New funding model for NHS dentistry – working group formed
The Scottish Dental Practice Committee (SDPC) has established a working group to consider options for an NHS funding model post-COVID-19. Tom… Read more
‘Protect Scotland’ COVID-19 contact tracing app launched
Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister, has urged people to download NHS Scotland’s new contact tracing app, available for free the… Read more
Government-procured PPE ‘is safe to use’, says NHS
Dentists in Scotland who received Government-procured personal protective equipment (PPE) marked as passed its use-by/expiration dates “can be assured those… Read more
Strengthening your business with a membership plan
Describing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentistry as ‘challenging’ feels a little like calling a mountain a bump… Read more
‘Don’t use Scottish Government supplied PPE,’ BDA advises
The British Dental Association has advised dentists in Scotland not to use stocks of free personal protective equipment (PPE) provided… Read more
Introducing Oral-B iO
The new Oral-B iO toothbrush
Oral-B unveiled an “unprecedented era in brushing” with the introduction of its most advanced rechargeable electric toothbrush, the Oral-B iO Read more
Enhanced PPE at Scottish NHS practices ‘passed expiry date’
Some ‘enhanced’ PPE provided to practices in NHS Scotland has passed its expiry date, according to the BDA. It said… Read more
GDC publishes research into the meaning of professionalism
Findings from independent research, designed to inform a better shared understanding of professionalism, have been published today by the General… Read more
BDA targeted in ‘sophisticated’ cyber attack
The British Dental Association’s website was hacked yesterday, the organisation said, with visitors being greeted by a ‘server error’ page.… Read more
IoS payments to resume in phase four, but CDO promises consultation on long-term funding
Item of Service payments, including the patient charge, are set to return in phase four of the remobilisation of dentistry… Read more
AGPs return to NHS practices on 17 August
NHS dental practices can re-introduce a range of procedures – such as the use of drills – “on a limited… Read more
Review of international guidelines on AGPs published
A rapid review of how dental aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) are defined in international guidelines – and a summary of… Read more
Government admits engagement with profession has been ‘inadequate’, says BDA
A Scottish Government minister has admitted that its engagement with the dental profession has been “inadequate”, the British Dental Association… Read more
Scotland’s CDO challenged over ‘lack of engagement’ with profession
Scotland’s Chief Dental Officer (CDO), Tom Ferris, has been accused by the British Dental Association (BDA) of a “lack of… Read more
Practice allowance ‘increased by 30 per cent’
The General Dental Practice Allowance (GDPA) has been increased by 30 per cent, the Scottish Government said today. It also… Read more
Practices open for non-urgent care from 13 July
All dental practices in Scotland can see registered patients for routine care, that does not involve aerosol generating procedures (AGPs),… Read more
Scotland facing ‘oral health disaster’ unless new funding is agreed
The Scottish Government has been urged to provide “urgent financial support” to private dentistry within mixed practices to ensure it… Read more
10,000 additional appointments ‘available across Scotland’
Dental practices can resume seeing see NHS patients in need of urgent care from today, the Scottish Government confirmed today.… Read more
UK lowers COVID-19 alert level
The UK’s chief medical officers have agreed that the threat from COVID-19 can be lowered one level on the alert… Read more
Scottish dental practices to reopen next week
Dental practices can reopen from Monday (22 June), the Scottish Government has announced. Further changes to lockdown restrictions in Scotland… Read more
Latest news
Lockdown 2020’ raises webinar bar – and more than £37,000
Towards the end of March, Clive Schmulian was scheduled to present an NHS Education Scotland workshop on oral surgery. With… Read more
Funding crisis: more than 50 per cent of practices ‘may not reopen’, according to poll
More than half of Scottish practices questioned in a poll said they may remain closed, despite the Government’s remobilisation plan… Read more
NHS lawyers say dentists treating private patients for non-urgent care could be reported to the police
Lawyers advising NHS Scotland have said that health boards can report dentists to the police if they are found to… Read more
Scotland’s private dentists reopen
Regulator gives green light, though Government urges: ‘follow the spirit’ of route map Read more
Phase one of Scotland’s practice ‘remobilisation’ underway
The first phase of Scotland’s plan to ‘remobilise’ dental practices gets underway today with an increase in the range of… Read more
‘Test and protect’ to be rolled out nationally, says Scottish Government
Test and Protect – NHS Scotland’s approach to controlling the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community – will be… Read more
Practice ‘recovery toolkit’ published
A practice ‘recovery toolkit’ has been published by the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP). It follows the letter from… Read more
Scotland’s private dentists can reopen for emergency care, says regulator
