The British Dental Conference is arguably the flagship media event for the BDA. It gives dentists and DCPs the chance to visit a well organised informative meeting, to attend lectures on a range of subjects, gain CPD, and meet up with colleagues, as well as a chance to see the latest on offer from the dental trade – or does it? This year’s conference was held in Manchester and what it didn’t offer was almost as interesting as what it did. There was no political heavy weight to open the programme, though this wasn’t really the BDA’s fault given that it was held on the same date as the general election. There was no key note speaker to whet the appetite or even well known international speakers, of course there is nothing particularly wrong with that as it gave us a chance for ‘home grown’ learning. And there were far fewer trade stands, but the ones that were there were attentively run and had some really good offers. There seemed to be far fewer older dentists/ practice owners than in previous years, however the numbers were made up by foundation dentists and dental team members who all seemed to enjoy the event.
So what of the conference programme? The presidential meeting and the BDA AGM were both quorate. Outgoing president Alasdair Miller reported an excellent year but noted that all the countries he had visited had the same problem of engaging with younger members of the profession, encouraging dentists to work in rural areas and the effects of corporate dentistry. The incoming president Nairn Wilson was scathing about the GDC and the imagery used to encourage patients to complain. He believes that a complete overhaul of the regulation of the profession is necessary to protect the public and to retain the respect of the profession. The only question to the BDA meeting was about their lack of public image. Where were the high profile BDA spokespeople? (Thank goodness for Tony Kilcoyne on Radio 2!)
Basil Mizrahi, a prosthodontist who practises in Harley Street, covered how to restore the worn dentition, from porcelain labial veneers all the way through to posterior restorations. He was a good speaker but could have got the message across in half the time.
On the political front John Milne, now a dental advisor for the CQC, spoke about tiering – the proposed changes in the NHS to encourage specialisation. His presentation was well attended but the final slide was of Denplan – was there a significance to that? Mick Armstrong, chair of the BDA’s principal executive committee, gave an overview of all the positives achieved by the BDA – Foundation dentist £2k salary cut didn't happen; the GDC challenged over the ARF – arguing it was a pretty successful year. He also called on those present to be more active and throw off the image of the quiet profession and rise to the challenge of the next parliament so that the BDA was not alone. It was an important message well put forward, but this was not the same Mick Armstrong that I met and interviewed a year ago. He was more controlled, more subdued, more BDA subsumed.
Professor Jimmy Steele, with Janet Clarke and Eric Rooney, gave an entertaining revue on ‘The Journey from Independent Review of NHS Dental Services to Delivery of Better Oral Health’. The authors of the original document and recommendations seemed quite optimistic about the new type B prototype which covers disease prevention and management grouped together under capitation.
There was a complete overview of treating advanced clinical cases given by Chris Tredwin, the dean of Peninsular Dental School. This was aimed at both foundation dentists and anyone who needed a reminder of just how to attack problem teeth. Starting from basics and periodontal implications and moving up to implants, this was a really informative, useful lecture.
The best of the rest of the conference included: Simon Whitley on the early detection of oral cancer; Professor Mike
Lewis on the use and over prescribing of antibiotics; Jason Smithson on composite veneers; Paul Jenkins on
decontamination procedures; and Professor David Bartlett on the dangers of snacking fruit!
It is impossible to mention all the topics covered by all of the speakers. But with presentations on CPR, medical
emergencies, dealing with complaints, endodontics, dementia and associated dental problems, prosthodontics,
implants, the ageing population, orthodontics, practice management, career structures and many on varying aspects of periodontology the delegates were spoilt for choice.
There was also a launch of the Open Standards initiative by the FGDP dean Trevor Ferguson and Gavin Kingston. This is such a welcome move, any dentist can log in and get access to all FGDP standards documents free of charge; you don’t even have to be a member - just visit www.fgdp.org.uk. My only concern is that an illinformed
GDC might adopt ‘very best practice’ as the norm – so it would be good to have an indicator of what is not acceptable, what is OK and what you should aspire to. Overall though I have to say well done to the FGDP for
a fantastic, altruistic step.
Overall this year’s British Dental Conference was low key but well organised, with plenty of topics covered, good social interaction organised with great facilities available – I am glad I went. It is very easy to keep knocking the BDA but the association is trying very hard to fight the corner on many fronts. It has now recovered financially but with only 17,000 members out of probably 30,000 dentists in general practice it is not getting the support it needs
and deserves. Mick Armstrong in his new subdued form is still a force to be reckoned with and Peter Ward’s excellent analysis on Friday morning post election was impressive. So yes, it ticks most boxes. Instead of criticising why don’t you go next year to Manchester? The BDA is your only spokesperson and it needs all the support it can get!