College of General Dentistry Recent event

British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show

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

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

The College is a key education partner for the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS), hand hosted four lectures in the Enhanced CPD Theatre during the two-day conference.

Members and non-members alike were welcome to the College’s sessions, in which experts in their fields will share their knowledge and give advice on a range of subjects encompassing clinical dentistry and professionalism. Lectures included:

Friday 17 May:

Saturday 18 May:

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.

BDCDS is the UK’s largest dental event, bringing together the whole dental team with 9,000 dental professionals gathering under one roof.

FREE to attend for all registered dental professionals, attendees can expect 200 CPD lectures across 11 theatres. Co-located with Dental Technology Showcase, it is also a great opportunity to meet new and existing suppliers, with 400 exhibitors on site, including all the industry leaders.

College of General Dentistry Recent event

Managing medically compromised patients and hands-on suturing

Tuesday 5 March 2024, 6.30pm, Solihull

CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza

This peer review session on managing medically compromised patients and hands-on suturing is part of the CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza series, which aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry. Sessions take place every two months and pizza is provided.

The case-based discussion is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out! This is an opportunity to bring your most difficult cases and learn tips and tricks on how to better manage them in the future. We will ask you to provide some details of a challenging extraction case or where you have managed a medically compromised patient, to facilitate discussion.

The guest moderator is Dr Sukhi Atthi FCGDent. Dr Atthi is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and a Tier II Oral Surgeon for North Midlands, with special interests in Sedation, MOS and Orthodontics. He will be available to help discuss and treatment plan those cases that you may want advice on. You will be not only developing your practice but also providing the best care to your patients.

This peer review series is open to students, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Dentists.

Date/Time:

Tuesday 5 March 2024, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration
  • Name and address of your current practice

Sign up to the College’s monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry Blog

Clinical Dental Technicians: how we can benefit your dental practice

Clinical Dental Technicians Emily Pittard MCGDent and Carmel Vickers-Wall, an Associate Member of the College, examine the role of a CDT and how they can work efficiently and effectively within the dental team.

What are Clinical Dental Technicians?  

Firstly, what actually is a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT)? Well, they are a registered dental care professional who can provide complete dentures direct to the public. They can also provide partial dentures and other dental devices on prescription from a registered dentist.  

What can we do?  

A CDT  is able to oversee the patient’s whole denture journey. They can treatment plan (complete dentures), take the impressions, do a bite registration and then manufacture the denture from start to finish. This results in the patient receiving a high-quality denture, and changes can be made instantly rather than trying to communicate through prescriptions where information can be missed.   Many times, we’ve heard “A CDT is a Dental Technician who just takes impressions”, which isn’t true. A CDT has a large scope of practice and takes on a variety of responsibilities within the dental team:

  • taking impressions
  • taking a detailed medical history
  • carrying out clinical examinations
  • taking and processing radiographs
  • recognising abnormal mucosa and referring to the appropriate healthcare professionals
  • giving appropriate oral health advice

Many edentulous patients won’t see a general dentist as they believe they don’t need to if they don’t have any remaining teeth. This means that they might only see a CDT if their denture breaks, or they feel they need a replacement. Therefore, it is crucial that CDTs have a full understanding of a patient’s mucosa and are able to identify any abnormalities as well as understanding medications in detail and their interactions.  

Clinical Dental Technicians have an extensive knowledge of anatomy, pharmacology, cross infection and health promotion. A CDT can also further enhance their scope of practice by gaining relevant training so that they can re-cement crowns, provide anti-snoring devices, replace implant abutments and provide tooth whitening treatment on prescription.  

How can we be beneficial to your dental team?  

Dentistry is currently in a crisis with some patients unable to see a dentist for up to four years. CDTs can help to alleviate this strain by seeing all denture treatment; allowing dentists to focus on other treatment. Dentures are very time-consuming as they require adjustments and reviews to help the patient acclimatise; CDT’s can take over this entire journey.  

