DentalROOTS Issue 1 2010 The Dentistry alumni magazine

Turning up the heat on inflammation research – periodontal and pulpal disease at Birmingham

Also inside: beating colour blindness; fat offers stem-cell teeth hope; new phantom head lab proves a winner 2 DentalROOTS

Fat offers stem cell teeth hope

Could fat be the future for a new set of teeth? The School of Dentistry is researching how isolating fat tissue which contains stem cells can be used in dental tissue engineering and regeneration.

Welcome More than 16 million fillings are performed within the UK NHS each year and despite Welcome to the first edition ofDentalROOTS – an annual publication intended to keep our alumni many advances in dental materials over the informed on developments in the School of Dentistry over the past year. years, 50% only last for five to ten years leading to significant retreatment and costs. You will be pleased to know that the School of Dentistry maintains a forward-looking approach to However, the use of a person’s stem cells our important and strategic role in dentistry. The School is highly regarded in its research output, could provide a way of engineering new contributing to the health and wellbeing of our patients. Our leadership in education is shown by pulp tissue, and even whole teeth, in the our innovative teaching and learning methods across the spectrum leading to the qualification of future, potentially putting an end to first-rate dentists who are well placed to become leaders in their profession. Most of all they are fillings altogether. caring, competent practitioners and enthusiastic young people. They are very much like you were when you qualified! The Dental Stem Cell Research team at the University comprises Doctors These have been busy times for the School and we are rapidly approaching the second Ben Scheven, Paul Cooper and Richard anniversary of the formation of the College of Medical and Dental Sciences – the School of Shelton and Professor Tony Smith. Dentistry is one of five schools in the College, the others being Cancer Sciences, Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Health and Population Sciences (including the previous School of Health Professor Smith said: ‘Tooth engineering Sciences) and Immunity and Infection. from stem cells offers an exciting and realistic opportunity to improve oral healthcare. We The new structure of the University (five colleges: Arts and Law, Engineering and Physical are perhaps 20 years away from being able Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Medical and Dental Sciences and Social Sciences) to grow whole teeth from stem cells. But was created to put academic endeavour at the heart of the University’s decision making, reduce by targeting dental pulp it poses less of a administrative boundaries and create a less hierarchical structure. challenge than engineering a whole tooth and in the future it might reduce the need The Research Assessment Exercise 2008 saw a big improvement for the School and we are well for root canal treatment.’ placed to continue developing our position as a leading global centre of oral and dental research. Our research strategy has been one of focusing activity on a limited number of theme areas where Stem cells have traditionally been we can demonstrate critical mass and high-quality activity. This saw a leap from predominantly extracted from bone marrow and have nationally rated quality with pockets of international excellence in RAE2001 to 90% internationally also been discovered in milk teeth. Although rated research in RAE2008, accompanied by an increase in 50% of staff returned. Our research milk teeth were thought to have been ideal activity has a high impact in advancing the practice of dentistry and, also, underpins teaching for the patient because there would be no within the School. problems with immune rejection, these types of stem cells can change their characteristics The National Student Survey demonstrates a high level of satisfaction among our students and when they are expanded in number. the School has invested in increasing the number of staff who come in and teach from General Dental Practice. We have built on the success of our e-course team which won the Times Higher More recently, stem cells have been Education ICT Initiative Award with a state-of-the-art refurbishment of our floor eight Clinical Skills found in fat tissue and there is the laboratory, which has internet access at every station together with unparalleled audio-visual possibility of isolating these cells during equipment to facilitate demonstration and student learning. liposuction in large enough numbers to use in dental engineering. I hope that as you read this first edition ofDentalROOTS you will get a feel for the commitment of staff to research and education in the School that will move Dentistry forward in the 21st century and the support from alumni in achieving this. Our successes over the past few years are testament to their excellence and are a just reward for much hard work both within and outwith the normal working day.

