A Symposium Dedicated to Dental Hygienists and Therapists

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  Posted by: Dental Design      15th August 2019

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2019 offered hours of enhanced CPD for the whole team, as well as a comprehensive trade exhibition and various socialising and networking opportunities for delegates to enjoy.

The Hygienist & Therapist Symposium delivered a two-day lecture programme tailored specifically to dental hygienists and therapists, with world-class speakers in the field sharing their advanced knowledge and skills.

Among the many exceptional sessions, Alif Moosajee offered a wealth of information and advice to help delegates better identify peri-implant disease for quicker and more effective referrals back to the dentist. Sponsored by Philips, much of the guidance he provided was ideal for all dental hygienists and therapists, including those who don’t work in implant-focused practices. His aim was to simplify the terminology and protocols used to make the workflow easier for the whole team.

Mary Conway-Kelly, self-employed dental hygienist, said:

“This session helped us understand the treatment we can do and what we can use, as well as what not to do. Alif was a good speaker, making it fun but professional – he even made the statistics sound interesting!”

Helen Minnery continued on this theme to help delegates further improve their management of implant patients. She highlighted that the most important member of the dental team is always the patient, so their understanding of their oral heath and their participation in their care is vital. This needs to be communicated effectively to them before implant surgery is performed, ensuring they have the time and resources to invest in their implant health in the future. She recommended supplying implant kits that include appropriate brushes and a Waterpik Water Flosser to patients at the outset so they know exactly what is required of them. Touching on the widely debated topic of whether to probe around implants, Helen presented research supporting this protocol and clearly demonstrated her passion for evidence-based dentistry.

Barry Oulton later shared his many pearls of wisdom for encouraging great oral hygiene habits among patients. Describing successful care as that which resulted in “happy, healthy patients”, he discussed the many consequential benefits such as easier treatment, greater job satisfaction and increased patient recommendations for the practice. He highlighted the key aspects to be mindset, habit formation, language and avoiding negativity, as well as quality products such as those available from Wisdom Toothbrushes. He also encouraged the use of the three ‘R’s – Reminder, Routine and Reward, for successful habit change. Barry’s innovative suggestion as a daily cue for interdental cleaning, for example, was that patients associate it with conditioning their hair in the shower, providing a regular trigger and sufficient time to perform interdental cleaning effectively each day.

Allison Huntriss, dental hygienist, said:

“This was an informative session with good links to additional information. It was very well presented and gave a positive message.”

On Saturday, Jonathan Timothy Newton took to the podium to explore effective communication strategies for periodontal health, sponsored by GSK. He invited delegates to be clearer in their oral health instructions, repeating protocols and using easier to understand language so as to encourage patient compliance. He echoed some of what Barry had previously discussed in terms of using positive and empowering phrases to motivate patients effectively. His top tips for the day included enhancing the belief of self-efficacy in patients, creating and encouraging small changes at a time, planning ahead and the use of different media by patients to help them self monitor.

Charlotte Harms, dental hygienist and therapist from Pall Mall Dental Practice commented:

“This was a great lecture – informative whilst being engaging. Plus, it’s always helpful to make us laugh! Overall, I have loved the Show. I have been to nearly 20 talks over both days and have been so impressed. Everyone is very friendly and helpful.”

Other stand out lectures included sessions by Ben Atkins on fighting childhood decay, David Gillam on managing dentine hypersensitivity and Saoirse O’Toole discussing erosive tooth wear. The entire educational programme was delivered in association with the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT), ensuring highly relevant and engaging content.

In addition, delegates had the opportunity to browse hundreds of dental manufacturers and suppliers on the trade floor, where on-stand learning, show-only offers and live demonstrations were available for all. Plus, the Dental Awards on Friday night provided a chance for teams to let their down and celebrate the achievements of colleagues. Congratulations to Amanda Habrow Harris from Springfield Dental Practice on winning Dental Hygienist of the Year!

Freya Shearman, dental therapist from Coronation Road / Bridges Dental Surgery commented:

“The Show has been well organised, with a clear layout and a list of useful stalls and lectures.”

Alisa Chauhan, dental therapist from NHS Community Wolverhampton, added:

“The show has been very diverse with a variety of good lectures relevant to me.”

 

For all dental hygienists and therapists looking to stay up-to-date with the very latest topics and innovations relevant to them, the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2020 is definitely not to be missed!

 

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show, co-located with DTS.

 

For all the latest information on the next event, visit www.thedentistryshow.co.uk, call 020 7348 5270 or email dentistry@closerstillmedia.com


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