Kevin Lewis FCGDent has been awarded the College Medal, the College’s most prestigious honour.
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 Lewis has received the award in recognition of his consistent championing of general dental practice during a career spanning more than half a century, and for his contributions to the establishment and development of the College of General Dentistry from its formative stages.
After qualifying from The London Hospital in 1971, he worked full-time as a general dental practitioner for 20 years, then part-time for another ten years while he developed his interests in the dento-legal field. In 1989 he began a 27 year career at Dental Protection, initially as a member of the Board of Directors, then as a dento-legal adviser, and as Dental Director between 1998 and 2016, serving on the Council and Executive of the Medical Protection Society.
In 2017 he was a founder member of the Transition Board, which was tasked with creating what became the College of General Dentistry following the decision of the national board of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) to build an independent college for general dental practitioners and the whole dental team. He subsequently served as a Trustee of the College until 2022, and thereafter as a College Ambassador. He is a Founder and Donor of the College, has written for the Primary Dental Journal and has presented College webinars and lectures on Duty of candour: the legal and regulatory risk, Professionalism in dentistry and Preventing wrong tooth extraction.
A long-serving Associate Editor of Dental Practice, and Consultant Editor of Dentistry since 2006, he has provided the profession with contemporary, insightful political commentaries and editorials for over forty years and writes extensively on dento-legal topics. He has also lectured all over the world, provides consultancy and advisory services to a variety of organisations in dentistry and wider healthcare, and is a Special Consultant to BDA Indemnity and a Trustee of the Oral & Dental Research Trust.
He is a Fellow of both the College of General Dentistry and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, achieved the Diploma of Fellowship of the former FGDP, and has been awarded Honorary Membership of the British, Irish and New Zealand Dental Associations and of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry.
The College will soon cast its medals following the recent receipt of a Grant of Arms by Letters Patent, and Dr Lewis will be presented with his College Medal in due course. Previous winners (including of the preceding Faculty Medal) were Shelagh Farrell, Mike Mulcahy, Nikolaus Palmer, Professor Ken Eaton, Ian Mills, Andrew Hadden and Ario Santini.
Nicola Gore and Matthew Collins have been elected as the College’s Vice-Presidents for 2025-26.
Vice Presidents of the College: Matthew Collins FCGDent (l) and Nicola Gore FCGDent (r)
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 Dentistry in a Nutshell, and among the authors of the third edition of the College’s Standards in Dentistry publication, which is in the process of being published. She has represented the North Thames region on the College Council since 2024.
Matthew Collins FCGDent is a general dental practitioner in Batley with a particular clinical interest in dental rehabilitations for patients with worn and missing teeth. He graduated from Leeds University in 1998 and has undertaken extensive postgraduate training in composite techniques, aesthetic dentistry and dental implantology, holding both a Master’s degree in Clinical Dentistry from the University of London and the Diploma in Implant Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He joined the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) in 2001, achieved Fellowship in 2010, and was later a Facilitator for the Faculty’s ‘Preparing for Fellowship’ programme and a member of the Faculty Academy. He was elected as a National Representative in 2021; has served as a member of the College’s Membership Admissions Panel, Regional Funding Panel, and as a Vice President in 2023-24; and has been the elected representative of the College’s Faculty of Dentists since 2024. He is also Chair of Calderdale and Kirklees Local Dental Committee and a member of the International Team for Implantology.
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.
The College of General Dentistry, GC and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation would like to congratulate the successful candidates in this year’s CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees.
The winning entrants comprise seventeen dentists and one dental therapist who between them studied at ten different dental schools, and who are now completing their Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training through seven different deaneries across the UK.
