InDent
A NEWSLETTER FOR DENTAL ALUMNI OF GUY’S, KING’S COLLEGE AND THE ROYAL DENTAL HOSPITALS | ISSUE 13 | JANUARY 2014
Supporting future leaders Focusing on the whole patient Bringing history to life
Dianne Rekow’s greeting
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN ROBINSON
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n behalf of everyone at the Dental Institute, welcome to the 2014 issue of InDent. The past year has been amazing, with many achievements, and I’m excited to be able to share several of them with you. On pages 3-4, you’ll read about our modernisation of the undergraduate curriculum, a major undertaking. As Professor Mark Woolford notes in the article, with the new curriculum we’re shifting away from the idea of ‘treatment’ and placing more emphasis on ‘care’. We want our students to take a holistic approach towards caring for their patients, preparing students to be good diagnosticians. The new curriculum also places a greater emphasis on management skills, preparing our students to be leaders and capable of operating a successful practice, if that’s where their career leads. In recent months, King’s hosted two workshops that we call ‘catalyst conversations’. One focused on innovations in materials science, drawing experts from materials science (both within dentistry and from far-flung fields), funding agencies, the International Association for Dental Research, the FDI, the United Nations Environmental Programme, industry and practice. A summary of this catalytic conversation appeared in the November 2013 issue of Advances in Dental Research. The second brought 75 leading scientists and dentists from 11 countries to discuss the prevention and management of tooth decay in dental practice and education. The Institute launched its Oral Clinical Research Unit in 2013. Its fundamental goal is to support delivery of high-quality clinical research that will have broad, substantial impact as well as creating an ethos of evidence base being fundamental in our daily lives. It will be a central reference point, providing support to both researchers and external collaborators. Finally, if you are not already a member of the Dental Circle, I hope you will consider joining in 2014. Through the Dental Circle, we engage a group of exceptional donors as advisers, providing both intellectual and financial resources to the Dental Institute, contributing to its advancement. Funds raised provide scholarships, support research, expand opportunities for student organisations and strengthen the Institute’s position as one of the world’s leading dental schools.
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Supporting research, supporting future leaders Remembering the Dental Institute in your will can help students in perpetuity
Back in 1953, Diana Trebble graduated from King’s as a licentiate in Dental Surgery – one of very few female students at the time. She took over her family’s dental practice in Ealing and then moved to Minehead, in Somerset. Diana Trebble died in 2009. But her legacy to dentistry lives on through the generous gift she left to King’s: funding for the Diana Trebble PhD Scholarship, which allows a postgraduate student to undertake cutting-edge research in any science covered in the Dental Institute. One scholarship per academic year is awarded to an applicant who is strong academically and possesses the skills and attitude to participate in research teams. The scholarship supports the very best students working on the very best projects. These could include anything from clinical sciences to dental public health. Mark Hintze, who completed
Legacy gifts make a real difference to life on campus for our students and staff
KAREN ROBINSON
his second year in October, is the first recipient of the three-year scholarship. His background is in both psychology and neuroscience, and his research area is embryonic development of the eye and ear in relation to human congenital anomalies. Early in the embryo, special cells are set aside that later make up the eye and ear. As part of a larger team and for his own thesis, Hintze investigates how these progenitors become special, and what makes them different from all other cells in the embryo. ‘The key question is: how do we assemble cells and tissues into complex organs?’ says Hintze’s supervisor, Professor Andrea Streit, Associate Dean for Research and a member of the Department of Craniofacial Development & Stem Cell Biology. ‘So we study how the embryo first makes precursor cells in the right place and transforms
them into functional ears and eyes with the right kind of terminally differentiated cells.’ Professor Streit says gifts such as the Trebble Scholarship are absolutely vital. ‘Of course, they provide the stipend and a proportion of the research costs, but there are other less obvious benefits. They help the department attract some of the brightest students and train them as future leaders in the field. ‘This is extremely important, because although there is a lot of demand for applied or translational research, it is in the basic sciences that the major discoveries are made,’ she says. ‘New inventions, new medications, new medical advances – they all depend on findings in basic science. We need to promote and attract people into these fields and the scholarship makes this possible. This is why it is wonderful to receive donations from people like
Trebble Scholarship recipient Mark Hintze and Professor Andrea Streit: studying how precursor cells transform into eyes and ears
Mrs Trebble, who had the foresight to invest in our future scientists.’ Helen McGahon, legacy manager for the Dental Institute, agrees. ‘Deciding who will benefit from your will once you have gone is a personal matter and naturally we first and foremost think of taking care of those closest to us – our family and loved ones,’ she says. ‘We are hugely grateful to those alumni and friends who choose to also include the Dental Institute as a beneficiary of their will. Legacy gifts make a real difference to life on campus for our students and staff, and we are incredibly thankful to alumni like Diana Trebble for their kind support. A legacy gift is an investment in the future of the College and our students.’ To find out more about remembering the Dental Institute in your will, please contact Helen McGahon on 020 7848 4700 or legacy-info@kcl. ac.uk, or visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/legacy January 2014| InDent | 3
