Primary dental journal最新文献

This paper presents a practical framework for "everyday leadership", a concept that emphasises purpose-driven, self-led, and ethically-grounded leadership accessible to individuals across all roles and backgrounds. Unlike traditional leadership models focused on charisma, hierarchy or fame, everyday leadership begins with leading oneself - through self-discipline, personal accountability, and mission-centered thinking. The authors propose three essential conditions for true leadership: 1. a concrete and enduring mission that one is committed to protecting beyond personal gain; 2. the willingness to pursue that mission with unwavering effort and humility; and 3. the ability to gather and align with like-minded individuals who share the same values. The paper further explores the tension between social and market norms, urging leaders to clarify their value system and hire team members whose motivations align accordingly. Drawing on real-world examples and behavioural insights, the authors highlight how seemingly small, everyday actions shape organisational culture and influence the "movable middle" - the 80% of people whose behaviour can be directed toward good or ill. Leadership is shown not as a destination or title, but as a continuous process of choosing the path of significance over convenience. Ultimately, the paper asserts that the essence of everyday leadership lies in integrity, alignment, and purposeful action - and that the true measure of a leader is not perfection, but the courage to keep trying. This work provides essential guidance for healthcare professionals and others seeking to lead meaningfully within the challenges of daily practice.

Balancing the demands of professional and family life can be overwhelming for many parents. Learning to understand the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them can be of benefit to minimise stress. In this opinion piece, stress management techniques, including building a routine, embracing minimalism, and utilising technology to maximise time, will be discussed. Imposter syndrome is defined and ways to mitigate it are also reviewed. The article also examines the understanding that, often in parenting, thriving is simply embracing the chaos and being present in the moment.

As dentistry enters a new era of digital innovation, clinicians are challenged to lead with intention rather than simply follow trends. This article explores how dentists can strategically implement new technologies to elevate patient care, improve team dynamics, and future-proof their practices. Drawing from leadership principles and real-world clinical examples, the article outlines a framework for evaluating and adopting digital tools - from intraoral scanners and three-dimensional (3D) printers to artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostics. Emphasis is placed on the importance of team integration, patient-centred outcomes, and the balance between innovation and clinical wisdom. Readers will gain an insight into how to navigate the ever-expanding landscape of dental technology with clarity, purpose, and confidence.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory condition that may be encountered in primary dental care settings. It exhibits a characteristic clinical and histological presentation, with symptoms ranging from asymptomatic, to persistent active lichenoid inflammation and associated pain. Oral lichenoid lesions present with a similar clinical and histopathological appearance, but are associated with extrinsic factors, or related to other systemic medical conditions. It is important to understand how patients are managed and treated in primary care, and how to recognise those who require referral to a specialist department.

Soft tissue anomalies can often be seen in the oral cavity of children and adolescents. Given a child's development, ability to cope and differences in aetiology, it is important that dental practitioners are aware of the different management options available for children with oral medicine conditions and when it is appropriate to refer. This paper attempts to be a comprehensive guide to the most common oral medicine conditions seen in children, aimed towards dental practitioners who do not frequently come across some of these conditions. Knowing the correct simple management options, as well as the correct place to refer in case of more complex issues, ensures that paediatric patients receive the best possible care.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating facial pain condition that can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. Typically, pain episodes are unpredictable lasting seconds to minutes, usually presenting in a unilateral distribution of the trigeminal nerve.Patients will often seek help from primary care dental practitioners during an acute attack, in need of pain relief and support in managing the pain.This narrative article aims to highlight the key features of TN and how the primary dental care team can actively support management of patients presenting with an acute episode of pain and avoid unnecessary, irreversible dental treatments. An overview of the key immediate and long-term management strategies that can help support these patients, and the implications of these therapies on the provision of dental care is provided.Additionally, two of the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs), which have similar features to TN are discussed, to enable the primary care dental team to identify this subset of primary headache conditions and support them in making onward secondary care referrals.