Candidate name
Undergraduate qualification
Educational Supervisor(s)
Deanery
Dr Yaa Agyei-Akwa
BDS University of Dundee 2024
Dr Kalomoira Dikaiou
Scotland
DrKaran Ahir
BDS University of Liverpool 2024
Dr Itziar Miragaya
Yorkshire and Humber
DrMahnoor Ahsan
BDS Queen Mary University of London 2024
Dr Shazad Malik
London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
Ruba Al-Nuaimy
BSc Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy University of Leeds 2024
Dr Mehboob Butt
North West
DrBalneeta Bhamra
BChD University of Leeds 2024
Dr Jordan Hobbah, Dr Tom Willan, Dr Matthew Phillips
Yorkshire and Humber
DrKatie Forsdick
BDS University of Birmingham 2024
Dr Nishi Dhuna
Thames Valley and Wessex
DrBrianna Gormley
BDS Queen’s University of Belfast 2024
Dr Mariam Azmi
North West
DrNahid Inayat
BDS King’s College London 2024
Dr Harkamel Gill
Midlands
DrJerin Joseph
BDS University of Birmingham 2024
Dr Parmohinder Sanehi
London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
DrNatasha Lee
BDS Queen’s University of Belfast 2024
Dr Kabir Bhogal, Dr Kartik Datla
London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
DrCara Marcuccilli
BDS University of Dundee 2024
Dr Craig MacDougall
Scotland
DrNikhil Mediratta
BDS University of Birmingham 2024
Dr Deepa Joseph
Midlands
DrSarah Mehanna
BDS University of Birmingham 2024
Dr Giedrius Stasiulevicius
Midlands
DrSarah Mekhaimar
BDS Queen Mary University of London 2024
Dr Vikas Bakshi, Dr Jaswinder Gill
London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex
DrFarooq Mohammed
BDS University of Manchester 2024
Dr Raminder Rupra
Midlands
DrSara Rahimi
BDS Newcastle University 2024
Dr Carly Winsor
North West
DrShreya Sharma
BDS Cardiff University 2024
–
Thames Valley and Wessex
DrEmily Swift
BDS King’s College London 2024
Dr Karan Ghataaura, Dr Alastair Hetherington
South West
To enter the award, participants each submitted a restorative case which included at least one anterior tooth and composite restoration. Cases entered featured a range of restorative treatments including those for midline diastema, dental trauma, tooth wear, and peg shaped laterals. View all successful cases here.
A selection of successful cases which illustrate a range of different types of cases entered in the award. Cases submitted by (L-R) Natasha Lee,Sara Rahimi, and Nahid Inayat
The award, which was expanded to include dental therapists as well as dentists this year, was open to those who graduated in 2024 in the UK and Ireland or who were undergoing Dental Foundation Training, Dental Vocational Training or Joint Dental Foundation Core Training. Entries were received from practitioners from both eligible dental constituencies 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 funded place on a two-day composite layering course which is taking place on 10-11 July 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.
Describing the course, Golasa Sheikh Akbari (pictured above), one of last year’s winners, said “youlearn a lot about what you’ve done to enter the prize and you can see what you might have been able to do better on your case.” She continued “I have learnt a lot about composite layering and the importance behind the physics of light and composite, how everything reflects, and looking at the opalescence and factors like that. I really enjoyed the hands-on aspect and actually being able to put all the theory into practice and see what results you can get.”
Commenting on the response to the 2024/25 award, Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, Founder of The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, said:
“We were delighted with the response to last year’s award but this year we had even more interest and the standard of submissions was very high, making the assessors’ work all the more difficult! As a new charity, we are thrilled that ever more early career practitioners are engaging with the educational opportunities we offer and are inspired to continue to develop and hone their clinical skills. Thank you to all those who entered the competition, and to all the Educational Supervisors and Deaneries who supported all the entrants, and congratulations to the successful candidates.”
Remarking on the winning entries, Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, said:
“I am delighted for all the winning candidates announced today and by the success of the 2024/25 CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, all made possible through the generosity of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, with the complementary support of GC. I anticipate the hands-on course provided at the world-renowned GC Education Campus will have a lasting, and possibly career-determining, impact on the participants, including the first Dental Therapist winner of the competition. The winners of this year’s competition can be justifiably proud of being on their way to Leuven.”
