Dr Kiran Shankla will be speaking about the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of white spots on both anterior and posterior teeth at this year’s British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show at the NEC in Birmingham. After graduating with a master's degree in Restorative Dentistry from the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in 2020, Kiran is now a Key Opinion Leader for DMG and visiting lecturer at UCL Eastman.

While the appearance of white spot lesions on the anterior teeth is becoming increasingly common, advances in technology mean that the way that we are detecting and treating early interproximal caries is changing. Kiran notes that while ‘historically, early enamel lesions would be monitored with bitewings until they either progressed or remineralised, the introduction of AI technology has made the diagnosis of posterior interproximal caries simpler.’

As well as diagnostics, we have also witnessed a transformation in treatment options for early interproximal carious lesions. ‘Historically, there had been no treatment options available which did not involve removing tooth tissue. Therefore many patients would be left without treatment or would be advised to monitor the lesions. However, advances in dental materials have allowed for the treatment of early interproximal carious lesions without the need for a drill, eliminating the ambiguity of a lesion progressing or not. Icon Resin Infiltration can be used as the treatment of choice for many of these cases before a drill needs to be picked up, and can offer predictable, minimally invasive, long-term results.’

Kiran notes that these improved treatment options for white spots could not have come at a better time. ‘Patient awareness of treatment options is increasing, and patients want solutions. Due to the presence of social media, patients are becoming a lot more conscious of the appearance of their teeth. Many of the patients presenting with anterior tooth discolouration will be young children who are extremely concerned about how their teeth look. Due to their age we want to offer the most minimally invasive treatment as they have a lifetime ahead of them.’

Kiran’s lecture will offer treatment planning options and a step-by-step protocol detailing how to diagnose and treat these lesions to get successful long-lasting results. ‘This talk will be useful for all general dental practitioners and dental care professionals. Treatment options are changing rapidly in dentistry, and it is vital that all dental professionals keep up to date with the latest technology and knowledge so they can offer their patients the best treatment options or refer them if needed.’

Winner of the award for Best Young Dentist in the Southeast in 2022, Kiran helps encourage disadvantaged students to pursue dentistry as a career by volunteering as a mentor for a social mobility charity, and also maintains a keen interest in helping young dentists succeed in the industry. Kiran’s advice to young dentists hoping to excel in the ever-changing world of dentistry is to ‘always work hard and try to achieve the best results you are capable of. Find a good, structured learning pathway which will help build your confidence to practice general dentistry to a very high standard.’ Crucially, Kiran stresses that young dentists should not ‘rush into the latest courses or trends,’ but should instead ‘stick to the basic principles of dentistry, and try to maintain a high standard of work. Use a camera to document as much of your work as possible so that you can record how you are improving and how far you have come along the way. Remember that dentistry is a lifetime career and there is plenty of time to learn, so take it slow, enjoy the ride and don’t forget to have fun while working.’

Attending the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show is a fantastic way for dental professionals to add some extra fun into their working routine. In particular, Kiran is looking forward to the comprehensive conference programme. ‘There is a fantastic list of speakers and topics which will cater to all areas of dentistry. It’s great to see there is a varied programme covering different dental backgrounds, ensuring that delegates at the show will get a broad picture of different aspects of dentistry. I am also looking forward to the trade show and trying out all the latest dental equipment, and networking with my dental colleagues.’   

Dr Kiran Shankla will be speaking about ‘The Infiltration Concept: A practical overview of anterior and posterior resin infiltration’ in the opening slot in the BDA Theatre on Friday 12th May at 09:15 at this year’s British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show.