College of General Dentistry News

New sustainable dentistry resources hub

The College has published a new webpage bringing together resources which dental practitioners and practices can use to understand and reduce their environmental impact.

Sustainability has been defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, and for dental practices, this means minimising adverse effects on the environment and helping to conserve natural resources.

While this encompasses a wide range of factors, carbon emissions are a critical component, and with the UK government committed to reaching ‘net zero’ by 2050, NHS-contracted practices in England should be aware that since April 2023, every Integrated Care System now has a Green Plan as part of the NHS’s own net zero commitment.

Last year, the College co-hosted the webinar Sustainability in dentistry and healthcare, which looked at the effect of healthcare on climate change and discussed some of the practical aspects relevant to general dental practice. The recording is available free of charge to College members and provides 2¼ hours of certified CPD. 

Professor Paul Batchelor FCGDent, Dental Group Chair at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, also published the blog Sustainability: what is it and how can the dental sector contribute? on the College website, and recently delivered a College lecture on sustainability in dentistry.

In recent years, a number of organisations have developed free materials to support greater sustainability in dentistry, and the new webpage has been created to act as a hub with descriptions and links to a selection of resources encompassing learning, guidelines and tools for the practical implementation of change.

For those looking for an introduction to the topic, the page includes a link to NHS England’s e-Learning for Health Environmental sustainability in dentistry module, which takes only around 30 minutes to complete.

For those ready for further exploration, a link is provided to the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare’s How to Guide for Dental Practices. This includes sections on travel, equipment and supplies, energy, waste, biodiversity and green space, and measuring and embedding sustainability, as well as modelled examples and consideration of the ease and costs of implementation and the financial return on investment.

Similarly Green Impact, a UNESCO-recognised organisation working with the NHS, has developed an online toolkit which offers wide-ranging information and practical advice that dental teams can implement. NHS-contracted dental practices throughout the UK which are committed to implementing change can access support through Green Impact to achieve their sustainability objectives, and can choose to work towards bronze, silver or gold level accreditation. Registration links are provided on the new webpage.

The page also includes a link to the Clinical guidelines for environmental sustainability in dentistry, which were produced by Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England earlier this year, and Sustainability in dentistry: Leading for change, a review which makes recommendations for change in each part of the dental system.

VISIT THE NEW SUSTAINABLE DENTISTRY PAGE
College of General Dentistry News

New CGDent-GC Award offers aesthetic dentistry training to Foundation Dentists

The College and GC, in association with The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, have launched a new competition for Foundation Dentists and Vocational Trainees throughout the UK.

The inaugural CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Dentists, which promotes dentistry skills, is open to all those enrolled on a Foundation or Vocational Training Programme in 2023-24.

All eligible competition entrants will receive a free GC G-aenial A-CHORD Composite kit, worth in the region of £250, to use in their case treatment (while stocks last), and up to 14 winners will receive a fully-funded place on a composite layering course taking place over two days at the GC Europe Campus in Leuven, Belgium. The prize includes hotel accommodation, international travel expenses, meals and subsistence.

Entrants must submit an aesthetic case that they have treated during their Foundation/Vocational Training. The case must involve more than one tooth, including at least one anterior tooth, as well as the use of composite to restore teeth.

The award is now open, the closing date for entry is Friday 23 February 2024, and final cases must be submitted by Friday 5 April 2024. The winners will be announced in early June, and their course will take place on Thursday 11th & Friday 12th July 2024.

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

Speaking about the inaugural award, Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, said:

“I am delighted that newly qualified colleagues will have the opportunity to enter the innovative CGDent-GC competition. By becoming entrants, it is hoped that a large number of FDs and VTs across the UK, in addition to having opportunity to work with a state-of-the-art composite system, will be encouraged to expand and develop their knowledge, skills and experience in aesthetic dentistry, to better serve the needs and expectations of their patients. The collaborative working between CGDent and GC, made possible by the generous support of the recently established Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, is to be warmly welcomed: hopefully the first of many different collaborations between the College and the dental industry to promote excellence in clinical care.”