John Maloney, GC’s Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said:
“We have once again been impressed by the high level of clinical skills and patient care demonstrated by candidates in this award, and congratulate all those who submitted a successful case. The Education Team at our campus in Leuven are looking forward to meeting the 18 successful practitioners and teaching them the very latest restorative techniques using composite, so they can offer the best treatment to their patients.”
To register your interest in next year’s award and receive notifications as soon as the competition opens in September, visit our award page.
The College has outlined its ambitions and priorities as a professional body and registered charity.
Our mission and vision for dentistry, developed by the College Council, seeks to define the College’s role and characterise its values and ways of working.
It describes the College’s vision for dentistry over the coming decade, and articulates its ambitions in relation to patients and public health, delivery of care and the professional development of the whole dental team.
Informing the College’s perspective and framing the influence it wants to have on the future of oral healthcare, it sets out a foundation for the College to contribute to the development of public policy to address the many challenges facing the sector.
To read Our mission and vision for dentistry, click the button below.
The College has published the full text of its recently-received Grant of Arms.
The Grant of Arms to the College of General Dentistry
The Grant of Arms to the College – as reported here – was authorised in July 2024, signed in March 2025 and received in May 2025. The text of the Grant is as follows:
TO ALL AND SINGULAR to whom these Presents shall come David Vines White Esquire Garter Principal King of Arms Timothy Hugh Stewart Duke Esquire Clarenceux King of Arms and Robert John Baptist Noel Esquire Norroy and Ulster King of Arms Send Greeting!
Whereas Michael Anthony Horton Chair of Trustees of The College of General Dentistry and Sir Nairn Hutchinson Fulton Wilson Knight, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire Honorary Founding President of The College of General Dentistry have represented unto The Most Noble Edward William Duke of Norfolk Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England that The College of General Dental Practitioners of the United Kingdom was duly incorporated by that name as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital on the Twenty-eighth day of February 1991 under the Companies Act 1985 and registered as a charity in England and Wales on the Third day of May following That by resolution made the Fourteenth day of March 2014 the name of the said Company was changed to The College of Dentistry That by further resolution made the Twelfth day of March 2018 the name of the said Company was again changed to The College of General Dentistry That the objects of the said Company are the promotion and encouragement of the study and practice of the art and science of dental surgery including in particular but without limitation general dental practice ancillary to such general dental surgery And that the governance of the said Company is vested in a Board of Trustees which Board is desirous of having Armorial Ensigns established for The College of General Dentistry under lawful authority and duly recorded in His Majesty’s College of Arms And whereas they the said Michael Anthony Horton and Sir Nairn Hutchinson Fulton Wilson as Chair of Trustees and Honorary Founding President respectively and on behalf of the said Board of Trustees have requested therefore the favour of His Grace’s Warrant for Our granting and assigning such Arms and Crest and in the same Patent such Device or Badge as We deem suitable to be borne and used by The College of General Dentistry on its Common Seal or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms
And forasmuch as the said Earl Marshal did by Warrant under his hand and Seal bearing date the Fifth day of July 2024 authorize and direct Us to grant and assign such Arms and Crest and in the same Patent such Device or Badge accordingly
Know Ye therefore that We the said Garter Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster in pursuance of His Grace’s Warrant and by virtue of the Letters Patent of Our several Offices granted by Her late Majesty to each of Us respectively do by these Presents grant and assign unto The College of General Dentistry the Arms following that is to say: Azure a Pelican in her piety Or vulning herself Gules on a Chief Or three Serpents nowed Azure And for the Crest Upon a Helm with a Wreath Or and Azure A demi Opinicus wings elevated and addorsed Azure armed Or resting the dexter paw on a Pearl proper Mantled Azure doubled Or as are in the margin hereof more plainly depicted And by the Authority aforesaid We do further grant and assign the following Device or Badge that is to say: An Opinicus rampant wings elevated and addorsed Azure armed Or holding between the forepaws a Pearl proper as herein depicted the whole to be borne and used for ever hereafter by The College of General Dentistry on Seals or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms
In witness whereof We the said Garter Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster have to these Presents subscribed Our names and affixed the Seals of Our several Offices this Fourth day of March in the Third year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord Charles the Third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith and in the year of Our Lord Two thousand and twenty-five.
