Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

2 011 proved to be a mem- orable year for Dr Zaki Kanaan, (pictured), dur- ing which, he was honoured by his peers on four separate occasions. At the beginning of the year he was elected President of The London Dental Fellowship (membership of this highly re- spected group is by invitation only when a vacancy occurs) and he was then elected Vice- President of the British Acad- emy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) in addition to his role as Scientific Director. Later in the year he was invited to join the Admissions Panel for Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Dental Institutes, which interviews potential stu- dents for both the undergradu- ate and graduate programmes. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Zaki discovered he had been voted into second place in the UK poll of Private Dentistry’s Elite 20 Dentists. “It was gratifying to be short listed, but to come second is a real honour,” says Zaki, “es- pecially knowing that you can only be voted for by your peers and others in the dental pro- fession.” Zaki also runs an award- winning practice and popu- lar whitening courses, the K2 Dental and K2 Dental Semi- nars, with his wife Dominique. Dr Zaki Kanaan is one of the BACD Board Members lecturing on the BACD/BDTA Roadshow. For further details please visit www.bacd.com. He will also be lecturing in Manchester at the BDA confer- ence in April 2012. DT What a year! A 37-year-old mother has miraculously saved her own life by coughing up a cancerous tumour. According to reports, Claire Osborn, from Coventry, had two coughing fits, both of which produced pieces of the tumour; however it wasn’t un- til after the second coughing session that produced a 2cm lump that alarm bells started ringing and Clare took the “heart-shaped lump” to the doctors. “I knew something was very wrong so I went straight to my GP,” Mrs Osborn was re- ported saying. Mrs Osborn was right to be concerned, as scans showed that the tissue was in fact an aggressive throat and mouth cancer; she was then informed that there was a chance that the tumour may not be the only one in her body. “I was devastated. I just thought I was going to die,” Mrs Osborn was reported saying. However, doctors were amazed to find that the can- cerous tumour was in fact the only one in her body and after a scan at University Hospital Coventry she was given her the all-clear. It is believed that the lump, which is thought to have been growing on the back of her throat, became dislodged be- fore the coughing fits. According to one report, Mrs Osborn said: “The con- sultant turned round to me and said ‘It appears you have coughed up your cancer. Con- gratulations.’” Fewer than 30 similar cas- es have ever been recorded in the world. Head and neck surgeon Gary Walton was reported say- ing: “We suspect the tumour grew on a stalk at the back of her mouth which is very difficult to detect. Somehow she dislodged this, the stalk snapped and she coughed up the tumour.” DT Coughing up cancer T he quality and availa- bility of oral healthcare for older adults remains an issue, and insufficient pri- ority is being given to mak- ing improvements, the British Dental Association (BDA) has warned in a new report. The report says that many older adults’ health and well- being is under-served and that concerns remain about provision in the future. It also argues that oral health is of- ten not properly considered in wider healthcare provision and, as a result, that many pa- tients simply don’t get the care they need. Furthermore, the report warns, the aging demo- graphic of the population of Britain means that new chal- lenges will emerge; includ- ing a significant increase in demand for restorative dental treatment. The report provides a pro- gress check on 21 recommen- dations for improving oral care for older people published in a BDA report of 2003. Just six of those recommendations have been met in full, today’s report says. Amongst the challenges yet to be confronted are in- adequate information about patient charge exemptions, the inability of dentists to pre- scribe artificial saliva except in certain circumstances, and the continued absence of a commissioning framework that properly takes account of older patients’ needs. Today’s report sets out twelve priorities for reform in- cluding the provision of free, comprehensive oral health assessments for over-60s, better integration of health and social services, and the establishment of basic stand- ards for care with which care homes should be obliged to comply. “This report reminds us that many older adults sim- ply aren’t receiving the oral healthcare they need. That is unacceptable. Although a great deal of progress has been made against the priori- ties highlighted by the BDA in 2003, notable challenges re- main and new ones are emerg- ing. This is a problem that won’t go away. The BDA will be pushing hard for the twelve new priorities this report sets out to be addressed.” DT Oral care of older patients remains a challenge, says BDA T he Dental Wellness Trust (DWT) has been granted official charitable status and will now launch a fundrais- ing campaign to raise revenue for its exciting array of programmes, designed to help the underprivi- leged with their oral health care. Founder of the charity, Dr Lin- da Greenwall, who is also Chair of the British Dental Bleaching Society, is thrilled to see the ful- filment of her long-term goal to help those in need with their den- tal health. She has worked tire- lessly to set up the new charity as a way to give something back to the profession that has given her so much. The London-based charity has identified a number of exem- plary projects, both in the UK and abroad, and will work with part- ner organisations already on the ground to deliver programmes that will help people who have little or no access to basic oral healthcare. The DWT has put together an innovative preventative-ori- entated educational programme, which will empower people to take control of their oral health. The charity also offers pro-bono treatment to those in desperate need. To find out more about the work of the Dental Wellness Trust, or how you can help, please visit www.dentalwellnesstrust. org or call 020 7267 7070 DT Wellness Trust granted charitable status Staff and children at Ilitha say thank you to the Dental Wellness charity T his Valentine’s Day, in- stead of jumping out of a plane, climbing a moun- tain or running a marathon, Bridge2Aid are encouraging people to host a Valentine’s Din- ner. During the month of Febru- ary, the charity, which raises money for dental services in Tanzania, is asking you to invite your friends over for a dinner party to help support a Tanza- nian village. The money can be raised by your friends donating money to Bridge2Aid in return for your hospitality. Supporting a village means that the money that you raise at your dinner party will be put towards the training of a Tanza- nian medical officer in Emer- gency Dentistry. These medical officers will then be able to treat people in their rural village, re- lieving them of dental pain. The charity will supply you with dinner mat cards explain- ing what their money will do and a video clip to play for your guests. All guests who sup- ply contact information will be entered in a draw to win great prizes. Please contact fundraising@ bridge2aid.org for more infor- mation on hosting a dinner to sponsor a village or visit our website to find out more. DT Host a dinner party and save a village! Bridge2Aid are encouraging people to host a Valentine’s Dinner January 23-28, 20122 News United Kingdom Edition