The General Dental Council has named a lack of communication between managers as the reason for slipping standards at Queen’s University in Belfast. The Council voiced concern that this was damaging students’ education and was ultimately putting public safety at risk, commenting that ‘There is very poor communication between the various parties involved in the delivery of the programme’.

Suggestions to modernise the training programmes, improve leadership, and bring in more specialist teachers were put forward, in the hopes that this would turn the tide and improve the standard of teaching. The GDC’s reports was severely critical of the university, commenting on the ‘overall lack of joined-up thinking.  Inspectors were unhappy with the low number of clinical sessions involved in students’ timetables, something which contributes greatly to the amount of practical experience received. A re-inspection is scheduled for early next year.

Professor at Queen’s University Belfast, Patrick Johnston, said that they were aware of the problems and the staff were working on some solutions, saying that; ‘We recognise there was a lack of communication between the various bodies and that may have impacted on students. Now it’s time to move forward.’

In an attempt to rectify the situation, Queen’s University have added four new posts to the team, with three more in the works for the next six months.

People suffering from sleep apnea have been advised to see if cosmetic dentistry procedures could help, after a new report has revealed a link between oral treatments and the illness.

Research by the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) showed that equipment offered by dentists can be helpful to some patients suffering from sleep apnea.

Dr David Stanton from the PDA said: “Oral appliances and surgical procedures offered by dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons can be very beneficial in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.”

The studies found that by using devices that reposition the lower jaw and tongue, sufferers find some relief from the problem.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing when they are sleeping and is considered a serious condition by the organisation.

Individuals who suspect they have the complaint are advised to be assessed by a dental professional as it has been linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.

Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports was recently encouraged by the American Dental Association, which said that failure to have one can lead to an increased risk of the need for emergency dentistry.

People have been warned about drinking smoothies after a survey revealed more than half of those questioned were unaware they could damage teeth.

More men than women believed that fruit smoothies were not bad for teeth, while people aged over 60 were the largest group to believe the misconception.

Explaining how fruit drinks often have a high sugar content Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, reiterated the need to have regular dental check-ups to ensure teeth remain healthy.

Commenting on the results Dr Carter said: “These results are quite shocking. That such a large number of the public are unaware of this shows a general lack of knowledge about oral health.”

The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) asked 1,000 people about how diet could affect oral health care and found more than 50 per cent thought fruit smoothies would do no harm.

From May 16th to June 16th it is National Smile Month, which is run by the BDHF and this year’s campaign is ‘Teeth4Life‘ and will promote the importance of lifelong teeth care.

Desensitising toothpaste could help asthma sufferers.

Individuals who suffer from asthma have been advised that using toothpaste designed to tackle sensitive teeth problems could help with their condition.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the active ingredient in many of these toothpastes is potassium nitrate – also known as saltpetre – and this was used for many years in the treatment of arthritis and asthma, hence its ability to help sufferers.

Meanwhile, Ridzwan Rahim recently wrote in a post for New Straits Times that the introduction of fluoride into the drinking water of western countries in the last century was one of the greatest man-made medical advances of all time.

He argued that the introduction of fluoride into the water of countries across the globe has had the single greatest impact on oral health.

Mr Rahim stated: “Ever since the introduction of fluoride into tap water in 1945, cases of tooth decay around the world has decreased so dramatically that, frankly, we have now few reasons to visit the dentist.”

Those with disabilities should be given more dentistry guidance.

The visually impaired in the UK should be provided with better information regarding dentistry, it has been claimed.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said more needs to be done to ensure all areas of society are aware of the oral health services that are available to them.

Indeed, he noted there is a level of inequality in the present system, as it does not cater for those with disabilities fairly.

He made his comments following the publication of a study carried out by Moorfields Hospital in London, which showed that visually impaired people were less likely to visit their dentist on a regular basis.

Elsewhere, Conservative shadow health minister Mike Penning recently claimed that should his party win at today’s (May 6th) polls, then he will introduce a new dentistry contract that will focus on improving levels of access for all sections of society.

The upcoming election has allowed politicians to show their will to improve dentistry in the UK.

