KEY SUBJECTS
- THE BIG RADIOLOGY QUIZ
- UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING PATIENT COMPLAINTS
- MOUTH CANCER – ESSENTIALS OF DETECTION AND PREVENTION IN 2025
- 10 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR SAFEGUARDING SKILLS IN THE DENTAL SETTING
- IN PRACTICE INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING
- BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND CASE STUDIES FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN THE DENTAL PRACTICE
SPEAKERS
Simon C Harvey MA (Law), DDMFR RCR, Consultant in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Eastman Dental Hospital, UCLH, London and Queen Victoria Hospital, Sussex
Professor Michael A. O. Lewis PhD, FDSRCPS, FDSRCS (Eng), FRCPath, FFGDP(UK), FHEA, Emeritus Professor, Cardiff University
Raj Rattan MBE BDS MFGDP FFGDP Dip.MDE FICD FFLM
Kevin Morgan
Anne Harris, Business Development Manager
Alice Gribble, Resuscitation Officer, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
Dani Tirel, Resuscitation Officer, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
Rebecca Peckham, Resuscitation Officer and Emergency Department Sister, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Course Director and GIC Instructor
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
09.00am CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION
THE BIG RADIOLOGY QUIZ 2025
The session will focus on your radiology reporting skills for all dentists and dental care professionals reporting images. Starting with anatomy, then variants, before learning about the common or significant pathologies and how to differentiate. The session will then jump into an interactive quiz.
Learning objectives
- Recap dentoalveolar anatomy
- Apply learnt skills to reporting skills for dental imaging
- Produce actionable reports
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcome:
- C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice
Simon C Harvey MA (Law), DDMFR RCR, Consultant in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Eastman Dental Hospital, UCLH, London and Queen Victoria Hospital, Sussex
Biography
Simon is a Consultant in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology at The Eastman Dental Hospital, London and Queen Victoria Hospital, Sussex. His subspecialty clinical interests are dentoalveolar cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and salivary gland interventional radiology. A passionate educator, Simon has been employed in education for over a decade. He lectures regularly to undergraduate and postgraduate dental professionals and designed and runs the British Dental Association CBCT reporting Masterclass. He is published in several peer reviewed journals and has co-authored a best selling textbook on CBCT use in Endodontics, translated into 4 languages. He is an examiner at The Royal College of Surgeons and sits on the committee of the education charity ‘Teeth Relief’. He has an interest in dentolegal disputes and holds a Masters degree in Medical Law and Ethics from the King’s College London School of Law. He sits on The DDU Dental Advisory Committee and acts as an independent expert witness.
UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING PATIENT COMPLAINTS
In this presentation Raj Rattan will draw on his 30 years’ experience in the dento-legal field to discuss 3 key elements of dental complaints.
He will cover the process of handling complaints, the analysis of the complaint, and consider the prevention complaints. The presentation will be supported by research from within and outside the dental sector.
Raj will also present his RESPOND model which can be applied in general practice settings.
Learning objectives
- To review and understand the impact of patient expectations
- To distinguish between the process, analysis, and prevention of complaints for more effective complaints handline
- To understand and apply the RESPOND model
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcomes:
- A – Effective communication with patients, the dental team, and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints and raising concerns when patients are at risk
- C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice
- D – Maintenance of skills, behaviours and attitudes which maintain patient confidence in you and the dental profession and put patients’ interests first
Raj Rattan MBE BDS MFGDP FFGDP Dip.MDE FICD FFLM
Biography
Raj Rattan’s portfolio career includes over 30 years’ clinical experience in general dental practice. He owned and operated a small practice group combining this with his involvement dental foundation training. Raj was a programme director for some 15 years before taking up the role of Strategic Associate Dean for foundation training at the London Deanery. He has been an examiner for the FGDP and has been appointed an examiner for the faculty of forensic and legal medicine.
Raj has provided consultancy services to individuals and organisations including the NHS, Denplan, dental corporates and the Department of Health, where he has previously served as a Policy Adviser. He is the author/co-author of many textbooks on different aspects of general dental practice and has contributed articles to dental publications. He is well respected and popular international speaker. He worked a part-time dento-legal consultant at Dental Protection for many years before taking up his current role as Dental Director in 2016.