A team approach focused on the whole patient The Institute’s new undergraduate curriculum emphasises care, not simply treatment
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Dental education needs to be constantly responsive to the needs of patients. That’s why, this year, the Dental Institute is launching its new undergraduate curriculum. It’s designed to reflect advances in a decade of rapid change – in particular, the increased importance of team care provision. ‘In the past, a dentist was seen as a lonely and in some respects isolated practitioner, delivering care to patients on his or her own,’ says Professor Mark Woolford, Associate Dean for Education at the Dental Institute. ‘Now, everybody agrees that in order to provide the optimum care for patients, you have to realise that you are part of a big team. That doesn’t just include the nurse, the hygienist and the technician. There are also the experts and the specialists. One person could never do absolutely everything perfectly. Therefore, if you are going to offer your patients the very best, you diagnose and then you get the team to work with you in delivering the necessary plan of care.’ The new curriculum focuses sharply on this need for teamwork. Students will now work in this way from day one. They will no longer go to individual departments for training in, for example, fillings. Now they will attend clinics, take on patients and do everything that the patient needs – with the help of a team. ‘So it’s not about “today I’m doing
fillings, so if the patient needs fillings I’ll do it and ignore everything else,”’ explains Professor Woolford. ‘If the patient comes in and they’ve got six things wrong with them, students have to organise those six things in order of priority and do them. They might not be able to do them all themselves. But they still should be done in that order of priority. This means they become good all-rounders, which is what a general practitioner should be.’ The care plan is vital – and again, the team is crucial to its development and implementation. ‘We need to make the students understand that they become responsible for the patient the moment he or she walks in through the door, but that there is a team of people around to support them,’ says Professor Woolford. ‘For example, the nurse, the radiographer, a member of staff who is there to assist them in their history taking and examination procedures and then, when the care is being planned, a team which has a specialist interest in all the various aspects. And then the student has to explain that plan of care to the patient and make sure the patient understands it.’ Professor Woolford emphasises that the new curriculum is moving away from the idea of ‘treatment’ and into the idea of ‘care’. It’s all about treating the whole patient and taking a more holistic approach. Dentists could, for
PHOTOGRAPHS KAREN ROBINSON
Remembering the business side
example, take every patient’s blood pressure check blood sugar levels – thus being presented with a range of possible opportunities to correct the health of the patient, all before he or she even opens his mouth. As well as becoming proficient in all the standard procedures, such as fillings and crowns, students will also be exposed to new technology, such as virtual reality drills. ‘Our aim is to produce students who are well-rounded diagnosticians,’ says Professor Woolford. ‘They can examine any patient, know what the problems are, know how they can be dealt with but not necessarily deal with them all themselves.’ The Institute’s new undergraduate curriculum aims to ‘produce well-rounded diagnosticians’
As well as all the necessary medical and surgical skills, the new undergraduate curriculum will also emphasise the importance of good management and leadership, which includes working as part of a team, managing a practice and possessing business skills. This is in line with the General Dental Council’s redeveloped expectations for graduates. The courses have been developed with the input of dentist, philanthropist and businesswoman Dr Seema Sharma, a Guy’s alumna. ‘This area of the curriculum is to do with making students better clinicians by being able to reflect on their practice, and by both working in and managing teams,’ says Dr Barry Quinn, Senior Specialist Clinical Teacher and honorary consultant in Restorative Dentistry. Management and teamwork, he says, are becoming a greater priority throughout healthcare. ‘It is vital to ensure that patient pathways are managed better through the hospital or dental practice. The industry is now moving towards working in larger teams, and working with a group of healthcare professionals requires management skills. There has to be a manager in the team and members need to know their roles and responsibilities in order to be successful. Good management helps a practice to run efficiently, which benefits everyone.’ Although not everyone will necessarily
Leadership and management skills are essential for today’s healthcare professionals
become a leader, leadership skills are still vital for tomorrow’s dentists. ‘A leader,’ says Dr Quinn, ‘is somebody who shows the path that others can follow.’ Professor Mark Woolford says this renewed emphasis on management skills is encouraging students to see dentistry as a business. ‘We’re not out to tell students to earn a million pounds a year but we must make them understand that business is an important part of healthcare,’ he says. ‘That’s not a bad thing. Money isn’t a crime. You have to earn in order to work to provide care for patients. But even talking about money to patients is a very difficult concept for some.’ Business skills, in short, help dentists manage themselves, manage others and manage their patients. ‘Ultimately, that will provide better care for our patients,’ says Dr Quinn. ‘We hope that this element of the curriculum will help our students become the inspirational leaders of tomorrow and take the profession forward.’ January 2014 | InDent | 5
Giving back
Bringing history to life
NICK BALLON
A clutch of new initiatives will protect and preserve precious dental and healthcare archives – and make them accessible to all
