College of General Dentistry Uncategorized

Introduction to Occlusion for Early Career Dentists – Speakers

Dr Tom Bereznicki

BDS (Edin), MFDTEd, FCGDent, MFDSEng

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Having graduated from Edinburgh in 1976, Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent immediately moved to London and worked as a House Surgeon rotating around Departments at Guy’s and The Royal Dental Hospitals before entering general dental practice in 1978. In 1982, he opened his own single-handed private practice as a ‘squat’ in Queensgate, London, before moving himself and his patients to join The Dawood & Tanner Dental Practice in Wimpole Street in January 2011. His Special Interests lie in all aspects of Restorative Dentistry but in particular, Occlusion and Emergence Profile.

In October 2013 until August 2022, Tom was appointed as a Visiting Clinical Specialist Teacher in The Department of Education within The Dental Institute at King’s College London.  From April 2018 to May 2018, he became Staff President of The Kings Students Dental Society and then reappointed as for the year April 2021 to 2022. In 2018 he was appointed as a Member of The Kings Dental Alumni Association Council finishing his term of Office in June 2022.

In May 2018 Tom was awarded one of King’s College London’s prestigious Teaching Excellence Awards – Teaching Experience. In 2019 he was nominated for the 2019 Kings Education Award – Student Support.

In March 2017 to February 2021, he served on The Advisory Board in Primary Dental Care at The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. In July 2017 until January 2022, he also served on the Steering Group of The Faculty of Dental Trainers at The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. In March 2018 he became a Member of The Faculty of Dental Trainers at The Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (MFDTEd). In July 2018 he became a Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners at The Royal College of Surgeons, England. In November 2018 he became a Founder Member of the newly formed College of General Dentistry and has been a Fellow of the College since 2022.

In January 2021 he joined the Academy of Dental Excellence Faculty as a Senior Specialist Faculty Teacher. Starting in September 2021, he joined the Teaching Faculty at The University of Portsmouth as a Partner Associate Lecturer delivering the new PG Diploma in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. In February 2023 he joined the Teaching Faculty of Kings College Dentistry Aesthetic Masterclass MSc course.

More recently he has set up The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation which supports educational initiatives for early career dental professionals. In 2023, The Foundation, in association with the College of General Dentistry and GC, successfully  launched a clinical competition for Foundation Dentists. Other competitions and lectures are planned for the future

A range of educational resources can be found on Tom’s website tombereznicki.com


Professor Paul Tipton

BDS, MSc, D.G.D.P RCS, Dip Rest Dent, Dip Imp Pros, Dip Pros, Dip Aesth Dent, FCGDent. Specialist in Prosthodontics. Visiting Professor of Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry, City of London Dental School.

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Professor Paul Tipton FCGDent is an internationally acclaimed Prosthodontist who has worked in private practice for more than 30 years. He is the founder of Tipton Training, Europe’s leading private dental training institution and the author of over 100 scientific articles for the dental press. A passionate and charismatic speaker, Paul has been teaching for over 30 years, both in the UK and internationally.

He was voted one of the ‘most influential dentists in the UK’ by his peers in Dentistry Magazine in 2013 and in the top 3 dentists in Aesthetic Dentistry’s 25 poll, November 2012. 

In 2021 Prof Tipton was voted one of the “World’s Top 100 Doctors” by the Global Summits.

In 2022 Prof Paul Tipton was amongst the few awarded for the “Dentistry’s Top 50 Dentists 2022”.

Most recently in November 2022 Professor Paul Tipton won the Kimberley Finlayson ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in recognition for his outstanding contributions to private dentistry and dental education.

Professor Tipton qualified from Sheffield University in 1978 and in 1982 opened his own referral practice in Manchester. He continued to build his skills, studying at Eastman Dental Hospital in London, where after 2 years of study, he obtained a Masters Degree in Conservative Dentistry in 1989. In the same year he started teaching on the University of Manchester’s MSc in Restorative Dentistry. He is now a lecturer on their MSc programme in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry and also lectures at Kings College London (LonDEC).

