Primary Dental Care : Journal of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)

AIMS: The overall aim of this study was to determine whether general dental practitioners (GDPs) in West Sussex were aware of and followed National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on dental recalls. The study also aimed to identify factors in the GDPs' practice of dentistry that could affect their adherence to NICE guidelines and to gain some insight into their views on this topic and how these might affect their adherence. METHODS: A postal questionnaire, which had previously been piloted, and an explanatory letter were sent to a random sample of 195 GDPs representing 50% of the GDPs contracted to the West Sussex Primary Care Trust...

This opinion paper considers obesity and its relationship to dental practice. Twenty-three per cent of people in England are estimated to be obese, a figure that is predicted to continue rising. It follows that obese patients are frequently encountered in general dental practice. The authors review the links between obesity and dental health, the possible barriers and challenges to providing dental care for obese people, and how these may be overcome. They also report the findings of a London survey investigating the current provision of specialist dental services for obese patients who cannot be treated in a standard dental chair...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

AIM: In order to assess the oral health status, oral behaviours and use of oral healthcare services of the adult population of Medway (Kent) in 2009, NHS Medway commissioned an assessment. Its aims were to understand oral health and impacts, behaviours and the use of dental services in order to inform future development of dental services. METHODS: A self-reported postal questionnaire survey using relevant questions from the 1998 national Adult Dental Health Survey (ADHS) was performed...

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) comprises a group of generalised connective tissue disorders. Deficiency or alteration of the collagen present in the tissues results in some classic signs such as skin hyper extensibility, joint hypermobility, and vascular fragility. Multiple supernumerary teeth, congenitally missing teeth, and odontogenic keratocysts have been reported in some patients with EDS. To the author's knowledge, transposition of permanent canines has not previously been reported in any case of EDS. This case report presents the dental findings of a sporadic case of classic-type EDS in a 14-year-old Chinese male who had transposition of a permanent maxillary canine as well as the presence of two supernumerary premolars in the mandible...

AIM: This prospective study was designed to establish the nature, frequency and sequelae of complications arising in patients receiving dental treatment under intravenous midazolam sedation. METHODS: All patients attending the Sedation Department at New-castle Dental Hospital for intravenous sedation over a six-month period were audited. A standardised data-collection pro forma was designed in order to collect data relating to the patient, the sedation episode, the dental treatment and any complications arising...

The Modernising Medical Careers framework provides the opportunity for both medical specialists and general medical practitioners to follow training pathways that lead to appointments as National Health Service (NHS) consultants and to senior academic posts. Similar opportunities are available for dentists who wish to specialise. However, they are not available to dentists working in primary dental care who wish to become NHS consultants or senior academics in general dentistry. An alternative pathway is required that does not force committed primary care dentists who wish to become NHS consultants or senior academics down a path of specialisation...

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AIM: This study´s aim was to assess whether the use of Short Message Service (SMS) text reminders sent to patients prior to their dental appointments improved attendance rates for two dentists at a dental access centre in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. METHOD: Automated SMS text reminders were set up through practice management software at Kirkcaldy Dental Access Centre. Two audits, using a research methodology, were then performed. Failure to attend appointments with the two dentists at 150 consecutive appointments was assessed before and after implementing the SMS text reminders...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

AIMS: To compare the intra- and inter-assessor agreement and operator preference of a modified (four-grade) quality rating system for dental radiographs with the current National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) (three-grade) quality rating system. METHODS: Sixty radiographic images of varying quality were selected by retrospective review of dental records from a general dental practice. The images were sorted into groups to represent examples of radiographic quality (1=excellent, 2=diagnostically acceptable, 3=diagnostically compromised, 4=unacceptable)...

Desmoplastic fibroma is a rare benign and locally aggressive myo fibroblastic tumour, frequently seen in the second or third decades of life. The mandible and the maxilla are infrequently involved, and the mandible is the most commonly affected of the facial bones. Nevertheless, reports of desmoplastic fibroma affecting the mandible are scarce in the literature. This article reports a rare case of desmoplastic fibroma affecting the angle of the mandible in a 10-year-old Indian male. In addition, a review of literature relating to desmoplastic fibroma affecting the angle of the mandible is presented...

AIMS: The primary aims of the study were to investigate the use of bitewing radiography within primary dental care and adherence to guidelines on bitewing radiography by general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) area. Within the overall aims, the study had objectives to investigate the use of radiographic guidelines, audit and caries risk assessment, the influence of private and National Health Service (NHS) practice, and the influence of the demographic profile of the GDPs on these variables...

This opinion paper reviews trends in oral disease and its management in older people, in response to a challenge, in an editorial in The Lancet, to the traditional curative model of dentistry and the publication of the most recent Adult Dental Health Survey. It highlights the challenge of an ageing population and its oral health needs and management. Professional issues in relation to preventive care are discussed with emphasis on the importance of identifying patient risk and providing preventive care, together with improving the uptake of dental care among older people...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.