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Brushing and flossing are vital, but don’t always get the attention they deserve. For a deeper clean recommend Listerine If oral hygiene best practice isn’t always possible, why not recommend adding Listerine? It kills bacteria deep in the plaque- biofilm.1 And, added to brushing and flossing, provides up to 52% extra plaque reduction.2 References: 1. Data on file, McNeil-PPC Inc. 2. Sharma NC et al. J Am Dent Assoc 2004; 135: 496-504.05414 02782_ocdlis_DentalTribune_man_WP_fa1.indd 1 5/4/10 11:24:26 AM Published by Dental Tribune UK Ltd © 2010, Dental Tribune UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Dental Tribune UK Ltd makes every effort to report clinical information and manufacturer’s product news accurately, but cannot assume responsibility for the validity of product claims, or for typographical errors. The publishers also do not assume responsibility for product names or claims, or statements made by advertisers. Opinions expressed by authors are their own and may not reflect those of Dental Tribune International. Managing Director Mash Seriki Mash@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Director Noam Tamir Noam@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Editor Lisa Townshend Tel: 020 7400 8979 Lisa@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Features Editor Ellie Pratt Ellie@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Features Editor Dr Liviu Steier Liviu Steier [lsteier@ gmail.com] Advertising Director Joe Aspis Tel: 020 7400 8969 Joe@dentaltribuneuk. com Sales Executive Sam Volk Tel: 020 7400 8964 Sam@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Marketing Manager Laura McKenzie Laura@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Design & Production Keem Chung Keem@dentaltrib- uneuk.com Dental Tribune UK Ltd 4th Floor, Treasure House, 19–21 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8BA T he NHS in Northern Ire- land is to start charging for orthodontic treatment, echoing the system currently in place in England and Wales. The move has been criticised by Alex Easton (Democratic Un- ionist Party), a member of the Stormont Health Committee, as a ‘tax on children’s smiles’. Under the new guidelines, nearly all cases will have to be paid for privately as everyone apart from the most severe cases will have to pay for their care. Many children will be pre- vented from having orthodontic treatment as their parents won’t be able to afford treatment that can cost more than £2,000, ac- cording to Mr Easton. The new guidelines which look set to become reality within the next two months, will save the NHS in Northern Ireland mil- lions of pounds. Under the guidelines, only those with a reported Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) rating of 3.6 or above will be paid for by the NHS in North- ern Ireland. The British Dental Associa- tion’s Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee (NI DPC) called for the savings made as a result of the change to be ‘rein- vested in dental services’. It also wants the timescale of the change to be extended so dentists and orthodontists can undergo the necessary training and patients can become famil- iar with the changes. The BDA is also concerned that dentists will now be put in a difficult position as it will be left to them to explain to patients who are already in the system and waiting for orthodontic treatment, that the terms have changed. A spokesman for the BDA’s NI DPC said: “All parties to this change, whether referring den- tists, treating dentists, dental prac- tices and patients and parents require time to plan accordingly. The proposed timescale of intro- ducing the change in May 2010 does not enable the process to be managed at practices and planned for by parents. NI DPC would like to see this move delayed to allow time for proper planning on the part of Department of Health, So- cial Services and Public Safety to understand what the savings are and how that saving can be rein- vested in dental services for the people of Northern Ireland.” Figures from the Business Services Organisation reveal that in Northern Ireland between April 2009 and March 2010, the NHS fitted 19,405 orthodontic appli- ances, including fixed or remov- able appliances. DT NHS in Northern Ireland to charge for orthodontic treatment 3NewsMay 17-23, 2010United Kingdom Edition

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