All applicants for the admission to the MChD should be aware that the Leeds Dental Institute is changing its admissions process this year and anticipates that all interviews will take place in the week commencing 17 December 2012. Whilst it may be possible to change your date and/or time within this week this is not guaranteed, and, barring unforeseen circumstances, it is extremely unlikely that further dates outside the week will be used.

Rachel Haigh, a 3^rd year dental student, is one of 8000 torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic torch this summer.

Rachel was chosen by the University through a partnership with Torch Relay sponsor Samsung. She was selected following a cross-campus nomination process in which staff and students nominated inspirational members of the University community. Rachel was nominated for having won 10 medals at BUCS University swimming championships, no other Leeds swimmer has achieved this feat in the same period of time!

Rachel will be bearing the torch in Batley on 25 June. Four other students and a staff member from Leeds have also been chosen to be Olympic torchbearers. Read the full story here.

A postgraduate student at Leeds Dental Institute was awarded UK Best Young Dentist at the 2011 Dentistry Awards in December.

Dannick Jethwa UK Best Young Dentist award 2011

Dannick Jethwa, practice principal of Spondon Dental Practice, Derbyshire, was declared Best Young Dentist for the Midlands region and went on to win the title, "UK Best Young Dentist" over seven other regional winners.

Since qualifying as a dentist at Leeds in 2002, Dannick has gone on to buy and run a dental practice. He has transformed Spondon Dental Practice since he took over the practice in 2008. He is also active in the dental community as he serves on the Derby City Local Dental Committee which represents general practitioners in the area.

The Dentistry Awards are held annually and there are four awards - Best Young Dentist, Best Team, Best Practice and Best Dental Care Professionals. The UK was split into eight regions and there is a winner in each region, as well as an overall UK winner in each category. The Best Young Dentist category was open to dentists under the age of 35, to be considered for the award dentists were to submit a statement outlining their achievements with supporting evidence. A select panel of judges shortlist the nominations and decide on the winners.

Dannick is thrilled and amazed to be the overall winner of the UK Young Dentist award, he said, "It was fantastic to be recognised for all my hard work and commitment!"

Not one to rest on his laurels, Dannick is currently studying the MSc in Clinical Dentistry (Restorative Dentistry) via distance learning at Leeds Dental Institute.

In the coming year, he hopes to grow Spondon Dental Practice and complete his MSc. "The Msc is improving my understanding of research in dentistry and how fundamental it is to our everyday working practice and patient care."

Leeds Dental Institute congratulates our dental hygiene and dental therapy graduands who received their awards in the graduation ceremony on 16 December. 18 were awarded the Graduate Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy.

Special congratulations go to:

• Lucy Rutter who won the Academic Prize as well as the Dental Hygiene Prize (sponsored by Dentsply)
• Samantha Saltmer for winning the Dental Therapy Prize (sponsored by GSK); Clinical Competence Prize (sponsored by Swallow Dental Supplies) and the Year One Prize (sponsored by Molar Ltd)
• Nicola Wright who received the Research Project Prize (sponsored by Johnson and Johnson)
• Zoe Griffiths who received the Tutor's Prize
• Sian Titherington for winning the Paediatric Prize (sponsored by BADT) and the Student Prize (sponsored by Dental Protection).

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of acid attack and re-builds teeth as new.

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of acid attack and re-builds teeth as new.

Tooth decay begins when acid produced by bacteria in plaque dissolves the mineral in the teeth, causing microscopic holes or 'pores' to form. As the decay process progresses these micro-pores increase in size and number.  Eventually the damaged tooth may have to be drilled and filled to prevent toothache, or even removed.

The very thought of drilling puts many people off going to see their dentist, whether or not they actually need treatment. This tendency to miss check-ups and ignore niggling aches and pains means that existing problems get worse and early signs of decay in other teeth are overlooked.

It's a vicious cycle, but one that can be broken, according to researchers at the University of Leeds who have developed a revolutionary new way to treat the first signs of  tooth decay. Their solution is to arm dentists with a peptide-based fluid that is literally painted onto the tooth's surface. The peptide technology is based on knowledge of how the tooth forms in the first place and stimulates regeneration of the tooth defect.

