Piloting a local dental network across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Primary Care Trusts.

Aim: To pilot a local dental network (LDN) within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region.

Method: An LDN Coordinating Group was set up, which was chaired by the local consultant in dental public health and included representatives from dental commissioning and performance management teams, dental practice advisory team, finance, Oxford and Wessex Dental Deanery and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Dental Committee. The LDN successfully led the organisation of a leadership training course for local dentists, and produced recommendations for local oral surgery and orthodontics care pathways.

The effect of age on the recognition thresholds of three sweeteners: sucrose, saccharin and aspartame.

It is believed that people's sensitivity to taste declines with age but the evidence is inconclusive. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that taste recognition thresholds (TRTs) for sweetness are higher in older than in younger individuals, using groups of 16 younger subjects (18-30) and 16 older subjects (60-85). Three test substances were used: sucrose, aspartame and saccharin.