College of General Dentistry Blog, Student Advice

A new dentist’s guide to consent and record- keeping

In collaboration with his practice Principal, Francisco Casserley, Choudhury Rahman (BDS, Manchester 2023) discusses why informed patient consent and accurate record‑keeping are essential, and shares his practical advice on the key points early career clinicians should consider.

Choudhury Rahman
Francisco Casserley

Something which worries many new dentists is the issue of litigation. We all dread that moment we get an email or a letter about a patient who is unhappy with something which we have done, or is wishing to make a complaint. One of the ways we can help ourselves is by ensuring we have really good consent, and clear record-keeping. Both of these things go hand-in-hand, and in this blog I will discuss how we can ensure we are protecting ourselves well.

Disclaimer: This is not an exhaustive guide to consent or record keeping. These are my suggestions based on my personal experience as a young dentist. I would recommend referring to the CGDent guidance on Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping, or undertaking CPD to ensure you gain a good understanding of best practice in consent and record-keeping.

GDC principles and putting patients first

As undergraduates we will have spent a lot of time learning and understanding the GDC Principles. Many of these link together, especially back to principle 1 which is to “Put patients’ interests first”. This should be at the centre of everything we do and ties strongly into principle 3, “Obtain valid consent”.

What informed consent really means

Consent is not just asking the patient what they want to do, but it’s giving them all the possible options for treatment so that they are able to make an informed decision. Some of these options may be things you can’t undertake, for example, a tricky root canal treatment (RCT), a difficult extraction, crown lengthening to improve restorability, or even implants. The possibility of alternative options out of your scope, including private options, should be given to every patient. You shouldn’t let any pre-conceptions about the patient stop you from giving those options. Whether the patient goes ahead with any of those, is up to them, but you need to document clearly all the options you have given, along with what the patient has decided to do.

I’ve also seen many colleagues worry over giving the patient a recommendation of treatment. However, in Principle 3.1.3, the GDC says that it is fine to give your patient “your recommended option”. As long as the recommendation is clinically reasonable, it will always be appropriate to give them a recommendation based on your opinion and clinical scenario. Many patients also value your expertise and experience and will be happy to go with your advice.

Discussing risks, benefits and alternatives

It’s very important to discuss all risks and benefits with patients for each option of treatment so the decision they make can be informed. You need to have this discussion recorded in your notes with all the risks and benefits given. For example, if you have a particularly tough extraction for an upper molar which is close to the sinus, you need to advise the patient there is a risk of pain, bleeding, bruising and swelling. You would also need to advise there is a risk of tooth fracture, oroantral communication (OAC), damage to adjacent teeth and tuberosity fracture (if it’s an 8). I would also warn your patient that if a fracture occurs, they may need to be referred to see someone else to have any remaining bits of tooth taken out. If there was a particularly high risk of OAC, you may want to offer the patient the option to be referred for an extraction, so that if an OAC occurs, it can be repaired straight away. The reason to refer due to the higher OAC risk needs to be specified. The patient may be in pain, for example, and happy to accept this increased risk, but you need to make that option clear to the patient. This issue was highlighted in an article by the Dental Defence Union (the DDU).

Montgomery 2015 and material risk

Continuing on with specific risks to your patient, you need to have a good understanding of Montgomery 2015 and informed consent. This relates to the matter of “whether the information given to a patient is adequate, is judged from the perspective of a reasonable person in the patient’s position” and that “patients are aware of ‘material risks’” (MDU, 2024). I would recommend reading into the case and the issues that were raised, but to explain this simply for us as dental professionals, if there is an issue specific to the patient, and there is a risk with a procedure which can have particular consequences to them, it needs to be explained clearly to them.

For example, if you had a patient who was a chef, and taste is very important in their job, you may wish to warn them of the risk of lingual nerve injury from an inferior alveolar block. You should warn that this risk may result in temporary or permanent changes in their taste. With this risk in mind, you and the patient may decide on alternative ways to achieve analgesia for a dental procedure. This is only one example of the thought process you need to have when consenting a patient to treatment.

The importance of contemporaneous clinical notes

We all hate spending much of our time writing clinical notes, but there are many small details I have seen people miss. As mentioned in GDC Principle 4.1, “you must make and keep contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records”.  You need to ensure whoever is present in the room is recorded. This is particularly important in relation to paediatric patients in case safeguarding issues are being investigated. Any presenting complaints (PC) must be documented, along with the history of presenting complaint (HPC). These must be recorded in the patient’s own words. For example, if the patient says “I feel like ripping my tooth out”, put that in your notes in quotations. This could be important as it gives an idea of the kind of pain a patient might be in.

