College of General Dentistry News

Coat of Arms Appeal – update

College Trustees have received an update on the fundraising appeal to support the full adoption of the College’s Coat of Arms, Badge and new colours following its recent Grant of Arms.

(l-r): The College’s recently-granted Coat of Arms; Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent receiving the Grant of Arms at the College of Arms; the College Badge

Since the appeal was launched in late July, £19,550 of the £28,000 sought has been generously donated by eight individuals, seven of whom are new donors to the fund:

  • Dr Irfan Ahmad FCGDent
  • Prof Subir Banerji FCGDent
  • Dr Keith Hayes FCGDent
  • Dr George Margaritis FCGDent
  • Dr Ralph Pickup FCGDent
  • Dr Peter Willy FCGDent
  • Dr Margaret Wilson
  • Prof Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent

These donations are in addition to the £22,500 given to the Coat of Arms Fund in the initial phase of fundraising – before an open appeal was launched – which covered the costs of the processes which culminated in the Grant of Arms. These funds were generously given by:

  • Dr Ali Al Bayati FCGDent
  • Col John Anderson FCGDent
  • Dr Tariq Ashraf FCGDent
  • Dr Christine Breare FCGDent
  • Dr John Gamon CBE FCGDent
  • Prof Stanley Gelbier FCGDent
  • Dr Edgar Gordon FCGDent
  • Dr Andrew Hadden FCGDent
  • Dr Robert Hensher FCGDent
  • Dr Stuart Johnston FCGDent
  • Dr Anthony Kravitz OBE FCGDent
  • Dr Abhijit Pal FCGDent
  • Mr William Sharpling FCGDent
  • Smile Academy
  • Dr Christopher Turner FCGDent
  • Prof Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent

In all, £42,050 of the £50,500 total costs associated with receiving and making best use of the College’s Grant of Arms have now been donated by 24 individuals and organisations.

Donations to the Coat of Arms Appeal are being used specifically to realise the privileges of being granted Arms to best possible effect in order to further enhance recognition of the College, the status of Members and the standing of the general dental profession in the UK and elsewhere. 

Funds donated to the Appeal have so far been drawn upon to create a new College logo and related branding, incorporating the Coat of Arms and its colours, which have now been applied to the Primary Dental Journal; to the new edition of Standards in Dentistry; to the College’s website, member communications, newsletter and social media channels; and to new banners and displays which are now being used at College events and dental shows.

An application has also been lodged with the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh for the recognition of the College’s Coat of Arms in Scotland, and appeal funds have been set aside for the anticipated matriculation fees. The Letters Patent by which the College has been granted Arms provide official recognition in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but as a UK-wide organisation, parallel recognition in Scotland is a priority for the College and will be important in the future application for Royal Charter.

Funds received to date are also being used to re-design and re-issue the digital membership certificates available to all College Members through their online accounts; to incorporate the new branding in all of the College’s standards and guideline publications; and to design, produce and distribute new College lapel pins to all Members featuring the College Badge – an opinicus rampant holding a giant pearl of wisdom (see right hand image above) – granted by the College of Arms.

In addition, Mick Horton FCGDent, Chair of CGDent’s Trustee Board, has agreed to fund the design and production of a run of College Medals – the College’s most prestigious honour, awarded annually for exceptional service to the profession; and Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, the Honorary Founding President of the College and Chair of College Fundraising, is covering the cost of designing and producing a number of Past Presidents’ medals.

The design and production of a special medal to be worn by the sitting President, which in recognition of the College’s history will be hung on the Chain of Office previously worn by Deans of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) [FGDP], has also been covered by donations received to date, as has a gown for use by the President on ceremonial occasions such as during the admission of new Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College.

The Trustees would now like to encourage all Members and Fellows, supporters and supporting organisations of the College to give generously towards the remaining £8,450 required to fully realise the benefits of the Grant.

New donations will be used among other things to have the College’s Grant of Arms by Letters Patent professionally mounted for permanent display; to purchase an embossed, leather-bound Fellows’ Register; to produce gowns for use by the College’s Chief Executive and two Vice Presidents on ceremonial occasions; and to re-design, print and distribute new physical Membership and Fellowship certificates.

All donors, existing and new, will be acknowledged in the Primary Dental Journal and in perpetuity on the College website, with their cumulative donations, including to the Coat of Arms Fund, categorised as follows:

  • Major benefactors (>£50,000)
  • Benefactors (>£25,000)
  • Major donors (>£10,000)
  • Donors (>£5,000)
  • Major contributors (>£1,000)
  • Contributors (<£1,000)

Over 125 individuals and organisations from across the UK and beyond have so far donated to support the establishment and development of the College. These are listed on the College website’s donors page.

Sir Nairn said:

“Subscription income is fully employed in providing for the College’s core expenditure, making fund raising necessary to help the College realise its greater ambitions for the general dental profession.

“Donating to the Coat of Arms Fund is a special opportunity to go down in history as having helped the College reach a historic milestone in its development. This is a one-off opportunity to contribute to a lasting legacy which recognises the origins of dentistry as we know it today, and signifies the purpose, aims and aspirations of the College.”

