In our opinion.

The misleading statements made in the British Dental Journal in the December 2016 issue relating to dental age assessment are assessed for inaccuracies and negligent omission of the issue of Child Protection. It is emphasised that there is a need for the approach of objective knowledge viz. not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. The article by the Chair of the Education, Ethics, and Team Working Group implies that unsatisfactory consent procedures are followed. The DARLInG (Dental Age Research London Information Group) have followed a carefully prescribed procedure that fulfils all the requirements of the advice given by the Consent Committee at King's College Hospital. In addition, the active support in the form of independent support workers and lawyers assisted by interpreters is described. The issue of the lawful use of ionising radiation is described with correct information about where this information can be obtained. The seriously misleading statements made by the Chair of the Education, Ethics and Education Working Group are identified. An unacceptable oversight is the failure of the BDA representatives to draw attention to the need for child protection. The potential benefit of dental age estimation in terms of appropriately providing support for asylum seekers is described.The failure of the BDA Ethics group to be up to date with recent research which shows a high level of certainty in assigning age disputed subjects to above (or below) the 18-year threshold is discussed and the importance of this in reliably determining, in an objective way, the age status of asylum seekers. The incorrect and salacious use of the term 'X-rated' is highlighted and a formal request for its withdrawal has been made.

Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Cleidocranial Dysplasia in Two Trinidadian Siblings.

Cleidocranial dysplasia is a rare developmental disorder of the skeleton and teeth that may be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait or occur spontaneously. This is a report of two Trinidadian, East Indian brothers aged 13 and 15 years referred from a private dental practice with the chief complaint of retained deciduous teeth. Subsequent clinical and radiographic investigations led to the diagnosis of cleidocranial dysplasia. The clinical and radiographic findings are discussed.

Evaluation of common operator errors in panoramic radiography in Trinidad and Tobago: a comparison of formally vs informally trained operators / La evaluación de los errores comunes de los operadores de radiografía panorámica en Trinidad y Tobago comparación de los operadores adiestrados formalmente frente a los adiestrados informalmente

AIM: To evaluate and compare the frequency of common operator errors seen on panoramic radiographs in dental private practices and in the dental hospital (taken by informally and formally trained operators, respectively) in Trinidad and Tobago. METHOD: One thousand panoramic radiographs of patients over the age of 10 years were included in this study. These comprised 500 from the dental hospital and 500 from dental private practices. The radiographs were reviewed using standardized criteria to identify the most common operator errors. RESULTS: There were only 21 (4.2%) error free radiographs in the dental private practice sample and 29 (5.8%) in the dental hospital sample. Frequencies of specific errors were significantly higher in the dental private practice sample in each category except for "Chin tipped too low" (Chi-square p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: This study supports the need for the introduction of statutory guidelines with respect to the use of ionizing radiation in dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago and in particular, the implementation of formally assessed dedicated dental radiography training for all operators of dental X-ray equipment.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar y comparar la frecuencia de los errores comunes de los operadores, observados en las radiografías panorámicas en las clínicas dentales privadas y en el hospital de odontología (tomadas por operadores adiestrados formalmente e informalmente, de forma respectiva) en Trinidad y Tobago. MÉTODO: Mil radiografías panorámicas de pacientes de más de 10 años de edad, fueron incluidas en este estudio. Las mismas comprendían 500 provenientes del hospital odontológico y 500 provenían de las prácticas privadas de dentistas. Las radiografías fueron examinadas a partir de criterios estandarizados, a fin de identificar los errores más comunes de los operadores. RESULTADOS: Hubo sólo 21 (4.2%) radiografías sin errores en la muestra de la clínica dental privada, y 29 (5.8%) en la muestra del hospital de odontología. Las frecuencias de errores específicos fueron significativamente más altas en la muestra de la clínica dental privada en cada categoría, salvo el caso del "mentón inclinado excesivamente hacia abajo" (Chi-cuadrado p < 0.05) CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio subraya la necesidad de introducir pautas reglamentarias con respecto al uso de la radiación ionizante en la cirugía dental en Trinidad y Tobago, particularmente en lo que concierne al adiestramiento especializado en radiografía dental, formalmente evaluado, para todos los operadores de equipos de rayos x para el trabajo dental.

Evaluation of common operator errors in panoramic radiography in Trinidad and Tobago: a comparison of formally vs informally trained operators.

AIM: To evaluate and compare the frequency of common operator errors seen on panoramic radiographs in dental private practices and in the dental hospital (taken by informally and formally trained operators, respectively) in Trinidad and Tobago. METHOD: One thousand panoramic radiographs of patients over the age of 10 years were included in this study. These comprised 500 from the dental hospital and 500 from dental private practices. The radiographs were reviewed using standardized criteria to identify the most common operator errors. RESULTS: There were only 21 (4.2%) error free radiographs in the dental private practice sample and 29 (5.80%) in the dental hospital sample. Frequencies of specific errors were significantly higher in the dental private practice sample in each category except for "Chin tipped too low" (Chi-square p < 0.05) CONCLUSION: This study supports the need for the introduction of statutory guidelines with respect to the use of ionizing radiation in dentistry in Trinidad and Tobago and in particular, the implementation of formally assessed dedicated dental radiography training for all operators of dental X-ray equipment.