A range of exciting new projects, under the title Donates All (Digital Online Assets To Enhance Study – A Living Legacy), aims to ensure that valuable resources – from learning materials to photographs – are identified, catalogued and made widely available. ‘Content is our currency,’ says Patricia Reynolds, King’s Professor of Innovations in Education. ‘Our staff, alumni and students have a wealth of great content – and a responsibility to make sure it isn’t lost.’ By way of example, Professor Reynolds cites the initiative to preserve 35-millimetre slides, widely used in dental education and across the medical curriculum for the past 50 years. ‘These slides are often lost when people retire, change jobs or switch to other technologies,’ she says. ‘Some of the content is irreplaceable.’ But it’s not just the content that makes Donates All – which has had support from alumni and members of the Dental Circle – such a valuable resource for students, alumni and, indeed, anyone with an interest 6 | InDent | January 2014
Our staff, alumni and students have a wealth of great content
in history. It’s the context, as Professor Reynolds explains. ‘We’re trying to create a kind of living legacy, preserving the rich stories and teaching methods that helped bring those slides to life.’ To date, four professors have donated their slides: AHR ‘Jack’ Rowe, past Dean of UMDS Dental School; John Langdon, previous Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, KCSMD and GKT Dental Institute; Graham Roberts, previous head of Paediatric Dentistry; and Stephen Challacombe, Martin Rushton Professor of Oral Medicine. The family of the late John McLean has generously donated the visual records of his life’s work. A team of postgraduate volunteers led by Tarik Shembesh, previous Student President of the Dental Society, has been cleaning, digitising, cataloguing and tagging the slides, with advice from King’s Archives and Special Collections. The living donors have been videoed taking part in a structured interview with Professor Nairn Wilson, putting the slides in context and capturing
something of the life and times of these academics who have made such a major contribution to the Dental Institute. Now work is under way to create an open source content management system to make the resources available online. As Chair of the Gazette Management Committee, Professor Challacombe is involved in another important archiving strand – creating a searchable electronic archive of the Guy’s (now GKT) Gazette. King’s collection is nearly complete, stretching back to the first edition in 1876. ‘The Gazette is an invaluable record of 140 years of hospital and medical school activity,’ he says. ‘Early issues include records of all the lectures given and every operation carried out. More recently, the Dental Notes section gives a fascinating insight into the work of the Dental School.’ The project to scan and digitise more than 30,000 pages has been supported by the Friends of Guy’s Hospital, and this unique historical record should be available online soon. The Donates All team is also
Opening up the profession A new programme is encouraging talented students from diverse backgrounds to consider careers in dentistry
keen for alumni to share their own memories and their memorabilia. In response to an early appeal at the 2013 Clinical Day, three alumni and members of staff – Bruce Robinson, David Stone and Jim Page – have already come forward. At the next Clinical Day, Stanley Gelbier, Honorary Professor in the History of Dentistry, will be displaying a collection of photographs donated by alumni, in the hope of encouraging further donations and enriching the archive by identifying the people in the pictures. ‘Photographs are so important in helping us piece together our history, for example in building up complete biographies of some of the more notable figures in our history,’ says Professor Gelbier. ‘They can rekindle old connections, and encourage people to get back in touch with each other – and with the College.’ If you have photographs or other items from your time at the Dental Institute, the Donates All team wants to hear from you. Contact Pat Reynolds and Stanley Gelbier at p.a.reynolds@kcl.ac.uk and sgelbier@yahoo.co.uk
Professor Patricia Reynolds
Students from state schools in London, Kent and Medway are learning how to negotiate the hurdles of the dentistry application procedure following the launch of a new Dental Institute widening participation scheme. The Enhanced Support Dentistry Programme (ESDP) is attracting students from nontraditional backgrounds to dentistry. In September, 10 first-years – all from schools in the capital – entered the Institute under the scheme. To help them make the most of the five-year BDS degree, they are also offered pastoral and academic mentoring throughout their studies. ‘Our aim is to identify highly talented students at schools that have relatively low GCSE and A-level scores. We encourage them to think about dentistry as a career and give them the knowledge and experience they need to make successful applications,’ says ESDP Programme Officer Billy Reed. Reed visits target schools to make presentations to Year 11, 12 and 13 students and raise awareness of dentistry and allied health professions. For those with academic potential, the ESDP offers assistance with all aspects of the application process. Students also receive help preparing for the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), a rigorous assessment involving verbal and abstract reasoning problems that all dentistry applicants must complete. ‘During school visits, I usually answer lots of questions about the UKCAT, personal statements and entry requirements,’ says Reed. Gaining work experience can be another stumbling block for students who do not have professional contacts. Last year,
10 potential ESDP applicants took part in a four-day programme of clinical skills sessions, workshops and placements at the Institute. ‘Many students will not have the opportunity to organise work experience themselves,’ says Professor Mark Woolford, Associate Dean for Education. ‘Visiting our dental clinic here allows them to find out more about what day-to-day practice involves.’ Professor Woolford played a major part in establishing the ESDP and is looking forward to developing the scheme to its full potential. ‘Over the last year, we’ve modified certain elements to improve the programme,’ he says. ‘For example, we now use more junior staff as mentors as they are perceived as more approachable and can relate more easily to the students’ needs.’ Reed says the Institute, from this year, will integrate ESDP with the College-wide K+ programme. This widening participation scheme aims to inspire students from the capital who have excellent GCSE results but little experience of higher education in their families to apply to high-ranking universities. Students take part in taster sessions, lectures and cultural events and receive online mentoring from current undergraduates. ‘K+ will allow us to build a stronger relationship with potential ESDP applicants,’ says Reed. The Dental Institute is aiming to recruit up to 12 ESDP students to start in 2014 and will maintain this number in the future due to the relatively small size of the course. The Institute’s selection process is rigorous as students must be academically competent to cope with the challenges of the course. January 2014 | InDent | 7