You should ensure you have clear notes of the patient’s medical history, social history (smoking and alcohol), dental history along with oral hygiene routine, findings in your exam/assessment, intra and extra oral findings, a comment on the oral hygiene, any special investigations taken with their findings including BPE, sensibility/TTP, Radiographs etc, risks level for caries, periodontal disease, oral cancer and tooth wear. You also need to record all your diagnoses (especially for periodontal disease with staging, grading and risk factors) along with treatment options and discussions. It is also great if you can take pre- and post-op photos of your work, or problems the patient is attending with, as this can show how the patient has presented to you – this a form of evidence which is indisputable if there are issues afterwards or concerns about the care you have provided. Top tip – make sure your camera’s date and time settings are correct before taking the photos. Find out about how to pick a good camera set up in my blog ‘How to get the most out of Foundation Training and make the right investments’ 

Templates can be a great tool, especially when you are seeing many patients. They can help ensure you do not miss anything during your appointments, and you’ll find many of the discussions you have will be the same with a lot of patients, so having quick notes will save you from typing out the same discussion for multiple patients. However, you need to be very careful with how you use these. If you were to be investigated for whatever reason, blank or unfilled areas in your notes would not look very good, and if you have not edited notes to make them specific to each patient’s risks, this could mean some parts of your conversation with the patient may not be there to defend you.

Poor records = poor defence

Something I remember being told when I started working has always stuck with me – Poor records = poor defence. No records = no defence. If you have not written in your clinical notes something you have said, it is essentially assumed the conversation never happened. If you find yourself in the court of law with litigation issues, the only thing there will be to defend you is your clinical notes, or lack thereof, if you are not doing them well.

Further learning

I would really recommend doing some more research and CPD on consent and record-keeping. For good practice guidance, go to the CGDent guidance ‘Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping’ and I would also recommend the indemnity websites where they discuss cases and there is a lot to be learnt from them.

Authors’ bio

“I Graduated from the University of Manchester in 2023, completed my FD Training in the Greater Manchester North Scheme and am now an Associate Dentist in Greater Manchester. I’m also a NextGen Ambassador for the College of General Dentistry. My clinical interests include Oral Surgery and Prosthodontics. I am currently undertaking a Masters in Prosthodontics at UCLAN and have interests in Implants and also dental education. Outside of work, I enjoy running and 5-a-side football.”

Dr Choudhury Rahman

“I graduated from the University of Manchester in 2005 and am currently an Educational Supervisor in Greater Manchester North Scheme, as well as an expert witness. I spend most of my time carrying out general dentistry, alongside placing implants and running two NHS dental practices. Outside work I enjoy spending time with my two boys and I am also an avid Manchester United fan”

Dr Francisco Casserley

References

CGDent guidance – Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping. Available at: https://cgdent.uk/clinical-examination-and-record-keeping/

GDC (2013). General Dental Council – Focus On Standards. [online] gdc-uk.org. Available at: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/.

‌Theddu.com. (2025). Oro-antral communication after extraction. [online] Available at: https://ddujournal.theddu.com/issue-archive/autumn-winter-2024/oro-antral-communication-after-extraction  [Accessed 20 Nov. 2025].

MDU (2024). Montgomery and informed consent – The MDU. [online] Themdu.com. Available at: https://www.themdu.com/guidance-and-advice/guides/montgomery-and-informed-consent.

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College of General Dentistry News

Four new routes to Associate Fellowship

The College has opened four new routes to Associate Fellowship, expanding eligibility to those with suitable knowledge and experience in teaching, leadership, research or dento-legal matters.

A stepping stone to Fellowship, Associate Fellowship was introduced by the College at its inception to increase the standing of those dental professionals who have significantly developed their knowledge and skills. Open to those in all dental team roles, it bridges the large gap between Membership and Fellowship which previously offered no further recognition of these individuals’ achievements.

To date, Associate Fellowship has only been open to those holding particular qualifications, broadly aligning it to the requirements of the old Clinical domain of College Fellowship.

However, to widen relevance across different aspects of professional achievement, and to further recognise the diversity of contributions made to the profession in the service of patients, Associate Fellowship is now open to any dental professional meeting the requirements of any one of the College’s five Fellowship domains.

The recently revised domain requirements are openly published so that prospective Associate Fellows can easily check their eligibility and be confident in their application.

A summary of the domain requirements is below:

Clinical & Technical

This domain requires the applicant either to hold an eligible award or to submit a clinical portfolio demonstrating equivalent training and capability.

Qualifying awards include a relevant Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s degree or PhD from a recognised UK or EHEA higher education institution or an accredited UK provider; the CGDent Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics or Certified Practitioner status; specialty membership of a UK Royal College or Royal College faculty; a diploma in a specific dental discipline from RCS England, RCS Edinburgh or the former FGDP; the MGDS, MAGDS, MDS or MRACDS; and Accredited Full Membership of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Alternatively, applications by clinical portfolio are currently open in Restorative Dentistry, with specifications for Implant Dentistry and Orthodontics due to be published soon.

Teaching & Assessment

This requires applicants to either be recognised by an authoritative body in this field, to have a relevant Postgraduate Certificate together with three years’ qualifying experience, or to have eight years’ qualifying experience plus verified training.

For example, applicants can qualify if they have eight years’ service as an NHS Educational Supervisor (for at least 200 hours per year), together with either 27 hours’ relevant and recent CPD or Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Leadership, Management & Clinical Governance

Applicants under this domain should either hold an eligible diploma-level leadership qualification, or a certificate-level leadership qualification together with three years’ service in a relevant leadership role, or have three years’ experience in a defined senior leadership role together with 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD.

