College of General Dentistry Blog

Leadership Masterclass – not just another CPD course

Dr Pardeep Saini AssocFCGDent, a Specialist Orthodontist practising in Bristol, reflects on the College’s Leadership Development Masterclass led by Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent and Professor Elizabeth Carr FCGDent.

Have you ever booked onto a CPD course convinced it’s exactly what you need but quietly suspect that it would probably just be…OK?

You clear your clinic weeks in advance. You make the journey, your attention is ‘maintained’ by multiple cups of questionable ‘coffee’, you listen politely for six hours and leave having been reminded of things you already knew. It wasn’t a bad day – it just wasn’t memorable.

If you’ve been there, then you’ll understand why I saw the word “leadership” on the programme and assumed this course would be much the same.

On 14th October 2025 I attended the College’s inaugural Leadership Development Masterclass, and everything began exactly as expected: an early commute into London, a welcome break from clinic and the quiet assumption that I’d leave with a few useful reminders. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

It was a day that opened my mind and my heart to a different way of thinking about leadership.

What surprised me most wasn’t the extensive CVs of the speakers. It was the humility with which they shared their failures, their uncertainty and the lessons they’d learnt along the way. This wasn’t leadership as charisma or authority; it was leadership cultivated from curiosity, service and continual learning.

This course has lived with me every day since. I’m still revisiting my notes. I’m still working through the brilliant book references. Concepts from the course still resurface before difficult meetings or when I’m thinking through challenges with my team. I’ve attended many CPD courses over the years; very few continue teaching me long after I’ve left the room.

I was fortunate to hear about lessons taken from a diverse range of sources including the Navy Seals, The Mayo Clinic and M.I.T to name a few. What struck me was how every idea was grounded in evidence. Concepts that could easily have remained abstract were supported by data, research and real experience – a combination that’s surprisingly rare.

Before this course, I tended to think feedback was simply feedback. I now realise that appreciation, coaching and evaluation are all different forms of feedback. Failing to understand the difference and when to use each often leaves team members confused or demoralised – even when our intentions as leaders are good.

Since then, I’ve become much more intentional about conversations with my team. Before giving feedback, I ask myself a simple question: what does this person need from me right now? Recognition? Coaching? Or evaluation? That one change has improved the quality of conversations far more than any leadership skill I’ve previously learnt. This is just one example of the many lessons I learnt at this masterclass. Listing them all would be impossible. Suffice to say the value of the course to me wasn’t the individual learning points but more how it improved the way I think.

I’m fortunate to spend my days as an associate Specialist Orthodontist leading a busy NHS service in primary care. Alongside treating patients, I oversee three orthodontic therapists, a wider clinical support team and have been heavily involved in reception training. It’s a role I love, but one that has occasionally left me feeling less prepared as a leader than I am as a clinician.

As Chair of both the Bristol Orthodontic MCN and, nationally, the Orthodontic Specialists Group at the British Orthodontic Society – leading highly-intelligent and accomplished peers requires a different style of leadership from that used in the clinic, yet I found that the principles from the masterclass apply equally well in both settings.

This masterclass didn’t give me a checklist for becoming a better leader. It gave me something much more valuable: a different way of thinking about people, conversations and responsibility. Those lessons have already changed how I lead today and will undoubtedly shape me as the director of an independent Specialist Orthodontic Practice I hope to build in the future.

I’m deeply grateful to Professor Sreenivas Koka and Professor Elizabeth Carr for sharing their knowledge, ideas and experiences with such honesty and generosity. I’m equally grateful to the College of General Dentistry for organising the masterclass and giving me the opportunity to be part of its inaugural cohort and attend one of the few CPD courses that didn’t require copious cups of coffee to keep me engaged!

We often measure CPD in hours. The best CPD, however, is measured in the decisions it changes long after the certificate has been filed away.

Nearly twelve months on, it’s still teaching me.

The 2026 Leadership Development Masterclass will take place on Thursday 24 September in London. There are limited places available and College members benefit from a reduced fee. To find out more and secure your place, click the button below.

Leadership development masterclass 2026

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College of General Dentistry News

Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme now open

The College has launched its Certified Practitioner in Endodontics scheme – CertPract(Endo) – which recognises the skills and knowledge of general dental practitioners with experience of providing Level 2 complexity endodontic treatment within dental primary care.

