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R esults from a recent study have shown that women who consume high vol- umes of folic acid found in Vita- min B from vegetables and some fruits are less likely to suffer from mouth cancer. Starting in 1976, 87,000 nurs- es were followed by research- ers from the Columbia Univer- sity Medical Centre and Harvard SchoolofPub- licHealth for 30 y e a r s . The re- search revealed that women who drank a high vol- ume of alcohol and had low folic acid intake were three times more likely to develop mouth cancer than those who drank high volumes of alcohol but had high volumes of folic acid in their diet. As recent studies have shown, alcohol is one of the ma- jor risk factors for mouth cancer and those who drink to excess are four times more likely to be diagnosed. However, this is the first time that folic acid intake has been shown to affect the risk of the disease. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: “Rates of mouth can- cer in women have been increasing for many years as a result of changed so- cial habits with more women smok- ing and drinking. This new research could offer a method to reduce this by looking at the folic acid intake and increas- ing fruit and vegetables on- taining folic acid in the diet. “In the past studies have tended to focus on males, as they are twice as likely to suffer from the disease. Whilst this study focuses on women we know that men also benefit from the pro- tective value of increased fruit and vegetables”. Folic acid or vitamin B9 is es- sential to an individual’s health by helping to make and maintain new cells. Alcohol leads to a re- duction in folic acid metabolism by creating acetaldehyde which leads to a reduction of folic acid in the body. Folic acid is found in vegetables such as spinach, as- paragus, beans, peas and lentils and is added to bread. Fruit juic- es, broccoli and brussel sprouts contain smaller amounts. Having an unhealthy diet has been linked with around a third of mouth cancer cases. Recent research has also shown that an increase in food such as eggs and fish that contain Ome- ga 3, and nuts, seeds and brown rice, which are high in fibre, can help decrease the risks. DT Vegetables are good for you: Fact T he Northern Ireland Branch of the BDA is holding an art and craft exhibition and auction in aid of the Ben Fund. All the pieces have been cre- ated and donated by branch members their families and their friends. The pieces range from pictures in oil, acrylic and wa- tercolour to bronzes, wood carv- ings, walking sticks and patch- work quilts. You can view the pieces and bid for them online at www. bda.org/nibenfundauction. The online auction continues until 7.00pm on Monday 6th Decem- ber. There will be an exhibition and sealed bid auction of the pieces on Tuesday 7th December at Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast starting at 7.00pm. The presiden- tial address will follow at 8.00pm. The highest bid online or on the night will take the piece. Henry Schein have kindly agreed to sponsor the evening and have agreed to deliver the items to the winning bidder. To view and bid visit www.bda.org/ nibenfundauction DT The Arts and Crafts of charity Some of the lots waiting to be bid on by one of the contributors, Tamara Timofejeva T he Health Protection Agency has been intro- ducing guidance on ra- diation protection for dentists using certain new types of scan- ners in dental surgeries. In the past few years, special- ist dental surgeries all over the UK have been introducing Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) technology to aid treat- ment. These scanners are simi- lar to those used in hospitals for medical examinations; however they only scan the jaw and skull. The scanners are used for specialist examinations and can deliver higher doses of radia- tion, unlike other X-ray equip- ment that dentists use. Because of the rapid uptake of this new technology and the lack of specific safety guidance on its use, the Health Protec- tion Agency’s dental radiation specialists assembled a group of experts to formulate guidance for dentists. Dr John Cooper, Director of the Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, said: “Cone Beam Computed To- mography is a new and useful tool for dentists. However, like any X-ray equipment this tech- nology utilises radiation and therefore there are risks. “I am sure that the detailed and thorough work undertaken,, will play an important role in en- suring that doses to patients are effectively controlled and that all others involved in the use of this technology, dentists and their staff, are well protected.” The new guidelines sets out: • What dentists should do be- fore acquiring a CBCT scanner, including choosing suitable equipment, ensuring staff are adequately protected and mak- ing sure rooms where the equip- ment will go are specifically de- signed for the technology. • How existing regulations apply to the use of CBCT. • Standards that dental CBCT scanners should be tested against to make sure they work correctly and are capable of keeping patient doses as low as practicable. • The training that dentists and other users, will need to enable them to use the new technology properly. The expert group included HPA dental and medical radia- tion protection staff, dentists, regulators, medical physicists and academics. Dr Cooper added: “This guid- ance will play an important role in protecting all those involved in the use of CBCT and I want to thankthegroupwhichdeveloped it for its hard work. The fact that those on the group come from such diverse backgrounds illus- trates how this advice has been developed by all those with a professional interest in this field. “I hope that dental pro- fessionals will find this guidance useful.” DT Radioactive dentists New guidance on radiation protection has been released for dental professionals A dentist who treated jail inmates has been given a 2.5-year prison sentence for defrauding the NHS. According to news re- ports, John Hudson was jailed for claiming more than £300,000 from the health serv- ice by billing twice for the same treatment. Hudson, 58, provided den- tal care for inmates at HMP Altcourse, a privately run facil- ity at Fazakerley near Liverpool. Dental services at Altcourse were also contracted out and the dentist took advantage of a change in NHS accounting and billing systems in 2006. The court heard that a good part of the illegally gotten payments went on fees for the education of his three chil- dren and holidays, but he now owes £40,000 and is being sued by the NHS for £500,000. Hudson admitted to two charges of dishonesty and illegally obtaining credit from the health service. Judge Graham Morrow QC, who sentenced Hudson yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court, said that Hudson had held a respected position in the com- munity at the nearby town of Whitworth, but had commit- ted acts of blatant dishonesty that deprived patients of money that should have gone towards their care. It was revealed that Hudson was paid by HMP Altcourse but also claimed £307,000 over two years. It was also reported that Hudson approached Liver- pool Primary Care Trust about a contract at the jail demand- ing £247,000 a year; he went on to accept half that figure.DT Prison dentist gets prison sentence November 29-December 5, 20104 News United Kingdom Edition