For example, applicants qualify if they have three years’ experience of leadership, oversight and accountability as principal or partner of a multi-chair practice with a minimum of six registrants, together with a relevant Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate or ILM Level 5 diploma.

Research & Publications

Applicants should either have completed a relevant Doctorate or Master’s degree including a research dissertation, or have had at least five peer-reviewed articles published in MEDLINE-indexed publications (such as the Primary Dental Journal) or Dental Update.

Law & Ethics

This domain requires applicants to have either five years’ experience in a qualifying role together with 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD, or to have a law degree or relevant postgraduate qualification together with a year’s experience in a relevant role.

Associate Fellows are senior members of the College who are advancing their journey towards Fellowship. Recognised as ‘Enhanced Practitioners’ on the College’s Career Pathway, their professional standing is marked out by the use of the postnominal AssocFCGDent.

As members of the Fellowship Community, Associate Fellows reflect the College’s values and focus on professionalism, and help provide leadership and support to the development of dentistry. They can attend the prestigious biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and have the opportunity for ceremonial admission by the President.

Associate Fellows receive a 5% reduction in their dental indemnity fees with Dental Protection. They are also eligible to enrol on a ‘top-up’ MSc in General Dental Practice, completion of which can be achieved in a single year of part-time distance learning and would take them a further step towards Fellowship by satisfying the Research & Publications domain.

Like all College members, Associate Fellows receive quarterly print issues of the Primary Dental Journal, the only peer-reviewed professional development journal dedicated to general dental practice, as well as free or heavily discounted access to live CPD events, study days and networking opportunities.

There is no fee for applying to become an Associate Fellow, and existing members who successfully upgrade will only start paying the applicable higher membership fee from their next annual renewal.

Full details of the domains, and a link to apply for Associate Fellowship of the College, are available by clicking the button below:

FELLOWSHIP DOMAINS

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College of General Dentistry News

Catherine Rutland to deliver 2026 College Lecture

The College has announced that Catherine Rutland FCGDent will be delivering the 2026 College Lecture.

The Ethical Shield: Protecting enamel, professional integrity and patient smiles will explore how dental professionals can continuously integrate ethical values into their working lives in order to provide patients with assurance and confidence in the care they receive.

This will be the second annual College Lecture, and will build on both Martin Kelleher’s inaugural College Lecture, Satisficing standards in dentistry, and on the rich legacy of Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures previously hosted by the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP).

Dr Rutland is Head of Clinical and Policy at Dentaid, representing the dental charity across the profession and engaging with MPs, public health teams and commissioners. She is also a Board Member of Dental Protection, which indemnifies and supports 70,000 dental professionals worldwide, and a Non-Executive Director and Council Member of the Medical Protection Society, which has a further 245,000 medical professional members in 40 countries. Part of the General Dental Council’s Dental Leadership Network, she is a Trustee of the Dentists’ Health Support Trust, which supports dentists facing mental health and addiction challenges, and was appointed a Trustee of the College of General Dentistry in 2026. She was previously Director of Policy and Clinical Affairs at the Association of Dental Groups, whose members work with over 22,000 registered dental professionals in treating over 10 million dental patients, and Clinical Director at Simplyhealth, including Denplan, where she chaired both the Clinical Governance Committee and the Denplan Excel Board.

After qualifying as a dentist in 1992 from the University of Leeds, where she achieved a Distinction in oral surgery, she spent two and a half years in secondary care as a House Officer in Leeds and Senior House Officer in Newcastle before moving into general dental practice. She completed Vocational Training in Sunderland and spent a year there as an associate GDP before practising in Reading for three years. From 2000-2019, she was Principal Dental Surgeon and a joint partner at a private dental practice in Thatcham, West Berkshire. She joined Denplan as a Dental Advisor in 2010, and was later promoted to Senior Dental Advisor, Head of Professional Support Services and Head Dental Officer before working there full-time from 2019. In 2013, she completed a Master’s degree in Medical Ethics and Law at King’s College London, writing her dissertation on whether both professional integrity and patient autonomy can be satisfied in fulfilling patients’ cosmetic dental desires. She became a Certified Member of the Institute of Risk Management in 2015 and was awarded a Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Certificate in Leadership Mentoring and Coaching in 2016. She became a Fellow of the College in 2023, and in 2024 was a keynote speaker at the CGDent Scotland Annual Study Day, the College’s largest annual CPD event, lecturing on ethical and legal considerations in the provision of aesthetic and cosmetic dental procedures.

The College of General Dentistry Lecture 2026 will take place at 3pm on Thursday 25 June in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London, and is the centrepiece of the Summer Day programme of events marking the College’s fifth anniversary. The other Summer Day events include the Fellows’ Summer Reception, the inaugural Academic Court Convention, and a lunch for retired members.

All dental professionals, and others with professional interests in contemporary dental practice, are eligible to attend the 2026 College Lecture. Discounted places are available to College members.

To secure your place, click the button below:

BOOK YOUR PLACE

For further information, visit the College’s events pages.

