Here’s the key graphic as discussed in my lecture for Colgate. Click the image to view full size.
I’m Ben Atkins, and this is my website.
Why would a dentist have his own, personal website? Two reasons, really. Firstly, I think patients should know more about the person they trust to look after their teeth. Secondly, I’ve often been asked by people, in both healthcare and the media for my opinions on dentistry and related subjects.
So whether or not you fall into either of those categories, this site has been designed to help you find out all you want to know.
These are my current thoughts, personal musings and concern things that have interested me or happened to me.
Blogs are funny things. Everyone starts them with the best intentions, but the truth is I don’t have anyone writing this except me – so apologies if it’s some time between postings, I’ll have been busy!
As well as being a dentist in Manchester, I’m greatly involved in wider professional activities, not least as a Trustee of the Oral Health Foundation. This still leaves time for my family, my hobbies and passions – which I’ll share with you.
I hope you find the collection of topics interesting, informative and occasionally amusing …and if you have anything you’d like to hear my views on, just email me at [email protected].
More than 80 people have been prosecuted for illegal teeth whitening in the last three years. I was glad to be asked for comments by BBC Radio Sussex to highlight the dental profession’s grave concerns [...]
Shocking research has revealed that nearly a third (31%) of 5-year-olds and nearly half (46%) of 8-year-olds in the UK have obvious tooth decay in their primary teeth. Also, it was found that, sadly, [...]
Damage to teeth from fizzy drinks was highlighted again on the latest series of the BBC’s Rip off Britain: Food from BBC1. I enjoyed filming part of an episode in Manchester, demonstrating the effects [...]
I recently had the opportunity to talk to Dental Review about engaging with my patients. I was interviewed along with dental hygienist Anna Middleton about the importance of engaging with a patient’s [...]
A recent article in The Telegraph saying we are brushing our teeth all wrong, made fascinating reading. I was delighted to go on Love Sport Radio to talk about some of the points raised in more detail. [...]
Childrens’ tooth decay is a big problem in the UK. I’ve written about it many times, because it is entirely preventable. This week the Local Government Association released some startling figures. [...]
All of a sudden, flossing became the hot topic of the week! It started when the Daily Mail published an article . The article suggested research had show that flossing provided no benefit to oral healthcare. [...]
In the last month or so I’ve seen a wide range of articles about dentistry in print media. It may not be as exciting a topic as Euro 2016 or the EU Referendum, but oral healthcare affects us all. [...]
In the December 2015 edition of the British Dental Journal, News Editor David Westgarth interviewed me about the role that the media can play in supporting Dentists’ communications with their patients. [...]
What is it about the media and dentists? Let me put it this way: when was the last time you saw a film or TV programme featuring a kind, caring, sensitive normal dentist? How about Ricky Gervais in Ghost [...]