A commitment to excellence
STEPHEN VOSS
Pirooz Zia (Guy’s, 1991) runs an endodontics practice in Washington DC and is part of King’s Dental Circle. On a recent visit to London, he spoke about giving back
I was born in Iran and my family moved to the UK in 1979. I received my BDS from Guy’s in 1991 and then went to Boston University to specialise in endodontics. I now live and work in Washington DC. Exposure to three very different cultures was initially challenging, but it has taught me a little about adaptability and being open, which I think are useful concepts. I chose endodontics because I was attracted to the micro nature of the specialty. It’s also a rewarding opportunity to relieve pain and help people save their natural teeth. It’s an exciting time to be in our field as the technological advances have made the procedures faster, vastly more comfortable for our patients and extremely predictable in terms of outcome. Although I’m surrounded by the latest and greatest technology at work, what makes the difference is our unwavering commitment to excellence. I don’t necessarily define excellence as the perfect root canal. For me, it’s about being fully engaged with my patients and committed to their wellbeing. It’s also about continual improvement. No matter where you rank among your competition or how good you think you are, there is always room for improvement. This is one of the values that I learned at King’s. I was taught by extraordinary educators like Professors Challacombe, Poswillo, Watson and Pitt Ford. They were giants in their field and they focused on teaching us how to ‘be’ as well as what to ‘do’. When you talk about success, 8 | InDent | January 2014
people immediately equate it to material wealth or a busy practice. Although that’s part of it, to me success also includes good health, peace of mind, fulfilling relationships and opportunities for creative freedom and growth. Three years ago I reconnected with the school by joining the Dental Circle. I am working with Dianne Rekow, the new Dean of the Dental Institute and one of the smartest people I’ve met, to develop a postgraduate programme focusing on teaching dentists the leadership and management skills they need to succeed. It’s a unique and exciting project, and once again I’m the one learning the most! This autumn, I was back at King’s, speaking about the role of computed tomography in endodontic diagnosis. It’s great to be able to interact with the students and perhaps give them a glimpse of life after school. I hope it will become an annual fixture. My peers were incredibly talented and many of them have become leaders in their field and professional community. It would be wonderful to see them become involved and share their knowledge and know-how. It’s great I think it was to give Churchill who said: ‘You make students a living by what a glimpse you get, but of life after you make a life school by what you give.’ And who can argue with Churchill!
Trailblazer
Professor David Poswillo CBE He is remembered as an inspirational teacher and adviser to governments (1927-2003)
An innovative scientist and surgeon, Professor David Poswillo CBE was a man of vision and considerable energy. He is perhaps best known for his work heading up two Whitehall committees that had a profound impact on public health and established new standards for safe dental practice. David Poswillo was born in Gisborne, New Zealand, and qualified in dentistry at Otago University at the age of just 21. His research into cleft lip and palate, carried out in his garden shed, brought him to the attention of Sir Harold Himsworth, then Secretary of the UK Medical Research Council, marking the beginning of his career as a noted researcher and practitioner. In the early 1960s, Professor Poswillo came to England to take up a post at the Royal College of Surgeons, initially as a Nuffield Scholar and later as Chair of Teratology, the study of physiological abnormalities. In 1977, he moved to Australia to head up the Department of Craniofacial Surgery at the University of Adelaide, where he co-authored The Craniosynostoses, a seminal work on deformities of the face and head. Two years later, he returned to London and the Royal Dental Hospital, this time specialising in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The Royal Dental Hospital merged with Guy’s Hospital Dental School in the mid-1980s, with Professor Poswillo serving as head of department until his retirement in 1992. Professor Poswillo is best remembered for his work in the 1990s, when he chaired a Department of Health working party on anaesthesia, sedation and resuscitation in dentistry. The Poswillo Report made more than 50 recommendations aimed at reducing the risks
associated with dental treatment. The recommendations covered equipment, training and the registration and inspection of premises and, crucially, established a new standard of practice. The report stated that, whereas previously dentists had frequently carried out anaesthesia alone, now two professional clinicians – including a qualified anaesthetist – must always be present. These standards have undoubtedly saved many lives. Professor Poswillo next chaired the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health, which paved the way for major advances in health policy on tobacco issues, including restrictions on smoking in public places. He was an active member of the Medical Defence Union, Treasurer and Senior Vice-President of the Royal Society of Medicine and President of the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Professor Poswillo was an inspirational teacher, and many of today’s leading dentists owe him a debt of gratitude.