The upcoming election has provided an opportunity for the leading parties to showcase their commitment to improving dentistry provisions in the UK, it has been claimed.

According to Tory shadow health minister Mike Penning, should the Conservatives win at next week’s polls, then he will introduce a new dentistry contract that will focus on improving levels of access for all sections of society.

He commented: “These changes will allow us to give one million more people access to an NHS dentist and give every five-year-old a dental check-up.”

Elsewhere, Lakeside Dental recently claimed that an increase in drug treatments under the last government has led to more people requiring emergency dentistry treatments.

Known as xerostomia, this is brought about through these drugs killing protective bacteria in the mouth, thereby leading to an increased risk of cavities forming in previously healthy teeth.

Individuals have been advised on how to achieve a healthier smile.

People planning to have a healthier smile should stop smoking and ensure they brush their teeth properly, it has been advised.

MSN Health has reported that smoking can be particularly harmful to the teeth and gums, while flossing daily and not brushing too vigorously can help people to keep a perfect smile for longer.

Indeed, people should “perfect their stroke” by ensuring they brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use gentle, circular motions.

“Smokers get periodontal disease at two to three times the rate of non-smokers,” Sally Cram, a periodontist in Washington, told the website.

Elsewhere, individuals who suffer from diabetes have been warned that their condition puts them at a higher risk of dental health problems, but there are a number of ways they can minimise this danger.

People should ensure they keep themselves well hydrated, as this will ensure they suffer less from dry mouth, a condition that can lead to increased risk of gum disease, according to Perth EMC.

People could improve their oral health through a healthy diet.

Having a healthy diet can be the best way to ensure a person maintains a good level of oral health, it has been claimed.

The Vancouver Sun reported that poor nutrition can lead to a shortage of the minerals needed to maintain strong bones and teeth and, as such, it is important to eat a balanced diet in order to promote oral health.

“Good nutrition promotes good oral health because it encourages healthy development and maintenance of the mouth’s tissues,” says Natalie Brown, a registered dietician based in Surrey.

Elsewhere, research carried out in Canada recently showed that conditions including heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses can all be linked to having poor overall oral health.

Indeed, the report claimed harmful bacteria in the mouth can find their way into the bloodstream when a person does not take care of their teeth and gums properly and this, in turn, can result in serious health complications.

Mouth cancer check-ups recommended.

People across the UK have been urged to visit their dentist regularly in order to screen against mouth cancer.

The Hartlepool Mail reported that NHS Hartlepool is inviting individuals who are at a higher risk – men over 50 – to get free check-ups at the organisation’s mobile dentistry unit in April.

The publication stated: “Oral cancer kills more than 5,000 people annually. Smokers, drinkers and men over 50 are most at risk.”

Furthermore, NHS Hartlepool revealed that incident rates have been rising in recent years for mouth cancer sufferers.

Elsewhere, the Mal Hutton CHANCE (Campaign For Head and Neck Cancer Education) Fund recently echoed this sentiment and suggested Brits worried about their general health should head to their local dentist’s office to have a check-up.

Wigan Today reported that dental professionals will routinely check for this disease and it can be a good way to spot the early signs of cancer development.

Rising costs are putting people off having check-ups.

More people are putting off visits to the dentist because of money worries, new research has discovered.

SimplyHealth’s Annual Dental Survey for 2010, which questioned 1,005 working adults earlier this year, found that one in ten of those surveyed admitted to not having a dentist at all.

One in 30 parents also claimed that they had never taken their children to a dentist because of financial constraints.

In addition, the poll found that 35 per cent of those not seeking regular dental treatment revealed that this has had a negative impact on their oral health.

Michael Thomas, practising dentist, explained that those people not receiving regular check-ups could be forced to seek emergency dentistry when their problems became worse.

He said: “Failure to look after your teeth can have an impact not just on your oral health, but that of your entire body – and in some cases can result in problems requiring severe treatment.”

SimplyHealth’s annual poll also disclosed that companies are increasingly including dentistry as a staff benefit because of its popularity and effect on absences.