Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

2 News United Kingdom Edition November 2013 Published by Dental Tribune UK Ltd © 2013, Dental Tribune UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Dental Tribune UK Ltd makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune UK. Editor Lisa Townshend Tel: 020 7400 8979 Lisa@healthcare-learning. com Advertising Director Joe Aspis Tel: 020 7400 8969 Joe@healthcare-learning. com Sales Executive Joe Ackah Tel: 020 7400 8964 Joe.ackah@ healthcare-learning.com Editorial Assistant Angharad Jones Angharad.jones@healthcare- learning.com Design & Production Ellen Sawle Tel: 020 7400 8970 ellen@healthcare-learning. com Dental Tribune UK Ltd 4th Floor, Treasure House, 19–21 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8BA R esearchers set out to evaluate caries preva- lence in non-syndromic patients with cleft lip and/ or palate (CLP) in compari- son with a matched non-CLP population. The researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto conducted a literature search in order to identify ar- ticles reporting on the preva- lence of caries in CLP versus non-CLP individuals. Seven studies were used in the review, and involved a total of 474 CLP patients aged 1.5-29 years. When looking at perma- nent teeth, data from five of the studies suggest that CLP patients have a higher number of decayed, missing and filled (DMF) teeth than the controls, and for deciduous teeth, data from four of the studies suggest that CLP patients have a higher number of DMF teeth than the controls. The researchers conclude that non-syndromic patients with CLP tend to have higher caries prevalence, both in the permanent and the deciduous dentition, in comparison with matched non-CLP controls. DT A dental therapist has been prosecuted for the illegal practice of dentistry. Jane Penvose was registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) as a dental therapist from 1 October 1998 to 6 August 2012, when she was removed from the register for not paying her Annual Retention Fee. On 2 September 2013, the GDC received a complaint that Ms Penvose was still practising, despite being removed from the register. It was alleged that she had provided her employer with forged copies of her certificate of registration and indemnity insur- ance certificate. Ms Penvose was arrested by South Yorkshire Police on 15 Oc- tober 2013 and admitted to the offences, as well as admitting to treating more than 3,500 patients during the period that she was not registered. On 1 November 2013 she ap- peared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to a 12 month condi- tional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. DT P eriodontal disease could be effectively treated by ‘beckoning’ the right kind of immune system cells to the inflamed tissues, accord- ing to researchers at the Uni- versity of Pittsburgh. “Currently, we try to control the build-up of bacteria so it doesn’t trigger severe inflam- mation, which could eventual- ly damage the bone and tissue that hold the teeth in place,” said Charles Sfeir, co-author of the study. “But that strategy doesn’t address the real cause of the problem, which is an overre- action of the immune system that causes a needlessly ag- gressive response to the pres- ence of oral bacteria. There is a real need to design new ap- proaches to treat periodontal disease.” “There is a lot of evidence now that shows these diseased tissues are deficient in a subset of immune cells called regu- latory T-cells, which tells at- tacking immune cells to stand down, stopping the inflamma- tory response,” said Steven Lit- tle, senior author of the study. “We wanted to see what would happen if we brought these regulatory T-cells back to the gums.” The researchers developed a system of polymer micro- spheres to slowly release a sig- nalling protein called CCL22 that attracts regulatory T-cells, and placed tiny amounts of the paste-like agent between the gums and teeth of animals with periodontal disease. The team found that even though the amount of bacteria was unchanged, the treatment led to improvements of stand- ard measures of periodontal disease, including decreased pocket depth and gum bleed- ing, reflecting a reduction in inflammation as a result of increased numbers of regula- tory T-cells. MicroCT-scanning showed lower rates of bone loss. DT N HS England will an- nounce new measures that it says will in- crease public participation as part of its pledge to openness and transparency. The new commitments in- clude publishing more clini- cian level data, publishing more overarching clinical indicators, linking data from GP practices to data from all hospitals, and extending the ‘Friends and Family Test’ (a programme that asks patients whether they would recom- mend hospital services) to cov- er GP practices. These new measures come as the Prime Minister calls for more transparent govern- ment. David Cameron will ad- dress the 60 nations represent- ed at the Open Government Partnership (held in London on 31 Oct 2013) and raise this issue. Tim Kelsey, NHS England’s National Director for Patients and Information, said: “This is the single most important step forward in transparency for healthcare anywhere in the world. “The English healthcare system is already one of the most transparent in the world – publishing more informa- tion than any other country. But these new measures will transform outcomes, put citi- zens at the centre of every- thing we do and will provide the means by which NHS Eng- land will be at the cutting edge of medical science.” DT N ew York City Coun- cil has approved a measure that will raise the tobacco-purchasing age to 21. The current purchasing age is 18 but the new bill will see make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy cigarettes, certain tobacco products and even electronic cigarettes. The council also approved another bill that will set a minimum price of $10.50 for a pack of cigarettes. “This will literally save many, many lives,” said City Councilman James Gennaro, whose mother and father died from tobacco-related diseases. New York is the biggest city in the US to ban cigarette sale to 19- and 20-year olds. Simi- lar legislation is expected tom come to a vote in Hawaii in December 2013, and the state of New Jersey is also consider- ing a similar proposal. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has 30 days to sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will then take effect 180 days after enactment. “We know that tobacco de- pendence can begin very soon after a young person first tries smoking so it’s critical that we stop young people from smok- ing before they even start,” said Bloomberg. DT ‘Beckoning’ immune cells may treat gum disease CLP patients have higher caries prevalence Unregistered dental therapist prosecuted Tobacco-purchasing age raised to 21 in NY Can I see your ID please? ‘More openness and transparency’ for NHS