DLA Chief Executive discusses British Bite Mark
Richard Daniels, Chief Executive of the Dental Laboratories Association (DLA), spoke with the Dental Tribute about the British Bite Mark and his hopes for the campaign.
Since the launch of the British Bite Mark the DLA has had an incredible response from UK dental laboratories wanting to be part of the campaign, the first to be directed at patients and the public.
The vast majority of dental laboratories in the UK have already signed the declaration of compliance with the British Bite Mark – over 600 laboratories to date.
The Bite Mark campaign aims to make it easier for patients to see where their dental appliances have come from. Dental laboratories that carry the British Bite Mark logo are demonstrating that all of their appliances are manufactured in the UK with CE marked materials and by dental technicians registered with the General Dental Council.
When asked why there was a need for a campaign that emphasises transparency in the dental laboratory industry, Daniels replied: “The British Bite Mar campaign is like any other ‘Made in Britain’ campaign. Its aim is to provide the patient with an informed choice about their purchase. Far from bypassing the dental practice, the campaign is going to actively embrace those dental practices that use British Bite Mark dental laboratories.”
For nearly ten years the DLA, led by Richard Daniels, has warned against the use of custom made dental appliances manufactured overseas, where regulations are not as strict as those in the UK.
“Since 2004, when we worked with our brother organisation in the US exposing lead in crowns from China, substandard quality monitoring has been encouraged in China and the rest of the Far East,” the Chief Executive explained. “However, while encouraging quality management systems in a dental laboratory is commendable, it isn’t the law. At the moment only dental laboratories operating in the UK and the EU have the possibility of a competent authority visiting the laboratory to ensure appropriately trained professionals are operating in the lab and that CE marked materials are being used.
“The truth of the matter is that there are good and bad labs everywhere in every country. The comforting thought for patients here in the UK is that there is a significantly higher chance of [bad laboratories] getting found out in the UK than anywhere else in the world. The easiest way of getting this message across is with an easily identifiable logo that instantly offers patients peace of mind.”
Daniels finished by saying: “In my opinion, dental laboratories that carry the British Bite Mark should be proud, and dental practices that use British Bite Mark dental laboratories should be proud. We want to help them promote that fact to their patients.
“Frankly, if the DLA don’t promote British dental technology, who will?”
