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4 UK NEWS Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 4/2017 Dentsply Sirona steps up education offering with London Academy By DTI WEYBRIDGE, UK: After the merger in 2016, Dentsply Sirona began significant reorganisation of its business operations in the UK and Ireland. The 12-month transition period was finally completed with the opening of its new education centre at DENTSPLY Internation- al’s former premises in Weybridge in Surrey near London. Adding to Dentsply Sirona’s existing training facilities around the globe, it is the first launch of a major education centre by the in- ternational dental conglomerate. Attended by Dentsply Sirona Group Vice Presidents Thomas Scherer from Germany and Teresa Dolan from the US, the launch in June brought together dealers, key partners, such as represen- tatives of UK dental schools, as well as dentists and dental techni- cians from around the UK and Ire- land in order to celebrate and have a first look at the new facility, which showcases prod- ucts and equipment in a clinical setting. According to Commercial Manager George Fleeton, to whom Cutting the ribbon (from left to right): Dentsply Sirona UK General Manager Gerry Campbell and Vice Presidents Teresa A. Dolan and Thomas Scherer. (© DTI) Dental Tribune spoke in Wey- bridge, the centre will provide a UK base for Dentsply Sirona’s ex- tensive in-house clinical and tech- nical education programmes that enable dentists and dental techni- cians to not only learn about how an integrated solution can im- prove their workflow, but also ex- perience it first-hand. “We have invested significant resources in the project,” he said. “It is a long-term commit- ment and absolutely in line with Dentsply Sirona’s global strategy in regard to education.” Dentsply Sirona provides over 11,000 courses annually in more than 80 countries and to almost half a million dentists through the Dentsply Sirona Dental Academy. George Fleeton (© DTI) The new centre in the UK is planned to provide up to 700 courses on-site and online to 10,000 dental professionals a year. It will offer sales and dealer training in addition to clinical training for dentists and dental office staff. Furthermore, it is planned to host special events to raise awareness of various topics that are relevant in dentistry, Flee- ton added. “We see this facility being used to train not just dental profession- als but also the people working with them,” he said. “We want all people working with dental pro- fessionals to do so in a competent and confident manner.” Dentine hypersensitivity— “A sizeable problem” An interview with Dr David Gillam, London Periodontology specialist, Dr David Gillam, from the Institute of Den- tistry at Queen Mary University of London, is the author of practice guidelines regarding the manage- ment of dentine hypersensitivity. At this year’s Dentistry Show in Bir- mingham in the UK, where he held a number of lectures and presenta- tions on this topic, Dental Tribune sat down with him to discuss the condition and what practitioners need to consider when treating pa- tients. Dental Tribune: Dentine hypersensi- tivity still seems to be an under- rated condition in the majority of practices. How prevalent is it ac- cording to the latest data and are there demographics that are more affected than others? Dr David Gillam: Dentine hy- persensitivity affects any age group from 18 onwards, but the peak is probably in people in their thirties and forties. There is some evidence sensitivity de- creases with age owing to more dentine being laid down. That does not mean that one cannot de- velop hypersensitivity at age 60 and above. However, there is a that higher possibility of the condition affecting younger people owing to their lifestyle and dietary choices, which can lead to the erosion of dentine. With people keeping their teeth longer, they are potentially more exposed to erosive patterns and behaviour. A different profile may yet emerge, but this is not the case at the moment. From studies, we estimate that nowadays the condition occurs on average in one in ten patients, indicating a size- able problem. Does hypersensitivity result solely from erosion? In scientific data from the US, recession is considered the main cause, but this is a predisposing feature. To my mind, once the den- tine is exposed, erosion facilitates hypersensitivity because it opens the tubules. There are actually two stages, the uncovering of the den- tine layer and the widening of the tubules, as set out in the hydro- dynamic theory. What makes the treatment of den- tine hypersensitivity particularly challenging? Dentine hypersensitivity is one of those nuisance conditions that may have more than one cause. It also takes a great deal of diagnostic time, unfortunately. From the patient’s point of view, it is often considered a minor prob- lem that he or she believes he or she can deal with in everyday life. That makes it difficult to identify sometimes. I recommend that practition- ers consider the guidelines and the presenting features and manage the patient accordingly. There is a large amount of valuable informa- tion available in the literature and in the industry, but most of this is product-related. However, one cannot just wave a magic wand with one solution and expect the condition to go away. Part of what I do now is to educate and raise awareness among members of the dental profession. Therapists, par- ticularly, are a key target group for education. There needs to be higher awareness in general. What are the key recommendations for dental professionals with pa- tients showing signs of hypersensi- tivity? Practitioners should ask the patients the right questions. Key to this is linking the problem with lifestyle and how it affects the pa- tient on a day-to-day basis. Also, dentists should do a differential diagnosis to exclude other causes of dental pain. A large number of dental professionals do not seem to do that. They should not simply recommend a once-off solution, but one that is based on managing the presenting clinical features. This will help to diversify the clini- cian’s management plan. If the dentist provides treat- ment, he or she should incorpo- rate a preventative philosophy that will involve changing certain habits. The patient should be mon- itored within the practice’s time frame. It is not necessary to see him or her every week. Finally, the clinician should research the pain presentation and not use any spe- cific technique just because it is endorsed by a particular manufac- turer. Thank you very much.