Dental update
-
Causing damage to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) when extracting lower third molars is due to the intimate relationship between the nerve and the roots of the teeth. When the proximity radiologic markers between the IAN and the root of the third molars are present, the technique of coronectomy can be proposed as an alternative to extraction to minimize the risk of nerve injury, with minimal complications. ⋯ Nerve injury after the extraction of the mandibular third molar is a serious complication. The technique of coronectomy can be proposed to minimize the risk.
-
Improving health is part of the Government's wider public health agenda and central to this theme is the requirement to help patients make informed healthy choices. The aim of the article is to review the basis of oral health promotion in primary dental care, explain why it is necessary and to give some practical tips on behaviour change in practice. ⋯ Understanding and relating well to your patients can make oral health promotion more successful, with communication skills being paramount in achieving this goal, along with the creation of a supportive health-orientated practice environment.
-
This article aims to give dental practitioners the background to the new NHS quality agenda. The clinical context of Lord Darzi's NHS review is examined alongside other policy documentation and Professor Jimmy Steele's independent review of NHS dental services. The potential impact of the new quality requirements on general dental practitioners is considered. Finally, opportunities for development are suggested so that practitioners can engage with the quality agenda and can demonstrate quality measures and improvements. ⋯ All general dental practitioners in both the NHS and private sectors have an obligation to continue to deliver high quality dental services. Dentists practising in England will need to ensure that they comply with new quality requirements by 2011.
-
Every dental practitioner needs a knowledge of the diagnosis and management of medical emergencies. This first paper, in a series of two, deals with the general aspects of emergency treatment, including basic principles applicable to all emergencies and a consideration of the management of cardiac arrest. The second paper deals with more specific aspects of medical emergency management. ⋯ All dental practitioners require a knowledge of medical emergency management.
-
We report a case of a 42-year-old female who was referred to our department for the management of a fractured dental needle following administration of an inferior alveolar nerve block. The fractured needle was successfully removed under general anaesthesia. We also suggest some guidelines for preventing this unfortunate event.