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College of General Dentistry News

Occlusion symposium Manchester – early bird booking open

The Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, which took place in London and Edinburgh last year, is heading to Manchester on Saturday 24 October 2026. Registration is now open and an early bird discount is available until 26 May.

Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, London and Edinburgh

The aim of the event, which has been organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College, is to elevate delegates’ knowledge of the fundamental principles of occlusion and how they can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions. It is designed for early career dental professionals but all dental professionals are welcome to attend.

Members of the College are asked to share details of the symposium with friends and colleagues who may wish to attend.

The programme will be delivered by the panel of six renowned speakers who impressed delegates at the symposia in London and Edinburgh.

The day will commence with a lecture by Dr Bereznicki, who will use real failure cases to illustrate what can happen if a patient’s occlusion is not assessed and treated.

This will be followed by lectures from renowned speakers Professor Paul Tipton, Dr Ken Harris, Dr Tif Qureshi, Dr Shiraz Khan and Dr Koray Feran, who will examine the five basic principles of occlusion and how they can be applied in practice to ensure the longevity of restorative treatment.

Symposium speakers l-r: Dr Shiraz Khan, Dr Ken Harris, Prof Paul Tipton, Dr Tom Bereznicki, Dr Koray Feran, Dr Tif Qureshi

Alongside the programme of lectures, delegates who wish to develop their knowledge of occlusion further can visit a hand-picked selection of education stands to learn more about leading postgraduate courses available in this field.

The fees have been set to ensure the symposium is accessible to all dental professionals. A limited number of free places are available to students who graduate after 2026. For early career practitioners who qualified between 2021 and 2026, the fee is £90.

For all other dental professionals, the early bird rate is £175 and is available until midnight on Tuesday 26 May. The full fee of £225 will then be available. Fees include refreshments throughout the day, a two-course lunch and 6 hours of verifiable CPD.

You can find further information and secure your early bird place by clicking the button below.

book your place

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, in collaboration with the College, offers a range of clinical skills competitions and events for early career practitioners. Two competitions are currently open for entries:

Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry – open until Monday 8 June 2026 – 23 successful candidates will each receive a fully funded place on a two-day digital dentistry course.

Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases – open until Monday 10 August 2026 – 20 winners will each be awarded a fully funded place on an injection moulding course.

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College of General Dentistry News

Education partnership with Dentistry Show 2026

The College will once again be an education partner at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show this year.

CGDent speakers at British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2026: Helen Kaney FCGDent (left) and Tom Bereznicki FCGDent (right). Centre: College representatives at the CGDent stand

The College will be delivering two lectures, which will be open to all dental professionals and free of charge for members and non-members of the College alike:

Oral cancer risk management

Friday 15 May 2026, 3.30pm – 4.15pm

Helen Kaney FCGDent, Head of the Dental Division at the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, will deliver this lecture in the Private Dentistry Theatre. A dually qualified dentist and solicitor, Helen graduated BDS from Glasgow University in 1987 and spent many years in general dental practice as well as working as a clinical assistant in conservative dentistry and prosthodontics at Glasgow Dental Hospital and at Guy’s Hospital in London. She developed an interest in law and ethics early in her career and studied law, obtaining an LLB, and then trained and worked as a solicitor for several years, acting for doctors and dentists in clinical negligence claims, regulatory matters and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Coroner’s Inquests) on the instructions of UK indemnity providers. She has significant experience in advising and assisting dentists in the UK and Ireland and in several international jurisdictions, and spent 14 years at Dental Protection as a Dentolegal and Senior Dentolegal Adviser and latterly as Medico and Dentolegal Services Team Lead and Head of Dental Services, Scotland. She completed an MBA at Strathclyde Business School, is a Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, and served as an elected National Representative on the College Council from 2019-2025.

Transitioning to a digital workflow in restorative dentistry

Saturday 16 May 2026, 2.45pm – 3.30pm

Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, general dental practitioner and founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, will deliver this lecture in the Private Dentistry Theatre. After graduating from Edinburgh, Dr Bereznicki worked as a house surgeon at Guy’s and The Royal Dental Hospitals before entering general dental practice, in which he has over 40 years’ experience. With a special interest in restorative dentistry, in particular occlusion and emergence profile, he was also a visiting clinical specialist teacher at King’s College London Dental Institute and later joined the teaching faculty for the university’s MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry. In 2018, he joined the Academy of Dental Excellence as a senior specialist teacher, and in 2021 became a partner associate lecturer for the University of Portsmouth’s Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. A former member of the FGDP and Founder Member of CGDent, he has been a Fellow of the College since 2022, is a regional speaker on occlusion for the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and is a member of both the Faculty of Dental Trainers at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

College representatives will also be available throughout the show at the College’s exhibition stand (L75) to talk to attendees about all aspects of membership, fellowship and the College’s vision for the profession.

It is not possible to register for any specific lecture in advance, however those wishing to attend will need to register for BDCDS26, which is free for all dental professionals.

Conference attendees will have access to 200 CPD lectures, as well as 400 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network with 10,000 dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians and laboratory owners.