January 2014 | InDent | 9
Institute news Headline
Norwood Hall centre to open in spring
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onstruction of the Norwood Hall Joint Services Centre, a new leisure and health centre that will also provide dental care in West Norwood, is nearing completion, with the facility on schedule to open in the late spring of this year. A collaboration between King’s Health Partners and NHS Lambeth and Lambeth Council, it will provide a 25-metre pool, a fitness suite and dance studio and local GP practices, as well as state-of-the-art dental facilities. The dental unit will be named the Maurice Wohl General Dental Practice Centre. The current Maurice Wohl General Dental Practice Centre, established in 1987 by the philanthropist Maurice Wohl, will be moved from the Denmark Hill Campus to Norwood Hall. The new centre will include 14 dental surgeries in which all members
Norwood Hall will offer integrated dental services
of the dental team, including dental therapists, will practise integrated care. Fifth-year undergraduates will also provide care, under the supervision of experienced dentists and
consultants, offering free dental services to patients. The trustees of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation are building on the foundation’s legacy by providing further
Remembering Ron Wilson and Bill Binnie
SUKI DHANDA
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r Ron Wilson, pictured right, an integral part of the Dental Institute for more than half a century, died this past year following a long illness. From beginnings as a junior scientific officer through to his role as senior lecturer, he made an immense contribution in education and research ranging from DCPs and dental undergraduates to PhD students, post-doctoral researchers and staff. His initial work in cariology, periodontology, microbiology and mineralisation expanded to research projects across the entire range of dental 10 | InDent | January 2014
disciplines. He was a friend and colleague to many clinical academics and to those training as specialists in restorative specialties, particularly periodontology. He is sorely missed by staff and alumni. Many Guy’s dental graduates from the 1970s will remember with fondness their teacher in oral pathology, William ‘Bill’ Binnie, who died in August. A Glasgow graduate, he joined Guy’s Hospital Dental School in 1967 as lecturer in oral medicine and pathology, becoming senior lecturer and honorary consultant
in 1973. By the time he left in 1979 to take up a chair at the Baylor College of Dentistry, in Dallas, he was an international authority on oral cancer and salivary tumours. He spent the next 26 years in Dallas, heading up the Department of Oral Pathology and then Diagnostic Sciences. He then returned to Scotland where, with his wife Cheryl, he converted an old coach house near St Andrews into a luxury B&B. At the same time, he resumed diagnostic pathology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and maintained an enviably low golf handicap. A travel fellowship has been established in Professor Binnie’s name to support UK trainees in oral and maxillofacial pathology. For details on how to donate to this fellowship, please contact Peter Morgan at peter.morgan@kcl.ac.uk
generous support of £1 million to create the Maurice Wohl Chair in Primary Dental Care and Advanced Dental Practice and the Vivienne Wohl PhD Studentship.
Breakthrough in growing teeth
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ental Institute researchers have developed a method to replace missing teeth with bioengineered teeth generated from a person’s own gum cells, with their work published in the Journal of Dental Research. Led by Professor Paul Sharpe, an expert in craniofacial development, the research so far has largely focused on the generation of immature teeth that mimic those in the embryo and can be transplanted into the adult jaw to develop into functional teeth. Researchers isolated adult human gum tissue from patients, grew more of it in the lab and then combined it with cells of mice that form teeth. By transplanting this combination of cells into mice, the researchers were able to grow hybrid human/mouse teeth containing dentine and enamel, as well as viable roots.
Student news Dental Circle supports DNA research
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n early 2013, Dr Albert Basson of the Institute’s Department of Craniofacial Development & Stem Cell Biology received a grant from the Medical Research Council to investigate the DNA structure, called chromatin, and the role of its remodelling factors in the development of the cerebellar region of the brain and autism. Dr Basson, along with Dr Cathy Fernandes of the Institute of Psychiatry and Dr Richard Wingate of the MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, are collaborating with a research group led by Professor Danny Reinberg at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York University.
Dr Basson established close links with the Reinberg group during a sabbatical in New York, which was funded by the Dental Institute and Dental Circle. Dr Basson’s previous research into CHARGE syndrome, a complex condition characterised by craniofacial, cardiovascular and brain defects, identified the critical roles for the gene mutated in this syndrome, CHD7, in the development of the cerebellum. ‘In addition to indirect links with a key developmental pathway, the FGF pathway,’ he says, ‘we now have good evidence that links CHD7 to a key pathway associated with cerebellar hypoplasia and autism.’
Orthodontic therapy course on track for 2014
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ing’s Health Partners has been given provisional approval by the General Dental Council to provide a course in orthodontic therapy, which will receive its second intake of students this June. The new course will be a one-year course that begins
with a four-week intensive core teaching programme. Once the taught elements and all the required assessment components have been completed, students will be eligible to sit the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh Diploma in Orthodontic Therapy.
Renovation of Tower Wing near completion
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enovation work to the Tower Wing on Guy’s Campus is due to be finished by late March. The 30-storey building, home to the Dental Institute, is undergoing a £40 million makeover, with the promised result of a sleeker, cleaner appearance. The 18-month renovation project includes the installation of energy-efficient windows and steam-cleaning and coating the concrete to reduce deterioration. The aluminium cladding to the Communications Tower, however, combined with artwork on the tower’s roof, is likely to make for the most visually significant change.
The artwork, Tensegrity Light Cloud, has been designed by German artist Carston Nicolai. Standing 12 metres tall and illuminated at night, it will make for a striking enhancement to this London landmark.
Wohl Centre honours students
The Institute honoured students for their outstanding performance
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ast summer, the Institute’s Maurice Wohl Dental Centre recognised several final-year students for their outstanding performance. The prizes were presented at an event kindly sponsored by W & H Ltd. Together with Professor Dianne Rekow, Dean of the Dental Institute, the company’s territory manager, Lee Lugard-Davies, presented
the awards to five students for exceptional standards of clinical proficiency, teamwork and total patient care skills. The Maurice Wohl Dental Centre Annual Award went to Sahra Jabbar, whilst the Certificates of Merit were presented to Tara Healy, Sahresh Ullah and Priya Gaind. Taranbir Thind received the Certificate for Most Improved Student.