Front cover image shows the emergence of adult teeth. Panoramic dental X-ray of the mouth of a 12-year-old girl, showing the emergence (eruption) of adult teeth (erupting ones are purple). Professor Philip Lumley Head of School of Dentistry DentalROOTS 3

Beating colour blindness International scientists on Remember back to your pathology classes at Birmingham. Ever remember thinking that sabbatical you couldn’t tell the difference between the colour of the dyes under the microscope? Three leading international scientists from Well, now there is a solution. three continents are currently on sabbatical at the School of Dentistry, demonstrating Professor Gabriel Landini and Mr Giles the School’s excellent global reputation. Perryer have developed a new technique enabling colour blind people to distinguish Dr Yusuke Takahashi, from Osaka between colours on histology slides, University, Japan; Professor Jack Ferracane helping with accuracy of diagnosis. from Oregon Health and Science University, USA, and Dr Stephanie Krifka, University Professor Landini said: ‘About 6–10% of What non-colour blind people see of Regensberg, Germany, have all come men are colour blind, with the majority unable to Birmingham to research tissue and to distinguish some shades of red from those biomaterial interactions. of green. We identified the two basic colours normally seen in microscopy slides (purple The research involves investigating a and pink) and digitally changed them to new generation of dental materials that colours that are easily discriminated by work cooperatively with the tissues that colour blind people, like blue and yellow.’ they are filling; not only ensuring materials are non-toxic, but helping to benefit teeth Mr Perryer said: ‘Some students have been by stimulating repair. at a disadvantage because they simply can’t see the difference in the dyes and so the Professor Ferracane said: ‘Birmingham just discrimination of structures in many seemed the perfect place to do my research. microscopic images is not possible. The There’s so much interesting work happening lecturer says, “The pink part is this and the What colour blind people see in biomaterials and pulp biology here and violet part is that”, but to a colour blind person there is real expertise in the School.’ it’s meaningless and you quickly switch off. The School hopes that the collaboration ‘We’ve tested the new technique and will continue after the researchers have the response from both colour blind and gone back to their universities. non-colour blind students has been fantastic. From an educational viewpoint we feel this is an important breakthrough in addressing equality issues.’

The research has implications for the healthcare profession as a whole and could help to reduce errors in diagnosis in the future. Transformed image with new technique International researchers come to Birmingham pictured with Dr Ben Scheven (third left)

Orthodontist knows the score about musical instruments

We all know that thumb sucking can lead Ektor, who also works as a specialist registrar more pronounced as the roots are immature to crooked teeth but can playing a musical in orthodontics at Birmingham Dental Hospital, and therefore may be more prone to tooth instrument? Ektor Grammatopoulos, an MPhil said: ‘A lot of my patients ask me if playing a movement,’ he said. Orthodontics student at the School of Dentistry wind or brass instrument has caused their has found out. teeth to become crooked. We can now Ektor, who was supervised by Dr Ashish reassure them that it has no effect – Dhopatkar, Senior Lecturer in Orthodontics, Ektor’s research involved comparing the dental despite popular belief.’ has received awards for his work from the casts of more than 170 professional musicians British Dental Association West Midlands from across the country. The results showed However, he warns that this research Hospital Group, Royal College of Physicians that there were no significant differences in was undertaken in adults. ‘The effects on and Surgeons of Glasgow and the British the position of teeth between players of the front teeth of children who play a wind Orthodontic Society. various types of wind instrument. instrument before the age of eight may be 4 DentalROOTS

New ‘phantom head lab’ proves a winner

It’s no secret that if you want to attract ‘Each learning unit has its own PC so the cream of the crop you need to offer the that students can access our e-course best facilities, so it’s little wonder that staff and work independently through the session and students at the School are delighted plans at their own pace,’ says Mr Tomson, with the success of the recently refurbished who played a key role in helping to develop eighth floor Clinical Skills Suite. the new-look space.