In 1991 Professor Tipton founded his private dental training academy, Tipton Training. During this time, Tipton Training have successfully trained over 5,000 dentists and this number continues to rise year after year.

In 1992, Professor Tipton was awarded an honorary Diploma in General Dental Practice from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was appointed a member of the British Dental Association’s Independent Practice Committee. In 1999, he was certified as a Specialist in Prosthodontics by the General Dental Council.

Professor Paul Tipton is on the editorial board of Private Dentistry Magazine, Restorative & Aesthetic Practice and Implant Dentistry and is a medical writer and part of the advisory board at Expert Beauty Magazine and ‘Woman’s’ magazine. He was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

He is currently the President of the British Academy of Restorative Dentistry and was recently elected Fellow of the International Academy of Dental Facial Esthetics (IADFE).

Prof. Tipton practices at his clinics in Manchester, Nottingham and London.  Further details can be found at www.drpaultipton.co.uk or www.tclinic.co.uk.


Dr Ken Harris

BDS, MSc, MFGDP (UK), FFGDP (UK) RCS (Eng), FCGDent, FDS RCS (Eng), BACD Fellow

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Dr Ken Harris FCGDent graduated with BDS from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1982. He passed MFGDP(UK) in 1996 and achieved Fellowship of Royal College of General Dental Practice FFGDP(UK) in 2017. Fellowship of the newly established College of General Dentistry (FCGDent) in 2020 was quickly followed by Fellowship in Dental Surgery from Royal College of Surgeons of England (FDS RCS) in 2021. He also holds an MSc (with distinction) from the University of Manchester in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry (2014). Ken maintains a multi-award winning, fully private referral practice in Sunderland specialising in complex dental reconstruction cases based upon sound treatment planning protocols. As one of only 3 Accredited Fellows of British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) 2010, he acts as tutor and examiner for the BACD Accreditation process. Ken was the first UK Graduate of the prestigious Kois Centre in Seattle USA (2008) where he now acts as a Mentor, and despite being a full-time practitioner, he still manages to fulfil a busy teaching schedule both nationally and internationally.

Ken’s practice website is www.riveredge.co.uk


Dr Tif Qureshi

BDS London, FCGDent, FICD

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Tif Qureshi qualified from Kings College London in 1992. He is a private practitioner based near London.  

He is the chairman of IAS Academy, an international faculty that provides mentored education for general dentists on a pathway from appropriate simple to comprehensive restoratively focused orthodontics.  Tif helps to lead and educate a network of trainers and mentors internationally, ensuring quality delivery of education and ongoing mentoring.  Tif has a special interest in orthodontics and truly minimally invasive restorative dentistry. He is also interested in monitoring the long- term benefits of this kind of scalable interceptive treatment.

He sits on the board of the British Association of Private Dentistry. Tif is also a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentists. He has won several prestigious awards including the Sverker Prize in Sweden and the Lifetime Contribution to Aesthetic Dentistry in the UK. He is one of the Past Presidents of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Tif has committed his life’s work to empowering dentists to offer a wide variety of treatments to many more patients. He was the original global pioneer of the “Align, Bleach, Bond” concept and Progressive Smile Design and teaches widely using clear aligners. He is also an experienced teacher in the Dahl concept to assist in minimally invasive, patient-centred dentistry.   Tif lectures extensively internationally and has had many articles published on all these subjects.

Find out more about IAS Academy at www.iasortho.com


Dr Shiraz Khan

BDS, B(Med)Sc(Hons), MJDFRCS(Eng), PG Dip, PG Cert

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Dr Shiraz Khan graduated from the University of Birmingham Dental School in 2013. Having successfully completed foundation training and winning several prizes, he is currently placed in practice in Clapham, London.

He is a highly skilled aesthetic and restorative dental surgeon. Articulate, communicative and approachable, he has established himself as a recognised provider of high quality aesthetic dental care to patients.

He also provides solutions for full mouth wear (tooth surface loss) and rehabilitation cases as well as dental implants.