MOUTH CANCER – ESSENTIALS OF DETECTION AND PREVENTION IN 2025
The battle against mouth cancer remains a dental healthcare priority in 2025. Unfortunately, the incidence of cancer in head and neck in the UK has continued to increase yearly with 10,825 cases diagnosed in 2023, a figure that represents double the number that was seen 10 years ago. Whilst professional awareness and treatment methods have improved, the overall poor five-year survival of 50% has remained unchanged, primarily due to presentation at late stages. The most important factors that can improve survival are detection of the tumour whist small (2cm in diameter) and before it has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. Prevention of mouth cancer is equally important and all healthcare workers should know the risk factors and proactively provide appropriate life style advice to patients to reduce the potential for malignancy.
Learning objectives
- To have contemporary understanding of the clinical presentation, detection and management of mouth cancer.
- To be able to recognise the presence of an orofacial abnormality that requires referral to secondary care on an urgent suspected cancer (USC) pathway.
- To be aware of the known risk factors for mouth cancer and be able to provide advice in the primary dental care setting to potentially reduce the development of malignancy.
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcome:
C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice
PROFESSOR MICHAEL A. O. LEWIS, PhD, FDSRCPS, FDSRCS(Eng), FRCPath, FFGDP(UK), FHEA
Biography
Professor Mike Lewis is Emeritus Professor of Oral Medicine, Cardiff University. He has served in a number of senior professional positions within the UK, including Dean of the School of Dentistry at Cardiff University, Dean of the Dental Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow, President of the British Society for Oral Medicine and President of the British Society for Oral & Dental Research. He has published over 200 scientific articles and co-authored six medical textbooks. In addition, he has delivered more than 700 invited postgraduate lectures worldwide. Professor Lewis was recently awarded the John Tomes Medal by the British Dental Association and is a Member of the General Dental Council.
10 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR SAFEGUARDING SKILLS IN THE DENTAL SETTING
Discover how to enhance the safety and well-being of children, young people, and adults at risk. In this latest presentation you will learn 10 essential strategies, including learning the importance of definitions, the meaning of organisational abuse , the importance of safeguarding audits, recognizing signs of abuse, building confidence to report, avoiding allegations, using case history in the public domain, and understanding principle 2 of the Mental Capacity Act.
Equip yourself and your team with the knowledge and tools to provide a safer, more supportive experience for all patients.
Learning objectives
- Understand how to use key Safeguarding Definitions.
- Identify the Signs of Abuse and Safeguarding Concerns in a Dental Setting
- Improve confidence in reporting and Safeguarding Procedures
- Apply Safeguarding Best Practices and Principles to Create a Safer Dental Practice
Following the presentation:
- Participants will be able to define and explain the different types of abuse.
- Participants will be able to recognise physical and behavioural signs of abuse in patients of all ages, including children, young people, and adults at risk.
- Participants will also demonstrate the ability to identify potential safeguarding concerns, including recognising patterns of behaviour that could indicate abuse or neglect. They will also understand how to report safeguarding concerns.
- Participants will feel more confident in their ability to report concerns, knowing the steps to take, who to report to, and how to protect both their patients and themselves from potential allegations.
- Participants will also be able to implement at least two actionable safeguarding practices in their daily routine to enhance patient safety.
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcomes:
A – Effective communication with patients, the dental team, and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints, and raising concerns when patients are at risk
B – Effective management of self, and effective management of others or effective work with others in the dental team, in the interests of patients at all times; providing constructive leadership where appropriate
D – Maintenance of skills, behaviours and attitudes which maintain patient confidence in you and the dental profession and put patients’ interests first
Kevin Morgan
Biography
Kevin Morgan is a professional CPD instructor covering areas such as safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act. He has been delivering safeguarding training to the Dental and Medical sector for the past 15 years. NSPCC trained Kevin has been delivering regulated and bespoke programs up to level 3 in safeguarding and he also delivers many other CPD titles.
IN PRACTICE INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING
Infection prevention and control is an essential component of modern dentistry. With a majority of our bespoke guidance having been published prior to a global pandemic it is important that we understand the application of our protocols in today’s dental practice, as well as how to implement supplementary guidance.
