Dr Kyriakos Pelekanos AssocFCGDent, general dental practitioner and clinical teacher, reflects on joining the first cohort of applicants on the Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme.
The landscape of primary care endodontics
For many years, primary dental care in the United Kingdom has contended with a hierarchical ambiguity in the provision of endodontic treatment. Primary care endodontics routinely sits at Tier 1, reflecting core competencies established during undergraduate education as well as postgraduate courses. At the opposite end of the spectrum, registered endodontist specialists on the General Dental Council specialist register deliver care at Tier 3, managing severe anatomical anomalies and microsurgical intervention. Between these levels lies a substantial proportion of complex endodontic care, which primary care clinicians deliver on a daily basis within general dental practice.
Historically, clinicians seeking to manage these moderate-advanced cases undertook extensive postgraduate study, completing certificates, diplomas, master’s degrees, or clinical masterclasses. The resulting designations, such as Dentist with a Special Interest or Dentist with Enhanced Skills, were largely self-proclaimed. Without a unified national benchmark or external governance structure, this informal system created inherent ambiguity for referring colleagues who could not independently assess the scope of an individual clinician’s training, as well as for patients who had no centralised directory to confirm verified expertise.
National benchmarks
The introduction of the Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme by the College of General Dentistry, addresses this dilemma directly. Having completed an MSc in Endodontics and encountered advanced clinical scenarios daily, I elected to join the inaugural cohort to benchmark my routine clinical outcomes against formal national criteria.
Academic qualifications demonstrate theoretical understanding and research proficiency, yet they do not evaluate the level of clinical complexity delivered within the constraints of routine practice. The Certified Practitioner scheme aligns with NHS commissioning guidelines for Tier 2 services and carries the endorsement of the British Endodontic Society. This alignment provides external assurance that primary care dentists can deliver complex treatment within an audited quality framework.
The assessment process
The process itself prioritises deep case-reflection over administrative compliance. Compiling a comprehensive logbook of 25 recent cases and constructing an in-depth portfolio of eight cases for defence before an expert panel ensures that assessment reflects contemporary practice delivered over the preceding three years. It is an authentic peer review of clinical decision making, isolation protocols, instrumentation, and obturation.
Practice growth and public trust
The practical implications of this accreditation for general practice and primary care networks are notable. Entry onto the College’s searchable Member Register provides direct transparency for the public, offering patients a reputable confirmation of clinical proficiency of endodontic clinicians in their local area.
For referring practitioners, it establishes measurable clinical reassurance that complex cases are managed to evaluated Tier 2 standards. This validated standing strengthens local referral pathways while supporting practices that wish to retain complex endodontic treatment within the existing clinical team.
Clinical credibility in dental education
Alongside my clinical commitments, I am currently in the second year of a Master’s degree in Dental Education at the University of Cambridge. I also teach undergraduate BDS students as a clinical teacher at King’s College London and deliver training for Direct Restorative Excellence composite courses.
Teaching across academic faculties and private postgraduate environments requires verifiable, contemporary proof of clinical excellence. Independent credentialing by the College of General Dentistry provides institutions, programme leads, and students with definitive evidence of assessed clinical competence.
The Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme formally validates the reality of modern primary care dentistry. By establishing an audited standard for Tier 2 endodontics, the College of General Dentistry has bridged an essential clinical gap, giving primary care clinicians the formal recognition their everyday practice merits.
The Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme is currently open for applications. The scheme will soon be extended to include Implant Dentistry and Oral Surgery, as well as other fields of practice, and we are working to develop Certified Practitioner schemes of enhanced skills for all roles in the oral healthcare team.
Find out more about the Certified Practitioner scheme and apply here.