"This may sound too good to be true, but we are essentially helping acid-damaged teeth to regenerate  themselves. It is a totally natural non-surgical repair process and is entirely pain-free too," said Professor Jennifer Kirkham, from the University of Leeds Dental Institute, who has led development of the new technique.

The 'magic' fluid was designed by researchers in the University of Leeds' School of Chemistry, led by Dr Amalia Aggeli. It contains a peptide known as P 11-4 that - under certain conditions - will assemble together into fibres. In practice, this means that when applied to the tooth, the fluid seeps into the micro-pores caused by acid attack and then spontaneously forms a gel. This gel then provides a 'scaffold' or framework that attracts calcium and regenerates the tooth's mineral from within, providing a natural and pain-free repair.

The technique was recently taken out of the laboratory and tested on a small group of adults whose dentist had spotted the initial signs of tooth decay. The results from this small trial have shown that P 11-4 can indeed reverse the damage and regenerate the tooth tissue.

"The results of our tests so far are extremely promising," said Professor Paul Brunton, who is overseeing the patient testing at the University of Leeds Dental Institute. "If these results can be repeated on a larger patient group, then I have no doubt whatsoever that in two to three years time this technique will be available for dentists to use in their daily practice."

"The main reason that people don't go to the dentist regularly is fear. If we can offer a treatment that is completely non-invasive, that doesn't involve a mechanical drill, then we can change that perceived link between dental treatment and pain. This really is more than filling without drilling, this is a novel approach that enables the patients to keep their natural teeth!"

The study is being funded by credentis ag who have licensed the technology and are preparing to introduce P11-4 to dentists worldwide.

Leeds Dental Institute will be celebrating 10 years of dental therapy training on Friday, 9 September 2011. To mark this special occasion, we are inviting all Leeds dental hygiene and dental therapy alumni to a study day and reunion at the University of Leeds.

The study day will carry five verifiable CPD hours and topics covered are

• The past of dental hygiene and dental therapy
• Ethics
• Implant maintenance
• Evidence based dentistry
• Caries risk assessment
• Hall technique
• The future for dental hygiene and dental therapy

To book your place at this dental hygiene and dental therapy alumni event, please email Kirsty Grey at denevent@leeds.ac.uk to reserve your place.

This is a great opportunity to catch up with old colleagues, earn some CPD hours and see the £6 million refurbishment that was completed recently.

Details:

Leeds Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Programme 10th Anniversary
“Past, Present and Future”
Date: Friday, 9 September 2001
Time: 09.00 - 16.00
Cost: £20 (includes lunch)
Location: University of Leeds
Booking information: Email Kirsty Grey at denevent@leeds.ac.uk

Above: Professor Hu Qingang

Above: The Leeds Dental Institute Dean Margaret Kellett & Professor Hu Qingang

Professor Hu Qingang, Dean of the School of Stomatology, Nanjing University, was recently appointed as Visiting Professor at Leeds Dental Institute.

Following a formal agreement in 2009 between the Institute and Nanjing Institute of Stomatology to collaborate on research, teaching and postgraduate training, Professor Hu has led the development of the Nanjing-Leeds Joint Centre for Oral Health Sciences of which he is currently the director.

In July, Nanjing-Leeds Joint Centre for Oral Health Sciences hosted the 2nd World Universities Network Symposium in Oral Health Sciences in Leeds. The symposium explored translational research in dentistry and featured 22 speakers from seven countries and various disciplines; and was attended by about 120 researchers and clinicians from various disciplines.

The agreement between the two universities also resulted in an active student exchange programme allowing the undergraduate and postgraduate students to spend part of their studies or carry out research abroad in Leeds or Nanjing respectively.

Professor Hu, clinically and in his research, specialises in oral and maxillofacial oncology, maxillofacial trauma, maxillofacial defect deformity, temporomandibular joint diagnosis and treatment; and is amongst the most advanced in China. His expertise is also internationally recognised with research collaborations with the USA, Australia, Japan and the UK.