John Maloney, GC’s Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said:

“GC are honoured to partner with the College of General Dentistry and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation to deliver this new prize for Foundation Dentists. GC have a proud history of delivering quality postgraduate education to the dental profession, and therefore we look forward to developing this partnership in the years to come.”

Dr Tom Bereznicki commented:

“I would like to thank the Trustees of The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, the College of General Dentistry and GC in helping to get this exciting project off the ground. I would also like to thank my long-standing friend from my undergraduate days in Edinburgh, the recently knighted Sir Nairn Wilson, for agreeing to be the Patron of the charity. This inaugural competition is the first of what we hope will be many other competitions in the near future.”

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

FURTHER INFORMATION

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College of General Dentistry News

New PDJ online: Aesthetic dentistry, part 2

The latest edition of the Primary Dental Journal, the Aesthetic dentistry part 2 issue (vol.12, no.3), is now live online.

As with part 1 (vol.12, no.2), this issue is guest edited by two renowned experts in the field, Subir Banerji (Programme Director MSc Aesthetic dentistry, King’s College London) and Shamir Mehta (Professor of Aesthetic dentistry and Programme Lead, MSc Restorative and Aesthetic dentistry at CoMD/Ulster University).

In this part 2 issue, and the previous part 1 issue, the Guest Editors have selected a range of topics pertinent to the whole team of dental professionals, including discussions on the aesthetic management of tooth size discrepancies, the longevity of tooth-coloured materials in dental restoration, and an update on adhesion to enamel and dentine. A full list of part 2 papers can be found below.

Also included in this issue is the final of five domains from the College’s Career Pathways in Dentistry: Professional Framework, which describes the knowledge, skills and other attributes expected of primary care dental professionals at different career stages – from safe practitioner through to accomplished practitioner. The ‘Agency’ domain is published in this issue, and was preceded by the ‘Clinical & Technical’, ‘Professionalism’, ‘Reflection’ and ‘Development’ domains published in the Autumn and Winter 2022 and the Spring and Summer 2023 issues of the Primary Dental Journal. Every domain for all career stages can be viewed online, using the above link.

Full access to the majority of articles is reserved for College of General Dentistry members and Primary Dental Journal subscribers. For non-members / non-subscribers, individual print issues are available to purchase from £41. An annual print subscription, normally costing £125, is included with membership of the College. Membership is available from £125 for dentists, from £83 for other dental professionals, and from £42 for Dental Nurses and those eligible for a concession and also includes online access to the PDJ Archive of over 1,300 articles, and a range of other benefits.

CGDent members and PDJ subscribers should expect their printed copies to arrive in the next 2–3 weeks.

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 the publication of this issue.

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

PDJ member access

At least one paper in each issue is made available online free of charge on an Open Access basis. Non-members can view all other full articles using the purchase options presented when clicking the individual article links below, or can use the links above to purchase a complete issue or an annual subscription, or become a member.

PDJ Autumn 2023 Aesthetic dentistry part 2 issue contents

The next issue of the journal will feature papers on the topic of Dental trauma, and is due out in Winter 2023. Anticipated papers include:

  • A review of the IADT Guidelines 2020
  • Prevention of traumatic dental injuries
  • How to succeed in dental trauma management
  • Assessment and management of fractures
  • Assessment and management of displacement injuries
  • Assessment and management of avulsion injuries
  • Special considerations in paediatric dental trauma
  • Monitoring and complications post-trauma

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Fellows’ Summer Reception

Thursday 20 June 2024, 6pm-9pm, Cutlers’ Hall London

**Please note this event is now sold out. We are maintaining a waiting list, if you would like to register your interest email [email protected]**

The third annual College of General Dentistry Fellows’ Summer Reception will take place in London on the evening of Thursday 20 June 2024, in the glorious surroundings of Cutlers Hall.

The event will include welcome addresses by the President and Chair of the College, the admission of new Fellows, presentation of the President’s Award and the announcement of this year’s winner of the College Medal.