Shiraz is also a sought-after lecturer in his own right and is known amongst his peers for his successful results and teaching in composite resin restorations, ICON infiltration and clinical dental photography and presentation.


Dr Koray Feran

BDS, MSc, FDSRCS, FCGDent, FICD

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Dr Koray Feran FCGDent qualified in 1989 from Guy’s Dental Hospital, winning the Final Year Prize for overall excellence and the S.J. Kaye Prize in Oral Medicine and Pathology. He remained at Guy’s for two separate House Surgeon appointments in Prosthetic Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial surgery until 1991 when he went into general practice in North London.

Between 1991 and 1993 he completed the Master of Science degree in Periodontology from Guy’s Hospital and at the end of 1993 passed examinations to obtain a Restorative Dentistry Fellowship in Dental Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

He has since been in practice dedicated to quality dental care, having a special interest in multi-disciplinary cases that require detailed planning and co-ordination of several branches of dentistry. Between 1996 and 1999 he provided surgical services in periodontics and implant dentistry to three prestigious practices in the Knightsbridge and South Kensington areas and established his own practice in the West End of London from 1998.

In 2005 he founded The London Centre for Implant and Aesthetic Dentistry (LCIAD Ltd.) in Wimpole Street at the heart of London’s dental and medical community. He expanded LCIAD in October 2010 into new larger premises to establish a strong multi-disciplinary clinical team with in-depth experience in the management and care of patients with complex dental problems.

Koray is recognised amongst his peers as a trusted and highly competent clinician for care of patients with multidisciplinary treatment needs and accepts referrals from over 70 colleagues for patients. He is known for his successful multidisciplinary approach to dealing with complex cases requiring dedicated surgical and restorative branches of dentistry especially on cases with failed previous dental work.

Koray has undergone and continues to undergo extensive postgraduate education in several countries with world leaders in many fields of dentistry and dental technology as well as being a sought-after lecturer in his own right on topics including consent, financial and business aspects of the provision of quality dental healthcare in private practice including fee setting, consultation and treatment planning, occlusion, dental photography, surgical and restorative implant dentistry including guided surgery, all aspects of restorative dentistry, bone and tissue augmentation and sinus grafting.

He has gained accolades from many dental organisations around the world, and amongst other achievements, is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), the Pierre Fauchard Academy and the College of General Dentistry.

occlusion symposium

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College of General Dentistry Event

Introduction to occlusion symposium for early career dentists

SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday 5 April 2025, 9am-5pm
£75 per delegate

Sign-up to receive a notification as soon as registration opens.

To sign-up, subscribe to the College for free, or sign-in to your existing account, then navigate back to this page, or refresh it, to see the ‘register your interest’ button below.

Don’t miss out – put Saturday 5 April 2025 in your diary!

The secrets of successful, long-term restorations

A solid understanding of the principles of occlusion is crucial for the provision of successful, long-term restorative treatments for tooth wear and other conditions. This one-day symposium for early career dentists on the fundamentals of occlusion, will enhance your knowledge in this field and enable you to carry out restorative treatment with increased confidence. You will leave the day with a firm knowledge of the basic principles of occlusion and an introduction to a range of postgraduate courses you may wish to consider undertaking in order to extend your knowledge further.

Who is eligible to attend?

The Symposium is aimed at early career dentists. It is open to dentists who qualified in the UK or overseas between 2019 to 2023 and have been practising in the UK for at least the past two years.

Expert speakers

Our line-up of renowned speakers are all experts in the field and are committed to delivering high-quality education.

Dr Tom Bereznicki
Prof Paul Tipton
Dr Ken Harris
Dr Tif Qureshi
Dr Shiraz Khan
Dr Koray Feran
speaker profiles

Network with our distinguished speakers in the lunch break and discover a selection of postgraduate courses to further hone and develop your knowledge around occlusion.

Symposium fee: £75

To ensure the Symposium is accessible to all early career dentists, we have kept the fee at an affordable rate. The reduced cost has largely been made possible by the generosity of the speakers, who have kindly provided their time and expertise free of charge.