Developed in consultation with NHS authorities and endorsed by the British Endodontic Society, the new status will enable practitioners to provide patients, colleagues and commissioners with authoritative validation of their enhanced capabilities.

Supporting recognition across both NHS and private practice, its requirements have been designed to align with Level 2 NHS care in England, with the British Endodontic Society’s average/high case difficulty categorisation, and with the capabilities achieved following successful completion of a skills-based, university-awarded postgraduate diploma in endodontics.

The application process is a staged and supported journey for which up to 12 months is allowed:

Stage 1

Applicants must:

  • Provide a comprehensive CV detailing at least five years’ post-qualification experience, at least two of which are in general dental practice
  • Submit a log of training to the standard required to undertake Level 2 complexity endodontic procedures (waived for those holding an accredited PgDip or Master’s in Endodontics)
  • Pay an Assessment Fee (£1,000) and a Credentialling Fee (£2,500, or £1,500 for Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College)

The CV will be reviewed, and the training log subject to peer assessment to ensure it reflects a breadth of relevant contemporaneous endodontic learning to the required standard. Those requiring further training will be offered guidance and will be invited to re-submit their training log on completion. Applicants assessed as having an appropriate level of training will be invited to proceed to Stage 2.

In the event that an applicant is deemed to have outstanding training needs which are unlikely to be achievable within 12 months, their candidature will not proceed to Stage 2 and both their Assessment Fee and Credentialling Fee will be refunded. Any College member not proceeding to Stage 2 will have the opportunity of peer support to help identify appropriate training.

Stage 2

Candidates are asked to provide:

  • Log-level data on 25 cases, undertaken in the past 3 years, using a provided template spreadsheet and completion guidance. These cases must be verified by two other dentists, one from inside your practice(s) and one from outside, and taken together should demonstrate the full range of treatments described in the Certified Practitioner in Endodontics Curriculum

Once accepted, applicants move to Stage 3. Feedback will be given where necessary.

In the event that an applicant has not successfully completed Stage 2 within 12 months of initial application, their application will not be taken forward to Stage 3 and their Credentialling Fee will be refunded.

Stage 3

Candidates will be asked to submit:

  • Detailed expositions of 6 of their 25 logged cases, covering a wide range of the required competencies
  • A clinical audit report related to endodontic practice

These will be reviewed, and the 6 cases will inform a case-based discussion undertaken by a panel of two suitably qualified assessors with experience of assessment for postgraduate diploma qualifications in endodontics.

The assessors will then determine whether the candidate will be designated as a Certified Practitioner in Endodontics.

Candidates will receive feedback on their assessment, and any deemed to be unsuccessful in their application will have their Credentialling Fee refunded.

Successful applicants will be awarded Certified Practitioner in Endodontics status for a period of five years, during which they will be entitled to use the postnominal letters CertPract(Endo) and their designation will be published on the College’s Register of Certified Practitioners. Continuing status thereafter will be subject to re-assessment (£500) and a further Credentialling Fee every five years.

Certified Practitioners will be deemed to have fulfilled the requirements of the Clinical & Technical domain of College Fellowship and are therefore eligible for at least Associate Fellowship of the College. Applicants who are not an Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College may therefore choose to apply at the Fellows’ rate, and if successful will be admitted as an Associate Fellow. They will then need to maintain this status in order to remain on the Register of Certified Practitioners.

For College members achieving Certified Practitioner status, their designation will also appear on the College’s Register of Members & Fellows

For further information, and to start your application to become a Certified Practitioner in Endodontics, click the button below:

START YOUR APPLICATION TODAY

Criteria for the Certified Practitioner in Oral Surgery and Certified Practitioner in Implant Dentistry designations will be published in the coming months. To register your interest, click here and follow the link to the scheme you are interest in.

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College of General Dentistry News

Northern Ireland representative

Andrew Wallace has become the new representative for Northern Ireland on the College Council, succeeding Susan Nelson.

Dr Andrew Wallace AssocFCGDent (l) and Dr Susan Nelson MCGDent (r)

Dr Andrew Wallace AssocFCGDent is a dentist at Cranmore Dental and Marlborough Clinic, two private dental practices in Belfast. He qualified from Queen’s University Belfast in 1998, and during 25 years as a general dental practitioner, including six in NHS practice, he developed interests in more complex dentistry and undertook postgraduate training in the treatment of patients with missing teeth using implants and bridgework, as well as in cosmetic makeovers. He has been accepting referrals for over 10 years and now limits his practice to referrals in prosthodontics, endodontics and orthodontics. He was previously a partner at Bachelors Walk Dental, where he successfully took the practice through assessments including the British Dental Association’s Good Practice Scheme, Denplan Excel and Investors in People.

