Company and Industry News

With help from the BrightBites programme, 60,000 children have been given their own toothbrush and toothpaste to take home and continue their positive oral health journey.

With tooth decay the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged 6-101, and 15 million school days missed in 2023 due to dental problems, the BrightBites programme aims to help address the crisis in children’s oral health. 

By Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan

As we enter a new year, it’s the ideal time to reflect on the challenges and achievements of 2024 and map our future ambitions for the sector. Denplan’s work last year laid the foundation for meaningful change by strengthening our voice, and that of our members, both within the sector and with policymakers, while building momentum to address the pressing issues facing dentistry. 

By Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan

With a new government in post, and a set of opposition parties who have each set out commitments on the need to tackle the crisis in access to dentistry, we have a timely opportunity to shine a light on what needs to change to improve dental care across the country. 

Unlocking solutions to improving oral health

A new white paper produced using the voices of its member dentists with the aim to build consensus on the policy solutions needed to establish sustainable and equitable access to dental care.

Targeting schools, nurseries and clubs for low-income families, BrightBites volunteers deliver in-person sessions, with a range of resources including toothbrushing charts, stickers, and healthy teeth leaflets, to educate and inform children about oral health.

The 2024 edition of the Denplan Oral Health Survey identifies key dental trends and the current attitudes and habits of Great Britain

As Labour enters its first full parliamentary term, what can we expect when it comes to dentistry and where are the opportunities to demonstrate the link between this issue and the wider challenges we know the Government is hoping to address?

As tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in children aged 6-10*, new research suggests half (50%) of parents haven’t taken their children to the dentist by the time they are three years old, despite official guidance recommending they are taken when their first milk teeth appear, usually at six months.

New data from Denplan’s annual Oral Health Survey 2024 shows that people are considering switching to private dental care for faster appointments and additional treatments.

Creating a culture of compliance within dental teams is essential, where the responsibility rests on everyone’s shoulders. Not only does this maintain patient safety and uphold ethical standards, but it’s also essential for your mental wellbeing.

Following the general election on 4 July, we now have a Labour Government with a large majority which is well-placed to drive forward their agenda - and this includes delivering on dentistry. At a time when all eyes are on the Government to deliver on key commitments, what happens next?

Lianne Scott-Munden, Clinical Quality and Complaints Risk Manager at Denplan, writes about her adventures at the Denplan Cycling Conference.

Last month, Rishi Sunak called a snap election for July 4th. The unexpected summer election raises questions about the upcoming months and the need to ensure dentistry remains a policy priority in the next parliament.

The 2024 FMC Dentistry Census in partnership with Denplan discovers most dentists currently with an NHS contract (90%) felt that failure to reform the NHS is directly damaging the nation’s health. 

We've been reflecting on the impact of the recovery plan. While it provides some welcome initiatives, ultimately we believe that it does not go far enough to alleviate the challenges faced by dentists and patients.

2023 started with our final submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into dentistry and concluded with the publication of our 2023 Oral Healthcare Report. Between these significant updates, here's what we’ve seen.

New figures from the Oral Healthcare Report 2023 reveal six in ten (59%) Brits say they see the same dentist more consistently than they see the same GP, showing the vital role dentists play in people's health and lives. 

This comprehensive annual survey covers oral hygiene practices, access and barriers to dental care, as well as guidance for children’s oral health care. 

New figures from Denplan's 2023 Oral Healthcare Survey reveal that 23 million sick days are due to dental pain as three in ten Brits report taking time off work.

Applying learnings from the CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work report to dental practices.

In July the Health and Social Care Committee's report on NHS dentistry was published. And we were pleased to see many of the things we have been lobbying for included with the Committee taking our recommendations into account.

Pressure on dentists remains at an all-time high. We understand recruitment and retention of staff is vital to supporting the sector and we have developed a series of policy asks for the Government to help address this.

In late March Catherine Rutland, Clinical Director at Denplan, was delighted to represent Denplan at a parliamentary reception we co-hosted with the Oral Health Foundation on the theme of ‘dental deserts’. 

National Dentist's Day was created to recognise dentists everywhere and to give thanks for all that they do to support patients and educate them on the important role that good oral health plays in overall wellbeing. 

This month we’re delighted to be celebrating B Corp month and reflecting on one of our proudest achievements of 2022 - becoming the UK’s first dental plan provider to become B Corp certified.

As January comes to a close, many new years resolutions will feel like a distant memory. However, as we head into February, Dr Catherine Rutland takes some time to reflect on the past few years and focus on the year ahead.

Denplan’s inaugural Next Gen group of young dentists have published a policy report setting out the key steps that need to be taken to attract and retain the best new talent in the profession.

Denplan has discovered worrying trends in the nation’s oral health as part of its comprehensive Consumer Oral Health Survey.