All those wishing to secure a special place in the history of the development of the College should contact Sir Nairn, who will be pleased to assist you in becoming a Coat of Arms donor, and, if you are so minded, a College legator or regular donor. Please email [email protected]

CONTACT SIR NAIRN

Sir Nairn’s description of the symbolism and meaning behind each of the heraldic elements in the College’s Coat of Arms is here

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College of General Dentistry News

College seeks new dental Trustee

The College is seeking a new dental Trustee to support its historic mission to build a future Royal College for dentistry.

Trustees contribute to the custodianship of the College and are central to the effective delivery of its mission. The Trustee Board works alongside the elected College Council, which oversees the professional affairs of the organisation.

Trustees require an appreciation of the business imperatives underpinning a growing organisation, reconciling delivery of our mission in the patient and public interest with financial viability. They must demonstrate high standards of behaviour and attitude, and have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of the role of a Trustee in a registered charity and membership-based organisation which seeks to embody inclusive professionalism.

To apply to become a dental Trustee, you must currently or recently be a registered dental professional, and you must be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College at the time of appointment. We are interested in attracting people who can help us to engage widely as we seek to represent the broad range of careers and aspirations within the dental professions. The proportion of women and dental professionals from minority backgrounds is growing, and we want our Trustee Board to be truly inclusive and reflective of our community.

A role profile is available below:

TRUSTEE ROLE PROFILE

Applications should be made by CV and a covering letter which addresses the requirements described in the role profile and cites two referees. These must be received by Sunday 14 December 2025, addressed to [email protected] with the subject line “Trustee application”.

Interviews will be held in mid-January in London.

The successful candidate will be appointed for a three-year term and it is intended that they will be in place by January 2026.

Prospective applicants should be able to attend three half-day online Trustee Board meetings per year, plus a one-day in-person meeting and workshop in London. Following appointment, the 2026 meetings will be as follows:

  • Friday 23 January 2026, 10.00-16.00, London
  • Friday 26 April 2026, 10.30-13.30 (online)
  • Friday 10 July, 10.00-13.00 (online)
  • Friday 9/16/23 October (TBC), 10.00-13.00 (online)

If you have questions or would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Simon Thornton-Wood PhD, Chief Executive of the College, at [email protected]

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College of General Dentistry News

Inaugural aesthetic award winners

The College of General Dentistry, Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and Dentsply Sirona would like to congratulate the successful candidates of the inaugural Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry.

The competition, which recognises aesthetic dentistry skills and patient care, was open to dentists who qualified in the UK or Ireland between 2019 and 2023, or who qualified overseas between 2019 to 2023 and had been practising in the UK for at least the two years.

The 19 winning entrants are:

Dr Cordelia AshbyDr Milton JustinsuthakaranDr Golasa Sheikh Akbari
Dr Alastair CampbellDr Nafeesa KhanDr Arav Soin
Dr Nathaniel-Edouard DavidsonDr Adam KingsleyDr Mojgan Talibi
Dr Farah ElnaqaDr Emily LawtonDr Nickhalas Tan Chun Khye
Dr Puyan HeydariDr Ronan LeeDr Jarmima Uddin
Dr Victoria HillsonDr Tendai Manangazira
Dr Abida IslamDr Parth Patel

To enter the award, participants each submitted an aesthetic case which involved more than one tooth, including at least one anterior tooth, and the use of composite to restore teeth. Cases also followed a mainly analogue workflow. Cases entered featured a range of restorative treatments including those for diastema, severe tooth wear, and peg shaped laterals. View all successful cases here.

A selection of the winning cases which illustrate a range of different types of cases entered in the competition. Cases submitted by (L-R): Dr Nafeesa Khan, Dr Mojgan Talibi, Dr Cordelia Ashby

The assessors scored each case based on a set of assessment criteria which allocated points to overall improvement in the patient’s oral health, the standard of aesthetic treatment, the complexity of the case and the quality of the entrant’s reflection.

The successful candidates will each receive a fully funded place on a bespoke, hands-on two-day digital dentistry course next month at the Dentsply Sirona Academy in Weybridge, Surrey. Travel costs, hotel accommodation and subsistence are included in the prize, which is worth around £2,000 per place.

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation supports educational opportunities for early career dental professionals in the UK, and was founded by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, a general dental practitioner with a special interest in restorative dentistry.

Dentsply Sirona is the world’s largest manufacturer of professional dental products and technologies.

Dr Bereznicki commented:

“I would like to thank everyone who entered our first competition for early career dentists, and congratulate the successful candidates. We were impressed by the high standard of entries we received as well as the interesting and wide variety of aesthetic cases. I am sure the winners, and their patients, will all benefit immensely from the intensive hands-on course on Digital Dentistry, which has been generously supported by Dentsply Sirona.”  

Further details about the award are available on the award web page. To register your interest in next year’s award and receive a notification as soon as the competition opens, sign up to our notification list.

The College also partners with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation on the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees (which is currently open to applications) and the ‘Introduction to Occlusion’ series of symposia, the next of which takes place on Saturday 1 November 2025 in Edinburgh.

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College of General Dentistry News

Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award winners 2025

The College and Foundation Nakao would like to congratulate the successful candidates in this year’s Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award in Coaching and Mentoring for Dental Care Professionals.

The winning entrants comprise five Dental Therapists, four Dental Nurses, two Clinical Dental Technicians, one Dental Hygienist and one Orthodontic Therapist from across the UK and elsewhere.