They can also take impressions, see whitening patients, mouthguards and sports guards appointments and, on prescription from a dentist, they can temporarily fit crowns, bridgework and implant work. So how would this work in practice? Let’s take a look at three examples of how a CDT could help to significantly improve a workflow:  

  1. A patient who needs an upper denture but has teeth in their lower arch. Typically, this would take a dentist up to five appointments to get the patient to final fit, and then multiple review appointments. Instead, the dentist could see them for the initial examination and then hand over all the other appointments to a CDT.
  2. A patient who needs a dental implant. A dentist could see the patient up to their uncover and then the CDT could take over, take the impression / scan and temporarily fit the implant crown. The patient would then see the dentist for a review a few weeks later. This requires great communication within the team and a CDT who has knowledge of implants, but it would mean that in the time frame a dentist would have seen one patient for one implant placement, they could have seen two.
  3. A patient who wants a denture on locators. Again, the dentist can place the implants and uncover and then hand over to the CDT who can then complete the treatment for the patient.

These are just a few examples but there are many more. As with any dental professional, to incorporate them into the team workflow will take great communication between clinicians and excellent records, but as that is something that we all intend to maintain as part of our general standards anyway, it shouldn’t take much to adapt to incorporate a CDT.  

A CDT is also the only dental professional who bridges the gap between the dental practice and the laboratory. They have an intimate understanding of dental prosthesis and can help to manage patient expectations; take shades; quickly repair some things; provide teeth in a day and help to treatment plan complex cases.

Q&A

What was your experience like in your first few months to a year post qualification?

Emily:   I was in a lucky position to already be working in a CDT-recognising clinic, however I did find it took forever to be on the GDC register! I had previously worked and gained qualifications as a dental nurse and a dental technician and had been fortunate enough to work in a specialist practice as a Dental Technician under my extended scope of practice. So, I had been taking impressions of denture patients and implant patients and digital scans for a number of years before I qualified as a CDT. This helped me to gain confidence in my clinical skills and after qualifying I opened my own Clinic attached to my Laboratory.  

Carmel:   It was very daunting coming out of university from the new CDT course. Mainly because nobody else was out there who was in a similar position to me. I felt, on one hand, that some Dental Technicians I spoke to weren’t positive about the qualification I held and, on the other hand, general dentists didn’t understand what my job was!! However, I’ve met some fantastic Dental Technicians along the way who have been extremely supportive and provided me with a lot of knowledge and work experience. As I already came from a dentistry background (ex Dental Nurse) I had some good connections in the industry who helped me and I was even lucky enough to be offered a CDT job upon qualifying.

Do you feel like a CDT is a fully recognised member of the dental team by other professionals?

EP: Not at all, I have found that many dental professionals have never heard of a Clinical Dental Technician. I have, however, seen a shift for the better amongst new dentists just qualifying who seem to understand what a CDT can do and how valuable we can be to wider dental team, so it feels like we are moving in the right direction.  

CVW: Sadly not yet. I think this is due to not seeing Clinical Dental Technicians in general practice. We regularly see Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists and even Orthodontic Therapists, but as CDTs currently don’t have an NHS contract, it means we are predominantly private/independent.

How easy was it to find indemnity or relevant CPD courses?

EP: Almost impossible to find indemnity! I ended up getting indemnity that has elements of every other dental team role in the script as they didn’t have a CDT-specific one!  

CVW: I agree with Emily, I couldn’t believe how few options there were for indemnity. This is the same with CPD. There are very few courses out there specifically designed for CDTs. I figured I’ll have to take courses aimed at the other members of the dental team which I could relate to within my scope of practice.

Emily Pittard is on the Board of the College’s Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology and Dental Technology.

Sign up to the College’s monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry Recent event

Paediatric dentistry

Tuesday 6 February 2024, 6.30pm, Solihull

This Study Club session is postponed. The next session takes place on Tuesday 5 March at 6.30pm, on the topic of managing medically compromised patients.

CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs

This study session on paediatric dentistry is part of the CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, which aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry. Sessions take place every two months.

Deter, defer, silver and refer – The GDP’s tool kit for managing the paediatric patient 

In this session, we will highlight the importance of the GDP in the management of the paediatric patient. We will look at common clinical presentation such as caries and MIH, discussing the GDPs role in their management and when to refer. 

Speaker: Dr Laura Warrilow

Laura qualified from Bristol university in 2016. Since then she has worked in a variety of roles before beginning specialist training in paediatric dentistry in 2019. She successfully completed her royal college exams in 2022 and began working as a specialist in Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust. She is particularly passionate about the care of special needs and medically compromised patients. 

The session is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out!

The study club is open to GDPs who have completed Foundation Training or PLVE between 2017-2022.

Date/Time:

Tuesday 6 February 2024, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Date of completing your Foundation Training / PVLE (specify).
  • Name and address of your current practice

Sign up to the College’s monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry News

CPD submission reminder

Dentist members practising in the UK are reminded that Sunday 28 January 2024 is the deadline to submit your annual CPD statement detailing professional development activity undertaken between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Delegates at the CGDent Scotland Study Day, December 2022

The General Dental Council requires dentists to complete a minimum of 100 hours of verifiable CPD every five years, including at least 10 hours during any two-year period, and to submit an annual CPD statement whether or not you have undertaken any CPD in the preceding 12 months.

Members can gain CPD hours through the College’s study days, events and courses.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry Recent event

Fellows’ Winter Reception

Thursday 25 January 2024, 6-9pm, London

The Livery Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, Warwick Lane, London EC4M 7BR

The second College of General Dentistry Fellows’ Winter Reception took place on the evening of Thursday 25 January 2024. We returned to the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London, where this year’s Fellows’ Summer Reception took place.

The event included welcome addresses by the President and Chair of the College, the admission of new Fellows, and presentations of College-awarded diplomas and certificates.

An opportunity to network with peers, as well as to meet College Trustees, Council members and staff, the reception was open to all Fellows and Associate Fellows, those due to be presented with a diploma or certificate, and those enrolled in Certified Membership.

Priority for tickets was given to new Fellows, Diplomates/Certificants and individuals who applied for the Fellows’ Summer Reception but were unable to be accommodated.

Retired Fellows attending the Fellows’ Reception were also encouraged to attend the 1992 Circle gathering, which took place in the same venue immediately prior to the reception.

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

Sign up to our monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry Recent event

1992 Circle gathering

Thursday 25 January 2024, 4-6pm, London

The Court Room, Cutlers’ Hall, Warwick Lane, London EC4M 7BR

The third gathering of the College’s ‘1992 Circle’ took place on the afternoon of Thursday 25 January 2024. We returned to the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London.

All those who are fully retired from practice and were a Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), or are or were a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, are eligible to join the Circle and to attend its periodical gatherings.

There is no charge to become a member of the Circle or to attend its gatherings.

If you meet the eligibility requirements and would like to join the 1992 Circle, we’d be delighted to hear from you – please contact us at [email protected]

And if you know any retired Faculty Fellows who are not currently aware of the Circle, please let them know about it and encourage them to get in touch with us.

Members of the Circle received separate notification of the meeting by email, together with instructions on how to register their intention to attend.

The 1992 Circle is named in honour of the year the Faculty of General Dental Practice was founded, a key moment which brought together the members of the College of General Dental Practitioners (UK) and of the Advisory Board in General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with the shared ambition to create an independent College over time. It aims to bring together, and recognise, those whose vision put the general dental profession in the UK on that journey, and those whose ongoing commitment carried this through to the establishment of the College of General Dentistry.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry News

CGDent education partnership with Dentistry Show London

The College will be the headline education partner for the Enhanced CPD Theatre at Dentistry Show London 2023.