Known colloquially as the ‘Phantom Head With up to 75 second-, third- and fourth-year Laboratory’, the suite has benefited from dental students spending much of their time investment of almost £1 million, funded in the Suite, it can be a noisy place. Electric jointly by the University of Birmingham and blinds enable the area to be divided into three South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. Work bays if different groups are using it at the began in July 2009 and was completed last same time. Images are fed through to a large Then September. The updated suite was officially wall-mounted LCD monitor enabling detailed reopened by Professor Adrian Randall, demonstrations to be viewed. The lab is also Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Quality used by students from Biomaterials, the School and Students. of Hygiene and Therapy, who undertake training in conservative dentistry, and by According to Phil Tomson, Clinical Lecturer students working towards the Masters in in Restorative Dentistry, ‘no other lab in the Advanced General Dental Practice. UK is as well equipped as this one is now. ‘This Suite is used every day of the week,’ ‘Before the refurbishment work was done says Mr Tomson. ‘We also rent it out and run the lab was rather tired,’ he explains. ‘The last private courses, although present demand from update was in 1997 and we had rather fallen our own students means it can be difficult to behind other schools in terms of providing the find available space. It’s certainly been money

most modern teaching facilities. Now we have well spent.’ Now created a conducive learning environment for teaching up-to-date dentistry. The feedback we have had from students has been Extracted teeth for teaching excellent. It’s really working very well.’ We are very keen to ensure there is a flow of extracted teeth for undergraduate The investment funded modernisation of the teaching as there is no substitute for lab’s infrastructure to provide a 41-seater learning on the real thing. We would state-of-the-art facility that can fully simulate encourage you to save waste extracted many different clinical dental procedures, teeth for any undergraduate who seeks emulating standard surgery facilities. The them from your practice. For advice on phantom heads, each with screw-in jaws, how to collect waste extracted teeth allow special plastic teeth – designed to please visit: www.dentistry.bham.ac.uk/ closely resemble human tooth tissue – fordentists/teethfortraining.asp to be inserted and worked on. Now

JDR editor steps down

Professor Tony Smith has stepped down Tony said: ‘It’s been tremendous fun as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Dental working on the journal, I’ve had the Research (JDR) after six years. opportunity to meet lots of researchers globally and read research that I otherwise The journal has been in production since 1919 wouldn’t have read. But now is the right and Tony was the first editor of the journal from time to step down and I hope to have more outside North America. While he was in post time to be able to concentrate on some of the journal underwent a number of changes my own research while still keeping up to including the introduction of a critical review date with the JDR!’ section and the provision of online access. Professor Tony Smith receiving a commemorative plaque in recognition of his work DentalROOTS 5

A life in dentistry for Don

Director of Student Support, Professor Don Spence has received a BUAFTA for Lifetime Achievement. DentalROOTS went to meet him. Professor Donald Spence

No one knows the School of Dentistry quite had left a cigarette burning. I can remember alongside my other education roles,’ he like Don Spence. On the day the building the building practically shaking as Professor explains. ‘So I began to move away from opened in 1964, he arrived to start work in MacGregor walked up and addressed them. the teaching. the Prosthetics Production Laboratory as a He said: “Someone has left a cigarette on the Junior Dental Technician. Today, as Director side here and it has burned the windowsill. ‘These days, one is asked, “What do you do?” of Student Support, he is the School’s It will not happen again”. Then he turned and And I think, I don’t know really; anything that longest-serving member of staff, having walked out. And you knew that it wouldn’t needs doing – that exam paper needs writing spent the last 46 years in a variety of happen again.’ and so on. Students come to me with every teaching, technical and educational roles. conceivable problem. I joke with them that I Don has seen many changes have £100 put away for someone who can In February, Don’s continuing dedication bring me a problem I haven’t encountered to the School led to him being awarded at the School over the years, before. It hasn’t happened yet.’ a coveted BUAFTA (Birmingham University including the reorganisation Awards for Tremendous Achievement) for that took place in the 80s, Don has seen many changes at the School Lifetime Achievement, which he received over the years, including the reorganisation at a gala ceremony held in the University’s and he is proud to be part that took place in the 80s, and he is proud Great Hall. of an institution with such to be part of an institution with such a distinguished past. ‘It was a very proud moment,’ he says. ‘It means a distinguished past. such a lot because you have to be nominated The School and the Dental Hospital have a by your colleagues. What particularly delighted From Junior Technician, Don moved truly symbiotic relationship, he says. ‘Without me was that it turns out some of the people in into researching materials for oral dental one, the other cannot exist. If we didn’t have the office here, who I seem to give nothing but appliances, from dentures to composite the School the hospital would be a fraction of hassle, were some of my principal proposers. white tooth-filling materials. Ten years later, the size. If there was no Dental Hospital, there The award itself is nice, but the background with several demonstrators in technical dental would be nowhere for the students to learn to it is even more important.’ methods approaching retirement, he applied their skills. The care is excellent and the for one of the posts. ‘It was a big step, but I students are closely supervised. There is Don started his working life at the age of got the first one that came up.’ great enthusiasm to deliver a good service.’ 15 as a railways apprentice. But as spending cuts ravaged the UK’s rail industry, a move He was to spend the next quarter of a century With retirement on the horizon, he reflects into dental technology seemed a good way teaching students, making dentures and that he is lucky to have chosen a job that forward for the son of a University of working on orthodontic appliances. ‘It was a has brought such immense satisfaction. Birmingham anatomy lecturer. great combination of teaching and hands-on ‘I have never really minded whether it was work,’ he remembers. When the opportunity Friday evening or Monday morning. You’re On his third day at work, he encountered arose to become Welfare Tutor, he seized it, very fortunate if you can say that. It’s the then Director of Dental Studies, Professor going on to become Admissions Tutor as wonderful to have people around you Alexander MacGregor. ‘It was an awe-inspiring well. ‘It started to become difficult to fit in the who you genuinely enjoy working with.’ experience,’ he says. ‘One of the students rigorous demands of teaching commitments 6 DentalROOTS