He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Chester, and has been awarded the Master of Clinical Dentistry in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics (MClinDent with Distinction) by King’s College London. He also completed the IAS Academy Advanced Course, which since 2021 has been the preparatory course for the CGDent Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

Now a Director of the IAS Academy, he has been a lecturer, trainer and mentor for over 15 years, providing Inman Aligner training, teaching its minimally invasive ‘align, bleach and bond’ protocol, and delivering courses on clear aligners, fixed braces, ortho-restorative and restorative space closure. He has also been a trainer for Philips, ClearCorrect, Dentsply Sirona and Henry Schein, and was previously a postgraduate tutor and honorary clinical lecturer at King’s College London.

He gained full Membership of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons England (FGDP) in 2015, became a Foundation Member of CGDent in 2020, and was admitted to Associate Fellowship of the College in 2021. He is also an active member of the Irish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry.

Dr Susan Nelson MCGDent is lead dentist and implant dentist in private practice in Holywood, County Down. Graduating with Honours in 1993 from the University of Edinburgh, where she won the McGregor Gold Medal for the most distinguished dental graduate, she completed Vocational Training in Fife before joining the practice as an associate in 1994. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists (FICD), she is a member and former Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee and a former Northern Ireland Representative of the Association of Dental Implantology. She was Portman Healthcare’s Regional Clinical Lead for Northern Ireland from 2020-25, and for Scotland from 2024-25.

She joined the FGDP in 1998, examined and sat on the core group for the Membership of the FGDP(UK) and Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) qualifications for 16 years, and served as Director of the former Faculty’s Northern Ireland division. She was first elected to represent the region on the national FGDP Board in 2017, and following her re-election in 2020 chaired its Education and Qualifications Committee, was elected as a Vice Dean and was a contributor to the joint FGDP-CGDent guidance Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice.

She continued to represent Northern Ireland on the College Council when the FGDP transferred into CGDent in 2021. She also sat on the College’s Advisory Strategy Group, became a member of its Regional Funding Panel, served as Vice-Chair of its Careers and Training Committee, led the establishment of CGDent Northern Ireland and was a member of the working group which developed the College’s Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.  She was re-elected to Council in 2023 and demitted in June 2026 after completing the maximum permitted nine years’ service.

Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent, President of the College, said:

“Susan has been a wonderful colleague and incredible mentor, and will be sorely missed; it fills me with great sadness to lose such a motivated and selfless individual from the College Council. She has been a determined and committed member of both Council and the FGDP Board, has embodied collegiate leadership values and given tirelessly to both the College and former Faculty. I will always remember her support and wise counsel, and have been inspired by her contributions, humility and personality.

 “Many congratulations indeed to Andrew on his now joining the Council; we very much look forward to working together with him in the further development of the College for the benefit of our members, the wider profession and the patients we serve.”

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College of General Dentistry News

National honour for College Fellow

Congratulations to College Fellow Mhari Coxon, who has been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.

Currently Head of Marketing & Communications at Sureserve, and a registered dental hygienist for almost 30 years, Mhari Coxon FCGDent has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to oral health.

She began her career in dentistry in 1992, completing a Certificate in Dental Assisting with the University of Glasgow in 1994, followed by a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from King’s College London in 1996. She practised in both general practice and hospital environments for 14 years, and from 2007 began a parallel career as a healthcare marketing consultant and as Managing Director of CPDforDCP Ltd.

Since 2011 she has worked exclusively in healthcare marketing, initially as Senior Professional Marketing Manager for Philips, then as Medical Marketing Manager for Reckitt Benckiser. This was followed by the positions of Global Marketing Manager for Health Care Professions and Global Category Digital Marketing Manager at GlaxoSmithKline and in 2020 she became Healthcare and Prescription Marketing Strategy Lead for Northern Europe at Johnson & Johnson. In 2022 she moved to the Adelphi Group as Group Marketing Director before taking up her current role in 2024.