Verifiable CPD: 7 hours

Programme

A packed programme of expertly delivered lectures will provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the principles of occlusion. Click on the speakers’ names to view their session details.

09:00-09:30 – Dr Tom Bereznicki >
  • Welcome and introduction
  • Why does occlusion matter?
  • Introduction – The Five Basic Principles of Occlusion:
  1. Stable contacts on all teeth of equal intensity in centric relation – posterior stability
  1. Anterior guidance in harmony with the envelope of function
  1. All posterior teeth disclude during mandibular protrusive movements – mutually protected occlusion
  1. All posterior teeth disclude on the working side during mandibular lateral excursions
  1. All posterior teeth disclude on the non-working side during mandibular lateral excursions

09:30-11:00 – Professor Paul Tipton >
  • Signs/Symptoms of Occlusal Disease 
  • Causes of wear 
  • Terminology
  • Stable contacts on all teeth of equal intensity in centric relation – posterior stability
  • Where should the condyles be and the advantages of Retruded Axis
  • Position (RAP) v Intercuspal position (ICP)
  • Retruded Contact Posit on (RCP) = (ICP) v (RAP)
  • Conformative v reorganised occlusion – with reference to wear cases
  • Large vertical, small horizontal and large vertical slides
  • Large horizontal, small horizontal and horizontal slides

REFRESHMENT BREAK

11:30-13:00 – Dr Ken Harris >
  • Centric relation 
  • Deprogramming and why 
  • How – deprogrammers eg Nti, Kois, B splint, Michigan and how they work
  • Is one any better than the other?
  • Facebows and occlusal registration

LUNCH BREAK & PG EDUCATION STANDS

14:00-15:15 – Dr Tif Qureshi & Dr Shiraz Khan>
  • What is anterior guidance and why is it important?
  • What is the envelope of function and why is it important in the provision of anterior restorations and in particular wear cases?
  • Causes of restricted envelope of function and treatment
  • Tectonic plates
  • Does it matter if the patient has no anterior guidance?

REFRESHMENT BREAK

15:45-16:45 – Dr Koray Feran >
  • Introduction to the importance of dynamic occlusion when assessing a patient and explain the terms of working side and non-working side when examining patients and planning occlusal form
  • Understand how to observe and record inside-out and outside-in movements and tooth contacts and preventing and diagnosing occlusal disease
  • Understand the importance of supine vs upright posture in recording occlusal contacts in excursions and dynamic occlusion
  • Understand what may happen if disclusion in lateral excursions is not achieved and what the alternatives or long term management may be in compromised situations
  • Understand what is meant by long centric and its significance in analysing and planning occlusions

16:45-17:00 – Dr Tom Bereznicki >
  • Is occlusion just as important or more important when providing implants?
  • Closing remarks

About the Symposium

The aim of the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium is to provide you with an understanding of the principles of occlusion and how these principles can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions.

If you are interested in developing your knowledge of occlusion further following the Symposium, you are invited to visit our education stands around the venue to find out more about a range of high-quality postgraduate courses on this topic, several of which are delivered by our acclaimed speakers.

The Symposium has been organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College of General Dentistry, and is hosted by the charity’s founder, Dr Tom Bereznicki. The Foundation supports educational opportunities for early career dentists in the UK.

You will gain 7 hours verifiable CPD, GDC Development Outcome C.

Lunch and refreshments

Lunch is not provided in the venue. You are welcome to bring your own lunch or visit the restaurants, cafes and shops on the doorstep.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided throughout the event.

Getting there

The venue address is: Kensington Conference and Events Centre, Kensington Town Hall, Thornton Street, London, W8

Kensington Conference and Events Centre is easy to access on public transport and a car park is also available onsite.

London Underground – the nearest London Underground station is High Street Kensington on the Circle or District Line.

Bus – busses 9, 10, 27, 28, 49, 52, 70, 328, C1 stop near the venue. Exit the bus at the Kensington High Street/Wrights Lane junction. Alternatively, busses 52 or 70 stop at nearby Kensington Church Street.

