Teaching of the assessment of head and brain injury in UK dental schools--The Headway Survey

Under the auspices of Headway--the brain injury association, the charity supplies information on head/brain injury and runs a telephone advice line: (0115 924 0800). Questionnaires regarding the undergraduate teaching related to head/brain injuries were sent to, and returned by, all 12 UK dental schools. The replies suggest that undergraduate teaching of this subject is patchy and inadequately prepares dentists to recognise and cope with patients who may have had head, and consequently brain, injuries. It is recommended that dental schools review their teaching of this subject and ensure that it is consistent with the current guidelines issued by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the recognition of head injury and that the findings are brought to the attention of the General Dental Council in the context of the GDC's "The first five years" report.