BDJ Team

19/11/2024

Everyone has a role to play when it comes to oral cancer

By Fiona Ellwood and Emma Riley

'Looking at oral cancer through the lens of a dental nurse and more specifically an oral health practitioner requires individuals to be trained, competent and confident in their work. Whilst dental nurses and oral health practitioners do not diagnose or treat oral cancers within their scope of practice, what they should be able to do is recognise any changes within the oral tissues and raise concerns with other members of the dental team.
Equally, dental nurses and oral health practitioners must be able to deliver concise and consistent messages to patients and where necessary, to parents, other family members and/or carers and the public, when it comes to intervention.'

Read the full article in the November issue of BDJ Team: https://go.nature.com/4eKwBDy

18/11/2024

The Mouth Cancer Foundation: its history and legacy

Alison Brown describes the origins and evolution of the Mouth Cancer Foundation over the past 20 years, and meets key members of the charity's team.

Says Alison: 'I was privileged to be asked to become an Honorary Ambassador for the charity in January of this year. The 20-year anniversary has prompted me to look at the history of the charity, how the charity has grown and the wonderful people who support the growth and direction of the charity for those families and people who have been on or are on a head and neck cancer journey.'

In the mouth cancer themed issue of BDJ Team this November: https://go.nature.com/48XZz1u

Pictured: behind the scenes superstars, Elizabeth Ayto Laverack and Laura Naden

16/11/2024

Looking out for lip cancer

A brand new BDJ Team article written by Ali Lowe

'Mouth Cancer Action Month is held in November each year and is supported by the Oral Health Foundation and the Mouth Cancer Foundation (MCF), both of which provide excellent promotional material to raise awareness of this insidious disease. Most clinicians are now accustomed to carrying out mouth cancer checks but even though lip cancer is considered a type of mouth cancer, it is still often overlooked. Indeed, unless there is something obviously wrong with the lips, they are sometimes forgotten by dental professionals in our haste to see intra-orally. If anything, they are what gets in the way of treatment! It is important that the dental team recognise the importance of healthy lip tissues and what is ‘normal' for each individual patient, because although patients might not have any symptoms or aesthetic concerns, they may present with a problem that requires referral.'

Photos: The author, Ali Lowe and an example of lip cancer

Read the full article in the November issue: https://go.nature.com/3CtW6eK

16/11/2024

BADT NW rep Holly Broadfoot shares a powerful story in BDJ Team, detailing her father’s journey through oral cancer treatment.

The article offers perspectives from both patients and clinicians point of view following a mouth cancer diagnosis.

You can read it at:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-024-2842-5

15/11/2024

BDJ Team's mouth cancer themed issue - the final issue this year - is now live online, with so many interesting and informative articles. Do read and share with friends and colleagues 👄👀

Content highlights to follow! Thank you to all contributors and reader panellists and our fantastic Ed-in-Chief Stephen.🙏

https://go.nature.com/3UO4pIr

13/11/2024

Just two days until our MOUTH CANCER themed issue is published online! Watch this space...

25/10/2024

Dental therapy: Evolving to meet modern oral health needs

By Leon Bassi and Cassandra Lewis

'This article is an opinion piece reflecting on dental therapy in the United Kingdom. It is the authors' view that research is vital for dental therapists to progress their profession and have their contributions to oral health appropriately recognised.'

In the October issue of BDJ Team: https://go.nature.com/3AfR5FU

24/10/2024

New state-of-the-art clinic for Wakefield -

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the si...

24/10/2024

Ensuring competency in dental radiography

By Jane Collingwood, Clare McIlwaine & Paul Nixon

This paper introduces a structured proforma, guided by the British Society of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology (BSDMFR) Core Curricula, to help dental therapists align their prior learning and experience with required competencies. The proforma serves as a checklist for dental therapists to document their skills, identify learning gaps, and provide evidence of competency. It ensures compliance with IR(ME)R 2017 regulations and supports non-medical referrers in meeting training and governance standards.

https://go.nature.com/3UicqFC

23/10/2024

'Every team member has made me feel welcome and everyone is so friendly, helpful and easy going. It's just such a healthy work environment, where I'm encouraged to ask questions and voice my opinion.'

After over 15 years in dental nursing, Keischa Gonzales describes joining the team at Shiraz Endo in Solihull.

In the October issue of BDJ Team: https://go.nature.com/4eVI5ES

23/10/2024

*Orthodontics in the city*

In her second column for BDJ Team, orthodontic therapist Chrystal Sharp shares her top tips to prevent orthodontic emergencies.

'Tip 4: Prevention of unnecessary mucosa irritation - auxiliary clinical tip
Soft tissue irritation can occur from some auxiliaries, a common one being power chains. Communication with your nurse on ensuring the power chain is sectioned (cut) correctly is key. The end of the power chain needs to have enough elastomeric so that it won't snap but not too much as this excess can cause soft tissue irritation.'

Read all of Chrystal's tips in BDJ Team https://go.nature.com/4eQLuVB

22/10/2024

Domiciliary dental nursing

Zoe Garnett (pictured) is a dental nurse working in the community. As part of her role, she provides care to patients in their own homes, care homes, day centres and hospitals.

Read about Zoe's career path and typical day in BDJ Team: https://go.nature.com/48etDFD

22/10/2024

Petition calls to mandate sugar limits in single-serving foods and drink

Timothy Ives, a dental professional and researcher, is hoping to instigate a law in the UK to limit the sugar content of single-serving food and drinks so that it is less than the NHS maximum recommended daily amount. Many single-serving items currently far exceed this amount...

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the si...

22/10/2024

'My role ensures that treatments are carried out efficiently, patient concerns are addressed promptly, and the overall quality of care is maintained at a high standard'

Our cover story this month comes from Shannon Wilkes, an orthodontic dental nurse in Warwickshire. Shannon describes her career journey so far, outlines a typical day, looks at types of orthodontic treatment and shares a patient case study.

https://go.nature.com/3UjNGNf

21/10/2024

In a second medical emergencies article updated for 2024, this October Emma Hammett from First Aid for Life focuses on managing asthma in patients, this time including advice on MART inhalers.

In BDJ Team October: https://go.nature.com/4eQeBbt

With one hour of CPD via the CPD Hub.

21/10/2024

Pam Gill: ‘Collecting my orthodontic therapy diploma was a day I will never forget!'

In our final interview to celebrate 10 years of BDJ Team, we meet Pam Gill, Chair of the Orthodontic National Group (ONG).

In the October issue of BDJ Team: https://go.nature.com/40gdY6D

Pictured: Pam at work; the ONG at a BOC Gala Dinner