She joined the College of General Dentistry in 2021, became a Fellow in 2023, and was previously a longstanding DCP Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP). She served on the Faculty’s Dental Care Professionals Committee, as the DCP Editor of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), and in 2015 as co-guest-editor of the PDJ themed issue on communication, complaints and consent.

She sits on the British Dental Industry Association’s Board of Advisors, is a mentor for both the Chartered Institute of Marketing and for the government’s Help to Grow scheme for small businesses, and was previously a mentor for The Prince’s Trust. In 2014, she was appointed to the Oral Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees, acting as a Trustee and Non-Executive Director until 2025, including as Chair. She served as the organisation’s thirteenth President from 2021-23.

In addition to her dental qualifications, she holds an MSc in Marketing and Marketing Management from the University of Liverpool and a Condensed MBA in Business Administration and Management from the University of Brighton. She has also completed the Institute of Leadership and Management’s Level 7 Certificate in Executive Business Mentoring, Business Administration and Management, and has recently been admitted to the City and Guilds of London Institute.

A member of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, she is a past member of both its Council and its Publications Committee, and was Chair of the London Regional Group from 2006-10. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Association of Business Mentors, and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

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College of General Dentistry News

New PDJ online: Temporomandibular disorders

The latest issue of the Primary Dental Journal, on the topic of ‘Temporomandibular disorders’ (TMDs), is now available online.

This TMD themed issue of the PDJ has been compiled by Guest Editor Dr Ziad Al-Ani, a Senior Lecturer and Senior Recognised-Excellence-in-Teaching Fellow at the University of Glasgow Dental School. A published author, Dr Al-Ani holds a PhD in temporomandibular disorders and occlusion from the University of Manchester, and subsequently became a Clinical Teacher in Restorative Dentistry and Research Co-ordinator for the TMD Clinic at Manchester, before joining the team at Glasgow.

TMDs are one of the most prevalent conditions encountered in dental practice, with a wide array of symptoms that often extend beyond the temporomandibular joint (TMJ); they therefore remain among the most challenging to treat. This issue of the journal brings together a range of papers from writers with years of expertise in their fields, to elucidate some of this complexity and to support our patients in general dental practice.

Topics include the anatomy of TMJ sounds; TMDs and sleep medicine; splint therapy; orthodontics; and myofunctional therapy; as well as practical discussion on guidelines and checklists to use in practice. Across the range of papers, invaluable knowledge on when – and when not – to treat, as well as where inter-disciplinary collaboration can empower our practice, is provided. The issue also includes an insightful personal reflection on the treatment of TMDs and how this has transformed across the span of a 40-year career. A full list of papers can be found under ‘Issue Contents’ below.

The papers in this PDJ explore the effective management of TMD conditions – which can be wide and varied – with key recommendations that management must be carefully underpinned by conservative, patient-centred strategies, and often supported by a collaborative approach. Dr Al-Ani explains his goal for the issue:

“It is hoped that this themed issue will provide clinicians with both clarity and confidence, bridging the gap between evolving evidence and everyday clinical practice, and supporting a more consistent, holistic approach to the management of temporomandibular disorders.”

This issue also includes the first in a series of articles charting the history of the College, an outline of the latest Pathway to College Fellowship for various career stages, and a brand new section of updates aimed at supporting early careers practitioners.

Full online access to the majority of articles in this and previous issues is reserved for College of General Dentistry members and Primary Dental Journal subscribers, who can expect their printed copies to arrive shortly. New joiners wishing to receive a copy of this issue can let us know by emailing [email protected]

For non-members / non-subscribers, at least one paper in each issue is made available online free of charge, with all other articles available by becoming a member or by purchasing them individually via the links below.

An annual print subscription to the PDJ is included with membership of the College, which also includes online access to over 1,500 current and past articles in the PDJ Library and a range of other benefits.

On behalf of the College, the PDJ editorial team would like to express its gratitude to all the authors and peer reviewers who have contributed to this issue.

ISSUE CONTENTS:

CGDent members can view full articles by logging in via the yellow button below, then clicking ‘Access the PDJ Library’:

PDJ MEMBER ACCESS

The next issue of the journal, which is a double issue, “General dentistry”, is due out in Summer 2026.

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College of General Dentistry News

Leadership Development Masterclass 2026

The College will be hosting its second Leadership Development Masterclass for dental professionals on Thursday 24 September 2026.