Car Parking – there is a public car park below the Kensington Conference and Events Centre. To access it, enter Campden Hill Road from Kensington High Street, turn first right into Phillimore Walk and turn immediately left down the entrance ramp to the car park.

Kensington Conference and Events Centre is fully accessible for anyone with mobility issues.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Register your interest

To sign up to receive a notification when tickets go on sale, subscribe to the College for free, or sign in to your existing account, then refresh this page to see the ‘register your interest’ button below.

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College of General Dentistry News

Award offers hands-on course to Foundation Trainees

The CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which promotes clinical skills and patient care, is now open for entries to the 2024/25 competition.

Following a successful inaugural year, and an expansion to the award’s eligibility criteria, dentists and dental therapists who qualified in the UK or Ireland in 2024, or who are undertaking Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training in 2024/25, are invited to enter. Entrants must submit a restorative case they are about to start treating which involves more than one tooth, and includes at least one anterior tooth, as well as the use of composite to restore teeth.

The number of winning places has also been increased to 18, with each winner receiving a fully-funded place on a hands-on, two-day composite layering course at the GC Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium. The prize is worth around £1,400 per place and includes the costs of international travel, hotel accommodation and subsistence.

The winners of the inaugural competition took part in the bespoke composite layering course in July 2024. One delegate said the course “offered an excellent balance between theoretical and hands-on components of learning” and provided “support to each delegate.” Another commented that they gained “time management, enriched patient communication skills and overall restorative skills.”

The 2024/25 award is now open, the closing date for entry is Friday 14 February 2025, and final cases must be submitted by Friday 11 April 2025. The winners will be announced in May, and their course will take place on Thursday–Friday 10–11 July 2025.

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

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.

Speaking about the award, Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent commented:

“The Trustees of the Foundation were delighted with the number and high standard of entries for the inaugural award. The winners thoroughly enjoyed the GC course in Belgium and felt that their knowledge and handling of composite materials and restorations was significantly improved over the two days. One of the requirements of the competition was a reflection on the outcome of the case and feedback from those who did not go through as winners suggests they had learnt a lot during the process, which would positively impact treatment they provide in the future. Based on this unqualified success, the competition will go ahead this year and will also be open to Dental Therapists.”

Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent said:

“As Founding President Emeritus of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), Patron of the Tom Berezniki Charitable Educational Foundation and a career-long collaborator with GC, I am delighted to encourage all those eligible, to consider entering the 2024–2025 CGDent-GC Award. Based on the outcome and feedback from the inaugural award, the winners of this year’s competition will be able to look forward to a highly rewarding educational experience at the fantastic GC Campus in Leuven, Belgium.”

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

“GC are proud to continue our collaboration with The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and the College of General Dentistry, to deliver high quality education to dental professionals at the very start of their career. Our team in Belgium were delighted to host the first cohort of award winners, and we look forward to meeting the successful 2024/25 candidates in July next year.”

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 Event

Fellows’ Winter Reception

Thursday 30 January 2025, 6-9pm, London

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

The College of General Dentistry 2025 Fellows’ Winter Reception will take place on the evening of Thursday 30 January in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London.

The event will include a welcome by the Chair of the College, the first address to Fellows by the new President since taking up office, the admission of new Fellows and the presentation of College diplomas.

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.

Priority for tickets will be given to new Fellows as well as individuals who applied for the most recent Fellows’ Summer Reception but were unable to be accommodated.

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

Please note that this event will be preceded in the same venue by a reception to mark the impending 50th issue of the Primary Dental Journal, for which there are separate ticketing arrangements.

REGISTER HERE

Fellows and Associate Fellows may also wish to take note that the next Fellows’ Summer Reception will take place on Friday 13 June 2025 in Sheffield.

College of General Dentistry Event

The Primary Dental Journal: celebrating 50 issues

Thursday 30 January 2025, 4-5.30pm, London

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

All past authors, guest editors and other contributors to the Primary Dental Journal are invited to attend a reception marking the journal’s impending 50th issue.