REGISTER HERE FOR FREE

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College of General Dentistry News

Voting open in College Council election 2026

Voting is now open for the Mersey & North West seat on the College Council, and eligible members are encouraged to cast their ballot.

Candidates for the Mersey & North West Council seat: Ralph Pickup FCGDent (l) and Anand Chandrasekaran FCGDent (r)

Two candidates are standing – Anand Chandrasekaran FCGDent and Ralph Pickup FCGDent – and Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College who have registered an address with the College which is within its Mersey & North West region are encouraged to vote.

Dr Anand Chandrasekaran is an associate dentist at a mixed NHS-and-private practice in Helsby, Cheshire, where he accepts referrals for advanced restorative dentistry. He qualified BDS in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 2000, graduating top of his class in oral medicine, radiology and oral surgery. He later founded a charitable dental practice in the city, providing basic dental care for the underprivileged population of the district of Kolathur. After co-owning a dental practice in India for several years, he re-located to the UK, where he has practised since 2008. In 2017, he completed an MSc in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry at the University of Manchester with distinction. The following year he joined the course as a tutor and mentor, and in 2021 he was made an Honorary Teaching Associate in Dentistry within the university’s School of Medical Sciences. He holds the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) award of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and joined the College of General Dentistry as an Associate Fellow in 2023, becoming a Fellow in 2024. He has a special interest in minimally invasive aesthetic dental treatments, has undertaken additional training in periodontics and the restoration of dental implants, and is currently in the final year of an MSc in Orthodontics at the University of Plymouth.

Dr Ralph Pickup is a partner and general dental practitioner in a private dental practice in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where he accepts referrals for endodontic treatment. He graduated BDS from Newcastle Dental School in 1997 with distinction in restorative dentistry, and subsequently practised NHS dentistry in Newcastle, Stanley (County Durham) and Thornton Cleveleys (Lancashire). He holds a Diploma in Conscious Sedation in Dentistry from Newcastle University, both an Advanced Certificate in Facilitating Learning in Healthcare Practice and a Postgraduate Diploma in Endodontics from the University of Central Lancashire, the Diploma in Dental Health Services Leadership and Management and Diploma of Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP), and the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. A former FGDP Fellowship Facilitator, he is a Foundation Member, Founding Contributor, Fellow and Certified Membership Facilitator of the College of General Dentistry, as well as a donor to its recent Coat of Arms Appeal. Chair of East Lancashire Local Dental Committee and a member of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, he participates in his Local Dental Network and Dental Practitioner Advice and Support Service scheme, and has previously been an educational supervisor for NHS Foundation Training. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists, he is a member of the British Endodontic Society, American Association of Endodontists, Northwest Endodontic Study Circle, Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry, British Society for Restorative Dentistry and the British Society for Academic and Clinical Hypnosis.

The Council is the voice of our members, overseeing our role as a professional body and guiding the development of the College to fulfil its mission. Council members serve three-year terms and elections are held annually on a rotational basis. The elected candidate for the Mersey & North West region is due to serve from June 2026 – June 2029.

All members eligible to vote have been sent an email by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice, to the email address which the member has registered with the College. This contains the unique link/details they will need to cast their ballot online, as well as the candidates’ election statements. The deadline to vote is 23:59 on Monday 27 April 2026.

Please ensure that your membership of CGDent remains up to date before you vote, otherwise your vote might not count. The CGDent Member Register displays a list of all current Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows, together with their College region.

Each member’s allocated region is determined by the postal address they have registered with the College. This must be where the member either lives or works, and will be where their copies of the Primary Dental Journal and all other physical correspondence is sent. Your registered address can be updated in My Account following any change of location. A map of the College’s regions is here.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you think you are a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College but cannot find yourself on the Member Register, or if any of your listed details are incorrect.

If you need to renew your membership, you can do this easily online here.

If you are an Associate Member considering upgrading your membership in order to vote, or a non-member considering joining in order to do so, you will need to allow 1-2 weeks for the process to complete and for your unique voting details to be issued to you. Late votes will not be counted.

Following the election, the results will be announced at the end of April.

If you are an eligible member but cannot find the email from Mi-Voice inviting you to vote in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder, and if necessary double-check the email account you have registered with the College by logging in at https://cgdent.uk/my-account.

If you experience any technical difficulties submitting your vote(s), please contact Mi-Voice at [email protected] or on 02380 763987.

For information on when elections will next be held for other seats, see the College Council webpage.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

TMD: the great shift – from gnathology to neurobiology

Professor Igor Blum, Editor of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), describes the fundamental change in how the dental and medical communities understand and treat temporomandibular disorders – the theme of the upcoming issue.