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent (l) and Professor Elizabeth Carr FCGDent (r), co-presenters of the CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass 2026

Following the success of the 2025 event, the masterclass will teach 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 will take place in London, will be 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 Koka was also the guest editor of the recent themed issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), highlighting the power of leadership for all members of the primary dental care team and its impact on their patients.

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 Carr was also the author of Effectively managing difficult conversations with patients and dental teams and co-author of Everyday leadership in the leadership-themed issue of the PDJ.

The first CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass in October 2025

The Leadership Development Masterclass, which has a limited number of places, costs only £225 to attend (£175 for College members) and comes with 4.75 hours of CPD verified for GDC Development Outcome B. Booking is now open for College members, who benefit from an early booking window prior to general booking opening on Wednesday 1 July.

Launching the leadership development masterclass initiative last year, 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 [and] it is one of our five domains of Fellowship. Leadership can be taught and learned, so we are delighted to be able to host this masterclass, and privileged that it will 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.”

For further information, and to book your place at the Leadership Development Masterclass, click the button below.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR PLACE

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College of General Dentistry News

Onkar Dhanoya to be next Chair of CGDent

Dr Onkar Dhanoya FCGDent, a general dental practitioner in Newcastle, has been appointed as the next Chair of the College of General Dentistry’s Trustee Board.

Having graduated from Newcastle University in 1985, Dr Dhanoya has been Principal Dentist and owner of Honour Health, a group of NHS and private dental practices across the North East, since 1986. His clinical interests include implant dentistry, conscious sedation, facial aesthetics and restorative dentistry.

He served as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at Newcastle Dental School from 1996 to 2024, and has been extensively involved in postgraduate education throughout his career. He was a Vocational and Foundation Dental Trainer with the Northern Deanery from 1991 to 2005 and from 2009 to 2015, an examiner for the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, a trainer in conscious sedation and a postgraduate lecturer in dental acupuncture. He currently chairs the Advisory Board for Foundation Training in Dentistry.

He holds a Diploma in Conscious Sedation from Newcastle University, a Diploma in Dental Acupuncture, the Diploma in Implant Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a Certificate in Postgraduate Clinical Education from Newcastle University, a Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Practice Management from the University of Chester, and certificates in Facial Aesthetics and Dental Practice Appraisal.

He joined the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) in 1993, achieved Fellowship in 2013 and served as an elected member of the FGDP(UK) National Board from 2014 until its transfer into the College of General Dentistry. During this period he served as Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee, Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Board, and completed two terms as Vice Dean. He also chaired the joint FGDP–CGDent working group which produced the influential guidance, Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice. Following the establishment of the College of General Dentistry, he continued to represent the Yorkshire and Northern region on the College Council and was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2022. 

A Fellow of the International College of Dentists and the Higher Education Academy, he is a member of the Association of Dental Implantology, the Sedation Teachers Group and the North East Private Dentists Group. A longstanding member of the British Dental Association, he is a former President of its Northern Counties Branch, a past member of both the BDA English Council and General Dental Practice Committee, and has served as a BDA Good Practice Scheme Assessor for many years.

He has represented the profession locally and nationally through extensive leadership roles, including Chair of North of Tyne Local Dental Committee since 2014 and Chair of the Northern Regional Council of Local Dental Committees from 2017 to 2020. He served as a Board Member of Dental Protection from 2019 to 2025, acts as an Expert Witness and Clinical Advisor to the General Dental Council, and has contributed to NHS dental contract reform and performance assessment processes. His professional interests include healthcare governance, leadership, professional standards, strategic development and the future application of technology and artificial intelligence within dentistry.

The Board of Trustees is accountable for the proper running of the College and the fulfilment of its legal and regulatory duties, contributing to its custodianship and supporting its historic mission to build a future Royal College for dentistry. In taking up post as Chair of the Board in October 2026, Dr Dhanoya will succeed Dr Mick Horton FCGDent, former Dean of the FGDP, who joined the Board of Trustees in 2017, became Chair in 2023, and will now be stepping down.

During Dr Horton’s tenure at the helm of the College, a partnership to support early careers practitioners has been fostered, free College Subscriber status has been launched to serve the more than 20,000 individuals who have set up online accounts, a Register of Implant Mentors has been established, a Coat of Arms has been granted, an annual College Lecture has been inaugurated, the third edition of Standards in Dentistry has been published, the Certified Practitioner scheme has been developed and Fellowships have been created for each dental team role.