The event, The Primary Dental Journal: celebrating 50 issues, will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 30 January 2025 in the Court Room of the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London.

It will be hosted by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE, the founding editor of the PDJ and President Emeritus of the College, and the current editor-in-chief, Professor Igor Blum.

This is an invitation-only event, and eligible individuals for whom we hold a functioning email address have been sent an email (on Friday 22 November 2024) inviting them to book their place.

Detailed information on eligibility, who we have emailed invitations to, and how eligible individuals who have not received an invitation can get in touch with us, is available here.

Space will be limited, so once they have received their email, recipients are recommended to book early to avoid disappointment.

Please note that ticket holders will not be able to bring additional guests. The College will reserve the right to cancel tickets that have not been obtained in response to a direct invitation or otherwise by eligible individuals.

Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College attending this reception – and those eligible to join or upgrade to become one – may wish to note that it will be followed at 6pm by the Fellows’ Winter Reception upstairs in the Livery Hall. This is a chargeable event with separate ticketing arrangements of which all Associate Fellows and Fellows will also be notified by email.

College of General Dentistry Event

1992 Circle Winter gathering

Thursday 30 January 2025, 4-5.30pm, London

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

Members of the 1992 Circle are invited, for their Winter 2025 gathering, to attend a reception marking the impending 50th issue of the Primary Dental Journal.

The event, The Primary Dental Journal: celebrating 50 issues, will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 30 January 2025 in the Court Room of the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London – the same venue as previous 1992 Circle meetings.

This is an invitation-only event, and members of the 1992 Circle should have received an email inviting them to book their place (if you cannot see yours, please check your spam/junk folder). Space will be limited, so we will unfortunately not be able to accommodate guests on this occasion. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the reception to mark the Primary Dental Journal will be followed at 6pm by the College’s Fellows’ Winter Reception upstairs in the Livery Hall. This is a chargeable event with separate ticketing arrangements of which Circle members, as Fellows of the College, will also be notified by email.

About the 1992 Circle

A social forum for retired Fellows founded in 2022, 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.

Membership of the 1992 Circle is open only to Fellows of the College who are fully retired from practice. Retired practitioners who were a Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practice and/or more recently were a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry are eligible to join or re-join the College as Fellows and then to join the 1992 Circle. There is no charge to join the Circle or attend its biannual 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.

JOIN THE 1992 CIRCLE

College of General Dentistry Student Advice

My life as a dental student

CGDent NextGen Ambassador and 2024 BDS graduate from the University of Manchester, Dr Naeema Munshi, reflects on her experiences and offers advice to current students.

Embarking on the journey to become a qualified dentist is nothing short of memorable. Graduating this summer has given me time to reflect on my journey as a whole and come up with some of my own advice on how to navigate dental school. I’m hoping this blog will give an insight on what it’s like to be a dental student.

The academics

Dental school is known for its rigorous academic standards. From day one, we were plunged into an intensive curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Lectures, EBL (enquiry based learning), clinical skills and laboratory sessions fill the weekdays, covering everything from anatomy and physiology to advanced dental techniques. In my first year I particularly enjoyed spending time in the dissection room learning anatomy.

As my degree was EBL based the workload was substantial, so managing time effectively and becoming an independent learner became an essential skill. Late-night study sessions in the library and revision sessions with friends became part of my weekly routine. Since it’s a lengthy degree, it’s easy to forget how much you’ve learned over the years and focus instead on the concepts you’re struggling with. My advice is to keep giving it your best and not be too hard on yourself because everyone will get there in the end. When exam season comes around the pressure can be intense, but the sense of accomplishment that comes from passing exams is incomparable.

Building lifelong friendships

Despite the demanding nature of the course, I found there is a strong sense of camaraderie among the students. The shared experiences, from the stress of exams to the pressure of clinical practice, creates a strong bond between us all.

The University I attended boasts a diverse student body allowing you to meet people from all over the world. I felt I was able to broaden my perspectives and gain an understanding of different cultures and backgrounds.