Candidate nameRoleMembershipRegion
Zahra AkhtarDental TherapistAssociate MemberYorkshire and Northern
Humair AlamClinical Dental TechnicianAssociate MemberNorth Thames
Dena AndrewsDental TherapistAssociate Member Trent & East Anglia
Kenneth Binnah AssocFCGDentDental NurseAssociate Fellow Central London
Steven William CatterallDental Nurse Associate Member Mersey & North West
Poppy Louise IrvineDental Hygienist Associate MemberYorkshire and Northern
Sara Amina JalloulOrthodontic TherapistAssociate Member Wessex & Oxford
Maria de los Llanos Martinez AssocFCGDentDental TherapistAssociate FellowOverseas
Caroline PersaudClinical Dental Technician Associate MemberWessex & Oxford
Carolyn Roberts Dental Nurse Associate MemberWales
Michaela Christina Robinson Dental Therapist Associate Fellow Wessex & Oxford
Georgina Smith Dental Nurse Associate Member South Thames
Tyra Anne Watt Dental Therapist Associate Member West & North Scotland

The successful candidates have each been awarded a fully-funded place, worth £375, on a three-day training course in mentoring and coaching. Delivered online by UMD Professional – an organisation with more than thirty years’ experience of establishing coaching and mentoring practices within medical and legal organisations – the short course takes place over two days in November 2025 and one in January 2026, with eight weeks of assimilation and application and a 30-minute 1:1 supervision session in between.

Course content will include:

  • What are coaching and mentoring?
  • Skills, knowledge, attributes and behaviours required in coaching and mentoring
  • A personal SWOT
  • Contracting in coaching and mentoring
  • Understanding boundaries
  • Communication theories:
    • Shannon and Weaver
    • Transactional analysis
    • Johari
    • Assertiveness
  • Objectivity v emotional response and unconscious bias
  • Setting meaningful objectives and action planning
  • Giving feedback
  • The GROW model
  • The OSCAR model
  • Scaling
  • Reflection
  • Successes and challenges
  • Cognitive distortion
  • The role of emotional intelligence
  • Supervision, group supervision and peer review
  • Action learning using delegate examples

The award was made possible by the generous donation through Prof Avijit Banerjee FCGDent of sponsorship by Foundation Nakao. Also known as The Nakao Foundation for Worldwide Oral Health, it was founded by Makato Nakao, Chairman of GC Corporation, a leading manufacturer of dental materials and equipment. (GC also partners with the College on the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees.)

To enter the award, participants each submitted an application form stating how they would be able to apply their mentoring or coaching skills in practice during the assimilation and application period, and how they would apply the learning to support less experienced colleagues thereafter. The award was open to all Dental Care Professional members of the College.

Establishing a mentoring and coaching culture is key to the College’s commitment to workforce diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. In promoting effective mentoring practice, we aim to foster appropriate support in the career pathway progression for all members of the oral healthcare team. Our aspiration is to cultivate a community of College members amongst Dental Care Professionals who are equipped and confident to nurture their peers.

It is anticipated that the Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026 will open soon. To register your interest in the 2026 award and receive notifications as soon as applications open, email [email protected] with the subject line “Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026”.

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College of General Dentistry News

College masterclass teaches leadership development skills

The College recently hosted a Leadership Development Masterclass for dental professionals.

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent presenting to participants at the CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass

The masterclass taught some of the most critical elements needed to be an effective team leader, with carefully curated content offering appropriate breadth and depth for early-career leaders, including

  • Giving and receiving feedback as a leader
  • Learning one’s motivations for leadership (and adapting accordingly)
  • Measuring your leadership effectiveness

The one-day programme, which took place at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on Tuesday 14 October 2025, was restricted to Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College and was attended by members from across the dental team.

The event was led by Professor Sreenivas Koka DDS MS PhD MBA MAS FACD FCGDent and Professor Elizabeth Carr MAADH DHA FACD(Hon) FCGDent.

Professor Koka is co-founder of Executive Leadership Enterprises and the Future Leaders in Prosthodontics (FLiP) programme, and founder of both the Shaping the Future of Implant Dentistry (SHIFT) leadership workshop series and the non-profit Career Design in Dentistry organisation. He is also a former Chair of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management Alumni Board. Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry from 2021-2024, he has been a lecturer at the University of Michigan and University of California Los Angeles, and a professor at Loma Linda University, the University of Nebraska and the Mayo Clinic. In addition to qualifying as a Doctor of Dental Surgery, he holds a Master’s in Prosthodontics from the University of Michigan, an MBA from MIT, a Master’s in Applied Sciences from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD from the University of Nebraska. He was the founder and owner of Premium Dental Editing in Rochester, Minnesota, and of Koka Dental Clinic in San Diego, and is the author/co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters. A Fellow of CGDent, he was brought up in Romford, emigrated to the United States at the age of 19 and is one of 16 dentists in his family.

