Background The loss of dentures for inpatients can have a detrimental effect on their well-being. Self-respect and dignity become compromised along with their ability to eat meals and communicate clearly, and long-term recovery.Aim This investigation aimed to identify the reported number of dentures lost in hospitals and the financial reimbursements given by trusts to replace them.Method Information on reported denture loss and reimbursement was collected in 12 trusts throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex.Results Eleven out of 12 trusts returned data about how many dentures were lost in their hospitals, between them 695 dentures were reported lost over five years (2011-16). Seven trusts reported financial reimbursements for dentures losses; results showed £357,672 was reimbursed over six years (2010-16), the highest amount reimbursed for a single denture was £2,200.Conclusion The results indicate that denture loss is a problem in hospitals that contributes to the financial burden for the NHS. Consideration needs to be given by hospitals to find ways to reduce the number of dentures lost every year.

Study Objective To describe rates of pelvic pain in university women ages 18 and older and to explore the barriers to adequate health care for pelvic pain in this population. Design A cross-sectional study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. Patients A total of 2000 female students at the University of Florida were randomly selected for participation. Interventions The 2000 sample members were sent a questionnaire to be completed online. Measurements and Main Results The online questionnaire was hosted through the REDCap electronic data capture tool hosted at the University of Florida. This questionnaire included demographic items, general health and health behavior questions, measures to assess different types of pelvic pain (e.g., dysmenorrheal; dyspareunia; urinary, bowel, and vulvar pain), items regarding barriers to care for pelvic pain problems, and quality of life measures. Data were exported to SAS software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) for analysis. Of the 2000 subjects who received the questionnaire invitation, 390 filled out the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 19.5%. Respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 62 with a mean of 23 years. A total of 72.8% of respondents reported experiencing pelvic pain over the past 12 months. Dysmenorrhea was reported by nearly 80% of participants, over one third of participants noted deep dyspareunia, and a significant proportion of participants reported symptoms related to bowel movements. Vulvar symptoms, including superficial dyspareunia, were reported by 21.5% of participants. Most participants with pelvic pain (78.8%) have not received any diagnosis for their pain, whereas 73.6% reported not yet having visited a doctor. Significant barriers to receiving adequate medical care were reported, including difficulty with insurance coverage and physicians’ lack of time and knowledge or interest in chronic pelvic pain conditions. Conclusion Pelvic pain in younger women is a critical public health issue experienced by a significant portion of the population. Significant awareness deficits and barriers to care exist. Careful study of the barriers to receiving adequate medical care reported by these women will allow researchers to describe how best to improve care for these syndromes.

Books beautiful books I was delighted to be asked by Vital to review this splendid book by Eric Whaites. As I am currently undertaking my Key Skills with the Faculty of General Dental Practice I was very excited to be able to use this book to help me with the Radiography Key Skills module. This book was originally written for dental nurses but it is now been adapted specifi cally for all dental care professionals. The book is divided into four main sections which cover the important subject areas of radiography. These are: ■ The basic physics and equipment of radiography ■ Radiation protection and safety ■ The techniques involved in radiography to produce various radiographic images ■ The interpretation of these radiographic images.

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