News

The BSP office will close for the Christmas holiday on Friday 20th December and will re-open on Monday 6th January 2020. May we take this opportunity to wish all our members a happy holiday and best wishes for 2020!

Dear Members We are approaching the end of another year and I am about to formally hand over BSP Presidency to Nikos Donos. However, before any Seasonal Greetings, I need to express my deep sadness related to recent events.

Christmas is a time for reflection and relaxation, taking stock and planning positively for the future. It is also about loving and caring for others, and reflects our professionalism, as clinicians, to do our best for our patients and each other (even if it is at a cost to ourselves). Please think of this when you plan your professional and personal lives for 2020, and consider the best ways that you can help others, as ultimately this rewards everyone.

As a charity, we rely on funding from organisations to enable us to succeed in our aim to advance all aspects of periodontology and dental implantology and promote the importance of gum health to dental and medical professionals, undergraduate students, patients and the public.

A top-level scientific meeting, organised by the European Federation of Periodontology, was attended by more than 90 leading periodontal scientists, dental experts, and guideline-development specialists from around the world. Held in Brussels, on the 26 November 2019, the meeting is being hailed as a major step forward towards an evidence-based, more effective approach to the treatment of periodontitis stages I, II and III.

As you know, NHS General Dental Practitioners are expected where appropriate to offer patients periodontal treatment through the NHS. Facilities for this can vary by location and over time and, given current flexibility of funding and commissioning, we would advise that you may wish to ensure that you are fully informed on arrangements in your area.

It is with great sadness that we must report the sad passing of Dr Nik Pandya, a much loved and highly valued and respected member not only of our specialty but within the whole of UK dentistry. Nik was heavily involved in various BSP activities and was due to be our President in 2021. He additionally made important contributions to the work of FGDP (UK). He will be greatly missed, and we offer our sincere condolences to Nik's family, colleagues and friends.

I was very pleased to be able to talk and represent BSP (alongside Nicola West and Iain Chapple) at the BSDHT Oral Health Conference this week.

The BSP Council would like to congratulate Dr Phil Ower on his retirement.