News

Thanks to new research carried out, ‘lifelike’ dental models with the tactile qualities of real mouths will be used to train the next generation of dentists. A joint project by Professor Michael Milward and Professor Paul Cooper at the University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry and PhD candidate Richard Arm at the Nottingham Trent University (NTU) will allow student dentists to experience and learn how it feels to use periodontal probes to check for gum disease.

It is with great sadness that we have to report the sad passing of Dermot Strahan on 7th June. He was President of BSP from 1975 to 1976 and made a significant impact in UK research and postgraduate training during his time at the Eastman.

BSP Awards & Prizes To reflect our commitment to progression and innovation, the BSP awards prizes for research into periodontology - both for undergraduate and postgraduate students - on an annual basis. We were delighted to award the following prizes at our recent Annual Conference in Brighton: Sir Wilfred Fish Research Prize – Ana Caetano Fellowship Award – James Chesterman Research Grant – Tanya Cerajewska and Cher Farrugia Clinical Poster Prize – Mohsin Mughal Research Poster Prize – Jelena Taylor

We enjoyed attending The British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show earlier this month. We met many of our members and recruited some new ones too! Our President, Dr Mark Ide, gave a talk in the Specialist Interest Theatre to a packed out audience on the subject, “Periodontics in 2019 – What can you achieve?” Paula and Tamsin kept Mark busy answering clinical questions, while they managed to distribute 2000 laminated flowcharts and other perio resources.

The BSPerio have produced a series of webinars which discuss and explain the need for the new classification.

Earlier this year, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence invited organisations to register as stakeholders to assist in updating the NICE guidelines for a number of topics. It was agreed that the BSP would contribute to updating the guidelines for managing Type 2 diabetes in adults.

Gum Health Day 2019 takes place on May 12, and this year’s campaign is based around the slogan “Healthy gums, beautiful smile”. The focus is on how healthy gums contribute not only to better oral and overall health, but also to good dental aesthetics, self-confidence, and improved quality of life.

We were delighted that many of our members and non-members registered to participate in April’s webinar, which centred around Periodontal disease management.

The last month has certainly been eventful for BSP. The month started with a webinar by Professor Nicola West on Diagnosis and Communication to improve health outcomes. I submitted the Society’s reply to the GDC Consultation on principles of Specialist Listing and additionally attended a GDC meeting on behalf of BSP in relation to Future Development of CPD. Professor West and I also attended the EFP General Assembly meeting in Bern.