Turning up the heat on inflammation research

Birmingham is at the forefront of efforts to find new ways to combat periodontal and pulpal disease, reports Jenni Ameghino. Professor Iain Chapple

Gum disease has long been the scourge Figures suggest that gum disease exacts a He adds: ‘We know that a major cause of dental health. The most prevalent chronic heavy toll economically as well as clinically. of periodontal disease is an overreaction inflammatory disease in humans severely A study in 2008 estimated the cost to the of the immune system to bacteria. We don’t affects around 8% of the UK adult population, UK economy as a whole, including time taken fully understand the mechanisms yet, or novel with 54% exhibiting some disease and 85% of off work plus the cost of replacing missing treatments could be developed. However, we people aged 65 and over suffering its effects. teeth, to be up to £2.8 billion a year. No can remove the immune stimulus, which is the surprise, then, that the crusade to find ways plaque, so that patients have super-clean According to Professor Iain Chapple, Head to combat the problem is gaining momentum. mouths. It’s a bit boring for patients, and takes of Periodontology at Birmingham, 10–15% them a long time, and other lifestyle factors are of the world population is susceptible. Gum Experts in the School of also important, but if patients do it, treatment disease remains a major public health problem, is successful.’ and one that is likely to be around for some Dentistry are at the forefront time, he says. of cutting-edge research into the complex biology of Yet the true extent of the physical implications of gum disease appears to be poorly understood periodontal disease by the general population. With the oral cavity the window to the whole body, how many As Professor Chapple points out, the people fully understand, for example, that NHS has so far been reluctant to fund inflammation in the gums in response to ordinary full management costs for patients with bacteria can spill over into the bloodstream, severe periodontitis, largely because putting some of us at increased risk for other excessive money is spent on those with inflammatory physical conditions such as heart no or minimal disease, who want their disease, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis, plus teeth scaling and polishing. diabetes and cancer? Experts in the School of Dentistry are at ‘To me that’s wrong,’ he says. ‘We should the forefront of cutting-edge research into ‘There is quite a lot of evidence now to focus our resources on those that need them the complex biology of periodontal disease, show that periodontitis is an independent most, but to do that we need to identify those and are using their findings to translate risk factor for cardiovascular disease,’ at greatest risk. A University of Birmingham basic science into new diagnostics and reports Professor Chapple. spin-out company called Oral Health treatment strategies. Innovations is the UK and Ireland licence Susceptibility to gum disease may be up holder for a validated online risk assessment One strand of research is exploring to 50% genetic. Smoking is reckoned to be tool called ‘PreViser’, which has been shown the molecular processes of inflammation. significant in about 40% of cases, and other in 12–15-year studies to predict tooth loss ‘We do a lot of work in understanding how perceived risk factors include stress, poor and gum disease effectively. We hope the nutrition affects how genes are switched on diet and high carbohydrate intake. Department of Health will start using it, and and off and we have produced interesting data currently they are planning to pilot it as a gold that shows certain micronutrients will down- standard as part of the new contract pilots.’ regulate inflammation at gene level,’ says Professor Chapple. DentalROOTS 7