Professor Carr is Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene, Professor of Dental Hygiene and Director of the Mississippi Population Oral Health Collaborative at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, where she has worked for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene and a Doctorate in Health Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s in Dental Hygiene from the University of Tennessee. She has also completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Executive Certificate programme in Leadership and Management. A Fellow of the CGDent, she is also an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a past President of the Mississippi Dental Hygienists’ Association, and a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Academy of Dental Hygiene. Her peer-reviewed articles on leadership and dental education have been published in the Journal of the American College of Dentists, the Journal of International Oral Health, the Journal of Prosthodontic Research, the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, the Journal of Dental Hygiene and the Journal of Dental Education.

Professor Koka is also the guest editor of the next issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), which will be published later this year on the theme of leadership, and co-author of its paper ‘Oral health in the context of patient well-being: Implications for the general dentist’. Professor Carr is the author of ‘Effectively managing difficult conversations with patients and dental teams’. Both are co-authors of ‘Everyday leadership’.

Simon Thornton-Wood PhD, Chief Executive of the College, said:

“To practise dentistry requires years of education, yet people can take on leadership roles with little or no training at all. First-time and second-time dental leaders are challenged because other people’s actions now define them; the potential to fail in a leadership role is high and the consequences can be significant.

“That’s why leadership in dentistry is such a focus for the College. It was the theme of our very first journal issue in 2021, we’re re-visiting it in the next issue, it is one of our five domains of Fellowship and we have a recorded webinar on the subject available free of charge for all our members. It is also the topic of a blog post by our Immediate Past President, under whose Presidency we hosted a Leadership Workshop for early career dental professionals.

“Leadership can be taught and learned, so we were delighted to be able to host this masterclass, and privileged that it was delivered by two College Fellows who are world-leading scholars in the art and science of practising leadership in the context of oral healthcare delivery.”

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College of General Dentistry News

Notice of elections

Elections will take place early in 2026 for two seats on the College Council, and eligible members are encouraged to consider standing.

The Council is the voice of our members.  Overseeing our role as a professional body and guiding Trustees on the development of the College to fulfil its mission, it includes representation based both on geographical region and professional role.

Nominations will be open early in the new year, with voting taking place in the Spring and the result announced in May. Elected candidates are expected to attend their first Council meeting on Friday 12 June 2026, when they will be formally inducted.

The role

As a Council member, you would provide leadership, strategic input and direction in all the professional affairs of the College. You would be helping to shape key moments in the College’s growth and could also get involved in specific initiatives on areas such as careers, policy and standards.

If elected, you would serve a three-year term from June 2026 – June 2029, during which you would be expected to attend three one-day, face-to-face meetings in June, October and February each year, as well as regular online meetings and occasional committees outside of business hours.

You would also be expected to vote, and eligible to stand, in the annual election of up to two Vice Presidents; eligible to participate in the triennial appointment of a College President in 2027; and expected to attend College events around the UK.

You would be able to stand for re-election in 2029, and individuals may serve up to three elected terms (i.e. nine years) on the Council. The role is voluntary, but we do cover essential expenses. 

*An indicative role profile is available below; please note this may be updated by the time nominations open.

ROLE DESCRIPTION*

Council seats for election in 2026

Nominations will be sought for the following seats:

  • Mersey & North West
  • Northern Ireland

Further seats on the Council will be due for election in 2027 and 2028 – see the College Council page for details.

Eligibility

All Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College, regardless of dental team role, who live or work within one of the above regions, and who are registered with that region with CGDent, will be eligible to nominate themselves as candidates for election to the relevant Council seat.

Members who live and work in more than one region are welcome to change the address with which they are registered with the College. This can be done at any time through their online account: log in at cgdent.uk then navigate via My Account to Update my details. The new address will then be used for all correspondence, including receiving copies of the Primary Dental Journal.

Associate Members within these regions who wish to nominate themselves for election will need to have successfully completed an upgrade to Full Membership before doing so. Any non-members will first need to join the College as a Full Member.

College electoral regions

This map can be downloaded here

If you are unsure which College region you are in, check your entry on the Member Register

Nominations process

Once opened (anticipated to be in January 2026), all eligible members will be emailed a link to the nominations website by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice.

If you are interested in standing for election, you will need to complete the nomination process via that link (once received), where you will be asked for further information, and to submit an election statement.

You will also be required to provide the names of two supporters of your nomination. Your supporters must each be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College within the constituency you are standing for. If you are unsure of the membership status or region of potential supporters, please consult our Member Register

If you think you might like to put yourself forward as a candidate and would like further information before deciding, we would be pleased to have a confidential discussion and answer any questions about the role and the process.

Please get in touch via [email protected]

The deadline for submission of applications – around a month after nominations open – will be announced in due course.

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College of General Dentistry News

CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees opens for third year

The CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which promotes clinical skills and patient care, is now open for entries to the 2025/26 competition.

Successful candidates at the composite layering course in Belgium, July 2025

In the third year of the award, dentists and dental therapists who are undertaking Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training in 2025/26, or who qualified in the UK or Ireland in 2025 and are practising in the UK or Ireland, are invited to enter. Entrants must submit a restorative case they are about to start treating which involves more than one tooth, and includes at least one anterior tooth, as well as the use of composite to restore teeth.

There are 14 winning places available, with each successful candidate receiving a fully-funded place on a hands-on, two-day composite layering course at the GC Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium. The prize is worth around £1,400 per place and includes the costs of international travel, hotel accommodation and subsistence.