Details of the historical and professional significance of each element of the College’s distinctive Coat of Arms, as described in and visible on the Grant, are available here.
The Grant was on display at the College’s Summer Reception which took place on Friday 13 June 2025 in Sheffield.
This article was updated on 9 July 2025 to provide a link to the description of the heraldry behind the design of the College’s Coat of Arms, and to update the section referring to the display at the College Summer Reception.
The College has been granted Arms by Letters Patent.
The Grant of Arms by Letters Patent to the College of General Dentistry
The Grant of Arms has been made under Crown authority by the College of Arms, the heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Coming less than four years since CGDent opened its doors to members, it is a highly significant step towards fulfilment of the College’s aspirations to be incorporated under Royal Charter and to create a Royal College for dental professionals.
The Grant includes a Coat of Arms, Crest and Badge, which will soon start to be incorporated into the College’s certificates and awards, publications and a re-designed logo. Behind the distinctive design of the heraldic elements lies a rich story dating back to the 15th century, which has been documented by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, Honorary Founding President of the College. This will be published shortly on the College website, alongside the full text and images of the Grant.*
The Grant also includes the College’s motto, Sanitate oris venit fortitudo (“Strength through oral health”).
Signed and sealed on vellum by the Kings of Arms – the King’s three most senior heralds – the Grant was recently received on behalf of the College by Sir Nairn, who called on the profession to support its mission through membership:
“It was truly a privilege to take receipt of the Grant of Arms on behalf of the College. This is a hugely significant moment not only for the members, who have supported the College to date, but for each and every existing and future dentist, dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental nurse, orthodontic therapist, dental technician and clinical dental technician with roles and responsibilities in oral healthcare throughout the UK and beyond. My message to all these colleagues is that the College of General Dentistry is now all the more established, and by joining the College you can be part of the historic mission to give our noble profession the independent, influential Royal College it has deserved and needed for so long.”
The Grant will be on display at the College’s Summer Reception which takes place on Friday 13 June 2025 in Sheffield. This is open to all dental professionals and others with interests in the future of dentistry, with discounted tickets for College members. For further information, and to book, click the button below.
*Update 9 July 2025: Sir Nairn’s description of the heraldry behind the design of the College’s Coat of Arms is now available here. The full text of the Grant of Arms is available here.
The College has announced that Dr Ana Poveda, Professor StJohn Crean and Dr Sadiq Mawji will be the speakers at its upcoming symposium on the diagnosis, treatment and management of oral cancer.
l-r: Professor StJohn Crean, Dr Sadiq Mawji and Dr Ana Poveda
Dr Poveda is a Clinical Lecturer, Honorary Consultant and the Academic Lead in Oral Medicine at the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry. She graduated in dentistry from the University of Barcelona in 2002, obtained her MSc in Oral Medicine from University College London in 2007, and holds the Fellowship in Oral Medicine of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS[OM]), having passed the Intercollegiate Specialty Fellowship Examination (ISFE) in Oral Medicine in 2016. She is an experienced teacher and tutor in Oral Medicine at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, regularly lecturing in the UK and Spain. She is also a regular speaker at conferences, acts as a peer reviewer in her specialty and has published numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Her lecture will provide a systematic approach to assessing for intraoral soft tissue lesions; revise the nomenclature used when describing soft tissue pathology when referring to secondary care; and enable attendees to provide differential diagnoses for potentially malignant lesions and to describe what features make them concerning.