In China, his clinical and research achievements have been recognised by a significant number of appointments and editorships including

• Standing council member of Chinese Stomatological Association (CSA)
• Standing council member of Chinese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• president of Jiangsu Stomatological Association and Jiangsu society of Head and Neck Surgery
• standing council member of Jiangsu Medical Association
• Journal of Oral Science Research (associate-editor-in-chief, since 2006)
• China Journal Of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (editorial member, since 2002)
• Journal Of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery (editorial member, since 1998)
• Primary Oral Science (associate-editor-in-chief, since 2001)
• Shanghai Journal Of Stomatology (invited editorial member, since 1999)
• Journal of Practical Stomatology (invited editorial member, since 2007)

Professor Hu is also the vice-chairman of Nanjing municipal board of Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee( CPPCC). Nanjing is the provincial capital of Jiangsu and one of China's most important cities. With a population of over 5 million people, Nanjing is the second largest commercial centre in the East China region after Shanghai and is a centre for automotive, power generation, education, bio-engineering and pharmaceutical industries.

22 scientists from seven countries will share their experiences in translational research in dentistry at the 2nd Worldwide Universities Network Symposium in Oral Health Sciences in July.

The symposium features speakers from Australia, China, Japan, the United States, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom; and takes place between 25 and 26 July at Weetwood Hall, Leeds.

Researchers from a range of disciplines and clinicians will together be exploring the process of translating basic science discoveries into oral health applications and testing these applications in clinical trials to accelerate the pathway to patient benefit.

The symposium is organised by the Nanjing-Leeds Joint Centre for Oral Health Sciences, a partnership between the Dental School at Nanjing University and Leeds Dental Institute at the University of Leeds.

Professor Jennifer Kirkham, Head of Oral Biology at Leeds Dental Institute explains: "The translational research principle of working from bench to clinic and back again results in a cycle of constant improvements.

By working together, we ensure that the results of our research make a significant impact on improving the quality of life for patients."

The Leeds Dental Institute is home to the Wellcome Trust Dental Translational and Clinical Research Unit (DenTCRU), a unique clinical facility in the UK for oral health clinical and translational research which enables direct links to be established between laboratory research and the needs of patients treated in the clinic.

2nd Worldwide Universities Network Symposium in Oral Health Sciences

25-26 July 2011
Weetwood Hall, Leeds
Otley Road, Leeds LS16 5PS
West Yorkshire, UK
www.wun.ac.uk/events/dental

Dr Viktoria Amadiou was awarded the Jens Andreason Award at the biannual 2011 International Association of Paediatric Dentists (IAPD) Congress in Athens from 15 to 18 June 2011.

The award is presented for the best poster presentation on dental traumatology in children and is open to all members registered to the IAPD Congress.

The winning presentation, In-vitro investigation of tooth discolouration with different intracanal materials used in dento-alveolar trauma, was selected out of 34 entries. Viktoria graduated from her MDentSci studies in Paediatric Dentistry 2010.

Dr Vasiliki Kafourou, who also graduated from her MDentSci studies in 2010, came in second with her presentation, A retrospective analysis of tooth transplantation in a paediatric population at Leeds Dental Institute.

In 2009, Dr Peter Day won the Jens Andreason Award with his presentation, Discolouration of teeth following avulsion and replantation, a randomised controlled trial. Peter graduated from his PhD studies in 2009.

11 LDI postgraduate students also presented posters at the IAPD Congress under the themes of Dental Anxiety and Behaviour Management; Dental Anomalies; and Cariology/Microbiology.

Dental students now have access to some of the best facilities in the world after a £9.5 million refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute.

The investment provides a first class environment for patients and the most up- to-date facilities for the teaching and training of the entire dental care team including dentistry students, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians.

The refurbishment includes a new entrance and reception, 120 new dental chairs, a new x-ray department and 24 new surgeries for NHS consultants to provide specialist dental treatment.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds bid for the investment three years ago so that the number of undergraduates studying dentistry could be expanded, and to give dental students in Leeds access to up-to-date, world-class facilities.

Dr Margaret Kellett, Director of Leeds Dental Institute, commented: "Thanks to this very significant investment we have transformed the building and provided a state-of-the-art facility where more dental students will be able to receive top quality training in a modern environment.

