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Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition

4 News United Kingdom Edition February 2014 T he Fukushima Prefec- ture Dental Association will spearhead efforts to determine whether chil- dren’s teeth contain the ra- dioactive isotope strontium-90 following the meltdown from the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011, according to the Ja- pan Times. Similar to calcium, stron- tium-90 tends to be absorbed by the bones and teeth once it enters the body. It is widely believed to cause bone cancer and leukaemia, and cannot be detected by whole body radia- tion counters. The teeth of children aged five to 15 will be checked if extracted during regular den- tal visits, and the research will start by examining the teeth for cesium or other iso- topes. For the other teeth, checks for radioactive iso- topes will be carried out in groups of ten, rather than on individual teeth. The education ministry re- leased readings for strontium detected in the Fukushima area in September 2011 that said the amount present in soil was less than a hundredth of the cesium present. Noboru Takamura from Nagasaki University said: “Based on past radiation data, any detected amount would be extremely small. If that is proved by the research, peo- ple will feel relief. I want the researchers to take the time to explain the results to the chil- dren whose teeth will be ex- amined.” DT Fukushima children’s teeth to be checked for radiation impact Teeth checked following 2011 disaster T he Mouth Cancer Foun- dation will be at stand F37 at this year’s Dentist- ry Show, where delegates can learn how to save in life in just two minutes. Dental practices in the UK should be performing thorough mouth cancer checks on their patients. This quick detailed examination takes just two min- utes, yet very few patients are aware they should receive this at least once a year and it is sus- pected that some dental prac- tices are still not doing it. The charity’s Mouth Can- cer Screening Accreditation Scheme is raising awareness amongst both patients and den- tal practices by calling every dental practice in the UK to be carrying out a thorough head and neck examination as part of regular check-ups. The scheme is a ‘Two min- utes to save a life’ screening pro- tocol that every dentist should be able to include in their rou- tine examinations in order to in- crease early detection rates and save lives. The scheme is open to any dentist registered with the GDC or any dental practice whose clinicians are registered with the GDC. For more infor- mation, email info@mouthcan- cerfoundation.org or call 01924 950 950. DT Learn how to save a life at the Dentistry Show L eicester MP Keith Vaz is campaigning for sugary and drinks to be banned in all schools in the city, according to the Leicester Mercury. Mr Vaz said: “For too long, food and drink manufacturers have misled parents about the amount of sugar added to their prod- ucts These hidden calories are contributing to an epidemic of childhood obesity.” He has written a letter to the Leicester’s education cabinet member, councillor Vi Dempster, urging the education authority to ban sugar from school’s canteens and vending machines. Valence Primary School in Dagenham banned fruit juice, and Mr Vaz wants to follow this example. Councillor Dempster said: “All of our menus are devised with the help of a dietician – all of our reci- pes meet Government guidelines. “Over the past few years, our menus have been reviewed to re- duce the amount of sugar that’s used. Given the levels of child- hood obesity in the city, I abso- lutely support the points Keith Vaz raises about sugar.” DT Leicester MP calls for sugar ban in schools T he House of Lords has backed a Labour plan to ban smoking in cars carrying children, despite opposition from the govern- ment. According to the BBC, gov- ernment backbenchers will not be pressed to reverse the change in the Commons. Instead, they will have a free vote on the amendment when the bill returns from the Lords. The amendment to the Children and Families Bill was brought forward by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, Lord Faulkner and Baroness Hughes. Lord Hunt said: “I was very surprised by research that has been identified by the Brit- ish Lung Foundation, which shows that a single cigarette smoked in a moving car with a window half open exposes a child in the centre of a back- seat to around two-thirds as much second-hand smoke as in an average smoke-filled pub of days gone by.” This level increased to 11 times when the car was not moving with the windows closed. Conservative peer Lord Cormack argued that any law which “brings the state into the private space of individu- als should be deplored”. However, Lord Hunt said: “There are more important principles than that. One for me is the need for child pro- tection. Unlike most adults, children lack the freedom to decide when and how they travel, they lack the au- thority most adults have to ask people not to smoke in their company.” Director of pro-smoking group Forest, Simon Clark, said: “Legislation is complete- ly unnecessary. Most adult smokers accept that smoking in a car with children present is inconsiderate and the over- whelming majority choose not to. Education, not legislation, is the way forward.” DT Lords backs ban on smoking in cars with children Labour introduced the plan, which has been given Lords’ backing