Professor Crean is the former Dean of the School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (later the College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences), and now Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, at the University of Central Lancashire. He is also an Honorary Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Editor-in-Chief of the Faculty Dental Journal, and the Robert Bradlaw Advisor, at the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; an MFDS examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; and a non-executive director at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Focussing on the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer, he will cover its epidemiology, presentation and prognosis (including of HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma); the pathology of cancer and TNM staging; and treatment modalities for oral cancer (comparing radiotherapy and surgery and their implications).
Dr Mawji is a Specialist Registrar (ST5) in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, currently based at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. He graduated in dentistry in 2012 and completed Foundation Dental Training and three years of Dental Core Training before obtaining a Medical Degree from the University of Birmingham in 2019. He then completed the Foundation Programme and Basic Surgical Training before progressing into Higher Surgical Training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He achieved Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) in 2014 and Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) in 2021. His experience encompasses head and neck oncological surgery, maxillofacial trauma, orthognathic and skin surgery.
His session will describe the maxillofacial surgery pathway and his personal career journey; offer tips and tricks for managing a cancer patient on a ward; and cover considerations for patient management immediately after surgery (tracheostomies, flaps, ITU and fluid maintenance).
The annual symposium, organised by CGDent Midlands, will take place in Birmingham on Friday 11 July 2025 from 9am to 4.30pm, with registration from 8am. Pitched at early career dentists, it is open to all dental professionals (in all team roles and at all career stages). Six hours of verifiable CPD, a three-course lunch and refreshments are all included in the attendance fee of £160 (reduced to £120 for College members).
Places are limited so early booking is advised. For further information, visit our events pages.
Igor Blum FCGDent, Clinical Professor of Primary Care Dentistry and Advanced General Dental Practice at King’s College London and Editor of the Primary Dental Journal, and Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College and the journal’s first Editor, celebrate the publication of its fiftieth issue
Prof Igor Blum FCGDent (left)and Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent (right)
The latest issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ) – the 50th to date – is a truly special ‘general dentistry’ edition marking this significant milestone.
Not only does the PDJ have a rich history of serving general dental practice, but it is also one of the premier journals for intellectual discourse on all aspects of primary dental care pertinent to members of the whole dental team.
First published in 2012, shepherded under the tenure as Editor-in-Chief of the then Professor (now Sir) Nairn Wilson, it brought together three publications of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP[UK]): Primary Dental Care (a research journal for dentists), Team in Practice (a journal for Dental Care Professionals) and the newsletter First Hand.
The fourth volume of the journal, published in 2015, was produced with the assistance of a new Clinical Editor – Dr (now Professor) Igor Blum. In addition to themed issues on Consent (curated by Guest Editor, Andy Toy), Special Care Dentistry (Guest Editors, Debbie Chandler and Richard Valle-Jones) and Paediatric Dentistry (Guest Editor, Richard Welbury), the volume included the journal’s first ‘general issue’ with papers on a range of topics, including temporomandibular dysfunction, contemporary laboratory work, tooth surface loss, the effects of bisphosphonates in implant dentistry, reducing harm (iatrogenic damage) in the provision of care, risk assessment and the prevention and management of dry sockets.
Volume 6, issue 1 was a special, one-off, commemorative issue of PDJ to help mark and celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the FGDP(UK). In addition to a ‘conversation’ between Professor Nairn Wilson and the then Dean of the Faculty, Mick Horton, and a photo montage of the history of the faculty, the issue included commissioned papers by leading dental experts in the UK. This commemorative issue and the subsequent two themed issues – Dental Emergencies (Guest Editor, Russ Ladwa) and Extended Integrated Care (Guest Editor, Kathy Fan) were Professor Wilson’s last contributions to PDJ before passing on the baton to Dr Blum in 2017.