The successful candidates in last year’s competition took part in the bespoke composite layering course in July 2025. One delegate described entering the award as “a thoroughly rewarding experience”, adding that even if she had not been one of the winners, “I learned a lot about composites by taking part and preparing my case.” Another commented: “the hands-on training has enabled me to gain practical experience with specific treatments, before applying them to patients, which has increased my confidence in managing these cases.”

Ruba Al-Nuaimy, dental therapist, a winner of the 2024/25 award

Ruba Al-Nuaimy, the first successful dental therapist in the competition, said she entered the award to “showcase my clinical skills and challenge myself…the perfect way to step outside my comfort zone.” Encouraging other Foundation Trainees to enter the 2025/26 competition, Ruba said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to develop skills, boost confidence, and gain experiences that can really enhance your early career.“

The 2025/26 award is now open, the closing date for entry is Friday 20 February 2026, and final cases must be submitted by Friday 24 April 2026. The winners will be announced in May, and their course will take place on Thursday–Friday 23–24 July 2026.

The CGDent-GC Award is funded by The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and organised in conjunction with the College of General Dentistry and GC. The Foundation supports educational opportunities for early career dentists in the UK, and was founded by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, a general dental practitioner with a special interest in restorative dentistry.

GC is an oral health company which manufactures dental systems and products which are sold around the world, and has won awards for its products and innovations. It provides both online and in-person training covering many areas of dental practice.

Click the button below for further information about the award and links to guidance for entrants and the entry form.

further information

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College of General Dentistry News

Portfolio submissions in Restorative Dentistry: eligibility & requirements

Following the recent launch of a portfolio-based route to Associate Fellowship and the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship, the College has published detailed requirements for portfolio submissions in Restorative Dentistry.

To be eligible to submit a portfolio for assessment, applicants must have at least five years’ post-qualification experience in Restorative Dentistry, and must hold Associate Membership or Full Membership of the College at the time of application. Non-members should first join the College and should allow up to two weeks for their membership application to be validated and processed.

They will then need to submit:

  1. A log of training meeting the requirements below.
  2. Six cases meeting the specifications below.
  3. A comprehensive CV detailing at least five years’ post-qualification experience in roles with the appropriate responsibilities and clinical environment to meet the expected standard of patient care.

Training requirements

Applicants must have:

  • Completed 165 hours of verifiable training consistent with RQF Level 7, set out in a training log which details the hours and attaches the evidence for each of the required topics below, or
  • Completed an accredited postgraduate qualification of at least 60 RQF credits for which the transcript demonstrates coverage of the required topics below, or
  • Successfully completed a recognised Royal College Diploma examination

Applicants submitting evidence of training undertaken before 2010 must also provide evidence of at least 50 hours of Enhanced CPD relevant to restorative dentistry undertaken in the last 5 years.

Required topics:

  • Patient assessment, history and treatment planning and communication
  • Principles and application of occlusion             
  • Smile design          
  • Tooth whitening                
  • Anterior direct restorations          
  • Posterior direct restorations                  
  • Clinical photography                   
  • Anterior direct restorations          
  • Posterior direct restorations                  
  • Indirect restorations – crowns, onlays and ceramic veneers            
  • Management of tooth surface loss                   
  • Replacement of missing teeth               
  • Endodontics           
  • Periodontics           
  • Contemporary caries management

Case specifications

Applicants must present a total of six anonymised cases, all undertaken within the past five years. The first three must demonstrate, respectively, endodontic, periodontic and prosthodontic management. The remaining cases can be in any of these three disciplines, however no more than half of the total number of cases may be submitted from any one discipline.

Endodontic cases must demonstrate at least one of the following:

  • a multirooted tooth with root curvatures 30 – 45 degrees
  • a tooth with canals deemed non-negotiable in the coronal third, but patent thereafter, as evidenced clinically and radiographically
  • a multirooted tooth with a canal length exceeding 25 mm
  • a tooth with incomplete root development
  • re-treatment of a previously treated tooth, with evidence of patency beyond an existing short root filling, provided there are no complicating factors from earlier treatment
  • removal of a fractured post (less than 8 mm in length)

Periodontic cases must demonstrate one of the following:

  • Treatment of generalised stage II, III or IV periodontitis that has true pocketing of 6 mm or more showing BOP <10% and PPD < 4mm at 1 year after treatment
  • Management of gingival enlargement non-surgically with a minimum of 1 year post operative review: showing BOP <10% and PPD < 4mm at 1 year after treatment
  • Management of a peri implant mucositis case with a minimum of one-year postoperative review showing ≤ 1 point of BOP and absence of suppuration
  • Management of furcation defects and other complex root morphologies when strategically important (in more than one sextant) showing stability at 1 year after treatment e.g. <10% BOP and PPD <4mm at a 1 year post operative review
  • Periodontal treatment that includes pocket reduction surgery in more than 1 sextant

Prosthodontic cases must demonstrate one of the following:

  • Occlusal reorganisation is necessary, and medium-term stability is achieved through plastic restorations, removable appliances, or both
  • Occlusion requires careful management to avoid premature failure of restorations (e.g., guidance for multiple restorations)
  • Replacement and temporisation of multiple fixed restorations, where oral condition stability/control may be at risk
  • Addressing anatomical challenges related to soft tissues
  • Compromised health of denture-bearing soft tissue
  • Raised or critical aesthetic or functional expectations/needs
  • Definitive replacement of at least three teeth involving pre-prosthetic procedures, such as: (i) abutment optimisation (ii) minor oral surgery procedures (iii) occlusal adjustments

Consent

For each case, applicants must ensure that they have the consent of the patient for inclusion in their portfolio. The bespoke Patient Information Sheet and Patient Consent Form should be used to ensure informed participation.