The history of dentistry is often one of mechanical solutions for biological problems. For decades, the management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) was dominated by the search for the “perfect bite”, a quest that frequently led patients down a path of irreversible occlusal adjustments and increasingly complex orthodontic or restorative interventions. However, as we stand in 2026, the paradigm has shifted. We have moved from a focus on gnathology to an era of neurobiology.1 This fundamental paradigm shift in how the dental and medical communities understand and treat TMD marks a transition from viewing the temporomandibular apparatus as a purely mechanical system to viewing it as a complex biological and neurological interface.2

TMD comprises a group of musculoskeletal conditions that affect the muscles of mastication, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated structures.3,4 The symptoms can include localised or referred tenderness/pain in the TMJ or associated structures, clicking or grating sounds in the TMJs, restricted jaw movements, muscle pain, headache, tinnitus, impaired hearing, and earache.5 These symptoms can cause a wide range of biopsychosocial impacts including impacts on health-related quality of life commensurate with other types of persistent pain.6,7 Therefore, TMD is most accurately viewed through a biopsychosocial lens: an intricate interface where peripheral nociception is modified by masticatory function, sleep hygiene, autonomic stress physiology, and central sensitisation.8

TMDs are the second most common cause of orofacial pain after “toothache” (odontogenic pain).6 They affect up to one in 15 of the UK population and predominantly arise in the 20–40-year age range.6,7 Females more commonly present with symptoms of TMD than males.4,6 Many patients present with a simple concern (“my jaw clicks”; “it hurts to chew”; “I wake with headaches”) but behind this sits a spectrum of conditions ranging from self-limiting myalgia to inflammatory arthropathy, internal derangement, or degenerative joint change. The challenge – and the opportunity – for us as clinicians is to respond with care that is proportionate, evidence-informed, and firmly grounded in the patient’s lived experience. In this framework, “jaw pain” is not a diagnosis – it is a symptom. Our primary clinical mandate is to move beyond mechanical reductionism to identify the predominant pain driver, stratify patient risk, and select interventions that prioritise the prevention of iatrogenic harm while maximising functional recovery and patient comfort.

Two fundamental axioms guide contemporary TMD care. First, most clinical presentations are self-limiting and respond predictably to conservative, non-invasive management. Second, in the minority of cases where symptoms persist, the lack of resolution is rarely the result of a missed occlusal detail or an insufficiently complex appliance design. Instead, persistent pain is seldom explained by a solitary structural finding.

The upcoming themed issue of the Primary Dental Journal aims to highlight the presentation and management of some of the more common and important TMD conditions encountered in dental practice; a core theme in the papers is to highlight the vital role that primary dental care clinicians contribute to the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with TMDs. The cornerstone remains careful assessment. A structured history is not an administrative formality: it is a diagnostic instrument. Onset and temporal pattern, functional limitation, triggers, parafunctional behaviours, prior interventions, and red flags (trauma, systemic inflammatory disease, progressive neurological symptoms, swelling, fever, unexplained weight loss) shape the differential diagnoses. Equally important are the psychosocial drivers that influence pain persistence – sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and the impact on daily roles.5 The clinical examination then adds specificity: localisation of tenderness, pattern of movement, joint sounds, range and deviation, and the relationship between pain and function.9

Standardisation matters because it improves communication and research translation. Diagnostic frameworks such as the recently published brief Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (bDC for TMD)10 have moved the field forward by improving reliability and reinforcing the distinction between common muscle-related pain and less frequent joint pathology. Yet even the best taxonomy is only valuable when applied with humility: imaging and joint noises can be compelling, but they are not always causal. A click may reflect disc displacement with reduction in an otherwise stable, asymptomatic joint. Crepitus may indicate degenerative change, but the severity of radiographic findings often correlates poorly with pain intensity. The clinician’s reflex must be to contextualise findings rather than to chase them. After all, TMD care is, at its core, an exercise in clinical judgement and therapeutic restraint. It asks us to be precise in diagnosis, generous in explanation, conservative in intervention, and collaborative in approaches.

The emphasis of modern management is conservative care first – because it works for most patients and because it preserves options. Education is not “reassurance” in the dismissive sense; it is an evidence-based intervention that reduces fear, improves adherence, and supports self-efficacy. Simple explanations about joint function, muscle overload, and the natural history of many TMDs can be transformative. From there, treatment becomes a suite of low-risk strategies: activity modification, soft diet during flare-ups, heat/cold, short courses of anti-inflammatory analgesia where appropriate, and targeted exercises. Physiotherapy approaches (range-of-motion, coordination training, postural strategies, and manual techniques) remain highly relevant, particularly when delivered as part of a broader plan rather than as isolated “sessions”.11

Occlusal splints continue to have a role, especially for symptom modulation and protection in selected patients,12 but the narrative must be updated. Splints are not magic devices that “realign” joints; they are tools to reduce overload, support muscle relaxation, and improve symptom control. Clinicians should be explicit about indications, limits, and follow-up – particularly in patients with sleep bruxism, where the aim may be harm reduction rather than eradication of activity. In persistent cases, behavioural and psychological interventions are not optional add-ons; they are often essential. Cognitive behavioural approaches, stress regulation, and techniques that address hypervigilance to pain can change outcomes.13 Even brief, chairside communication strategies (language that reduces threat, validates experience, and sets realistic expectations) can shift the trajectory from chronicity toward recovery.

