A dynamic event catering for modern dental nurses

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Posted by: Dental Design 17th June 2023

There was a very positive atmosphere at the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) 2023, where thousands of dental professionals united to learn, network and innovate. For dental nurses, the event provided a dedicated two-day lecture programme in the Dental Nurses’ Forum – supported by the BADN – as well as various dental manufacturers and suppliers of interest, including those that offer oral health products, decontamination equipment, management support and career progression.

Kicking things off was Amber Qureshi discussing “The shocking truth about well-being”. Amber considered the objective and subjective aspects of well-being, how to identify each one and what impact they can have on an individual on good days and on bad days. She also highlighted how dental nurses are often taken for granted in the practice and it is crucial that they speak up to ensure their own happiness at work. Amber went on to provide some practical tools and strategies for well-being at work, including social connection, time management, critical thinking and actively engaging the mind and body.

One dental nurse delegate attending the session said:

“I really enjoyed this lecture on mindfulness and well-being. I took away a couple of tips to use in practice and it made me realise how important well-being is.”

A later session that seemed to strike a chord with the audience and really engage the profession was that of “Contract reform in Wales and the role of the dental nurse” with Warren Tolley. He outlined 5 priorities to achieve the desired transformation of the profession, emphasising the importance of facilitating oral health monitoring and prevention of disease as part of the new contract. Warren noted the national shortage of dental nurses and how this might affect dental service provision, exploring some of the difficulties currently being faced with regards to skill mix in the practice. Following the session, delegates were keen to ask their own questions and were clearly passionate about the topic and the impact that contract reform may have on their futures and that of dentistry as a whole.

After the session, attendee dental nurse, Jennifer, commented:

“I’ve always wanted to come to this show and have found there to be more to do than I expected. I thought some of the references in this talk were very interesting and it was useful to get new information on how you can progress as a dental nurse. I wasn’t aware of some of the avenues you can go down and this talk helped with this.”

Delivering a well-rounded programme for dental nurses, some of the sessions focused more on clinical topics and the general oral health landscape of the UK. Dr Devan S Raindi presented “Diabetes and gum health”, discussing the inflammatory pathways of disease, its global prevalence and the related oral health risks. He considered the links between diabetes and periodontal disease, how the conditions can be treated and the role of the dental nurse in managing the periodontal patient in such situations.

Delegate Keisha Levermore said:

“This was a very informative yet easy-to-follow session. The information was very relevant and it has built on the knowledge I had already. The paper citations have been really helpful in assisting further research. The entire show has been good.”

Other sessions of note for dental nurses were Rebecca Silver’s talk on imposter syndrome and Debra Worthington’s lecture around menopause support. The former took delegates on a journey from childhood to adulthood, identifying some of the factors that can lead to feelings of self-doubt or keeping an individual in a negative mindset. Rebecca recommended taking baby steps towards a healthier and more positive state, being careful with social media.

Debra later took to the podium to share more about the BADN’s Menopause Policy & Advice Sheet and the support that is available to dental nurses experiencing this transition. She encouraged delegates to be “menopause champions” and to ensure that they or their colleagues get the support they need.

In addition to the Dental Nurses’ Forum, dental nurses at BDCDS had access to the extensive trade exhibition with hundreds of dental manufacturers and suppliers on hand. Product experts were happy to answer questions, perform live demonstrations and introduce delegates to some of the latest innovations in the profession today.

Of course, the show was also a fantastic opportunity to enjoy time out of practice with the rest of time, to connect with colleagues from across the nation and network with suppliers.

Reflecting on the event overall, dental nurse Miglena Georgiera said:

“I have attended BDCDS many times and returned again this year for CPD and to meet up with old friends. The speakers and topics covered have been good, probably even better than last year. It’s been good to see so many different things and I have found the sessions to cover everything that I would have liked them to. I would absolutely recommend BDCDS to others.”

The British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS) 2024 will be held on 17^th and 18^th May, at the NEC in Birmingham, co-located with DTS 2024.