Saudi student honoured
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PhD student from the Biomaterials, Biomimetics & Biophotonics Research Group has been honoured as one of the 12 best Saudi students in the UK. Ahmed Almahdy received his award from HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador in London. He was selected from 900 candidates, based on his papers published in Journal
of Dental Research and Caries Research, and also his best poster award in the ‘Operative Dentistry’ category at the 2011 ConsEuro Meeting in Istanbul. ‘This honour reflects how the Saudi government appreciates and encourages all Saudi students to achieve extraordinary successes during their studies in the world’s leading institutes and universities,’ says Almahdy.
Undergraduate wins top honour
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Sleeker, cleaner
King’s undergraduate won the Best Pre-doctoral Oral Presentation Prize at the 11th Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation (TMD) International Conference. Yvonne Yeung, who is in the fourth year of her studies, was the only undergraduate student
who entered, competing against PhD students for the prestigious award. She won the prize with her impressive oral presentation, ‘Development of the Palate in Fuzzy Mutant Mice’. ‘I had a fantastic time meeting new friends from around the world and learning more about the field of research,’ says Yeung. January 2014| InDent | 11
Headlinenews Alumni
Alumni Weekend 2013: the largest celebration yet
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n March, 223 Dental Institute alumni, staff and students attended the fifth Annual Dental Dinner at the Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel, making the event the biggest celebration yet and a fantastic way to mark the beginning of Dental Alumni Weekend. Guests enjoyed entertainment from both the KCL Magic Society and Madeleine String Trio and raised nearly £2,000 in the Dental Society raffle for the student endowment
fund. Professor Michael Gleeson (Guy’s, 1971) was presented with the Alumnus of the Year Award and Eric Whaites (Guy’s, 1978) received the Distinguished Service Award. The prize for the biggest reunion went to Guy’s 35-year group. Many reunion groups got together at the dinner, enjoying the opportunity to share memories of their time at the Dental Institute. There was an early start the next morning as over 250 alumni and friends returned to campus for a programme of continuing
Linking the mouth and overall health
Alumnus establishes network for Italian scientists
professional development during Clinical Day. Highlights included the Herbert Memorial Lecture given by Professor Avijit Banerjee and the ever popular Rod Cawson Lecture, delivered by Professor Tara Renton. Guests also had the opportunity to browse the trade stands of the Dental Trade Exhibition and to reminisce as they enjoyed guided tours of Guy’s Tower. The 2014 Dental Alumni Weekend will take place on 28 February-1 March. The sixth Annual Dental Dinner
will once again be held at the Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel; alumni will have the opportunity to sample the brand new menu and to hear from Professor Patricia Reynolds, the new President of the Dental Alumni Association. The full programme can be found in the Dental Alumni Weekend brochure or online at www.alumni.kcl.ac.uk/ daw2014. For more information, please contact the Alumni Office on +44 (0)20 7848 3053 or email alumoff@kcl.ac.uk
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uy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ Dental Institute alumnus Richard Guyver (Dentistry, 2000) has written and published a book that gives insight into how one’s mouth and general health are closely related. Live Another 4006 Days explains how the mouth and body interact with each other and shows ways to save money on dental care, with the overarching message being that having a healthier mouth reduces the risk of many medical conditions. ‘In the USA, the role of the mouth when managing other diseases is given significant consideration,’ says Guyver, a Dental Circule member who practices in Emsworth and Chichester. ‘I took it upon myself to give patients the power to demand more from us; after all, if I was in their shoes, that is what I would want.’ For more information, visit www.4006days.com If you have news to share with your fellow alumni, please email alumoff@kcl.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7848 3053. 12 | InDent | January 2014
Dr Emanuele Cotroneo
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r Emanuele Cotroneo, a Dental Institute alumnus, has founded the Association of Italian Scientists in UK (AIS-UK), a network of Italian professionals working in the UK in academia, industry, charity and government institutions. AIS-UK is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote scientific
and technological collaborations, organise scientific events and provide support to its 120 members. During his time at King’s, Dr Cotroneo undertook a PhD on salivary gland regeneration, for which he was awarded the International Association for Dental Research Lion Award for innovative basic dental science. He also held
the post-doctorate position in a collaborative project between Colgate and the Salivary Research Unit. ‘My professional experience in the Salivary Research Unit with Dr Guy Carpenter and Professor Gordon Proctor was extremely valuable for my professional growth,’ he says. ‘I couldn’t have hoped for a better work environment.’