Neutrophil NET exploding Dr Paul Cooper

‘It is well recognised that refined carbohydrates ‘Nobody has yet obtained the full map of Caries happens when bacteria, particularly trigger inflammation in the body in general and saliva so that’s quite exciting. The potential Streptococcal species, colonise a tooth. The that fish oils and natural antioxidants dampen for diagnosing periodontal problems early in body’s immune and inflammatory response it down. We have found that patients with low medical practices as well as dental practices causes further tissue damage, impeding levels of important micronutrients in their blood, is substantial.’ repair mechanisms. such as Vitamin C, have more periodontal disease. But just supplementing the Birmingham is also pioneering research into ‘We therefore want to better understand how diet with Vitamin C doesn’t solve the white blood cells known as neutrophils the tooth soft tissue responds to infection and the problem. and their DNA ‘NETs’. ‘About five years ago, how we can modulate this to help its repair,’ it was found that when neutrophils die they explains pulpal inflammation expert Dr Paul ‘We have just finished a four-year purge out their entire DNA, which is released Cooper, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology. study looking at a natural from the cell like a spider’s web, containing all ‘If we can make inroads into generating freeze-dried berries, fruit of its antibacterial components. We think the biological repair mechanisms, for example, and vegetable extract cell that causes most damage in periodontal putting in a filling that will help the tooth made in the US. If disease is the neutrophil and NETs may be to defend itself, it might lead to greater patients take this, contributory to that damage.’ restoration longevity. they appear to heal better and ‘If we can make inroads into ‘Research into growing whole new teeth their treatment for implantation is a long way down the road, outcomes are generating biological repair but if you take the current crop of dental filling statistically better.’ mechanisms, for example, materials and look at modifying them into being putting in a filling that will able to moderate the immune response while Using Birmingham’s promoting repair, the chances are that we’ll world-leading mass spectrometry help the tooth to defend end up with better materials that last much technology, scientists are also itself, it might lead to greater longer for patients.’ attempting to sequence every protein found in restoration longevity.’ His researchers have identified molecules saliva, so they can that can inhibit inflammation and promote the observe how these Caries remains one of the most prevalent stem cell repair response. ‘We have taken one proteins change in infectious diseases in the Western world, or two of these molecules forward with some patients with gum with some 16 million dental restorations interesting results,’ he says. ‘They may not be disease. ‘This has carried out annually by NHS dentists in an answer in themselves but they are a step never been done the UK. As everyone knows, fillings don’t in the right direction.’ before,’ says last forever, and scientists at Birmingham Professor Chapple. are exploring biologically based tissue- Centre image: Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria (formerly named engineering solutions to treat dental decay. Bacteroides gingivalis). 8 DentalROOTS