My university has partnerships with a number of dental schools around the world. These relationships gave me the opportunity to take part in the Stovit dental summer school at the university of Airlangga in Indonesia. The experience was a massive highlight of my university experience. I was able to fully immerse myself in a new culture and make friends with students from all over the globe, as well as discover how dentistry varies in different countries.

Overall one of the things I hold in the highest regard in relation to my university experience is the lifelong friendships I have made and the countless memories I’m left with.

Experiencing new things

For me life at university isn’t just about academics. It’s a time for personal growth and trying new things. My university, like many others, offered a countless number of extracurricular activities and societies. Whether you’re interested in sports, music, drama, or volunteering, there’s something for everyone.

Joining dental societies, for instance, provides opportunities for networking, attending professional events, and participating in outreach programs. I particularly enjoyed volunteering with Manchester Outreach Dentists and the Children’s outreach society.

Exploring Manchester

Wherever your university is you can have fun getting to know your new home! Manchester where I studied is a city brimming with life and culture. On weekends or after a long day of classes, there’s no shortage of places to explore. Personally I really enjoyed eating my way through the city, and discovering new cuisines.

Being a dental student is a journey filled with challenges, growth, and excitement. The studies will push you to your limits, but the friendships you forge, the new experiences you encounter, and the vibrant city you explore make it an unforgettable chapter of your life. It’s a place where you not only develop into a competent dental professional but also grow as an individual, ready to follow your dreams.

Author bio

“I studied the BDS at the University of Manchester, graduating in 2024, and during my final year I have been a CGDent NextGen Ambassador.

I have just started Dental Foundation Training in the North West of England, which is going well so far!

I enjoy meeting different people from all over the world, exploring new places and international cuisine.”

Naeema Munshi

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College of General Dentistry News

Report calls for improved provision of preventative oral healthcare

The College and Haleon have published a report on improving the provision of preventative oral healthcare.

Preventative care is defined as proactive dental care and advice that helps a patient to take action to maintain a healthy mouth, protecting against tooth decay, gum disease and more serious issues such as tooth loss and negative impacts on general health. The new report, The Dental Health Barometer, provides recommendations based on the experience and insight of general dental professionals on how to bridge the gap between intentions and practical delivery.

The underlying research began last year with a survey of 2,000 UK dental patients and over 500 dental professionals which highlighted inconsistencies in the provision of preventative oral healthcare advice. (A poster summarising those findings is available, as is a webinar examining them in more detail). This has since been built upon with rich discussions held with 77 oral health professionals, from all dental team roles, in focus group meetings hosted at eight general dental practices throughout the UK.

The most consistent finding is that oral health professionals seek redesigned NHS contracts to allow for more time and financial support in giving preventative oral care advice. The research also finds that the profession would like to see more resources devoted to providing nationwide preventative oral healthcare education, and a national communications campaign to tackle oral health misinformation.

The report highlights wider societal barriers to improving preventative oral care, such as competing social media narratives around oral health, diet and appearance; the erosion of long-term patient relationships; a continuing professional skew in some practices towards clinical treatments; and a tendency among non-dental health professionals not to deliver basic oral health messages.

Additional recommendations include:

  • Simplifying the government’s Delivering Better Oral Health toolkit to make it more user-friendly, and
  • The creation of a consumer-facing version of the Delivering Better Oral Health toolkit
  • Working with non-dental health professionals such as health visitors and midwives to inform them of the benefits of preventative oral care
  • Greater provision of CPD on the delivery of preventative care
  • Encouraging businesses to provide dental cover to employees
  • Celebrating team members such as dental hygienists in the mainstream media
  • Better use of digital communications such as apps and video streaming platforms

Roshni Karia MCGDent, President of the College, said:

“Our focus groups found that many dentists may feel that they are conducting a lonely battle against entrenched patient habits around oral health care, and doing so within NHS contracts which are unfavourable to providing adequate preventative advice. Our work with Haleon highlights the need to take action to support oral health professionals in a real time of need.”

