In memory of Tom Bereznicki, 1952-2026

Thomas Jack Bereznicki FCGDent, Chair of Trustees of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Education Foundation and a Founder of the College of General Dentistry, has died aged 74.

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, 1952-2026

Born in London in 1952 to Polish parents who had arrived in the UK after the Second World War, Tom and his family moved to Glasgow when his father took on a new position, and he was educated at Hutchesons’ Boys’ Grammar School.

In 1970, Tom began studying for a BDS at the University of Edinburgh, and in 1975 he married fellow student Cathy More. After graduating in social science, Cathy became an early leader in career guidance for young people, later becoming the first Chief Executive of the Institute of Careers Guidance and later Chief Executive of The Guidance Council.

After graduating himself in 1976, Tom headed to London and worked as a house surgeon, first at Guy’s and then the Royal Dental Hospital, where he passed the Primary FDS Examination, before entering general dental practice in 1978. After four years as an associate dentist in primary care, he was eager to branch out and in 1982 he opened his own single-handed, private ‘squat’ practice in Queensgate, London.

Over the next 29 years, he developed a special interest in restorative dentistry, occlusion in particular, and built up a loyal list of patients, who appreciated his friendly demeanour as well as his clinical skill. In 2011, he sold his practice and moved, together with many of his patients, to the Dawood & Tanner Dental Practice in Wimpole Street.

Selling up also gave Tom the opportunity to explore other avenues, and in 2013 he was appointed a Visiting Clinical Specialist Teacher at King’s College London Dental Institute, working one day a week in the Department of Primary Dental Care at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill.

Alongside their highly successful careers, Tom and Cathy enjoyed travelling the world together and exploring different cultures and cuisines. They were soulmates for over 40 years until her death in 2016, a turn of events which took Tom some time to come to terms with.

At King’s, Tom was a firm favourite with the undergraduate students. ‘Dr Tom’, as the students fondly referred to him, was appointed as Extra-curricular Education Co-ordination Officer for the dental students’ society in 2017, and the following year was given a Teaching Excellence Award and also elected Staff President of the dental students’ society – for the first of an unprecedented three times. During his time at King’s, he was also appointed Co-President of the Aesthetic Dental Students Society, where he helped organise hands-on courses; taught on the MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry; was chosen for a King’s Education Award; and served for four years as a member of the Dental Alumni Association Council.

Beyond King’s, Tom taught on postgraduate courses as a senior specialist teacher for the Academy of Dental Excellence, and in 2021 became a partner associate lecturer for the University of Portsmouth’s Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. He also lectured nationally and internationally on occlusion, emergence profile and other aspects of restorative dentistry, and published highly practical articles in the Primary Dental Journal, British Dental Journal and Dental Update.

For a number of years Tom was involved with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, of which he was a longstanding member, and from 2017-21 he served on its Advisory Board in Primary Dental Care. From 2017-22 he was a member of the steering group for its Faculty of Dental Trainers, becoming a member of the newly-established faculty himself in 2018, and in 2024 he was awarded a prestigious Fellowship in Dental Surgery ad hominem.

Having joined the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) in 2018, he became a Founder Member of the College of General Dentistry, which was at the time in development to become the FGDP’s independent successor, the same year. He was enrolled as one of the first Fellows of the College in 2022, and later became a major benefactor and legator.

In 2023, he established the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Education Foundation in order to help early career professionals reach their maximum clinical potential. The Foundation soon became the primary focus of his energies, and it will be one of his lasting legacies. Working in partnership with the College of General Dentistry over the last three years, the Foundation has developed a number of educational opportunities for recent graduates across the dental team, including the Award for Foundation Trainees and Award for Tooth Wear Cases (with support from GC), the Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry Award (with Dentsply Sirona) and the Introduction to Occlusion symposia, with the Tom Bereznicki Award for Periodontal Management due to launch later in 2026. The Foundation also supports young practitioners through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Earlier this year, Tom was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the profession over many years.

Tom passed away peacefully at home on Saturday 17 October 2026. He will be remembered as a most generous, highly committed member of the dental profession who dedicated himself in his later years to putting back into dentistry as much as it gave him. He will also be remembered as an immensely affable colleague who lived life to the full, with a passion for good food and wine, sports, travel and the company of friends and like-minded peers. 

The College of General Dentistry and the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Education Foundation wish to thank Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent for his help in compiling this tribute.

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