Professor Blum’s first issue as Editor-in-Chief was the December 2017 (Volume 6, issue 4) themed issue on Removable Prosthodontics (Guest Editor, Graham Stokes). Professor Blum’s vision for the journal was to evolve, grow and, in the process, continue to go from strength to strength. A further vision was to make the journal accessible on an international level, rather than limiting it to the readership in the UK, for the benefit of primary dental care teams and their patients around the world.
Within each annual volume, two or three issues are themed on specific and relevant fields of interest, and one or two ‘general dentistry’ issues cover a wide range of topics. Each issue offers a combination of research, clinical best practice papers and scenario articles which allow the whole dental team to work together to improve standards of patient care. In Spring 2021 the PDJ published its 10th Volume Anniversary special issue celebrating this remarkable milestone.
After nine years’ publication by the FGDP(UK), the College took over in 2021, and this 2025 Spring issue marks fifty issues of the journal as a source for dissemination of contemporary research, clinical and non-clinical articles relevant to general dental practice.
Since its inception, the PDJ has evolved substantially and earned an established place as an authoritative source in today’s dental literature. As such, it provides CGDent with one of its most valued membership benefits. While its purpose has been constant – to be a professional development journal for the whole dental team, and a record and source of news about the College – its editorial and production processes and standards have evolved over the years.
Most significantly, in 2019 the FGDP entered into a contract with Sage Publishing and the PDJ has progressed from an in-house ‘cottage industry’ publication to an internationally accessible publication with an electronic editorial management platform, ScholarOne. As such the journal benefits from the resources available through our publisher, which has facilitated its continued growth.
Over the years, we have watched with great pleasure how the PDJ has grown and gained ever-increasing standing and status in becoming an internationally recognised and esteemed journal, aimed at the whole primary care team. The journal is now indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus, and 1,500 papers – past and present – are available online to CGDent members through the PDJ Library and in over 10,000 academic institutions worldwide.
With the current international exposure of articles published in the PDJ, there have been many thousands of downloads and citations of articles. This confirms that the PDJ has an international reach and impact on the dental team and clinical practice, both nationally and internationally, improving standards of patient care.
As a result, the PDJ has started to attract international dental experts as guest editors. In the context of a new membership organisation borne out of a more established one, the journal has also played a central role in providing reassurance and continuity of service to members over the last four years and has developed an important role in supporting the College’s membership retention and growth.
Looking back, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the very many authors, guest editors, peer reviewers, staff and others who have contributed to each of the 50 issues to date and enabled us to reach this important milestone.
Special thanks must be extended to the former and current managing editors of the journal – Amy Brewerton, Hillevi Sellén, and Lily Atkins; to a member of the founding Editorial Board, Ario Santini FCGDent, who continues to provide highly rated abstracts of relevance to the contents of each issue of the journal; and to Darren Westlake, who has designed the covers and laid out the figures in each and every issue.
We are confident that we have created an attractive, distinctive, reader-friendly journal and it is our hope that you will enjoy the 50th issue and join the previous and current editorial team in celebrating all it stands for.
A list of the themed editions within the first 50 issues of the PDJ is available here
The titles and abstracts of PDJ papers are available to all dental professionals via the searchable PDJ homepage, with full paper access available to College members through the PDJ Library
Sana Masood, third-year dental student at the University of Bristol, uncovers some of the more surprising things she has learnt at dental school.
Dental school is a place of academic rigor, long hours, and plenty of theoretical learning. But in between the lectures, exams, and clinical work, dental students often pick up some unexpected lessons that become just as vital to their success as anything they’ve been taught in class. From the art of patient communication to mastering the fine line between precision and creativity, here are some of the more playful, yet profound, lessons you’ll learn in dental school that will stick with you forever.
The power of a friendly smile
It’s often said that a smile is the universal language of kindness, and you’ll quickly realise that as a dental student, your smile can go a long way. Whether you’re introducing yourself to a nervous patient or comforting a peer, the impact of a simple, warm smile cannot be overstated.