Dental chief’s home from home

Alumnus Barry Cockcroft CBE Barry Cockcroft

Barry Cockcroft may spend much of his He has many happy memories of his He remains ‘absolutely passionate’ about working life travelling the country, but whenever student days, including watching the the benefits of fluoridation. ‘Where I come he visits the School of Dentistry it feels, he cricket at Edgbaston. In 2008 he attended from, in Greater Manchester, there are says, ‘like coming home’. the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary three times as many children having general of Birmingham Dental Hospital. ‘The city has anaesthetics for dental procedures. Fluoridation The man who today serves as England’s changed enormously since my day,’ he says. has huge potential to reduce inequalities. I am Chief Dental Officer graduated from ‘My son graduated from Birmingham in in a position now to influence policy and we Birmingham Dental School in 1973 having mechanical engineering five years ago and can clearly see the benefits fluoridation has started his training in 1969. In his final year it has been fascinating to see the city through brought. It is an emotive subject, because he won the Charles Green Prize for minor oral his eyes.’ it doesn’t give people the element of choice, surgery and anaesthesia. He went on to work but my own knowledge and experience has in NHS general practice for 27 years where Looking back, Barry says he encountered coloured my views. he pioneered the development of a first wave people who significantly informed his attitude of pilot Personal Dental Services, based to dentistry as a profession and shaped him ‘In the US, the most litigious society in on capitation as a means of remuneration as a person. the world, over 200 million people drink in NHS general practice. artificially-fluoridated water. If there was ‘One thing Birmingham did fantastically well a long-term health problem, the lawyers In 2002 Barry became Deputy Chief Dental was teaching in dental public health. I suspect would have found it.’ Officer (England) and in July 2006 he was we had more exposure to epidemiology and appointed to his present role as Chief. He was the value of dental public health because Looking ahead, Barry believes dentistry awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year Honours. Birmingham was at the forefront of fluoridation. is facing great change in the next ten years, ‘as the younger generations of healthy, ‘The important thing about going to university ‘I don’t think that as a clinician I really caries-free children start to supplant the is realising you are having the time of your life,’ appreciated that for about 30 years, but now older generations of people with lots of he explains. ‘I certainly felt I did at Birmingham. I realise that epidemiology is one of the most fillings. I believe the focus on prevention When I arrived for interview I was very powerful tools we have to improve health will change the nature of training and of impressed by the people and the place. although, like most people, I am focused the whole operation.’ I felt it was the right place to be.’ on the technical side, and the ability to do something to help individual patients.’ n Barry Cockcroft (BDS, 1973) DentalROOTS 9

School of Dentistry says thank you

Dentistry students are developing their patient skills thanks to generous alumni donations

Twenty second-year dentistry students education and dental students learnt about welcomed visitors from Lufton College in different ways of communicating and about Somerset, part of Mencap National College, facilitating dental experiences. Everyone who and Hereward College in Coventry, a national participated has been enthusiastic about specialist residential college of Further the experience. Education, as part of their Disability Studies module in January this year. The project is Ahmed Tadfi who is a current dental student part of a new partnership venture aimed at said: ‘It’s helped me to understand some increasing awareness of learning and of the difficulties and barriers that students physical disabilities. with disabilities face in day-to-day life. This experience will help me when I go into Professor Deborah White said the partnership practice.’ Echoing this, Meg Rogers, the has been a huge success. ‘I don’t know of Assistant Principal at Lufton said: ‘This anywhere else that is undertaking this kind project has been instrumental in breaking of work and all the students benefited from down some of the barriers that our the opportunity to learn from each other. students face.’ Thanks to the generosity of alumni donations to the ‘Influencing innovation’ theme of the Thank you to everyone who has given to Circles of Influence campaign, we will be able this project and other fundraising projects to continue this project for next year’s second across the College. year students and nurture and develop further the links we have made this year.’ To find out more about projects supported by the ’Influencing innovation’ theme of the Visiting students learnt about dentistry in Circles of Influence campaign, please visit the skills laboratory and about life in higher www.alumni.bham.ac.uk/circlesofinfluence Students working together in the Clinical Skills Laboratory

Oral cancer pack launched

A final-year dentistry student has produced at Ashok Solanki’s (BDS 1982) Dental an oral cancer pack to help dentists to spot Practice in Balsall Heath. and recognise oral cancer. Harmeet said: ‘There are over 5,000 cases As part of her elective, Harmeet Gill, of oral cancer each year and unfortunately who was supervised by Mr John Hamburger, prognosis is compromised by late detection. Senior Lecturer in Oral Medicine and Mrs Ros If oral cancer is spotted early enough, it can Hamburger, Consultant in Dental Public Health really save lives and I hope my pack will go for Birmingham, approached practitioners in some way to help do this.’ Birmingham to ask what would help with early diagnosis for oral cancer. With support from Initial feedback has been very positive and the Heart of Birmingham PCT Dental Public a formal evaluation of the resource is taking Health team, she piloted an oral cancer place. If it is deemed a success all Heart of resource pack which includes a poster, Birmingham dentists will have access to this cue cards and picture cards with patients resource in the future. Student Harmeet Gill 10 DentalROOTS