Private dentists can now open to see patients for emergency care, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) said today. In a letter… Read more
Dental staff support for COVID-19 vaccine trial
Dental staff in Glasgow have been encouraged to apply to take part in Oxford University’s trial of a COVID-19 vaccine.… Read more
Phased return of dental services outlined in Government’s ‘route map’
An increase in care offered at emergency dental hubs is included in the first phase of the Scottish Government’s ‘route… Read more
CDO announces ‘remobilisation’ of NHS dental services in Scotland
The first steps in the “remobilisation” of NHS dental services in Scotland have been announced by Tom Ferris, Scotland’s Chief… Read more
GDC refuses to change annual retention fee amid COVID-19 crisis
No changes to the annual retention fee (ARF) will be made by the General Dental Council (GDC) in response to… Read more
Scotland expands COVID-19 testing
Testing for the coronavirus is to be opened to everyone who is symptomatic over the age of five, the Scottish… Read more
COVID-19; loss of taste or smell added to symptoms that should trigger self-isolation
The Scottish Government has published a joint statement from the four UK Chief Medical Officers. “From today, all individuals should… Read more
Scottish health boards pilot contact tracing technology
New contact tracing technology will be tested by the NHS in Fife, Lanarkshire, and the Highlands from this week, the… Read more
‘Phased recovery plan’ for dental practices, says National Clinical Director
A “phased recovery plan” for dental practices is being prepared by the Scottish Government, Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director,… Read more
Reopening dental services; rapid review of recommendations published
A group of researchers and clinicians from a range of UK institutions has conducted a rapid review of internationally produced guidance to… Read more
National dental organisations join forces to agree return-to-work guidance
National dental organisations have joined forces to agree guidance for UK general dental practices on returning to work as the… Read more
50 dentists appointed to new FGDP(UK) Academy
The Faculty of General Dental Practice has announced the appointment of 50 dentists to its new FGDP(UK) Academy. The Academy… Read more
Rock musician turned dentist calls the tune for sister’s hospice
Former rock star turned dentist David Devine, of Clyde Munro, with six-month-old nephew Beck.
A musician who retrained as a dentist after playing alongside various superstars is now raising money for the Scots hospice… Read more
Advice for dental nurses; BADN podcast released
Jane Dalgarno, Chairman of the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN) has today… Read more
COVID-19 record keeping
In advising patients over the phone I appreciate it can be more challenging as you have limited information. In addition… Read more
A positive mindset can help
I’m not a psychologist or a medical doctor dealing with patients with anxiety, depression or other mental illnesses. I am,… Read more
Free webinar: Seven ways to thrive during turbulent times
Seven ways to not only survive but thrive during turbulent times: a free webinar with Ashley Latter, brought to you… Read more
Current state of play – a NASDAL guide
As we approach a month into lockdown, NASDAL (the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers) felt that it… Read more
Report reveals plunging NHS practice profitability
New figures follow a big increase in costs, most notably in staff and general administration A typical private practice’s profit… Read more
Total protection for your practice
When it comes to the transmission of harmful pathogens, dental practices are one of the most contaminated working environments in… Read more
CDO announces new funding for NHS practices
Measures unveiled earlier last month would not have prevented closures, warned practitioners Additional funding to support hard-pressed NHS practices, whose… Read more
Central ‘urgent care only’ service being readied
The office of Scotland’s chief dental officer was preparing to order the complete shutdown of dental practices as Scottish Dental… Read more
‘Catastrophic’ impact for private practice
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, preparing his statement last month on support for the self-employed
Failure to support self-employed may have devastating impact on dental service, Chancellor is warned The British Dental Association (BDA) has… Read more
FGDP Dean calls for greater diversity
The Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP(UK)), Ian Mills, has called for the leaderships of dental organisations to… Read more
Adopt an AED
Did you know only one in 12 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest? Since 2015, it has become a legal… Read more
Dentists suspended for sharing and plagiarising SEAs
Copied content was detected with software used by universities to check students’ work Five dentists in Scotland have been suspended… Read more
‘DIY’ orthodontic warning
Profession faces risk by working for direct-to-consumer firms for dental professionals Dental professionals could be referred to their governing bodies… Read more
GDPs to get new info and jobs resource
The website scottishdental.org is being given a new focus as a resource for GDPs. NHS National Services Scotland has been… Read more