An opportunity to network with peers, as well as to meet College Trustees and members of the College Council and Faculty Boards, the reception will be open to all Fellows, Associate Fellows and those enrolled in Certified Membership, with priority given to new Fellows.

Information on eligibility for Fellowship of the College (FCGDent) and Associate Fellowship (AssocFCGDent) is available here

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

How can you and your patients benefit from a relationship with a Clinical Dental Technician

CGDent on-demand webinar

(Rescheduled from October 2023)

In this CGDent webinar, relevant to the whole dental team, the speakers clarify the role and relevance of a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT) in the modern dental practice and discuss the numerous benefits that CDTs can bring to dentists, patients and the overall dental practice.

Using real-life examples, we examine how the presence of a CDT has improved the quality of patient care and clinic efficiency and how they have contributed to a thriving dental practice as team member of a multidisciplinary team.

Speakers:

  • Mike Brindle, Clinical Dental Technician
  • Caroline Persaud, Dental Technician and Clinical Dental Technician

CPD approx 1 hour

GCD development outcomes: A, B

The live webinar was hosted by the College of General Dentistry and powered by our CPD delivery partner, ProDental CPD – watch the recording below.

It was free to view live for all dental professionals, and College members also have free access to the recorded webinar and can claim CPD hours for free. A £20 fee will apply for non-members who wish to claim CPD.

Membership of the College of General Dentistry is open to all registered dental professionals. Membership is available from £130 for dentists, £44 for dental nurses and £87 for other registered dental professionals. The full list of CGDent membership rates is here 

watch webinar

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Managing medical emergencies in the dental practice

Saturday 18 May 2024, 4.15pm-5.00pm, Birmingham

Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

This lecture offered delegates up-to-date knowledge in order to sustain life when a medical emergency occurs in general dental practice.

It was delivered by Dr Sukhvinder Singh Atthi FCGDent, a lecturer in oral surgery at the University of Birmingham, and Tier II-accredited Oral Surgeon who treats nervous minor oral surgery patients with intravenous sedation. With 25 years’ experience working as an associate then principal dentist in general dental practice, he has also worked part-time in the Community Dental Service and spent part of his vocational training working in oral maxillofacial surgery units. He holds Master’s degrees in both Orthodontics and Oral Surgery, Postgraduate Certificates in Conscious Sedation, Leadership & Management and Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, the Diploma of Fellowship and Certificates in both Minor Oral Surgery and Dental Practice Appraisal from the FGDP(UK), and is qualified to ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring in Management. He is a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry and Higher Education Academy, an experienced dental trainer, and has been a board member of CGDent West Midlands and its predecessor FGDP West Midlands Division since 2013.

Objective:

  • To enable the early recognition and management of deterioration in a patient that may become medically compromised during their dental treatment
  • To understand how to use mandatory drugs within an medical emergency

Learning outcomes:

  • Awareness and management of medical emergencies within dental practice
  • Review mandatory audit processes for drugs to use in medical emergencies
  • Knowledge of how to deal with an unconscious patient
  • Recognise and manage suspected sepsis

CPD:

  • 0.75 hours

GDC development outcomes:

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D

This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024 (BDCDS24), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 9,000 dental professionals.

College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.

It was not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend needed to have registered for BDCDS24 either in advance or on the day

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Safeguarding in dentistry: principles and practice

Saturday 18 May 2024, 1.15pm-2.00pm, Birmingham

Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

This lecture was delivered by Preetee Hylton RDN, President-Elect of the British Association of Dental Nurses.

A full-time dental nurse and safeguarding lead at a private dental practice in London, Preetee is an Associate Examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses and delivers the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice in Dental Nursing. She was a founding member and the Study Club Co-Director of the ITI UK & Ireland Dental Nurses community, and is a member of the editorial board of the Dental Nursing journal and an Associate Member of the College of General Dentistry.

CPD:

  • 0.75 hours

This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024 (BDCDS24), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 9,000 dental professionals.

