News

The Society's Spring Meeting, held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 10th and 11th May 2007, was a resounding success. A packed venue enjoyed excellent presentations from a range of national and international speakers, interspersed with high quality catering and trade support. The meeting was enhanced by a fabulous Conference Dinner based in the Royal Museum of Scotland. Evaluation forms can be completed on-line and CPD certificates can then be downloaded.

Oral surgery and surgical dentistry to merge The GDC has closed the specialist list in Surgical Dentistry and transferred dentists on this list to a reconfigured Oral Surgery list. The move brings UK arrangements for oral surgery into line with those in Europe and elsewhere, and will mean greater clarity for patients and practitioners about the specialty. The merger is one of a package of changes recommended by a special group set up by the GDC to review the arrangements for the training and listing of dental specialists. A new Specialist Dental Education Board is being set up to take forward the other recommendations. The Council has recently appointed Professor Kevin O'Brien as the Chair of this Board. GDC President, Hew Mathewson, said: "The General Dental Council's specialist lists enable patients and dental professionals to identify dentists who have specialist training and are entitled to use a specialist title. "We have recently set up the Specialist Dental Education Board to advise the Council on amending the arrangements for the training and listing of dental specialties following the recommendations of the Specialist Lists Review Group." We have written to all dentists on the Surgical Dentistry and Oral Surgery lists to tell them about the new arrangements.

The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, have launched online information providing details of the new Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF RSC Eng). The MJDF, which will progressively replace the existing membership diplomas of each faculty (the MFGDP(UK) and MFDS RCS Eng), is a modern,innovative assessment designed for today's dentist. It aims to recognise the successful acquisition of knowledge and skills after completion of the two-year foundation training programme for all dental graduates, currrently being introduced as part of widespread initiatives to promote more flexible training pathways within dentistry. For further details click here.

To see the latest clinical case report by Andrew Elder entitled "A Full Mouth Disinfection Regime used to Manage Drug Induced Gingival Hyperplasia" please go to the members section or click on the Case studies link on the bottom right of the home page.

A new case report by Shane McCrea has been added to the case report page entitled "Sub-epithelial Connective Tissue Graft with the Lateral Pedicle Flap". Members can access this through the Members area or the Case Studies links on the right hand side of the home page.

The GDC has recently commenced another consultation related to clinical experience required before overseas dentists may sit the statutory examination to be registered. This is still open and details are available here. BSP has submitted a reply which is available for members to view here.

Following a meeting on 14th March 2007, BSP Council unanimously agreed to open Associate membership of BSP to all DCPs registered with the GDC forthwith. Existing benefits of Associate membership of BSP will continue to apply (details are available here.). This will be ratified at the next AGM in November 2007, and the membership forms and categories on the website will be updated accordingly soon. However it was decided that since the AGM is not for some time, Council approved an immediate change. Membership fee rates will be unchanged. There will be no reduction in fees for student associate members, those doing postgraduate training or for those within 4 years of first registration.

The partnership programme between the British Society of Periodontology and Henry Schein has now existed for 6 months. In this time, around 25% of practicing UK BSP members have taken part in this. This preferred purchasing scheme benefits both the BSP and individual members, with no additional cost to members, and in fact the Society benefits through an annual donation to our Fellowship Fund from Henry Schein. Details are available here.

The closing date for applications for the Research Fellowship is fast approaching!! Details are available here.