I trust that the Temporomandibular Disorder-themed issue of the journal will serve as a tabletop reference in general dental practice. It is hoped that it will help clinicians to integrate the principles of TMD into clinical practice to improve patient-related outcomes. In this token, I would like to express my special thanks to the Guest Editor of the TMD-themed issue, Dr Ziad Al-Ani, and to all contributing authors for crafting this superb issue of the Primary Dental Journal.

To receive the Temporomandibular Disorder issue of the PDJ, join the College by Thursday 16 April 2026.

find out more about the pdj

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.

The Temporomandibular Disorder issue will be available online in late April and printed copies should arrive with College members in May.

References

  1. Xue Q, Ming H, Huang Y, et al. Association between temporomandibular disorders and somatization: a narrative review. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2026;40(1):42-52.
  1. Dutra Dias H, Botelho AL, Bortoloti R, et al. Neuroscience contributes to the understanding of the neurobiology of temporomandibular disorders associated with stress and anxiety. Cranio. 2024;42(4):439-444.
  1. Beecroft E, Palmer J, Penlington C, et al. Management of painful temporomandibular disorder in adults. [Internet]. London: NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) and Royal College of Surgeons of England Faculty of Dental Surgery; 2025. Available at: rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/publications-guidelines/clinical-guidelines [Accessed Feb 2026].
  1. Dworkin SF, LeResche L. Research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders: review, criteria, examinations and specifications, critique. J Craniomandib Disord. 1992;6(4):301-355.
  1. Einstein A, Hassan S, Ghritlahare H. Understanding Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. In: Bhargava D. (Ed.) Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Singapore: Springer; 2021. pp29-67.
  1. Maixner W, Diatchenko L, Dubner R, et al. Orofacial pain prospective evaluation and risk assessment study–the OPPERA study. J Pain. 2011;12(11 Suppl):T4-11.e1-2.
  1. Slade GD, Bair E, Greenspan JD, et al. Signs and symptoms of first-onset TMD and sociodemographic predictors of its development: the OPPERA prospective cohort study. J Pain. 2013;14(12 Suppl):T20-32.e1-3.
  1. Sharma S, Breckons M, Brönnimann Lambelet B, et al. Challenges in the clinical implementation of a biopsychosocial model for assessment and management of orofacial pain. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47(1):87-100.
  1. Shaffer SM, Brismée JM, Sizer PS, et al. Temporomandibular disorders. Part 1: anatomy and examination/diagnosis. J Man Manip Ther. 2014;22(1):2-12.
  1. Durham J, Ohrbach R, Baad-Hansen L, et al. Constructing the brief diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (bDC/TMD) for field testing. J Oral Rehabil. 2024;51(5):785-794.
  1. Skorupa-Strojna A, Kulesa-Mrowiecka M. Effectiveness of physiotherapy for temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of pain and functional outcomes. Scand J Pain. 2026;26(1):20250073.
  1. Khijmatgar S, Tartaglia GM, Sardella A, et al. Occlusal splint effects on visual capacities in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD): a prospective interventional cohort study. BDJ Open. 2025;11(1):56.
  1. Turner JA, Mancl L, Aaron LA. Short- and long-term efficacy of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder pain: a randomized, controlled trial. Pain. 2006;121(3):181-194.

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College of General Dentistry News

College Fellow honoured with IADR award

Dr Wendy Thompson FCGDent, College Lead on antimicrobial prescribing, resistance and stewardship, has received a Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR).

Dr Wendy Thompson FCGDent with the plaque commemorating her IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology

Given annually, IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards recognise outstanding research achievements in a variety of disciplines. Considered a mark of leadership in the field of dental research, they are among the most prestigious honours bestowed by the organisation. Dr Thompson has received this year’s award for research in the fields of pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology.

A general dental practitioner in Cumbria and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Primary Dental Care at the University of Manchester, Dr Thompson researches and lectures nationally and internationally on tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), reducing the overprescribing of antibiotics, and optimising the prevention and control of infections. She graduated BDS from the University of Liverpool, was awarded the Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, holds a BSc in Microbiology & Microbial Technology from the University of Warwick, and completed a PhD in antibiotic prescribing at the University of Leeds.

She is a CGDent Ambassador, a member of the College’s Research Advisory Group, and represents the College on the UK Health Security Agency’s dental sub-group and oversight committee on antimicrobial use and resistance. Guest Editor of the College’s 2021 Primary Dental Journal issue dedicated to COVID-19 and urgent dental care, she became a Fellow of the College in 2022 and has written about her journey to gaining Fellowship through the experience route. She delivered the Caldwell Memorial Lecture 2024 on using antibiotics sustainably, has lectured for the College at the annual Dentistry Show, presented the College’s Talking Standards webinar on antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry and was the lead developer of its chairside synopsis of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.

She is also Vice Chair of the FDI World Dental Federation Science Committee, Chair of its working group on preventing antimicrobial resistance and infections, an advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, a member of the BDA Health & Science Committee, a Council member of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, a member of the BNF Dental Advisory Group, Trustee of the charity The AMR Narrative and a member of Antibiotics Research UK’s Public Engagement and Patient Support Committee. She was an honorary consultant to the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England on antimicrobial stewardship and attended the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024. She is a Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the International College of Dentists, and prior to becoming a dentist spent nine years working at the Ministry of Defence.

