Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
April 2005
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
6
Issue:
1

BSDH News

BSDH Winter Scientific Meeting, December 2004 Introduction by BSDH President, Vanita Brookes
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to London and to this magnificent building the Royal College of Physicians for our Winter Scientific meeting. A warm welcome to Hew Mathewson, President of the General Dental Council who I will invite in a few moments to open our conference, to our guests, Peter Holland Chief Executive of the Disability Partnership which incorporates the Prince of Wales Advisory Group on Disability and to Janice Fiske Honorary Senior Consultant Scientific Advisor to the Chief Dental Officer for England. Earlier in the year we saw the publication of the History of BSDH. A piece of work commissioned by Professor Raman Bedi during his Presidential year and written by Professor Stanley Gelbier. This paper provided an opportunity to reflect on how our society has grown, from its inaugural meeting in 1976. A small group of enthusiasts, with a vision to improve the oral care provided to the most vulnerable. And here we are today with a membership of over 800. Our philosophy is still to promote equitable oral care for patients with disabilities and one of our key objectives is to see the establishment of a speciality of Special Care Dentistry. Our patients need a speciality in Special Care Dentistry. Alison Dougall, the secretary of our Society alone, receives over 1,000 phone calls and letters each year from people with a variety of disabilities desperate to access care from a dentist with the skills to treat them. Patients with disabilities have the right to be treated by a dentist who is appropriately trained to provide oral care. This is often simple care to patients who have complex needs. Patients with disabilities have the right to evidence-based care which is only possible through research and development in Special Care Dentistry. Our patients need a speciality, so that training pathways can be established and young dentists can be trained to provide appropriate care in the future, as opposed to the ad hoc arrangements which currently exist. The recent publication from the CDO review of the dentally based specialities and specialist lists recommended and I quote “that the GDC should be invited to consider whether it would be appropriate to consider the introduction of a speciality in Special Care Dentistry”. The gift to introduce a new speciality lies with the GDC who are currently undertaking their own review of dental specialities. I am therefore particularly delighted that Hew Mathewson, President of the GDC has been able join us today to see that as a Society, we are committed to improving the oral care of patients with disabilities. Mr Mathewson can I ask you to come forward to open our Winter Scientific Meeting? Thank you.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
48
Page End
52
Authors
Shelagh Thompson, J E Griffiths

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Emily is Emily
  2. 2
  3. 2

  1. Developing an Undergraduate Curriculum in Special Care Dentistry
  2. 3
  3. 15

  1. Study of the value of the panoramic radiographic examination in special risk patients with a history of infective endocarditis
  2. 16
  3. 20

  1. Dental care for children (and the not so young) with intellectual disabilities
  2. 21
  3. 23

  1. A prospective study of complications and outcomes associated with conscious sedation for the anxious dental patient
  2. 24
  3. 30

  1. Recovering drug users and oral health: a qualitative study
  2. 34
  3. 41

  1. Oral findings and 18-month follow-up care in two siblings with autistic disorder
  2. 42
  3. 44

  1. Case report – Treatment of localised, moderately deep periodontal pockets in an HIV-positive patient with minimal intervention
  2. 45
  3. 47

  1. BSDH News
  2. 48
  3. 52

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