in the UK and claims the lives of around five per cent of those who con- tract the disease2. Although further research is required to determine the exact relationship between oral health and pneumonia, it is not the first time the two diseases have been linked. Poor oral health has been as- sociated with respiratory diseases for a number of years, as bacterial chest infections are thought to be caused by breathing in fine drop- lets from the throat and mouth into the lungs. This can cause in- fections, such as pneumonia, or could worsen an existing condi- tion. Studies have even suggest- ed a higher mortality rate from pneumonia in people with higher numbers of deep gum pockets3. The findings of the study pre- sent further evidence that there’s a significant health risk to the elderly and the young, accord- ing to Chief Executive of the Brit- ish Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter. Dr Carter said: “During the winter months we’re all suscep- tible to colds, coughs and chesty viruses due to the drop in temper- ature. What people must remem- ber, particularly those highlighted as vulnerable, is that prevention can be very basic. “Systemic links between gum disease and overall health have been well documented, and at this time of year keeping up good oral health can really help stave off illness. “Simply brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning in betweenteethdailywithinterden- tal brushes or floss, cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly, as often as they recommendwillbeagreatstarting point. If you have swollen gums that bleed regularly when brushing, bad breath, loose teeth or regular mouth infections ap- pear, it is likely you have gum disease. “If any of these symptoms persist, or signs of pneumonia develop, visit your dentist and GP immediately.” The research, presented on at the Infectious Diseases Society of America annual meeting in Bos- ton, looked at 37 subjects who were followed for a one-month period. The subjects included 19 healthy adults with an average age of 60; and those at risk for healthcare-associated pneumo- nia including 10 nursing home residents (average age 86) and eight mechanically ventilated ICU patients (average age 51). DT Oral bacteria linked to risk of pneumonia Oral bacteria could be linked to serious health problems January 16-22, 20124 News United Kingdom Edition