You might not have been taught this in lectures, but you’ll soon discover that a smile can break down barriers and make your clinical environment more welcoming. Plus, learning to put patients at ease with just your expression can be just as crucial as knowing the latest dental techniques.
Dental tools are like your ‘instruments of magic’
When you first start dental school, you might look at your instruments with a sense of curiosity. Over time, however, these tools become extensions of yourself. Your mirror, explorer, and scalers will feel like trusted companions, and you’ll develop a surprising fondness for them.
This hands-on experience teaches you not just the technicalities but the artistry of dentistry. Whether it’s the precise angle of your hand while scaling or the delicate touch needed to fill a cavity perfectly, you’ll learn that every instrument in your hand plays an important role in creating a patient’s smile. It’s almost like you’re a wizard in a very precise world of magic.
You’ll become a master of time management (even if you don’t want to)
Dental school doesn’t just teach you how to become a dentist; it teaches you how to juggle. Managing your time between classes, clinical sessions, assignments, and social activities (yes, there is time for those too) will become second nature to you.
It won’t always be easy – some days you’ll feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day – but you’ll become incredibly skilled at planning, prioritising, and making the most of your time. In fact, you’ll soon find yourself scheduling breaks to keep your sanity and realise that time management is key to surviving dental school and life after graduation.
You’ll learn how to tell ‘bad news’ with compassion (and a smile)
One of the most underrated lessons you’ll learn in dental school is how to break difficult news to patients. Whether it’s informing them that they need a root canal, their wisdom teeth need to be removed, or they have an unexpected diagnosis, this is a skill you’ll develop over time.
What you weren’t likely taught in lectures, though, is how to deliver the news with empathy and kindness. Communication skills will evolve as you learn to balance the technical aspects of dentistry with emotional intelligence. It’s a delicate skill that will stay with you for the rest of your career, helping you build lasting trust with your patients.
You’ll develop a love for the little things
While dental school is often associated with heavy textbooks and complex clinical procedures, you’ll quickly learn to appreciate the smaller details of the profession. From the way a perfectly moulded crown fits snugly to the satisfaction of a beautifully contoured filling, these subtle moments will become your favourite parts of the job.
It’s in these little things – like perfectly polished teeth or the joy of seeing a nervous patient leave your office smiling – that you’ll truly begin to appreciate the artistry and impact of dentistry.
You’ll learn to adapt (a lot)
No two days in dental school are the same, and this is a lesson that will come to you quickly. Whether you’re dealing with a change in schedule, a new procedure, or a challenging patient, you’ll need to learn to think on your feet and adapt to new situations.
You won’t always have the luxury of following a textbook, but you will develop an ability to think critically, solve problems in real-time, and adapt your approach when necessary. This adaptability will become one of your greatest assets as you transition into the fast-paced world of dentistry.
Conclusion: dentistry is an art and a science, but it’s also a journey of self-discovery
While dental school undoubtedly challenges you academically and professionally, it’s also a time for personal growth and discovery. The unexpected lessons – whether it’s learning how to calm a nervous patient with a smile or realising that your instruments are your trusted allies – will stick with you for the rest of your career.
Remember, dentistry isn’t just about the knowledge you gain from textbooks; it’s also about the experiences, the people, and the moments that shape you into a compassionate, skilled professional. So, embrace these quirky lessons along the way, because they are the ones that will make you not just a great dentist but a great human being.
Author bio
“I am a third-year dental student at the University of Bristol, with a particular interest in restorative and aesthetic dentistry. I am especially passionate about the subtle artistry involved in restoring not only smiles but also confidence and wellbeing. As I progress through my studies, I am increasingly fascinated by the way dentistry blends scientific precision with empathy and creativity – a balance I hope to carry forward into my future career.