Research
Building the future Researchers at King’s are developing new technologies to support oral and maxillofacial surgeons in tackling one of their biggest challenges: effective reconstruction of the face and jaw Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have a number of options open to them when faced with the challenge of reconstructing tissue defects either post-surgery or as a result of trauma or congenital defects such as cleft lip and palate. Techniques vary, depending on the nature of the defect and quantity of tissue required. For example, large mandibular or maxillary defects resulting from the removal of cancers typically require the transfer of tissue and the associated blood vessels from sites such as the iliac crest, fibula and scapular, while smaller defects may be managed with non-vascularised bone. In other situations, surgeons may make use of commercially available bone substitutes or other materials such as titanium and polyethylene. While these techniques can be effective, there remains an unmet need, says Kathy Fan, consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Dental Institute. ‘Any technique involving donor sites carries with it the risk of associated morbidity, while bone substitutes and other materials do not share the properties of autogenous tissue.’ Work now under way at King’s aims to meet that need, by creating materials that offer all the qualities of natural tissue with none of the drawbacks associated with current techniques. In the Department of Dental Materials, Dr Sanjukta Deb is currently working on a new technique for engineering tissue that will support bone regeneration in simultaneous horizontal and vertical defects. The material, made from ceramic and polymer components, essentially creates a cage around which the patient’s own tissue can regenerate. The ‘sticky’ nature of the polymer speeds up integration with the surrounding bone, while the structure encourages rapid revascularisation and clot stabilization. ‘As far as we are aware, this is the first example of a fully synthetic customisable 3D scaffold that
Osteoblast cells cultured on a biomaterial surface: focal adhesions appear red, whilst the actin cytoskeleton is green and the nuclei are blue
offers controlled biodegradability and excellent biomimetic and biomineralisation characteristic,’ says Dr Deb. ‘For critical size bone defects, it offers a cost-effective alternative to xenografts and collagen membranes.’ Over in Dr Eileen Gentleman’s laboratory in the Department of Craniofacial Development & Stem Cell Biology, the focus is on engineering osteochondral tissue or bone cartilage that can then be formed into small plugs and used to replace damaged tissue in orthopaedic applications. ‘We’re using hydrogels – waterswollen networks of biocompatible polymer and polysaccharide chains that gel at body temperature and encapsulate live stem cells. Growth factors and mechanical forces within the hydrogels then direct the stem cells to become either bone or cartilage cells. Over time, the encapsulated cells degrade
the gel, leaving behind healthy bone and cartilage.’ The drive to develop viable alternatives to autogenous tissue is nothing new. It’s now 20 years since two professors at MIT, Robert Langer and Joseph Vacanti, published a review paper in the journal Science in which they introduced the emerging field of ‘tissue engineering’. The boom that followed attracted more than $4.5 billion in investment, but failed to yield a single profitable product. Now, though, researchers are once again seeing huge progress in the field. ‘The landscape is more mature now,’ says Fan. ‘Researchers better understand the complexities and have more realistic goals. The prospect that we might soon be able to engineer bone or cartilage substitutes with the same properties as their natural counterparts and that match the dimensions of the defect is very exciting indeed.’ January 2014 | InDent | 13
Research
Exploring dry mouth and taste
JULIAN ANDERSON
Investigating oral dryness is leading to a variety of research projects connecting saliva with taste perception
The ability to eat, swallow and speak can be seriously impaired by a dry mouth. But a drink of water only provides temporary relief for chronic oral dryness and, as saliva is difficult to replicate, artificial remedies do little to combat this unpleasant condition. By investigating patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that attacks salivary glands, Professor Gordon Proctor and Dr Guy Carpenter at the Dental Institute are leading efforts to develop better artificial saliva products. The illness affects 3-4 per cent of adults in the UK – with women accounting for around 90 per cent of cases – and is the second most common autoimmune condition after rheumatoid arthritis. 14 | InDent | January 2014
After the initial reaction, people do start to think about it seriously
‘There is no cure for Sjögren’s Syndrome,’ says Professor Proctor. ‘But by looking at how the condition changes saliva and measuring components such as mucin, an abundant glycoprotein giving saliva its sticky property, we will have a better idea of how to create substitutes that keep the mouth moist for longer.’ Although an important goal for the researchers is improving the quality of life for sufferers, their work is also helping to detect a more serious condition. Around 5 per cent of people affected by Sjögren’s will develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, commonly seen in the parotid glands in the sides of the face. ‘We are collecting samples to see whether people are at risk
and can then determine whether intervention such as radiation or chemotherapy is needed,’ says Professor Proctor. With its long-established reputation for exploring the properties of saliva, the team is now winning new funding for projects linked to major health concerns. Connecting saliva function and taste perception, for example, could help to unlock the mystery of why fat tastes so good. ‘There is no evidence for a specific taste receptor for fat, but we know it enhances the feeling in our mouth when we eat,’ says Dr Carpenter. ‘As global obesity rates soar, the food industry is interested in reducing fat content while maintaining the pleasant mouth feel.’
Promoting an awareness of saliva’s importance
Professor Gordon Proctor, left, and Dr Guy Carpenter
Research students funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, several food companies, including Unilever, Pepsico and Wrigley, and pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline are testing how saliva interacts with the way products taste. Their work includes understanding the astringency or dry feeling that occurs after drinking red wine or tea and how taste evolves as people age. Tackling dental erosion is equally important and an ongoing project, funded by Colgate, is aiming to identify some biomarkers for susceptibility to erosion caused by the acids in our diet. ‘With the consumption of soft drinks rising, this is an urgent issue,’ says
Professor Proctor. ‘The acid affects people differently depending on the composition of their saliva. Its protein content is important as this bonds onto the tooth surface to protect it.’ ‘We hope to be able to screen people at risk and take preventative measures,’ adds Dr Carpenter. ‘Eventually, we could enhance toothpastes to improve the pellicles in saliva and reduce erosion.’ As the role of saliva gains greater recognition, the two experts expect to continue devoting most of their working lives to researching this complex substance. ‘It can be a bit of a conversation stopper at social events,’ says Professor Proctor. ‘But after this initial reaction, people do start to think about it more seriously.’