Our new curriculum and our dental mannequin unit have been hailed as the most innovative and advanced in Europe. The changes have been very well received by students and staff and we are already making a big difference to dental training in the region."

The transformation of dental undergraduate training in Leeds is in response to an initiative by the Department of Health and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, begun in 2005, to expand training of dental undergraduates to address a national shortage of NHS dentists.

Leeds Dental Institute marks the completion of the refurbishment works with an opening ceremony on 4 July 2011

Find out more about courses and life at Leeds Dental Institute (LDI) on Open Day. We are the only dental school on mainland Britain to offer a range of qualifications for all members of the dental team: Dentists, Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Dental Technicians and Dental Nurses.

Please note our programme talks are only open to prospective applicants and one other visitor and the workshops are only open to prospective applicants. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

The Medicine and Dentistry Parents Lounge at Level 7 of the Worsley Building is open throughout the day for visitors.

For more information on other events happening in other locations on campus, please visit the University's Open Day mini-site here

It is with delight that we record that Peter Shepherd (3rd BChD) has won the 'national 3M ESPE award for innovation' prize for an essay recognising the ability to think beyond existing practices and technologies to envisage the future of dentistry in 2020. Peter will attend a day's conference in London to collect his award and experience a day of presentations on the future of dentistry.

The Dental Institute is very proud and congratulates Peter warmly

June 16th 2011 Health Careers Forum

CPD for West Yorkshire professionals that provide careers information and advice. Further details.

Dear Dental Undergraduates,

It is my pleasure to announce that commencing on the 2nd May 2011, Dr Aradhna Tugnait and Ms Jane Wardman have accepted the role of Programme Manager for the existing BChD and future MChD programmes.

Dr Tugnait and Ms Wardman will share this role as they have successfully shared the Deputy Programme Managers role over the last year. A curriculum planning away day is to be held for all LDI teaching staff on the 13th April.

At this time I would like to express on behalf of all the Institute staff and students the debt of gratitude which we owe to Professor Manogue for having steered the undergraduate programme through a period of major change and development since 2004. Thanks to the expertise leadership and commitment of Professor Manogue we have a strong academic programme which with the introduction of the MChD will be further enhanced.

Regards.

Dr. Margaret Kellett,
Dean/Director,
Leeds Dental Institute,

Congratulations to Deema Marzouq

Deema won first prize at the national prize event co-ordinated by the British Dental Association and 'Dentsply' (a commercial organisation with a long history of supporting dental education).

The national prize event provided each of the fourteen UK dental schools with the opportunity to nominate a dental student to take part. The remit of the prize was "the art and science of dentistry" and the Leeds Dental Institute is very proud that Deema has been so successful. Deema wins a trip to Las Vegas later in the year for an international presentation and the Dental Institute is awarded £10,000

Deema's poster was titled "Why ethics in dentistry: Ethical issues with the use of animal-derived products in periodontics"

Leeds Dental Institute participates at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Health Fair ......read more

Academics and students from Leeds Dental Institute visited Nanjing University in China ....read more

Congratulations to postgraduate students from Leeds Dental Institute who recently scooped 4 international awards!

Mrs Reem Elgendy was awarded the MINTIG travelling award at BSDR, Glasgow for her oral presentation entitled 'Human dental pulp cells versus bone marrow cells for bone regeneration' and was also the 1st prize winner of the Nanjing-Leeds Oral Health Forum organised by the World Universities Network, entitled 'Osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem/stromal cells on 3D bioglass scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration in vitro'.

Mr Walid Elsayed won the Unilever Poster Prize at BSDR, Glasgow for his research entitled 'Identification of a novel genetic locus for autosomal recessive amelogenesis imperfecta'.

Dr Peter Day was awarded the Jens Andreasen best paper award at the IAPD (International Association of Paediatric Dentistry) Congress, Munich for his research entitled 'Discolouration of teeth following avulsion and replantation'.

Miss Sushmita Saha won the travelling bursary at the 2nd Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society World Congress in Seoul for her oral presentation 'A comparative study of the chondrogenic potential of different human cell types'.