General Dental Practice
Redheads: Detangling the Myths
Libby MacleanThe available evidence contradicts the belief that redheads bleed excessively. The data regarding the connection between red hair and resistance to volatile anaesthetics is inconclusive. There are...
Injury under the influence: A case report
Allegra NR DarwoodA young adult patient called a practice dental emergency number during the second UK coronavirus lockdown complaining of ‘toothache’ like symptoms, as well as a swollen and painful upper jaw. The...
Dentifrices. Part 3: Dentifrice Recommendations
Cees ValkenburgA systematic review can be referred to as ‘research of research’ and is described as the highest level of evidence to guide clinical practice.6,7 A systematic review summarizes the results from...
Dentifrices. Part 2: the evidence behind their formulation
Cees ValkenburgThe complex formulations of modern dentifrices make them one of the most sophisticated pharmaceutical products on the market today. The demands of the consumer, coupled with the complexity of the oral...
Dentifrices. Part 1: a general introduction
Cees ValkenburgThe prevalence of dental caries has decreased over the years, but the prevalence of periodontitis remains high.2 Caries, or tooth decay, is the destruction of tooth structure by acids formed by oral...
Dental Grillz
Sugan ShegarGrillz in their contemporary form, may have stemmed from gold restorations, favoured by certain residents of the diverse, multicultural Bronx and Brooklyn neighbourhoods of New York, becoming a...
Human factors in dentistry: Part 2. Whose fault is a mistake?
Lakshmi RasaratnamThe terms ‘never events’, ‘near miss’ and ‘duty of candour’ are commonly used terms within the NHS. The way in which we report these incidents varies greatly depending on whether you work in primary...
What's the deal? the importance of asking about recreational drug use in dental settings
Onkar MudharWithin the dental profession, there can be a reluctance to enquire about recreational drug use, often due to its illegal nature. Like any other aspect of history taking, it is crucial that a...
Human factors in dentistry: Part I. Whose fault is a mistake?
Lakshmi RasaratnamIn 2018, the National Advisory Board for Human Factors in Dentistry (NABHFD) was set up at the suggestion of the General Dental Council after registrants felt that patient safety and the role of human...
The impact of drug therapy on minor oral surgery procedures
Khadeeja SaleemAs the name suggests, these medications have been used to inhibit platelet aggregation/agglutination to prevent clot formation, especially in individuals with compromised cardiovascular systems,...
Safe prescribing in general dental practice – challenges and solutions
Julie MasonThe UK population is ageing, with more than 11 million people over the age of 65 years.2 With ageing comes a greater likelihood of disease. More than 50% of those aged over 65 years are multimorbid3,4...
Medical Histories for the Computerized Practice
Richard LillekerThe GDC states that ‘You must make and keep complete and accurate patient records, including an up-to-date medical history, each time that you treat patients’.4.
Errors and adverse events in dentistry – a review
Simon WrightAn error is defined as an inadvertent divergence from your intended course of action,1 whereas faults or violations are defined as a deliberate deviation from the guidelines and rules of a given...
Aspiration of dental impression material – a case report
Geoffrey BatemanA 72-year-old male was admitted to a district general hospital intensive care unit after suffering a respiratory arrest at home. This followed a visit to his general dental practitioner where...