Tales of the unexpected

DentalROOTS talks to retiring senior dental nurse Kathy Porter. Kathy Porter

As a child, Kathy Porter loathed going to the who stood at your elbow in the dentist’s chair After taking on a link nurse role, Kathy dentist. ‘I used to hate it,’ she groans, ‘I literally but I didn’t know what they did.’ was asked to join the editorial board of the had to be dragged there.’ She certainly never then new journal, Dental Nursing. She wrote imagined that she would go on to devote her Looking back, she said, she took to the job several articles, which led to an invitation entire career to the dental profession. immediately. ‘I’ve always enjoyed meeting to write a book. Today, Kathy is proud to people and treating patients; sitting at the be the author of The Dental Nurse’s Guide In January, Kathy is due to retire after more chair-side and seeing patients come in and to Infection Control and Decontamination, than 40 years as a dental nurse, most of go out happy.’ published in 2008 by Quay Books. As a them spent at the School of Dentistry. Having result, she is frequently invited to deliver started her training in September, 1968, after She recalls with particular fondness the talks and speeches in her specialist area. qualifying she left the School for a brief stint time she spent working with clinicians who at Birmingham’s Imperial Metal Industries specialised in treating nervous patients. ‘This Having watched the children of former site at Witton. was very rewarding work because patients undergraduates arrive to train as dentists would come in terrified, some couldn’t even themselves, she has also seen many changes She enjoyed the experience but admits she walk into the building because they had some down the years. ‘When I started here we stood didn’t exactly see eye to eye with one of the terrible phobia about needles, white coats, up to treat everyone. The patients didn’t lie flat, dentists there. ‘You have to get on well, it’s dentistry etc. Often, they had had a bad we didn’t wear masks; we didn’t wear gloves. absolutely crucial. It’s almost as close a experience as a child. The materials, procedures, equipment have all relationship as a marriage. So I asked if there evolved. Dentistry is like Medicine in that it can were any vacancies back here and returned ‘We would treat them under intravenous never stand still. Fresh research brings new in 1972.’ Since 2007 her official title has sedation, which meant they were still ideas. You have to evolve with it. been Senior Dental Nurse (Decontamination). conscious but ‘out of it’, and you’d use that time to try to find out what they were ‘I feel with so many more changes on the ‘I’ve always enjoyed meeting so scared of. Eventually, we would wean horizon now; this is probably the right thing them off it so that you would end up with for me to do. I have made many good friends people and treating patients; a patient who might never actually enjoy and worked with some wonderful people over sitting at the chair-side and going to the dentist but wouldn’t need the years, of all professions and grades. I shall seeing patients come in and sedation any more.’ definitely miss the people here.’ go out happy.’

Asked what she plans to do when she retires, and doesn’t have to get up at 6am every day, Kingstanding-based Kathy says: ‘I shall do exactly what I want to do, when I want to do it and in my own time. I shall meet up with friends and be a lady who lunches. I shall go on holiday, visit my brother and his wife in Cheltenham and generally please myself.’

Her entry into dentistry came by chance. ‘My cousin was training to be a dentist and my aunt told me the School trained dental nurses too, so I thought I’d give it a try. I didn’t even know there was such a job. I knew there was someone DentalROOTS 11

Online CPD for alumni

The e-learning team at School of Dentistry has produced an online verifiable CPD resource for dentists and dental nurses called Dentaljuce.

Developed on the back of the School’s student e-course, an interactive learning and teaching site which won a Times Higher Education Award in 2007, Dentaljuce has Class of 1979 at their reunion gone one stage further and provided resources for qualified practitioners.

