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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College of General Dentistry News

CGDent-GC Award 2026 – winners

The College of General Dentistry, GC and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation would like to congratulate the successful candidates in the 2026 CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, and thank everyone who entered.

A selection of successful cases which illustrate a range of different types of cases entered in the award. Cases submitted by (L-R) Dr Esha Gupta, Dr Xiaoyu Foo and Dr Lance Lesterpearson

This year, all 14 winning entrants are dentists, who between them studied at eight different dental schools and are now completing their Foundation / Vocational Training through eight different deaneries across the regions and nations of the UK.

Candidate nameUndergraduate qualificationEducational Supervisor(s)Deanery
Dr Abdurahman AbdiBDS Cardiff University 2025Dr Sian BlackshawWales
Dr Sahand AbolfathiBDS University of Glasgow 2025Dr Bushra BashirScotland
Dr Mariam AhmedBDS Newcastle University 2025Dr Rosie Johnston, Dr Heather CoventryNorth East and Cumbria
Dr Xiaoyu FooBDS University of Dundee 2025Dr Iain BuftonScotland
Dr Esha GuptaBDS University of Plymouth 2025Dr Saleem MullaMidlands
Dr Joshua HurleyBDS King’s College London 2025Dr Niloy KariaLondon and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Dr Anushka KapourBDS University of Plymouth 2025Dr Deepa Shah, Dr Neil ShahLondon and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Dr Daniel LekhiBDS University of Birmingham 2025Dr Brenda Macmillan, Dr Rebecca HamiltonThames Valley and Wessex
Dr Lance LesterpearsonBDS University of Plymouth 2024Dr Mohammed FaisalLondon and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Dr Aqil MatinBDS University of Manchester 2025Dr Emily McConnellNorth West
Dr Imane NagiBDS University of Birmingham 2025Dr Bharat ModhwadiaNorth West
Dr Priyanka ShahBDS University of Dundee 2025Dr Nava Darzi, Dr Hardeep MatharuEast of England
Dr Safa ShareefBDS University of Manchester 2025Dr Jemma HookNorth West
Dr Heba TurkiBDS Newcastle University 2025Dr Neesha ChopraNorth East and Cumbria

To enter, each participant submitted a restorative case which included at least one anterior tooth restored with composite. Cases entered involved a range of restorative treatments including those for midline diastema, dental trauma, tooth wear and peg shaped laterals. View all the successful cases here.

The award was open to dentists and dental therapists who graduated in the UK or Ireland in 2025 and/or are undergoing Dental Foundation Training, Dental Vocational Training or Joint Dental Foundation Core Training in 2025-26. Entries were received from dentists and dental therapists around the country.  

The assessment panel, which comprised Trustees of The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and senior members of the College, scored each case based on a set of assessment criteria which allocated points to overall improvement in the patient’s oral health (including periodontal health), the standard of aesthetic treatment, the complexity of the case and the quality of the entrant’s reflection.

The successful candidates are each awarded a fully-funded place on a two-day composite layering course which is taking place on 23-24 July 2026 at GC’s European Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium. The prize includes international travel and hotel costs and is worth around £1,400 per place.

The CGDent-GC Award is funded by The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and organised in conjunction with the College and GC.

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

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

The College, GC and the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation also collaborate on the new Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases, which is currently open to dentists who qualified between 2020 and 2024, and who practise in the UK or Ireland, until Monday 10 August 2026, and which will offer up to 20 successful candidates a fully-funded place on a one-day, hands-on course on composite injection moulding technique.

The next round of the CGDent-CG Award will open in September 2026. For further information, visit our award page. To receive email notification when the competition opens, register your interest via the button below:

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

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College of General Dentistry News

College Vice-Presidents 2026-27

Anoup Nandra and Nicola Gore have been elected as the College’s Vice-Presidents for 2026-27.

Vice Presidents of the College: Nicola Gore FCGDent (l) and Anoup Nandra FCGDent (r)

Anoup Nandra FCGDent is Principal Dentist at a mixed NHS-and-private practice in Edgbaston and a private dental practice in Wolverhampton. He graduated from Birmingham in 2002 and completed Vocational Training in London before returning to the Midlands, where he has practised for twenty years. He has served as a clinical lecturer at the University of Birmingham and as a Foundation Dental Trainer, and is a member of Birmingham Local Dental Committee as well as the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry. A Fellow of both CGDent and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, he has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry from University College London, an MSc in Dental Implantology from the University of Lancashire and a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Wolverhampton. He also holds an LLM in legal aspects of medical practice and the Cardiff University Bond Solon Civil Expert Witness Certificate. He was elected to represent the West Midlands on the College Council in 2024 and is Chair of the College’s Membership Admissions Panel.

Nicola Gore FCGDent is Principal of a dental practice in north London. Since qualifying as a dentist from the University of London in 1993, she has held various general practice and hospital maxillofacial posts within the UK and Australia, has taught undergraduate and graduate dental students and has trained over 25 Foundation Dentists. She holds the MJDF, a Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education from the University of Bedfordshire and an MClinDent in Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics from the Royal London, and has also undertaken postgraduate training in orthodontics. Co-founder and President of the British Iranian Dental Association, she is a past committee member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a member of the British Society of Prosthodontics. She is co-author of the popular Dentistry in a Nutshell: A Practical Guide to Clinical Dentistry, and among the authors of the third edition of the College’s Standards in Dentistry publication. She has represented the North Thames region on the College Council since 2024 and served as a Vice President in 2025-26.

