Everyone has a different reason for attending a conference: CPD, genuine subject interest, socialising; it is part of foundation dentist obligations; to look at buying equipment from the trade stands –or perhaps it's a healthy mix of all of these. The BDA Conference in Manchester was helpfully at the same venue as last year – so no excuse for getting lost A broad range of subjects in the lecture halls and liberally sprinkled with core CPD subjects, it should have been a raging success and bustling with activity.
The opening presidential meeting is always thin on the ground audience-wise but the British Dental Association president Frank Holloway who took over the baton from Janet Clarke gave a very upbeat start. He listed all the career changes he had made and said at each one he had been greeted by senior colleagues preaching doom and gloom – dentistry was looking at self destruction. His message was that in the event it may seem gloomy now but it will get better and the present generation of young dentists will view this era with affection – thank goodness someone is positive!
Susie Sanderson, retiring chair of the BDA Executive Board gave the opening speech of conference. She said that most dentists forgot that the BDA was leading, uniting, persuading, providing and ensuring – with all those who influence our lives. Dentists who say they will only join the BDA when all the threats and challenges are sorted are negative – there are always threats and challenges and by not supporting they are riding on the bus without a ticket! She mourned the loss of the Dental Reference Service as short-term folly and warned that radical change is about to hit NHS dentistry following the trials of 70 practices. The BDA has to ensure that that the change is properly managed. She also commented on 'a fragile time' for amalgam and mercury, the Office of Fair Trading report, European matters, tooth whitening, the varying regulation in the four countries and Foundation Dentistry recruitment. This was the best speech I have heard from a BDA officer in years – congratulations Susie.
The tour de force was Baroness Susan (don't call me Susie} Greenfield who talked for an hour eloquently and with great humour about the brain. The more you work it the bigger it gets – don't tell London taxi drivers – they have a large hypocanthus due to learning The Knowledge! She is looking forward to research that will relieve the symptoms of dementia and allows early detection through blood tests via your GMP. She also despairs of a younger generation that sits at a computer for 30 plus hours a week and may have an alert brain but is unable to communicate one-to-one, use eye contact and understand body language. If you get the chance to hear this inspiring professor – take it!
Thursday morning was superb but there were other gems throughout the conference. John Kanca lll is excellent value and what he doesn't know about resin bonding and composite resin isn't worth a dime. He spoke to packed audiences and followed up his statements with research and evidence based dentistry.
Lorenzo Vanini was also a fascinating clinician. He spoke in Italian and some of his terminology defeated his interpreters which coupled with tricky translation boxes encouraged rapid thinking on the part of the audience! His shade taking was awesome and especially his use of three dentine shades – subtle, and the overall affect stunning. (I would, however, expect Martin Kelleher to have had apoplexy at the enamel harvest carried out for veneers.) This dentist is a real craftsman and does some lovely work – shown at some speed and not for the faint-hearted.
Earl Howe spoke to a packed auditorium. He said the Government's priorities for NHS dentistry were access, a new contract without the dreaded UDAs and improving oral health especially in children. We need to meet the needs of the third age – older people. He spoke well and answered questions at the end, nothing really new but professionally delivered.
A real star turn was Chris Morris from Hempsons who, with barrister Christina Lambert, tackled whistle-blowing. Apart from the hilarious anti-lawyer jokes, this presentation was very useful. Remember if you are a private dentist not employed by the NHS you have no comeback or cover from CAST if someone dismisses you for whistleblowing. There was a case for audience discussion – involving a dental hygienist with suspected alcohol abuse. The audience had to decide at which stage to whistle blow and to whom. One or two referred to the General Dental Council almost immediately and the options of⇐ referring the healthcare professional to the Dentist Health Support Programme or the local PASS scheme were almost ignored – riveting!
Sue Gregory chaired the reports from the NHS pilots and considering it was the end of a long day – was well attended. These three very worthy pilot practices reported success on all fronts but were still unsure how to pay associates and didn't say how long their treatment waiting times had become due to 30 minute exams (now shortened to 15 minutes). Presumably the fact that they are only seeing patients for annual recalls or at even longer intervals releases more time for treatments – early days.
The biggest improved attendance of the conference came from the GDC. Last year it attracted 11 dentists – this year it closed the doors with capacity audience. The proposed changes to Fitness to Practise are winning the support of the indemnity organisations and the presentation showing the proposed improvements was by Neil Marshall, director of regulation.
There were break out groups who were acting as an investigating committee and were asked to decide how they would cope with a case of a dentist who had ignored caries, not reported advanced periodontal conditions and had very poor record keeping. Common sense prevailed and no erasure but a large vote for imposing conditions on the dentist's registration.
There was a well-researched presentation from Tony Kilcoyne on HTM 01 05. GDPs are supposed to follow hospital standards in infection control – we have thankfully no fatalities from infection but 5,000 people died in hospital from infections last year. His said his best investment was his dental nurse who used her eyes and made sure his instruments really were clean before they went into an autoclave. One hospital rejected 13 trays of sterilised instruments (caked with bone and tissue) before the theatre sister allowed a pack to be used for an operation. Excellent.
Prof Jimmy Steele gave an overview of dental health over several years. The end result is that there are fewer people with decay but they seem to have a great deal! Preventive measures are a must and fluoride varnish will save the day! Other lectures of note were the oral medicine lecture which was well attended: Prof Nairn Wilson gave an excellent overview of restorative dentistry since 1952; Avijit Bannerjee gave us as witty and useful afternoon on minimum intervention (he is doing a series of roadshows for Denplan – worth a visit if you missed him).
The trade hall was periodically busy. Thursday and Friday were attended by foundation dentist schemes but as they had to complete eight hours of CPD meant they only surfaced for refreshments. The stands seemed fewer in number and smaller but some had some great offers and on a positive side, fewer delegates meant that you could discuss prospective purchases without being rushed.
This was a well run conference: it seemed seamless and there were plenty of helpful 'guides' to aid the lost or confused. It is no easy deal to put this show on the road and I think they succeeded well. There were plenty of 'core CPD' lectures for DCPs and the dental team.
We should all look forward to next April for another exhausting but rewarding BDA Conference at London ExCel, April 25 – 27.