CGDent speakers at Dentistry Show London 2023, clockwise from bottom left: Paul Batchelor, Abhi Pal, Tim Newton, Sukhvinder Singh Atthi, George Wright

The Enhanced CPD Theatre will feature 14 lectures over the two-day conference, with experts in their fields sharing their extensive knowledge, and offering practical advice, on an array of important CPD areas. All lectures will be free of charge for both members and non-members of the College. Five of these lectures will be delivered on behalf of the College:

Sustainability in dentistry and healthcare

Friday 6 October, 9.15am – 10.00am

Professor Paul Batchelor BDS, DDPH, Dip. FFGDP(UK), MCDH, PhD, FCGDent, FDS (RCS Eng.), FFPH; Honorary Clinical Professor, University of Central Lancashire; Honorary Lecturer, University College London; Associate and Dental Group Chair, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

Record-keeping in the real world of general dental practice

Friday 6 October, 1.15pm – 2.00pm

Dr Abhi Pal BDS, MGDS RCSI, Dip. FFGDP(UK), FDS (RCPS Glasg.), FCGDent; President of the College of General Dentistry; General Dental Practitioner; independent dental expert witness

The mental health and well being of dental staff

Saturday 7 October, 9.15am – 10.00am

Professor Tim Newton CPsychol, AFBPS; Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry, King’s College London; Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Managing medical emergencies in the dental practice

Saturday 7 October, 2.00pm – 2.45pm

Dr Sukhvinder Singh Atthi BDS, Dip. MFDS (RCS Ed.), PgCert/s , Dip. FFGDP(UK), MSc Oral Surgery, MSc Orthodontics, FCGDent, FHEA, ILM; Lecturer in oral surgery, University of Birmingham; Tier II-accredited oral surgeon 

Complaints handling: a step-by-step approach

Saturday 7 October, 4.30pm – 5.15pm

Dr George Wright BDS, Dip. MJDF, PgDip (DLE), ACIArb, Cert CII (Claims), FFFLM, MCGDent, MDTFEd; Deputy Dental Director, Dental Protection; Chief Examiner, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians

Full details of all the College lectures are available via the above links, and details of the full programme for the Enhanced CPD Theatre and other theatres are available here.

College representatives will also be available throughout the conference at Stand G52 to talk to attendees about all aspects of membership, fellowship and the College’s vision for the profession.

It is not possible to register for any specific lecture in advance, however those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023, which is free for all dental professionals. Conference attendees will have access to over 100 CPD lectures in all, as well as 180 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network with over 3,000 dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians and laboratory owners.

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

Sign up to our monthly newsletter

College of General Dentistry Recent event

Ethical and dento-legal considerations in cosmetic dentistry

CGDent on-demand webinar, Tuesday 5 December 2023, 7pm

The bedrock of delivering cosmetic dentistry remains effective communication and patient consent. Demand for cosmetic dentistry continues unabated. Patient expectations, notions of happiness, identity and image are driving this demand and this webinar will address the issues and also review the ethical, philosophical, psychological and risk management aspects of provision.

In this CGDent webinar, we discuss the ethical challenges impacting the provision of cosmetic dentistry and the importance of effective communication and consent. We also look at how to apply risk management principles to cosmetic dentistry.

Speakers:

  • Len D’Cruz, Head of BDA Indemnity Team
  • Abhi Pal FCGDent, President of the College and general dental practitioner
  • Prof. Raj Rattan MBE, Dental Director at Dental Protection, Medical Protection Society

CPD approx 1.5 hours

GCD development outcomes: A

This on-demand webinar is 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 £125 per year for dentists, from £83 for other dental professionals, and from £42 for Dental Nurses and those eligible for a concession. See the full list of CGDent membership rates here.

watch webinar

Sign up to the College’s monthly newsletter