British dental journal
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British dental journal · Jun 2020
The impact of the risk of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) members of the UK dental profession.
There is growing evidence that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK are at increased risk of death from coronavirus (COVID-19), with Black Afro-Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi populations being particularly at risk. Although the reasons are unclear, it is likely to be a combination of cultural and socioeconomic, as well as the higher prevalence of co-morbidities such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, raised body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes in these populations. ⋯ There is, however, little evidence on the risks posed to the BAME community within the dental profession. This paper outlines some of the challenges faced, and advocates that urgent action needs to be taken to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 and ensure BAME staff safety upon returning to work.
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British dental journal · Jun 2020
COVID-19, domestic violence and abuse, and urgent dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery care.
Household isolation measures to reduce coronavirus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in increased risk of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). DVA physical injury most frequently involves the face. ⋯ Early intervention and referral to a DVA advocate can prevent an abusive situation becoming worse with more intense violence. It can save lives.
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British dental journal · Jun 2020
COVID-19: establishing an oral surgery-led urgent dental care hub.
COVID-19 has changed the face of dentistry in the UK and around the world. The potential for aerosol generation, the presence of the virus within saliva and the fact that dental professionals work with the oral-pharyngeal environment determines that dental treatment poses a risk of viral transmission. At the start of the pandemic, the cessation of routine dental care across the country necessitated the rapid establishment of an emergency dental service at King's College Hospital. This paper describes its evolution to date and the challenges encountered along the way.
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The terms of the United Kingdom's (UK's) departure from the European Union (EU) are currently being negotiated. It is therefore uncertain exactly what effect they will have on planning the UK's oral healthcare workforce. ⋯ This opinion piece therefore describes the current numbers of non-UK EU dentists and DCPs registered with the GDC and poses the question 'will they remain in the UK in the future'? It then comments on the current legislation on recognition of non-UK dental qualifications. It goes on to consider the Migration Advisory Committee's recommendation for dental practitioners, the oral healthcare needs of the population of the UK, who could address them and the implications for the Advancing Dental Care project.
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Background Following graduation, training costs for an individual trainee to achieve completion of specialist surgical training has been estimated to be between £20,000 to £71,431, and is expected to rise. Furthermore, there are other non-monetary costs to consider, including poor work-life balance and the burden of training on home life. Methods A 22-question online survey using SurveyGizmo was developed and emailed to all current UK and Ireland oral surgery trainees from 2016-2019. ⋯ Annual obligatory costs of up to £4,142 and a mean average spend of £9,240 on courses and £2,830 on conferences were reported. Childcare, relocating and textbooks were listed as additional costs incurred. Conclusion A standardised, transparent and more substantial financial support system is required for dental specialty trainees.