College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.

It was not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend needed to have registered for BDCDS24 either in advance or on the day

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Complaints – how to deal with them and how not to stress about them

Friday 17 May 2024, 4.15-5.00pm, Birmingham

Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

Aimed at all members of the dental team, this lecture discussed how best to manage complaints occurring in general dental practice.

It was delivered by Helen Kaney FCGDent, a dually qualified dentist and solicitor, and Dental Advisor with the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland. Helen qualified 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. An elected member of the College Council, she completed an MBA at Strathclyde Business School in 2013 and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians.

Objective:

  • At the end of the session, attendees will understand how best to manage complaints occurring in general dental practice

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand key stages of the complaint handling process
  • Understand how early intervention can help to avoid unnecessary escalation of a complaint
  • Appreciate the differing requirements for responding to verbal and written complaints
  • Understand the importance of self-care when in receipt of a complaint

CPD:

  • 0.75 hours

GDC development outcomes:

  • A

This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024 (BDCDS24), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 9,000 dental professionals.

College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.

It was not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend needed to register for BDCDS24 either in advance or on the day

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Record-keeping in the real world of general dental practice

Friday 17 May 2024, 3.15-4.00pm, Birmingham

Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

This lecture discussed the importance of comprehensive and accurate record-keeping, and why it is fundamental for good clinical practice and essential for delivering quality patient care.

It was delivered by Dr George Wright FCGDent, Deputy Dental Director at Dental Protection. Dr Wright graduated with honours from the University of Sheffield and after completion of Foundation Training, moved into general practice working in the NHS. Previously he was Deputy Chairman of the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Local Dental Committee, Training Programme Director for Performer List Validation by Experience in Yorkshire and the Humber, President of the South Yorkshire Branch of the BDA, Chairman of the BDA’s Associate Group, Foundation Trainer with the South Yorkshire Deanery and Chief Examiner at the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians. He is also a Magistrate in the Adult Criminal Court. He joined Dental Protection in 2016, and in 2022 was appointed to the non-executive board of The MPS Foundation, a global not-for-profit research initiative, dedicated to shaping the future of patient safety and enhancing the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and teams.

Objective:

  • At the end of the session attendees will have an understanding of the current guidance and best practice for dental record-keeping

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand what constitutes effective record-keeping in dentistry
  • Understand the dento-legal issues that can arise when storing, sharing and disposing of patient records

CPD:

  • 0.75 hours

GDC development outcomes:

  • A
  • D

This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024 (BDCDS24), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 9,000 dental professionals.

College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.

It was not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend needed to register for BDCDS24 either in advance or on the day

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College of General Dentistry Recent event

Birmingham meet-and-greet

Friday 17 – Saturday 18 May 2024, 9.00am – 5.30pm, Birmingham

Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

The College invited all dental professionals to visit its exhibition stand (Q01) at British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024

College members and non-members alike were encouraged to come and introduce themselves, to find out more about the College and have their queries answered.

Perhaps you have questions about your membership or how to access your benefits? Or want to know whether you’re eligible for Full Membership, Associate Fellowship or Fellowship? Or you wonder how Certified Membership works, what Life Fellowship is, or how to add your qualifications to the Member Register?

Maybe you’re a former member of FGDP(UK) uncertain of your College status, or the correct way to present your Faculty post-nominals?

Or perhaps you’re a non-member who’s not yet heard much about the College and just wants to find out why we were set up, what our plans are or how we can help you in your career?

Whatever your query, senior College members and staff will be there throughout the conference to help you out, and we’ll have live access to our systems to help solve membership queries on the spot.

Or even if you don’t have a query, we’d be delighted to meet you!

The College is also the headline education partner for the Enhanced CPD Theatre, where it is hosting four lectures.

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show is the UK’s largest dental event, giving you access to 400 exhibitors and 9,000 fellow dental professionals, and offering 200 lectures across 11 CPD theatres.

It’s FREE to attend for all registered dental professionals – just register via the button below:

REGISTER HERE

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