The College’s Vice-Presidents are elected annually by, and from within, the College Council, and support the President of the College in the delivery of the Council’s strategy and policy.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COLLEGE GOVERNANCE

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College of General Dentistry Event

Advanced orthodontics course (block 6)

Thursday 2 March 2028 – Saturday 4 March 2028

This training block is reserved for enrolled candidates progressing towards the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

IAS Academy, Towergate House, 22 Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey KT14 7LF

The Advanced Orthodontics course is a comprehensive, 120-credit, Level 7 programme leading to the award of the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

Delivered by IAS Academy, it is designed to give General Dental Practitioners the skills and knowledge needed to treat more complex malocclusions, including extraction cases, taking them up to just below specialist training level. It covers all appliance systems – fixed functional, aligners, lingual and Inman – and includes both the theory and practical aspects of orthodontic care.

In addition to lectures, students will discuss multiple new cases, participate in hands-on practical sessions and receive one-to-one mentoring by specialists for ten treated cases. The syllabus, which is delivered across six 3-4 day training blocks as well as weekly online planning discussions, includes:

  • Records, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Treatment planning for Class I, Class II div1, Class II div 2 and Class III malocclusions
  • Radiography – Ceph/OPG/CBCT
  • Fixed appliances
  • Lingual appliances
  • Removable appliances
  • Functionals
  • Retention
  • Aetiology of malocclusion, growth & development
  • Development of the dentition and tooth movement
  • Dental material & biomechanics
  • Multidisciplinary care, including restorative, periodontics & surgery
  • Critical reading skills
  • Health education, health & safety, legislation and audit
  • Marketing and practice management 

Successful completion of the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics satisfies the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship and brings automatic eligibility for Associate Fellowship of the College.

Attending

This training block is specifically for candidates accepted onto the 2026-28 cohort of the diploma course and is limited to 12 places. To ensure enough case-flow and experience, the course is recommended for dentists who have treated at least ten fixed cases, are treating a minimum of ten orthodontic cases per annum, and are familiar with using fixed appliances.

further information & REGISTRATION

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College of General Dentistry News

Patricia Thomson to be awarded College Medal

Patricia Thomson FCGDent will be awarded this year’s College Medal, the College’s most prestigious honour.

 Dr Patricia Thomson FCGDent (l), winner of the 2026 College Medal (r)

Reserved for no more than one recipient per year, the College Medal is awarded for exceptional service to the dental profession and its patients in a manner aligned with the values and mission of the College. Dr Thomson has received the award in recognition of her wholehearted commitment to the profession, and her longstanding service to CGDent and previously to the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP), both nationally and in the west of Scotland.

Since graduating from Glasgow Dental School in 1983 until her retirement from practice this year, she amassed 43 years’ unbroken service as a general dental practitioner. Principal of a mixed NHS-and-private practice for over 30 years, she assisted the Vocational Dental Practitioners in her practice for over 20 of these, also nurturing the careers of many Dental Care Professionals, associate dentists and non-clinical staff. In recent years, she practised as a part-time associate dentist, and she continues to teach undergraduates as a part-time Clinical Teaching Fellow in the restorative department at the University of Glasgow.

Heavily involved for more than two decades in the highly active West of Scotland division of the former FGDP, she tutored numerous colleagues for entry exams for the Royal Colleges and presented teaching sessions on orthodontics to vocational trainees. Elected in 2016 to represent the West and North of Scotland on the national FGDP Board, she was re-elected in 2019 and transferred to the College Council when CGDent succeeded the FGDP.

In 2021, she led the establishment of CGDent Scotland to succeed the West of Scotland division, and has since continued her involvement both in the study groups and in planning the annual study days, which have been running since 1992 and now regularly attract over 400 colleagues.

She was appointed the first Chair of the College’s Regional Funding Panel and was elected Vice-President of the College in 2022. She served a second term as Vice-President in 2023-24, and was re-elected to the Council in 2024 before standing down in 2025 after completing the maximum permitted nine years’ service. She continues to represent the College as its nominee on the NHS Education for Scotland Dental Committee, a role she has held for many years.

With a longstanding interest in orthodontics, she spent three years on a part-time clinical attachment in Glasgow Dental School’s orthodontic department, training in fixed appliance therapy, and later completed an MSc in Primary Dental Care (Dental Science) with an interest in orthodontics, achieving a distinction.

She also holds the Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (MJDF) and the Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (MFDS), and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and a Past President of the West of Scotland branch of the British Dental Association.

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

“I am delighted to be announcing this award to Patricia, and congratulate her on behalf of the whole College. She has worked tirelessly over many years, not least in her leadership capacity in Scotland, where together with committed colleagues she has helped foster an impressive and effective community of practice which has gone from strength to strength in delivering FGDP & College initiatives, particularly for the benefit of early careers practitioners. She epitomises what it means to be a College Fellow, and was a diligent member of the FGDP(UK) Board and College Council, and Vice President, whose countless contributions have helped define the College’s development throughout its early years. She remains a devoted and uncompromising champion of general dental practice, and is an extremely worthy and deserved recipient of the College Medal.” 

Dr Thomson will be the fifth recipient of the College Medal, following Ian Mills, Andrew Hadden, Ario Santini and Kevin Lewis.

Further details of the College’s honours and awards are available here

This year’s CGDent Scotland Study Day will take place on Friday 4 December at Glasgow Science Centre, where Dr Noland Naidoo, Dr Helen Kaney FCGDent, Professor Murali Srinivasan and Professor Gerry McKenna FCGDent will lecture on ‘Digital dentistry for the dental team’. All dental professionals are welcome, and further information and tickets are available here

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