Dental Tribune Untited Kingdom Edition

Lab Tribune Endo Tribune pages 14-17pages 12-13 David Hands and Neil Photay shed some light Mony Paz and Ted Carson discuss suction dentures Lee Culp and Prof Edward Mclaren discuss Lith- ium disilicate Tripping over tripple trays Ultra suction denture The material of multiple options pages 18-22 Endo Tribune Endo Tribune F ollowing the launch of the British Bite Mark last month, the Dental Laboratories Association have had an incredible response from UK dental laboratories wanting to be part of the DLA’s first ever campaign direct to the public. To date there are now 277 dental laboratories that have signed the declara- tion of compliance to the Brit- ish Bite Mark with several hundred still waiting. Speaking to Dental Tribune Richard Daniels, Chief Execu- tive of the Dental Laborato- ries Association made it clear why he felt the campaign was necessary and what he hoped the outcome of the campaign would be. Outsourcing “The launch of the British Bite Mark was deliberately made in March on the back of the an- nouncements from some den- tal bodies corporate that they were looking to review their procurement processes in 2012. Whilst on the face of the procurement changes there was nothing to suggest a desire to move towards outsourcing work to dental laboratories in the Far East, it was clear from the pricing structures that the DLA should be con- cerned that this is the ulti- mately where the path could lead. Equally the subsequent enthusiasm by some den- tal practices to use dental lab outsourcing agents over their usual dental labora- tory, provided greater rea- soning to start a campaign that provides transparency to the patient.” It seemed appropriate to ask Richard why he felt there was a need for a campaign of transparency that effectively could by-pass the dentist in terms of offering patient infor- mation. “The British Bite Mark campaign is like any other ‘Made in Britain campaign’, its aim is to provide the pa- tient with an informed choice about their purchase, far from by-passing the dental prac- tice, the campaign is going to actively embrace those den- tal practices that use regis- tered British Bite Mark dental laboratories, over the coming months we will have informa- tion packs that dental prac- tices can use free of charge to promote the fact that they use a British Bite Mark dental laboratory to their patients, they will also have the op- portunity to be featured on a website that is to be launched later in the year called www. britishsmiles.org which we hope to be a major on-line fa- cility for patients seeking in- formation on all issues relat- ing to dentistry.” Since 2004, the Dental Laboratories Association led by Richard Daniels has proactively lob- bied against custom made dental appli- ances manufactured outside of the UK, even though there has never been a case identified in the UK against an appliance manufactured overseas, Dental Tribune asked Richard if he felt that there really was sufficient dan- ger to the patient that justified the British Bite Mark as an es- sential tool for patients when making decisions with their dentists over their prescrip- tion. Richard replied: “This campaign isn’t necessarily about danger to the patient; since 2004 when we worked with our brother organisa- tion in the US exposing lead in crowns from China, sub- stantial quality monitoring has been encouraged in China and the rest of the Far East, however, encouraging qual- ity management systems in a dental laboratory is commend- able, but it isn’t law and at the moment only dental laborato- ries operating in the UK and the EU have the possibility of a competent authority visit- ing the manufacturing dental laboratory to ensure appropri- ately trained professionals are operating in the lab and that CE marked materials are be- ing used. ‘‘The truth of the matter is that there are good and bad labs everywhere in every coun- try, the comforting thought for patients here in the UK is that there is a significantly higher chance of them getting found out here in the UK than any- where else in the world and the easiest way of getting this message across is with an easily identifiable logo, that instantly offers patients peace of mind.” When discussing the Brit- ish Bite Mark campaign and it objectives, it is clear that Richard thinks the DLA have got it right, both for the patient and for the DLA membership. Dental Tribune asked Richard if he had received any resist- ance from the membership following the launch of the British Bite Mark, he said: “in all honesty, I have received three complaints, understand- ably all from members who have a commercial inter- est in dental laboratory out- sourcing, but as I have said to them and anyone other party that has enquired, my mis- sion is not to say that British dental laboratories are best or that dental practices that use overseas dental labora- tories are bad but merely to manage a campaign states the facts, facts that the pa- tient and for that matter many dentists should be aware of when choosing a manufac- turer of custom made dental appliances. In my opinion, dental laboratories that carry the British Bite Mark should be proud, dental practices that use British Bite Mark dental laboratory’s should be proud and we want to help them pro- mote the fact to their patients, frankly if the DLA don’t pro- mote British dental technol- ogy, who is?” DT Best of British Dental Tribune speaks with DLA Chief Executive Richard Daniels about the organisations latest campaign to promote British dental laboratories ‘In my opinion, dental laboratories that carry the British Bite Mark should be proud, dental practices that use British Bite Mark dental laboratory’s should be proud and we want to help them promote the fact to their patients, frankly if the DLA don’t promote British dental technol- ogy, who is?”’