Case format

Each case must adhere to the structure and content outlined in the Restorative Case Template

Application & assessment

To submit their application, applicants will need to upload their case presentations, CV and training log (or equivalent), and pay a non-refundable Assessment Fee of £600.

Assessment will be centred around the evidence submitted, with specific emphasis on the case selection, and will include a case-based discussion. This will be undertaken by a panel of two suitably qualified assessors with experience of assessment for Postgraduate Diploma qualifications.

A successful portfolio will qualify the applicant for Associate Fellowship of the College and in addition will satisfy the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship. The applicant will also be able to add their successful portfolio to the College’s Register of Members and Fellows as a recognised qualification. If an application is unsuccessful, the applicant may be able to request a review by a separate panel, for which an additional Review Fee of £200 would apply.

FIND OUT MORE AND APPLY

Portfolio specifications for Implant Dentistry and Orthodontics will be published in 2026.

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College of General Dentistry Blog, Student Advice

Our experience of entering the CGDent-GC Award

Two successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees 2024/25, Dental Therapist Ruba Al-Nuaimy and Dentist Karan Ahir, describe taking part in the competition and what they gained from the experience.

Q. What’s your dental role and which DFT Region are you in?

Ruba Al-Nuaimy: I am a Dental Therapist and Hygienist on the North West scheme.

Karan Ahir: I am a Foundation Dentist in the West Yorkshire Scheme.

Q. Why did you decide to enter the CGDent-GC Award?

RA: I entered the competition because it was a great opportunity to showcase my clinical skills and challenge myself early in my career. When I saw that this was the first year the award was open to Dental Therapists, I knew I had to try, as it felt like the perfect way to step outside my comfort zone.

I’ve always been motivated by pushing myself to grow, and this felt like a chance to take my work to the next level. It was exciting to present a case that tested both my technical ability and creativity, while also highlighting the important role dental therapists can play in delivering high-quality patient care. Entering has been a hugely rewarding experience, and I see it as an important step in building my confidence and continuing to develop as a clinician.

KA: I genuinely enjoy the challenge and artistry involved in placing anterior composites, which is why I decided to enter. Restoring both function and aesthetics in such a visible area is highly rewarding, and I was keen to showcase the work I have carried out in this case.

Also having the opportunity to attend a renowned anterior composite course particularly excited me, as it offered an opportunity to further refine my skills, learn advanced techniques, and ultimately deliver even higher quality outcomes for my patients. I saw this competition not only as a platform to share my work but also as a valuable step in my professional development, enabling me to continually improve and grow as a clinician.

Q: Can you describe the case you entered?

RA: A 26-year-old male patient with Autism and learning difficulties was referred by his GDP. He presented with poor oral hygiene, generalised gingivitis, and multiple anterior carious lesions. His main concerns were painful, bleeding gums and the dark cavities visible when smiling, which were affecting both comfort and confidence.

I implemented a phased treatment plan with the initial focus on stabilising active gingival disease through behaviour management, tailored oral hygiene instruction, and non-surgical periodontal therapy including supra- and subgingival scaling. Once periodontal health improved, I proceeded with restoring the anterior teeth using direct composite restorations under rubber dam isolation, adopting a minimally invasive approach to preserve tooth structure and restore aesthetics.

This case was particularly rewarding as it challenged me to adapt my communication style and treatment planning to suit the patient’s additional needs. By using clear, jargon-free explanations, visual aids, and goal setting, I was able to improve his daily oral care engagement and achieve a functional and aesthetic outcome that met his expectations.

KA: A 40-year-old fit and well female presented with missing posterior teeth and failing anterior restorations, beneath which was severe anterior tooth surface loss (TSL), causing functional difficulty and dissatisfaction with her appearance. The aetiology was multifactorial: past unstable GORD, high intake of fizzy drinks, and nocturnal bruxism. Posterior teeth had previously been extracted due to erosion and caries, though the patient remained periodontally stable. She declined NHS referral after being previously refused treatment, so care was undertaken locally.

Treatment provided included OHI, preventive advice, and initial composite restorations. A diagnostic wax-up was used to guide upper anterior composite build-ups at an increased OVD, completed with a palatal stent and freehand layering. A soft lower occlusal splint was provided for protection, and Co-Cr upper and lower partial dentures were fitted to restore posterior support and reduce anterior load. The patient adapted well, expressed satisfaction with both function and appearance, and was motivated to maintain reduced fizzy drink intake and attend for ongoing reviews.

Q. How will you adapt your practice as a result of attending the composite layering course?

RA: Attending the composite layering course has really changed the way I approach restorative work. I feel more confident with freehand composite placement, particularly in shade selection, anatomical build-up, and creating natural depth in restorations. We also learnt about a wide range of materials and their indications, such as using injectable composite for stamp technique posterior restorations, as well as the importance of choosing dentine and enamel shades appropriately.