With an ageing population and greater use of prescription drugs, dry mouth is an increasingly common problem Research on saliva at the Dental Institute makes a vital contribution to the work of colleagues at Guy’s Hospital who provide specialised care for people with chronic oral dryness. Dr Michael Escudier sees patients who suffer from Sjögren’s Syndrome, salivary stones and strictures and other conditions, as well as people on drug regimes that affect the salivary glands. A common side effect can be infections such as oral thrush. ‘The research teams are working to gain a better understanding of the basic science of saliva and we then apply their ideas in a clinical setting,’ says Dr Escudier from the Department of Oral Medicine. ‘For example, Professor Gordon Proctor has shown that if you remove an obstruction in the saliva gland it can repair itself, which means we don’t have to extract the entire gland as previously thought.’ At the dry mouth clinic at Guy’s, Dr Escudier is now starting to treat more people whose ability to produce saliva is affected by drugs. ‘A variety of widely used medicines, including some blood pressure tablets and antidepressants, can reduce the saliva flow,’ he says. Dr Escudier is keen to promote a greater awareness of saliva’s impact on overall health and gave a talk at last year’s King’s Festival of Food and Ideas to spread the message. ‘Saliva is a much underrated fluid with a multitude of roles and constituents,’ he explains. ‘Even minor changes in its composition can affect swallowing, speech, taste and digestion as well as exacerbating periodontal disease.’ He stresses that with an ageing population and the greater use of drugs, dry-mouth problems are likely to grow. ‘Our hands-on work in clinics provides useful data for researchers back in the labs who are working hard to tackle these challenges,’ says Dr Escudier.
January 2014| InDent | 15
Events & Reunions
Events
Dental Alumni Weekend: a great opportunity to connect
Dental Alumni Weekend 2014 Date: 28 February-1 March Venue: Hygienists’ and therapists’
specialist section meeting at Guy’s Campus; Annual Dental Dinner at the Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel; Clinical Day and Dental Alumni Association AGM at New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus Details: Dental Alumni Weekend brings together professional development and social events for alumni and friends of the Dental Institute. The weekend provides alumni with opportunities to reunite with classmates, network with some of the leading names in dentistry and learn about the latest advances in patient care. Friday will feature a continuing professional development session for hygienists and therapists. The evening will be dedicated to the sixth Annual Dental Dinner, an occasion which will honour recipients of the Distinguished Service Awards and the 2014 Alumnus of the Year, as well as giving special recognition to the largest reunion group in attendance for the weekend. Clinical Day will follow on Saturday, featuring specially selected workshops and Dr Rebecca Moazzez giving the Herbert Memorial Lecture. Continuing professional development points are also on offer. The full programme can be found in the Dental Alumni Weekend brochure or online at alumni.kcl.ac.uk/dental2014 The weekend’s organising body is the Committee of the Dental Alumni Association. Alumni are warmly invited to attend the association’s AGM, which will be held at 11.30, 1 March, in Lecture Theatre 2, New Hunt’s House. For more information about the AGM, please contact Suzie Moore, c/o Alumni Office, Ground Floor, Strand Bridge House, 138-142 Strand, London, WC2R 1HH, or email suzie.moore@kcl.ac.uk
KCLA Address Date: 6 March 2014 Venue: Southwark Cathedral Details: All alumni are invited to the
fourth annual KCLA Address, where we will welcome The Rt Rev The Lord Harries of Pentregarth, who will give his address entitled ‘Has Britain lost its moral compass?’ Contact the Alumni Office on alumoff@kcl.ac.uk to register your interest. Alumni Weekend 2014 Date: 6-8 June Venue: Various London locations Details: With curiosity as its theme,
King’s 11th annual Alumni Weekend will feature a range of lectures, tours and entertainment open to alumni from all graduation years, schools and merged institutions. To learn more, visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/events or contact the Alumni Office on alumoff@kcl.ac.uk
Reunions Reunite at the Dental Dinner
Would you like to organise a reunion for the Dental Dinner this year? The dinner provides the perfect setting to gather with classmates and reminisce about your student days. Please contact reunions@kcl.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7848 7438 to start making plans for a wonderful event. Date: Friday 28 February 2014 Venue: Hilton London Tower Bridge Hotel Details: Tickets are £50 per person.
InDent Editorial team: Louise King, Publications & Information Officer, Dental Institute, louise.king@kcl.ac.uk James Bressor, Deputy Head, Print & Editorial, james.bressor@kcl.ac.uk Designed by Esterson Associates Tel +44 (0)20 7684 6500
16 | InDent | January 2014
Reunions taking place during Dental Alumni Weekend Guy’s, Class of 1975 Led by Ann Gleeson Date: Friday 1 March Details: Pre-dinner drinks
followed by the Dental Dinner
Guy’s, Class of 1983/84 Led by Stephanie Brown Date: Saturday 1 March Venue: The Tower Guoman Hotel,
Tower Bridge Price: £70 Details: Dinner and drinks
For more information on either of these reunions, please contact reunions@kcl.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7848 7438. When booking a place for the Dental Dinner, please note if you want to be seated with a reunion group. Calling all 2015 reunion leaders!
If you graduated in a year ending in a 5 or a 10, then 2015 is a special anniversary year for you! Now is the perfect time to start planning your reunion celebration during Dental Alumni Weekend, scheduled for 6-7 March 2015. The Alumni Office can support your reunion by providing you with details of your classmates, sending out a ‘save the date’ notice on your behalf in October and advertising your reunion through our website and social media. Your role will be to rally your classmates. To learn more about how you can plan a reunion event, please contact reunions@kcl.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7848 7438.