30-year reunion Russ Steward (BDS, 1979) who uses the site said: ‘I found Dentaljuce to be Every year, alumni who graduated 30 years will open its doors to alumni to relive old a great resource and unlike a dental text ago have the opportunity to attend a reunion memories and catch up with long-lost friends. book it shouldn’t go out of date. The CPD evening in Staff House on the University The free evening will include a three-course aspect is a bonus. All in all, a refreshingly campus which is funded by the Sir Arthur meal with partners welcome to attend also. good product.’ Thompson Charitable Trust. Look out for your invitation in the post. You can find the site atwww.dentaljuce.com More than 70 Dentistry alumni from the class of 1979 made the journey back to Birmingham to celebrate their 30th Learn more anniversary reunion last October. One For more information about this alumna even travelled from as far afield year’s 30-year reunion contact as Hong Kong to be there on the evening. Carinna Chilton on 0121 237 2764 or email [email protected] This year it is the Class of 1980s turn! On Friday 8 October 2010, the University

Reunions – Saturday 18 June 2011 10-year reunion

Did you graduate in 1986, 1976, 1971, The day includes campus tours, a reunion The Class of 2000 will be holding 1961 or pre-1961? lunch with your classmates and more. its 10-year reunion on Saturday 25 September at the Hyatt Regency To celebrate the anniversary of your Look out for your invitation in the post. Hotel on Broad Street, Birmingham. graduation, all those who graduated 25, To find out more and to request 35, 40, 50 and 50-plus years ago are invited To find out more about our events visit: tickets contact the organisers back onto campus for a full day of activities. www.alumni.bham.ac.uk/events on [email protected]

British Science Festival

The British Science Festival is one of two days of events at the University of family and get stuck into some hands-on Europe’s largest science festivals, taking Birmingham Edgbaston campus. From fun and discover the wonders of all place each September. This year, the festival workshops to debates to hands-on activities, things science. is being held in Birmingham between 14–19 the British Science Festival has something for September, bringing the latest in science, everyone. Expect to take part in heated debates For further information about technology and engineering to the city. where you can dissect and discuss the latest all of the festival events, visit scientific research. Join in on talks, watch plays www.britishscienceassociation.org/ Many events will be taking place throughout and films, see famous faces or take a field trip web/britishsciencefestival various venues across Birmingham including around the local area. Bring along the whole MSc (part-time) Advanced GeneralDentalPractice www.bham.ac.uk B15 2TT,United Kingdom Edgbaston, Birmingham, four hours per week on Wednesday afternoons dentist in mind, this modular course is taught for With the demanding schedule of a practising and knowledge and the quality of patient care. programme will enhance your clinical skills taught by leading academics in the field, this dentists working in Primary Dental Care and Designed for General Dental Practitioners and email: [email protected] Claire Sherwood College MarketingManager: Feature writer:JenniAmeghino email: [email protected] Editor: MichelleMorgan Copy deadlinefor2011issue:April Dental ROOTS

and Fixed/Removable Prosthodontics. Patient, Aesthetic Dentistry, Implant Theory Endodontology, Management of the Anxious individual modules including Periodontology, In addition, limited places are available on Birmingham location. country to our easily accessible, central teaching. Students travel from all over the over three-five years via small group interactive The Editor’sdecisionisfinal. submissions maybesubjecttoediting. a statementofUniversitypolicy.All necessarily thoseoftheUniversityor Views expressedinDentalROOTSarenot College ofMedicalandDentalSciences. Dentistry attheUniversityofBirmingham’s DentalROOTS isthealumninewsletterfor achievements? Haveyoulivedabroadordo time atUniversity?Whatareyourproudest What haveyoubeendoingsinceyour be askingthesamequestionsaboutyou. Birmingham, you can be sure others will while youwerestudyingorworkingat happened tosomeofthepeopleyoumet If youeverspendtimewonderingwhat Got somethingtoshare?

College ofMedicalandDentalSciences or email [email protected] Professor Trevor Burke on 0121 237 2767 speak to the Programme Director, www.mds.bham.ac.uk/dentalpractice of all modules and how to apply please visit: and for further information including details To listen to a podcast about the programme Learn more www.mds.bham.ac.uk DentalROOTS. contact youtobeincludedinnextyear’s visit www.your.bham.ac.ukandwemay [email protected] or would liketohearfromyou.Pleaseemail Don’t keepquietaboutyourlife!We you enjoyorhavesincediscovered? you haveafamily?Whatactivitiesdo

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