The course also highlighted how crucial it is to understand light perception and refraction in order to achieve lifelike results. Since then, I’ve been more deliberate in how I replicate translucency and natural contours, which has helped me deliver more seamless and aesthetic outcomes.

I’ve refined my finishing and polishing routine too, aiming for smooth contours and a high-gloss finish that improves both aesthetics and longevity. Overall, the course has given me the confidence to take on more challenging anterior cases and motivated me to keep developing my skills so I can deliver predictable results that are both functional and highly aesthetic.

KA: After attending the composite layering course, I want to apply what I’ve learned to make my anterior restorations look as natural as possible. By using advanced layering techniques, I can better replicate the optical properties of enamel and dentine, creating restorations that blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth while remaining durable and functional.

I also feel more confident in using opaquers for discoloured cases. Now that I understand the correct technique and application, I will incorporate them more often. This will allow me to mask underlying discolouration effectively without relying on excessive dentine composite, resulting in restorations that are both more aesthetic and less bulky.

In addition, I will refine my finishing and polishing by following the protocols demonstrated during the course. This will help me achieve a higher-quality surface finish, enabling restorations to maintain their shine and resist staining for longer, outcomes that patients will both notice and value.

Q. Has your success in the CGDent-GC Award impacted you in any other ways?

RA: Winning the Award has hugely boosted my confidence and reinforced my passion for dentistry. Being the only Dental Therapist to receive the award made it especially meaningful, as it highlighted the importance of our role and the ever-expanding scope of practice available to us. It reminded me that I am not limited to certain treatments, and that with the right training and mindset, therapists can take on complex, rewarding cases. It has also encouraged me to seek further opportunities, step outside my comfort zone, and keep building on my skills with greater confidence. I hope this achievement motivates other Dental Therapists to recognise their potential and embrace the opportunities our profession offers to make a real difference for patients, while striving to provide the highest standard of care.

KA: Being successful in the CGDent-GC Award has significantly increased my confidence in anterior composite work and motivated me to continue developing my restorative skills. It has inspired me to attend further restorative courses to broaden my knowledge and stay up to date with best practices. I also aim to share the techniques and insights I’ve gained with colleagues, helping to raise standards within my team. Beyond technical skills, the award has reminded me of the profound impact well-executed restorative work can have on patients’ confidence and quality of life.

Q. What would you say to other Foundation Trainees thinking of entering the Award?

RA: I would strongly encourage Foundation Trainees to enter the Award, particularly Dental Therapists. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase your abilities, gain recognition early in your career, and demonstrate the valuable role therapists play within dentistry. For me, one of the most rewarding aspects was meeting other trainees, sharing experiences, and realising how much we can learn from one another. I gained valuable perspective from dentists, and in turn they learnt more about the scope and contribution of Dental Therapists, which made it a really collaborative experience.

The course you attend as part of the prize is also an amazing opportunity, giving you hands-on experience with advanced techniques, exposure to the latest materials, and the chance to meet inspiring people from across the profession. I would recommend the Award to any therapist who wants to develop their skills, build confidence, and be part of something that celebrates achievement and encourages growth within the profession.

KA: To any Foundation Trainees considering entering, I would say it’s a no-brainer. As part of foundation training, we’re required to present a complex case, which could likely involve anterior composite restorations – perfect for submission. Beyond showcasing your work, winning gives you the incredible opportunity to attend a world-class course in Belgium, expand your skills, and meet like-minded dental professionals who have also succeeded in the competition. It’s a chance to learn, network, and be inspired, all while gaining recognition for work you’re already doing as part of your foundation training.

You may be interested in our blog by Dr Juan Salmerón Ramírez, in which he reflects on entering a successful case in the inaugural Award.

Find out more about entering the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees 2025/26.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

The art and science of oral medicine

Professor Igor Blum, Editor of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), outlines the evolution of oral medicine – the theme of the latest issue, which provides an overview and update of the field for the general dental team

The art and science of oral medicine begins with the pioneering work of Sir Jonathan Hutchinson (1828–1900), a surgeon at the London Hospital, who is also regarded in the UK as the Father of Oral Medicine.1 He reported on the dental manifestations of congenital syphilis, intraoral pigmentation and perioral pigmentation associated with intestinal polyposis, later described by Peutz in 1921.2 Subsequently, ten further cases were described by Jeghers, McKusick, and Katz who also reviewed the literature on this topic in 1949.3 Individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome commonly present with an association of gastrointestinal polyps, mucocutaneous pigmentation, a familial incidence, and are at an increased risk of various cancers.

Much of the early description of oral mucosal diseases was found in dermatology textbooks, as documented in the works of the English surgeon and dermatologist Sir William James Erasmus Wilson (1809–1884).4,5 Sir William Osler (1849–1919), a Canadian physician and co-founder of the Medical Library Association of Great Britain and Ireland, recognised the importance of the oral cavity and believed that the tongue and oral mucosa reflect a patient’s overall health.6 This idea, held in various medical and traditional practices, suggests that changes in the appearance or condition of the mouth, including the tongue and soft tissues, can indicate underlying systemic health issues.

