Dental Symposium - Helping to shape the future of dentistry and improved oral health in Wales

Public Health Wales, the Welsh Government and the Welsh Dental Committee are to host the first Welsh Dental Symposium in March, the two events one in North wales and one in the South will follow the same programme and themes.

The days will feature a variety of inspiring speakers, breakout sessions and a marketplace area, which will provide plenty of opportunities to have your voice heard and to get involved in discussions about what’s happening in the world of dentistry in Wales.

Highlights of the symposium will include:

- Improving Oral Health and Dental services contributing to Prosperity for All

- General Dental Services Reform Programme

- Innovation in Dentistry

Chief Dental Officer for Wales, Dr Colette Bridgman, said: “We are delighted to be able to run these two events across Wales, which are hopefully the first of many more to come.

“If you’re interested in hearing about oral health improvement and shaping change in dentistry in Wales I invite you to come along; we’re keen to hear your opinions and ideas.

” Prosperity for All: the national strategy confirms that the Welsh Government is serious about ‘taking significant steps to shift our approach from treatment to prevention’.

“Contract reform is needed across dental services in Wales and is a significant part of the dental response to Prosperity for All, a programme involving 23 dental practices is up and running in Wales. You’ll be able to find out more at the symposium.”

Anup Karki, Consultant in Dental Public Health, said: “Dental symposiums will provide a platform for discussion about the opportunities and challenges we face in improving the oral health of our population and in making dental services across Wales sustainable.

“The programme for our first symposium covers key priority areas in Wales and I’m very much looking forward to exploring these further.”

Warren Tolley, Chair of the Welsh Dental Committee said:

There is no charge to attend this conference, but please make sure you can attend before booking your place; running such an event comes at a considerable cost and we want to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from the symposium.

We still have space for small display stands in the marketplace area and are particularly interested in hearing from individuals, or teams, who are doing innovative work in the dental field. If you’re interested in having a stand please email Raylene.Roper@wales.nhs.uk.

Agenda for the day

9 – 9:30am Registration with tea and coffee

9:30 – 9:40am Welcome from Warren Tolley, Chair of The Welsh Dental Committee

9:40 – 9:50am Dr Colette Bridgman, Chief Dental Officer for Wales - Taking oral health improvement and dental services forward in Wales

9:50 – 10am Lisa Howells, Deputy Chief Dental Officer for Wales- Impact of Designed to Smile

10 – 10:20am Nigel Monaghan, Consultant in Dental Public Health & Maria Morgan Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health - The headlines on Population Oral Health and use of service

10:20 – 10:40 Colette Bridgman, Chief Dental Officer for Wales - Improving Oral Health and Dental services contributing to Prosperity for All. Overview and developing our strategic planning and response.

10:40 – 11am Tea coffee

11– 12:30pm Workshops Aim of Workshops – your contribution to proposals and plans.

Oral Health and Dental Services, Challenges? What are we going to do about it and how?

12:30 -1:30 LUNCH

1:30 – 2pm General Dental Services Reform Programme

2 -2:15pm Dental Referral Management System

2:15– 3pm Innovation in Dentistry across Wales

3 – 3:15pm Tea coffee

3:15 – 3:45pm Mechelle Collard, Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry - Update on the Strategic Advisory Forum for Paediatrics

Mick Allen, Consultant in Special Care Dentistry - Update on the Strategic Advisory Forum for Sedation

3:45 – 4:15pm Kirstie Moons, Associate Director for DCP Education & Fiona Sandom, Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Tutor, Wales Deanery - Making use of the whole team

4:15pm Summary and Close

The Dental Symposium is being held in the Millennium Lounge at the Principality Stadium, West Gate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1NS. Delegates should enter via Gate 7 along the river walk.

There are various car parks near to Principality Stadium