The award was formally conferred last week at the IADR General Session in San Diego, California, where Dr Thompson delivered a keynote lecture on antimicrobial stewardship research in dentistry, spoke on the President’s Panel about research into infection prevention and control, and chaired a session on adverse outcomes from the use of antimicrobials.

Professor Igor Blum, the editor-in-chief of the College’s Primary Dental Journal, won the Ivar Mjör Award, the IADR’s highest award for practice-based research, in 2024; read more here

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College of General Dentistry News

New award offers injection moulding training

The College has partnered with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and GC to develop a new tooth wear award for early career dentists.

The Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases recognises restorative and aesthetic dentistry skills and patient care and is open to dentists who qualified between 2020 to 2024 and practise in the UK or Ireland.

College members are urged to share the details with eligible colleagues.

Up to 20 successful candidates will each receive a fully funded place on a bespoke, hands-on injection moulding course which takes place on Saturday 5 December 2026. The prize, worth around £1,000, includes the cost of travel to GC’s UK training facilities, as well as hotel accommodation and subsistence.

Successful entrants to the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees on the composite layering course at the GC training facility in Leuven

The composite injection moulding technique course, created solely for the award by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent and Dr Chris Leech FCGDent, has been designed specifically for early career dentists and is not available commercially. 

Delivered through theory, demonstrations and comprehensive hands-on sessions, the course aims to equip clinicians with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills required to plan, execute, and maintain predictable composite injection moulding cases for aesthetic and restorative dentistry.

To enter, candidates must submit pre-op photographs of a tooth wear case they are about to start treating and upload a final case report when treatment is complete. The case must involve at least four anterior teeth, and the use of composite to restore teeth, either manually by hand or by the injection moulding technique. Full case eligibility guidance is outlined on the Award web page.

The inaugural award is now open and the deadline to enter the competition with pre-op photographs is Monday 10 August 2026. Entrants have until Monday 19 October to complete the treatment and submit their final case. The successful candidates will be announced in November and the injection moulding course will take place on Saturday 5 December 2026. The number of award entries has been capped at 100, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Announcing the new award, Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent, President of the College of General Dentistry, said:

“I am delighted that the College is further extending its collaboration with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation through our new tooth wear award. The award provides a valuable opportunity for newly qualified practitioners to develop their knowledge and skills, and progress their careers in dentistry.”

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, Chair of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, added:

“Successfully and efficiently treating common tooth wear cases using the injection moulding technique is a vital skill for early career colleagues to master – it is more predictable, quicker and provides a more aesthetic result than building up manually. So, I am thrilled that our new award will provide high-quality training in injection moulding for up to 20 successful candidates.”

John Maloney, GC Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, commented: 

“Providing the highest quality training to the dental profession is core to our mission and we are honoured to facilitate the clinical development of early career colleagues through this exciting new award.”

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

further information

Further opportunities for early career dental professionals

The College is collaborating with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and other partners to deliver a range of educational opportunities for early career dental professionals.

Eligible candidates for the Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases may also enter the Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry, which is open until Monday 8 June 2026 and provides each winner with a fully funded place on a digital dentistry course. Separate cases must be entered into each competition.

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College of General Dentistry News

Recruitment of Dean, Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy

The College is seeking the next Dean of its Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy, and all dental nurses and orthodontic therapists are invited to consider applying.

The Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy is a constituency of the College automatically comprising all members who are dental nurses or orthodontic therapists. The interests of these members as a discrete professional group are advanced within the College by both a Faculty Board, which advises and reports to the elected College Council, and by an elected Faculty representative on the Council.

The four faculties of the College have to date been led by the Chairs of the Faculty Boards, but to reflect their increasing responsibilities as CGDent continues its journey toward Royal Charter, the incumbent Chairs have recently been inaugurated as Deans.

The Deanships each have a three-year term of office, however the inaugural Deans are serving shorter terms as a sequential process of re-appointment is implemented, with the Dean of the Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy the first to be re-appointed.

The new Dean will be appointed for a non-renewable term from June 2026 – June 2029, during which they will be expected to attend the three formal meetings of the Council each year, and to coordinate at least three meetings of the Faculty Board annually with these dates. (Council holds full-day hybrid meetings, with attendance in person preferred.)

The Dean, who will work closely with the President and the other Deans in developing career and membership pathways, standard-setting, development of effective teams and other College priorities, will support and be appointed by the Council and also advises Council on the wider membership of the Faculty Board. 

Candidates will need to be an Associate Member, Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College at the time of application, and anyone interested in applying who is not yet a member of the College is advised to allow at least two weeks for their membership application to be fully processed prior to applying for this role.

The role attracts a small honorarium, with essential expenses covered. A role profile is available below.

ROLE PROFILE

Applications should be made by email, headed “Dean FDNOT”, to [email protected], attaching a CV and covering letter addressing the role profile.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 17 May 2026.

Interviews will be held online from the week beginning Monday 25 May 2026 with a selection panel convened by Council, and the appointee should be available to attend the College Council meeting on Friday 12 June 2026.

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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