Bas Vorsteveld, Vice President of Haleon and its General Manager for Great Britain and Ireland, commented:

“With a new Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, our findings could not come at a more pivotal time for the future of dentistry in the UK. Working alongside the College of General Dentistry, we outline the key opportunities, our jointly developed solutions to safeguard the future of preventative oral care provisions for UK consumers and oral health professionals alike. We welcome the new Labour government’s plan to rescue the UK’s dental sector, but we urge them to go further and make NHS contracts fit for purpose by prioritising prevention. Only by working alongside the profession and industry can the new government make the step-change that UK dentistry clearly needs.”

Haleon, formerly the consumer healthcare division of GlaxoSmithKline, is the manufacturer of well-known oral health products such as Sensodyne, Corsodyl, Aquafresh, Poligrip, Biotene and Parodontax.

The College and Haleon will continue to work together to advocate for improvements in the provision of preventative oral healthcare.

The College and Haleon would like to thank all those College members who volunteered to host a focus group in their practice, and all the members, colleagues and patients who participated in the research.

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College of General Dentistry News

Editor sought for Primary Dental Journal

The College is recruiting a new Editor for the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ).

As it approaches its 50th issue, the journal’s longstanding Editor, Professor Igor Blum, will be standing down in 2025, and the College is now seeking a highly accomplished individual to succeed him.

The Editor is the academic lead of the PDJ. They commission individual themes and papers, appoint guest editors, authors and peer reviewers, and act as decision maker in editorial matters, giving final approval of all content and issues. They are also the public face, representative and main spokesperson for the PDJ, helping to ensure that it continues to be seen as a leading journal for primary dental care and that it fulfils its aims as well as those of the College.

The ideal candidate for the role will be a clinically active dental professional who is qualified to consultant level and has experience encompassing primary care, secondary care and academia. A full person specification and role description is available below:

PDJ EDITOR ROLE PROFILE

Applications should be made by CV and a covering letter addressing the requirements described in the role profile. This must be received by Friday 18 October 2024, addressed to [email protected]. Interviews will then be held.

There is no fixed term for the role, and it is intended that the successful candidate will be in place by December 2024. Initially this will be as Editor designate to work with the current Editor on the development of journal issues for publication in the second half of 2025.

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College of General Dentistry News

College informs NAO investigation

The President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent, attended a meeting earlier today to help inform a National Audit Office (NAO) investigation into NHS dentistry.

The NAO’s London office, the Grade II listed former Imperial Airways Empire Terminal

The public spending watchdog, which supports Parliament in holding government to account for its expenditure, is in the process of looking into how the previous government developed its ‘Dental Recovery Plan’ for NHS Dentistry, what progress has been made since the plan was announced, and how the government plans to evaluate and monitor its impact.

The College was among the organisations invited to give evidence on the extent and nature of any involvement of the profession in the development of the dental recovery plan; what opportunities there have been to engage with the ongoing delivery of the plan; and how it assesses the likely impact of specific measures in the plan.

The Dental Recovery Plan, announced in February 2024, set out a range of initiatives, both new and previously-announced, intended to help tackle some of the many longstanding problems facing NHS dental provision in England. These included a Smile For Life programme, a new patient premium, mobile dental vans, the use of private practices to deliver NHS care, a ‘golden hello’ for new graduates, an increase in dental school places, medicines exemptions for dental hygienists and therapists, an increase in the minimum value of a Unit of Dental Activity (UDA), more community water fluoridation, more places and sittings for the Overseas Registration Examination and Licentiate in Dental Surgery, faster entry to the NHS Performers List, provisional registration, and the identification of qualifications from outside the European Economic Area which meet the required standard for GDC registration.

The College was not involved in the development of the Dental Recovery Plan, and following its publication issued a point-by-point response.

An update on the new patient premium, minimum UDA value, ‘golden hellos’ and mobile dental vans was published by NHS England in May. The College continues to engage in discussions around introducing medicines exemptions and expanding community water fluoridation, both of which are longstanding government policy, and has also participated in early discussion of provisional registration.

The NAO is expected to publish its report later this year.