In a thoroughly researched and well written article by Professor Crispian Scully in 2016, he described the immense contributions of various stalwarts who were instrumental in the initiation and popularisation of the discipline of oral medicine over a 50-year period, between 1920 and 1970.7 In the UK, the evolution of oral medicine has its origin in oral pathology and resulted in its recognition as a dental specialty by the General Dental Council in 1998, with tribute paid to the founders of the British Society for Oral Medicine (BSOM) – the predecessor organisation of The British & Irish Society for Oral Medicine (BISOM) which was established in 1981.

Although not a substitute by any means for an extensive quality textbook on oral medicine, the editorial team felt it was timely to produce an issue of the Primary Dental Journal devoted to the common and important oral medicine conditions encountered in general dental practice. This themed issue on oral medicine is geared to primary care dental practitioners and dental care professionals as a refresher and an update on oral medicine-related diseases. The articles in this issue provide an overview of current thinking in the more relevant areas of oral medicine. The clinical aspects of the relevant disorders are discussed, including a brief overview of the aetiology, detail on the clinical features, and how the diagnosis is made. Guidance on management and when to refer is also provided, along with relevant websites which offer further detail.

A major challenge in the diagnosis of oral disease is the need for memorising long lists of oral lesions from oral medicine/oral pathology literature. This is made more difficult because many of these lesions are not frequently encountered by the primary care dental team. This new issue of the journal highlights common oral conditions that may be encountered in the dental practice. Pulpal, periapical, and periodontal diseases are intentionally not discussed in this issue since primary care dental clinicians are experienced in diagnosing and managing those conditions.

I trust that the oral medicine-themed issue of the PDJ will serve as a tabletop reference in General Dental Practice. The discussion of the entire spectrum of oral diseases is beyond the scope of this single issue; instead, we have selected what we believe to be important oral medicine conditions. The introductory article addresses an approach in formulating clinical diagnosis and management of the various types of oral candidosis. This is followed by articles on oral lichen planus and lichenoid lesions, managing a dry mouth in primary care, a review of common oral medicine conditions in children, oral facial pain, burning mouth syndrome, and chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD). Although the latter is less common, it can occur in the increasing numbers of patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants.8

The information presented is primarily aimed to cover the diagnostic aspects and an overview of patient management, including patient referral. The main objective is to provide readers with a cutting-edge update on the above topics, including raising awareness of the need to diagnose and manage patients with oral medicine conditions in primary care, and when to make a referral to an oral medicine service if available. Alternatively, a referral to a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery can be made when appropriate.

It is hoped that this themed issue will help the primary care dental team to integrate the principles of oral medicine and oral pathology into clinically applicable concepts that will enable the practitioner to develop clinical differential diagnoses and participate in definitive diagnosis through a multidisciplinary approach with dental specialty teams. It is my further hope that the reader will not only be provided with updated information as to the multiple facets of oral medicine conditions but will also find new information to further aid them in the diagnosis and management of these occasionally enigmatic disorders.

No issue of the Primary Dental Journal could come to successful fruition without the contributions of well-qualified authors. I am extremely thankful to the guest editor, Dr Emma Hayes, consultant in oral medicine, and to all contributing authors for their invaluable input to this issue. I believe that this edition of the Primary Dental Journal will be an asset and resource to the general dental practice team.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ORAL MEDICINE ISSUE

The Primary Dental Journal is the College’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to general dental practice. The titles and abstracts of PDJ papers are available to all dental professionals via the searchable PDJ homepage, with full paper access available to College members through the PDJ Library.

Printed copies of the Summer 2025 issue on oral medicine should arrive with College members in the second half of September.

References

1 Spielman AI. History of Oral Diagnosis, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology. In: Illustrated Encyclopedia of the History of Dentistry. [Internet]. New York: History of Dentistry and Medicine; 2023. Available at historyofdentistryandmedicine.com [Accessed Jun 2025]

2Peutz JLA. Over een zeer merkwaardige, gecombineerde familiaire pollyposis van de sligmliezen van den tractus intestinalis met die van de neuskeelholte en gepaard met eigenaardige pigmentaties van huid-en slijmvliezen (Very remarkable case of familial polyposis of the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract and nasopharynx accompanied by peculiar pigmentations of skin and mucous membrane). Nederl Maandschr v Geneesk. 1921;10:134-146. Dutch.

3Jeghers H, McKusick VA, Katz KH. Generalized Intestinal Polyposis and Melanin Spots of the Oral Mucosa, Lips and Digits — A Syndrome of Diagnostic Significance. N Engl J Med. 1949;241(26):1031-1036.

4Wilson E. On The Management of the Skin as a Means of Promoting and Preserving Health (3rd ed.). London: John Churchill; 1849. Retrieved 15 June 2025. Full text at Internet Archive (archive.org)

5Wilson E. On Diseases of the Skin (4th American, from the 4th & enlarged London ed.). Philadelphia: Blanchard & Lea; 1857. Retrieved 15 June 2025. Full text at Internet Archive (archive.org)

6Stone MJ. The wisdom of Sir William Osler. Am J Cardiol. 1995;75(4):269-276.

7Scully C. Oral medicine in academia. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2016;122(1):111.

8Passweg JR, Baldomero H, Chabannon C, et al. Hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy survey of the EBMT: monitoring of activities and trends over 30 years. 2021;56(7):1651-1664.