Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

PUBLISHED IN LONDON T he recent consultation concerning the future branding of cigarette packaging has come about in an effort to impact on people’s health and reduce the uptake of smoking. The consultation suggests for the first time what require- ments for standardised packag- ing could consist of, including no branding, a uniform colour and a standard font and text for any writing on the pack. The consultation will seek views on whether tobacco packaging should remain un- changed, plain packaging should be adopted, a different option should be considered. Respondents will also be asked to consider what the spe- cific impact of standardised packaging could be, includ- ing whether it could reduce the appeal of tobacco products, increase the effectiveness of health warnings, impact on the tobacco industry and retailers or encourage consumers to buy to- bacco products abroad for their own consumption. There has however already been mixed opinions on health forums and news sites regarding the consultation. Non-smokers and smokers alike are exclaiming that poli- cies such as this are “incred- ibly patronising” and some non- smokers are even suggesting that it shows a complete lack of understating about addictions. Whilst some people believe that it could have an effect on steering people away from start- ing the habit, many people be- lieve that the plain packaging policy will have little to no affect whatsoever on younger people; some even believe it will en- courage them to start smoking because cigarettes will have that “forbidden factor”. However, there are some that hope that if the policy does come into effect it will reduce the at- traction of cigarettes; but many people remain sceptical. One concern that non-smokers, ex- smokers and smokers alike are raising is how the “plain packet policy” will be “an open invita- tion” for smugglers and counter- feits to produce fake cigarettes with harmful substances. Fur- ther worries, such as a substan- tial loss in Tax from cigarette purchases are also concerning members of the public, whilst others believe that the consul- tation is a waste of Taxpayers’ money. People are even asking why plain packaging would be needed if the cigarettes are hid- den from view. The consultation will be open for responses from 16 April to 10 July. Any person, business or organisation with an interest is encouraged to respond. To take part in the consulta- tion visit http://consultations. dh.gov.uk DT C 58 April 23-29, 2012 VOL. 6 NO. 11 New chair elected Bernie Speculand, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, has been elected as the new Chair of the British Dental Asso- ciation’s Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services (CCHDS) for the 2012/14 tri- ennium. He had been vice- Chair of CCHDS in the last triennium. Mr Speculand is a consultant at University Hospital Birmingham. He also holds consultant posts at Birmingham Dental Hospital and at City Hospital. His clini- cal interests are TMJ surgery, including joint replacement surgery, maxillofacial trau- ma, salivary gland disorders and dental implant surgery. Glucose study According to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition (April 4, 2012), blood glucose levels following starch ingestion are influenced by genetically determined differences in salivary amylase. The study was carried out by scientists from the Monell Center. The researchers studied amylase activity by measuring saliva samples obtained from 48 healthy adults. Based on ex- tremes of salivary amylase activity, two groups of seven were formed: high amylase (HA) and low amylase (LA). According to reports, the par- ticipants each drank a sim- plified corn starch solution; blood samples were then ob- tained from the participants over a two-hour period. The samples were analysed to de- termine blood glucose levels and insulin concentrations. The study identified that after ingesting the starch, the indi- viduals in group HA had low- er blood glucose levels com- pared to those in the LA group. www.dental-tribune.co.uk Looking to the future Neel Kothari interviews Susie Sanderson Atraumatic extractions Dr Simon Jones provides a guide Fact or fiction? Dr Kanaan discusses the Inman Aligner News in Brief Clinical ClinicalInterviewNews Alumnus of the year King’s College announce awards page 2 pages 10-11 pages 16-17 pages 18-20 Could cigarette packaging go up in smoke? A UK-wide consultation on whether tobacco should be sold in standardised, or plain packaging, has been launched