Previously the College was chaired by Janet Clarke MBE FCGDent (2020-23) and Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent (2017-20).

Commenting on Dr Dhanoya’s appointment, Dr Horton said:

“The College of General Dentistry turns five this year, and the way in which it has evolved and become an organisation that truly represents the whole dental team fills me with pride. I took over from Janet Clarke as Chair of Trustees and my time is now over. It is time to pass on to the next Chair, and I couldn’t have wished for a more suitable successor than Onkar. I have known him both as a colleague and a friend for all his time both on the FGDP board and in his subsequent positions at CGDent, and it is the breadth of his knowledge and his experience of a variety of leadership roles that he will apply to leading the Board of Trustees.”

Dr Dhanoya added:

“It is a privilege to be appointed Chair of the College’s Trustee Board. I am sincerely grateful for the leadership and commitment of my predecessors, Nairn Wilson, Janet Clarke and Mick Horton, whose stewardship has strengthened the College and advanced its standing within the profession. Their contribution provides a strong foundation on which to build. I now look forward to supporting the next phase of the College’s development as it continues to establish itself as the academic home for all dental professionals. This includes progressing our shared ambition towards achieving a Royal Charter and further enhancing the College’s role in supporting excellence in patient care and professional standards.”

The College is now recruiting for a new dental Trustee. Information on the role, which all registered dental professionals are eligible to apply for, can be found via the button below:

FIND OUT MORE & APPLY

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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.

The Trustee Board is accountable for the proper running of the organisation and the fulfilment of its legal and regulatory duties. The current College Trustees are Dr Roy Bennett FCGDent, Dr Onkar Dhanoya FCGDent, Professor Andrew Eder FCGDent, Dr Mick Horton FCGDent (Chair) and Dr Catherine Rutland FCGDent, alongside governance specialist Jane Clarke, experienced Chief Financial Officer Neil Sawbridge and barrister Commander Fred Thomson VR RN DL.They work 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 23 August 2026, addressed to [email protected] with the subject line “Trustee application”.

Interviews will be held in mid-September in London.

The successful candidate will be appointed for three years, and 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.

It is intended that the appointee will begin their term at the Trustee meeting on Friday 2 October 2026, with further meetings currently scheduled for:

  • Tuesday 15 December 2026, 10.30-16.00, London
  • Friday 2 April 2027, 10.30-13.00 (online)
  • Friday 9 July 2027, 10.30-13.00 (online)
  • Friday 8 October 2027, 10.30-13.00 (online)
  • Friday 17 December 2027, 10.30-16.00, London

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 Blog

Supporting confidence, communication and career development within the dental team

Caroline Persaud, a Clinical Dental Technician and board member of the College’s Faculty of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology, describes her experience of the Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award in Coaching and Mentoring.

I qualified as a Clinical Dental Technician in 2007 and have practised, within my own business, for 19 years. Although I have been on the Faculty Board representing my profession for several years, at times I have lacked the confidence to impart my knowledge and opinions with others without seeming too direct. So when the Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award was announced last year, my primary motivation in applying was to gain skills to support this role. My second driver was that opportunities like this do not come along every day – and it was specifically for Dental Care Professionals. I took the plunge, pushed the nervous twitch to one side, submitted my application and was delighted to be awarded a place.

The course provided an opportunity to step back from day-to-day practice and reflect on how we support colleagues, trainees and the wider profession. Although many of us naturally share knowledge and experience in practice or the laboratory environment, the course helped me gain a greater understanding of the differences between advising, coaching and mentoring. The result was that I gained a base knowledge of how each can positively influence professional growth and confidence.

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was enjoying learning alongside fellow DCPs from a range of professional backgrounds. The course was delivered online, which I had some reservations about as any type of home-based or non-face-to-face learning is often fraught with distractions. However, all my misgivings were dispelled within the first 45 minutes. The discussions were engaging, supportive and thought-provoking, with relatable content and scenarios that brought about a meeting of minds from the group of DCPs in attendance. The course leaders created an excellent environment for open conversation and shared learning.

The most useful part of the course for me was the Coaching Supervision Interview. Conducted just ahead of Day 3, this exercise gave me the opportunity to put the knowledge learned so far into my everyday practice and illustrate how effective it was for me and my mentee.