Away from the dental clinic, I find inspiration in quiet moments: long walks, a good matcha, and the timeless comfort of literature, particularly poetry. One piece I often return to is If— by Rudyard Kipling, a powerful reminder of resilience, self-mastery, and integrity, qualities I believe are just as vital in dentistry as they are in life. Much like in dentistry, it is often the smallest, most thoughtful details that leave the greatest impact.”
The College has this week published the fiftieth issue of the Primary Dental Journal, its quarterly peer-reviewed professional development journal for General Dental Practitioners and Dental Care Professionals working in primary care.
Translating current evidence into best practice, each issue of the PDJ offers a combination of research, clinical best practice papers and scenario articles which allow the whole dental team to work together to improve standards of patient care. Unique in its dedication to general dental practice, the PDJ’s general issues include a range of papers on a variety of relevant topics of interest, and its themed issues explore subjects in depth and are guest edited by renowned experts in their fields.
First published in 2012, the PDJ brought together three publications of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FGDP): Primary Dental Care (a research journal for dentists), Team in Practice (a journal for Dental Care Professionals) and the newsletter First Hand. Since 2019, the PDJ has been published in partnership with one of the world’s leading journal publishers, and the College took over editorial production from the FGDP in 2021.
CGDent is the UK’s only medical college run by and for dental professionals, and welcomes all oral health professionals into Associate Membership and those with relevant postgraduate qualifications, skills and experience into Full Membership, Associate Fellowship and Fellowship. Supporting professional development and recognition for the whole dental team, the College is building on the achievements of the FGDP in setting standards for general dental care, and has a vision to achieve Royal College standing.
The PDJ is printed and distributed to the College’s UK and international members, indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus, and 1,500 papers past and present are available online to College members and in over 10,500 academic institutions worldwide.
In addition to 9 general issues to date, themed issues of the PDJ have been published on:
Infection prevention and control
Radiology and radiation protection (x2)
Implant dentistry (x3)
Management of caries
Aesthetic dentistry (x3)
Medical emergencies
Advances in the restoration of posterior teeth
Non-surgical therapy and management of periodontal disease (x2)
Prescribing in dentistry
Communication, complaints & consent
Special care dentistry (x2)
Paediatric dentistry (x2)
Oral mucosal disease
Endodontics (x2)
Tooth wear
Orthodontics
Operative dentistry
Dental emergencies
Extended integrated care
Removable prosthodontics
Digital dentistry (x2)
Primary care oral surgery (x2)
Dental pain & anxiety
Dento-legal matters
Fixed prosthodontics
Oral health and the ageing population
Leadership and professionalism
Urgent dental care & COVID-19
Dental trauma
The titles and abstracts for papers in all these issues are available to all dental professionals via the searchable PDJ homepage, with full paper access available to members of the College through the PDJ Library (members will need to be logged in to see this page).
Fittingly, the new 50th issue is a bumper ‘General dentistry’ edition with papers covering a wide range of topics such as an assessment of how artificial intelligence can assist in the evaluation of patients’ medical histories; a guide to skin cancer and what to look for in protecting your patients; how digital innovations can enhance occlusal diagnostics and treatment precision; the role of hypnosis in patient stress and pain management; and minimum intervention oral care. In this special issue, six papers have been made available in full to the whole dental profession free of charge. A full list of papers is available here
While full PDJ access is reserved for members, non-members can access the College’s standards and guidance publications free of charge online, and receive its free monthly email of news and events, by becoming a College Subscriber
Commenting on the publication of the 50th issue, Sir Nairn and Prof Blum said:
“The Primary Dental Journal has a rich history of serving general dental practice, and is pertinent to members of the whole dental team. It has earned an established place as an authoritative source in today’s dental literature and is one of the premier journals for intellectual discourse on all aspects of primary dental care. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the very many authors, guest editors, peer reviewers, staff and others who have contributed to each of the 50 issues to date and enabled us to reach this important milestone.”
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