The economist released this paper in February 2024. click on the picture for the full document including the 140 clinical references that this website is aiming to promote.
The following video resources are some of my responses as a dentist working in general practice in the UK. Some of the videos are quite old, but the messages are still current.
This video serves as a summary of the document produced by The Economist. However, I believe I created the video before the document was released. It explains the connection between oral health and general health, illustrating how anyone can improve their overall well-being through simple nudges based on observations of human behavior.
The video also demonstrates how the Teeth4Life app functioned, with the best features being incorporated into a new DHS app. This app will promote any member of the dental team and can be personalized by the public at no cost. Additionally, the video explains the Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE), a strong indicator of general health, and offers insights on how to improve it.
I created this video over six years ago, following the publication of the government white paper promoted by Matt Hancock in 2018, titled “Prevention is Better Than Cure.” This presented an opportunity to enhance our overall health; notably, Boris Johnson canceled the BOGOF deals that benefited the food industry through ultra-processed foods, prioritising their profits and lobbyists, over our general health.
Another potential improvement in dental health was undermined when Matt Hancock was caught on camera with someone who wasn’t his wife. This video illustrates how the government shifts responsibility for water fluoridation to local authorities by making them accountable for funding. Recently, a similar policy was established that places the responsibility for NHS dental access failures on Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
A portion of this video was created using AI over six years ago, with only one of the images added by me. The video can also be produced in multiple languages. We need to embrace the advantages of AI in aiding diagnosis. Currently, I am developing a chat feature to enhance dental pain awareness, and “trustworthy’ prevention advice, which will ultimately be incorporated into this website and a future DHS app.
We can improve dental access simply by communicating more with our patients and focusing less on documentation for legal purposes. As explained here, our governing body, the GDC, can also be explored through tools like ChatGPT to gather current opinions on the views of UK dentists regarding the GDC. Ask “What is the opinion of the GDC from uk dentists”.
Through my training with Health Innovation UK from SETsquared in Wessex and Bath, I have applied for funding for various aspects of dentistry, including mouth cancer screening, a dental app, 3D denture printing, and health hubs. The application process typically takes about two days, and I find myself competing against businesses that have dedicated departments for securing funding.
I have created ten five-minute videos on how we can improve our health in various ways. All of these videos are freely available on the Teeth4Life YouTube channel—simply search for “DHS.” This is just one example of the content available. If we collaborate, we can create something truly worthwhile.
My ideas may be imperfect, but I think applying for funding for anything including the word “dentistry” is toxic to our governments treasury.
The following are some of the companies that have supported me or share common goals with my mission. I encourage you to support these organizations, as they all share a singular aim: to improve care.
Click on the image for their contact details.