This session will signpost current regulatory and guidance documents, helping practices to be confident in their compliance. It will cover correct hand hygiene, the intricacies of dental unit waterline management, the instrument decontamination cycle and common misconceptions and pitfalls. Delegates will understand that with infection control all is not always as it seems, but compliance does not always have to be difficult and education is the best way to facilitate progress.
Aims
- To raise awareness and understanding of potential infection control risks in dentistry.
- To relate infection control practice to the latest UK legal requirements & guidance, including legionella.
- To provide and demonstrate strategies and techniques to control & mitigate infection risks, including correct hand hygiene.
Learning objectives
- Demonstrate understanding of infection control risks in dentistry
- Recognise guidance
- Identify strategies and techniques for infection control
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcome:
C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice
Anne Harris, Business Development Manager
Biography
Anne has specialised in the field of dental infection control for over 20 years, having been part of the industry before, during and after the publication of HTM 01-05, as well as throughout the various stages of the Covid pandemic. She understand the challenges that decontamination compliance brings to some practices. Anne regularly provide ‘In Practice Infection Control Training’ for all members of the Dental team and have done throughout her career. She is dedicated to helping practices understand how decontamination processes can be integrated with the minimum of fuss, and become part of the everyday routines that safeguard staff and patients.
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND CASE STUDIES FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN THE DENTAL PRACTICE
Using case studies to understand the signs and symptoms in medical emergencies has been found useful within the education sector of hospital settings. Now updated for the community, the case studies for varying medical emergencies will encourage practitioners to reflect on how they would respond to potential real emergencies with an interactive focus.
Learning objectives
By the end of this lecture delegates will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the following subject areas:
- Adult, child & infant CPR and choking
- Automated External Defibrillation
- Anaphylaxis
- Recognition and first aid of seizures, acute asthma, hypoglycaemia & other potential emergencies
- Safe delivery of oxygen and basic airway management
This session is intended to prepare staff for potential clinical emergencies in Dental practice, building on previous training and experience.
This talk satisfies the GDC’s learning outcomes:
- A – Effective communication with patients, the dental team, and others across dentistry, including when obtaining consent, dealing with complaints and raising concerns when patients are at risk
- B – Effective management of self and effective management of others or effective work with others in the dental team, in the interests of patients at all times; providing constructive leadership where appropriate
- C – Maintenance and development of knowledge and skill within your field of practice
- D – Maintenance of skills, behaviours and attitudes which maintain patient confidence in you and the dental profession and put patients’ interests first
Alice Gribble, Resuscitation Officer, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
Dani Tirel, Resuscitation Officer, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor
Rebecca Peckham, Resuscitation Officer and Emergency Department Sister, University Hospital Southampton. Advanced Life Support and European Paediatric Advanced Life Support Course Director and GIC Instructor
Biography
Alice is a currently a Resuscitation Officer at University Hospital Southampton; responding to medical emergencies and cardiac arrests across the hospital. Alice initially started as a staff nurse on a surgical unit, but her main background is in intensive care nursing. She worked for 6 years on a General Intensive Care Unit, initially as a staff nurse and then a deputy sister. She instructs on both Adult and Paediatric advanced, immediate and basic life support courses.
Dani is a registered nurse working at Southampton General Hospital, a trauma centre in the South East. Dani has worked in Acute and Emergency Medicine for 6 years covering the Acute Medical Unit and the Emergency Department. For the past three years, Dani has been working as a Resuscitation Officer at Southampton Hospital; covering the emergency bleep for medical emergencies and cardiac arrests, whilst also teaching paediatric and adult advanced Life Support courses.
Rebecca works for Southampton General hospital as an Emergency Department Sister and Resuscitation Officer. She has been working within Emergency Medicine for 12 years. Rebecca deals with medical emergencies, the critically unwell and cardiac arrest patients daily as part of her role within ED and Resus Services. Alongside this Rebecca also teaches Resuscitation skills to hospital staff and is a course director for Advanced life support courses for both adults and children.
5.30pm CLOSE OF PROCEEDINGS