Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
December 2010
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Vol:
11
Issue:
4

Editorial

The papers in this issue addresses matters of concern for many of those involved in the care for people with disabilities: professionals, parents and carers. That is as it should be. The societies and associations that this Journal represents have, contained in their mission statements, an important advocacy role. This has certainly been the case for the British Society for Disability and Oral Health. Members of that organisation have campaigned tirelessly for the recognition of the Specialty of Special Care Dentistry in order that the very special needs of patients will not only be recognised but also that those needs will be met, appropriately. The Specialty was finally recognised in the UK in September of 2008 when the General Dental Council (GDC) opened the Specialist List in Special Care Dentistry. Then followed a two-year period of intense work by the Specialist Advisory Committee in Special Care Dentistry who, on behalf of the GDC, has the onerous task of reviewing all the applications to the Specialist List through the Mediated Entry process. There are 193 specialists on that List, to date. Much of this has come about through the vision and foresight of one woman. Dr Janice Fiske, who retired in September 2010 and who has led the campaign to have Special Care Dentistry recognised as a speciality. It was almost inconceivable when all this work began, firstly by the Joint Advisory Committee in Special Care Dentistry, later by the Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, both of which Janice chaired, that there would be these number of specialists on the List as well as 30 consultants in Special Care Dentistry working in the UK. Janice Fiske has steered the work of the SAC since its inception and for all her endeavours we, all those working in the speciality and patients, must be eternally grateful. Janice was recognised for her work for Special Care Dentistry by the award of an MBE in 2005. This year also marks the retirement of another stalwart of both the speciality and the Journal. Janet Griffiths, who was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to Special Care Dentistry, has retired after 43 years providing mostly Special Care Dentistry in south Wales. Contrary to the belief that no-one is irreplaceable, Janet confounds that statement as no doubt her patients and colleagues will testify. Janet, like Janice will stay on the Editorial Board of the Journal for some time to come, lending huge insight and a fount of common sense. But, change has to happen and after ten years it is time for me to hand over the baton to a new Editor. Dr Shelagh Thompson, recently promoted to Reader in Conscious Sedation and Special Care Dentistry in Cardiff will, from 2011 fully take over the Editorship of the Journal.

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Page Start
154
Page End
154
Authors

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 154
  3. 154

  1. Bisphosphonates, oral implants and osteonecrosis of the jaw: a review and guidelines
  2. 155
  3. 162

  1. Oral health status and dental treatment needs in institutionalised versus non-institutionalised psychiatric patients
  2. 163
  3. 170

  1. Oral health and children with an intellectual disability: a focus group study of parent issues and perceptions.
  2. 171
  3. 177

  1. ‘Emily goes to the dentist’ - oral care for individuals with Down syndrome in the Netherlands
  2. 180
  3. 182

  1. Special Care Dentistry: Developing a highly skilled workforce
  2. 183
  3. 186

  1. Oral radiological findings in a population of athletes at the III Para-Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  2. 187
  3. 191

  1. The impact of dementia on the care of dental implants: a case report
  2. 192
  3. 194

  1. Author Index 2010
  2. 195
  3. 197

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