Having sat on the Faculty board for some years, I have at times struggled to find my voice. However, I have realised that the environment of smaller gatherings of board members, where your opinions do not feel under scrutiny, seems to bring out my best thoughts and ideas; over time my fear of personal expression has alleviated, and I have truly found my voice. I also perceived that there was a similar pattern within some of my fellow board colleagues, so I wanted to encourage them to grow the same level of confidence to raise their hand and speak aloud. The coaching model I adopted for my test case worked seamlessly. Through a series of questions and conversation, the mentee was able to identify the problem, provide solutions and implement them in real time to achieve the end goal. I must say: it felt satisfying to have made a difference. Perhaps it was a small difference, but ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow‘.

As all professionals will confess, time is a precious commodity. One of the most poignant moments of Day 2 was a role-play session whereby I was mentor, and my mentee came to me with time management issues. This issue hit home hard; I am known for working some rather unorthodox hours and so I had a vested interest in this scenario. After five minutes of following a particular coaching model, the mentee had devised an action plan that seemed realistic. I sensed that this was genuinely going to be implemented and felt that I had influenced some key decision-making which would benefit the mentee going forward. It also illustrated the versatility of these techniques, and how they can apply to our personal situations as well as our professional roles.

When the final session commenced, there was an air of confidence and a real buzz amongst the delegates. Everyone had started to put into practice the skills learned during Days 1 and 2, and the open discussions revealed the positives and challenges, including some real personal triumphs. The groupwork flowed with a level of calm and conviction, with a real sense of pride that we all had applied ourselves and felt richer for the experience. Three days invested and well worth it!

Since attending, I have become more aware of how effective coaching and mentoring can support confidence, communication and career development within the dental team. The idea that ‘you get out what you put in’ is a timeless principle. As a group, we invested our time, our minds and our passion for the profession. In turn, we all came away enriched compared to where we began at the start of Day 1. If you follow the philosophy learned here, this course will broaden your thinking and provide you with the tools to gain the most from your colleagues, mentees and the wider dental community.

Attending the course was an extremely worthwhile experience, and one I would strongly encourage other Dental Care Professionals to consider applying for now that the course is being run again this year. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is passionate about supporting others and giving something back to the profession along with those who may see their future in a teaching environment of any kind.

An extended thank you to Foundation Nakao and to Professor Avijit Banerjee FCGDent for their generosity, and for working with the College to provide DCPs with this opportunity.

The Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026 is now open to registered dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental nurses, orthodontic therapists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians with at least two years’ post-qualification experience in their role. Applications close on Friday 31 July. To find out more and apply, click the button below:

Foundation nakao – CGDent award 2026

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College of General Dentistry News

Special recognition for Dental Nursing representative

Congratulations to Jane Dalgarno AssocFCGDent, College Council representative for dental nursing and orthodontic therapy, who has received an Individual Contribution Special Recognition Award from the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses (NEBDN).

Jane Dalgarno RDN MSc AssocFCGDent

Given annually, the NEBDN’s Special Recognition Awards recognise the significant contributions made by individuals and groups to the dental nursing profession and to the NEBDN itself, and may reflect either a specific single achievement or achievements over a significant period of time.

Chair of the East of England Managed Clinical Network for Dental Care Professionals and a past President of the British Association of Dental Nurses, Ms Dalgarno began her career in general dental practice as a trainee dental nurse in 1986 and completed the National Certificate for Dental Surgery Assistants in 1993. A past Programme Director for the HEE Foundation Degree in Advanced Dental Nursing and former Clinical Workforce Development Lead at Community Dental Services CIC, she holds certificates in education, oral health education, sedation and dental radiography, the A1/A2 assessors award, a BSc in Primary Dental Care and an MSc in Applied Dental Professional Practice from the University of Kent. She has been on the Board of the College’s Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy since it was convened in 2021, and was a member of the Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy Working Group which co-developed the College’s Professional Framework for Career Pathways in Dentistry. She was elected to her current College role in 2024.

She has received the Special Recognition Award in recognition of:

“…her exceptional and sustained contribution to education and professional development in dental nursing over more than 25 years. Through her extensive experience delivering and leading education across a wide range of NEBDN-linked and national programmes, alongside her work in qualification development, quality assurance, and Learner support, Jane has made a lasting impact on Learner success and professional standards. Her educational leadership, national influence and unwavering commitment to excellence make her a highly deserving recipient of this award”.

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