CGDent and Dentsply Sirona launch the Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry

The College has partnered with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and Dentsply Sirona to develop a new aesthetic dentistry award for early career dentists.

The Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry recognises aesthetic dentistry skills and patient care and is open to dentists who qualified in the UK or Ireland between 2019 to 2023, or who qualified overseas between 2019 to 2023 and have been practising in the UK for at least the past two years.

36 successful candidates will each receive a fully funded place on a bespoke, hands-on two-day digital dentistry course at the Dentsply Sirona Academy in Weybridge, Surrey. The course is repeated on three separate dates. Travel costs, hotel accommodation and subsistence are included in the prize.

The digital dentistry course has been designed by Dr Tom Bereznicki BDS (Edin), FDS RCS (Ed), MFDTEd, FCGDent, MFDSEng and Dr Chris Leech BDS, MAGDS RCS (Ed), MFDS RCPS (Glasg), Dip Imp Dent RCS (Ed), FDS RCS (Ed), FCGDent. Created solely for the Award, the course is aimed at dentists with limited of working with a digital workflow. The exclusive course is only open to winners of the new Award and is not available commercially.

Delivered predominantly through short demonstrations and comprehensive hands-on sessions, participants on the course will be guided step-by-step through the complete process of creating a digitally produced crown, from scanning to cementation. Theory modules, such as material science, will be provided through pre-course and post-course videos.

To enter, candidates must submit pre-op photographs of an aesthetic case and upload a final case report when treatment is complete.  The case must involve more than one tooth, including at least one anterior tooth, and the use of composite to restore teeth. It must mainly follow an analogue workflow. Full case eligibility guidance is outlined on the Award web page.

The inaugural Award is now open and the deadline to enter the competition with pre-op photographs is Friday 23 May 2025*. Entrants have until Friday 5 September 2025 to complete the treatment and submit their final case. The successful candidates will be announced in October and the digital dentistry courses will take place on Friday-Saturday 14-15 November 2025, Friday-Saturday 28-29 November 2025, and a Friday-Saturday in early 2026 (date to be confirmed). The number of Award entries has been capped at 150, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Further opportunities for early career dentists

The College is collaborating with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, and other partners, to deliver a range of educational opportunities for early career dental professionals.

Occlusion and perio symposia
Featuring a line-up of expert speakers, a series of symposia for early career dentists on the topics of occlusion and perio will take place in London in 2025. Find out more.

CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees
Dentists and dental therapists enrolled on DFT are eligible to enter the CGDent-GC Award 2024/25, to win fully funded composite layering training in Belgium. Full details and entry form.

*The entry and submission deadlines have been extended and the course due to take place on 4-5 July 2025 has been rescheduled to early 2026 (date to be confirmed).

Occlusion and perio symposia for early career dentists

The College of General Dentistry is delighted to partner with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation to host a series of symposia for early career dentists on the topics of Occlusion and Perio. 

Carefully curated for early career dentists, the symposia will be open to dentists who qualified in the UK or overseas between 2019 and 2023 and have been practising in the UK for at least the past two years.

Introduction to Occlusion Symposium

The first of the symposia, Introduction to Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists, will take place on Saturday 5 April 2025 at the Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London.

A line-up of renowned speakers will deliver a series of lectures to enhance delegates’ understanding of the fundamentals of occlusion and how these principles can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions.

The opening lecture will be delivered by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, a general dental practitioner with a special interest in restorative dentistry and founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation. Dr Bereznicki’s presentation will be followed by sessions from Professor Paul Tipton FCGDent, Dr Ken Harris FCGDent, Dr Tif Qureshi FCGDent and Dr Shiraz Khan, and Dr Koray Feran FCGDent.

Perio-Occlusion Symposium

The second in the series of symposia for early career dentists will focus on the aesthetic aspects of perio and functional occlusal aspects post orthodontic treatment and will also take place at Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London on Saturday 20 September 2025.

The event will consist of two half-day sessions delivered by Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent, a Specialist Periodontist and founder of Perio School, and Dr Raman Aulakh FCGDent, a Specialist Orthodontist, Invisalign Platinum Elite Doctor and co-founder of Aligner Dental Academy.

Alongside the programme of lectures, delegates at either symposia who wish to develop their knowledge of occlusion or perio further, can visit a selection of education stands to learn more about leading postgraduate courses available in these fields.

To ensure the symposia are accessible to early career dentists, the fee for each event has been set at an affordable rate of £75 per symposium and they will each take place on a Saturday to avoid time away from clinic.

Tickets for the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists will be made available from January 2025. Bookings for the Perio-Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists will open later next year, and as places are limited, dentists are advised to secure a ticket early to avoid disappointment.

Eligible dentists interested in attending either or both symposia, are urged to ‘save-the-dates’ and sign-up to receive a notification as soon as tickets go on sale.

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation supports educational initiatives for early career dentists and is working in conjunction with the College, and other collaborators, to provide a range of developmental opportunities for this cohort. Alongside the Introduction to Occlusion and the Perio-Occlusion Symposia, the Foundation funds the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which offers the chance to win fully-funded composite layering training in Belgium. An advanced aesthetic dentistry competition, which will provide each successful candidate with a fully-funded place on a hands-on digital dentistry course, is launching soon and other projects are also planned.

Subscribe to the College for free to receive our monthly newsletter and stay informed about all upcoming opportunities with the College and the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation.

Perio-Occlusion Symposium

To book your place, sign in or create a free subscriber account and then refresh this page.

The Perio-Occlusion Symposium focuses on two fundamental aspects of aesthetic dentistry: the aesthetics related to pink gum and the critical role of occlusion in ensuring the long-term success of clear aligner therapy.

Cultivating the right balance between the tooth and periodontal tissue can be key in achieving the ‘ideal smile’ and improving your patient’s confidence. It is essential to understand the treatments available and their suitability for your patients. In the morning session of the symposium, Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent will present some clinical cases and examine the indications and steps of crown lengthening and gum recession surgery and review the available procedures.

In the afternoon session, Dr Andy Toy FCGDent will shine a light on the critical role of occlusion in the successful delivery of clear aligner therapy. He will focus on the steps involved in carrying out an occlusal examination and assessment to arrive at a suitable orthodontic treatment plan using aligner therapy, so as to ensure a healthy, functional occlusion and long-term stability of the treatment provided. The full programme is shown below.

The Symposium has been designed for early career dental professionals and all dental professionals are welcome to attend. It is organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College of General Dentistry. The Foundation supports educational opportunities for early career dental professionals in the UK.

Topics not of interest to you? Please share details of the symposium with other members of your team

Expert speakers

Dr Reena Wadia

BDS Hons (Lond) MJDF RCS (Eng) MClinDent (Perio) MPerio RCS (Edin) FHEA MCGDent

Speaker profile >

Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent is Principal of a specialist periodontal referral clinic in London. Qualifying in 2011, she later worked as a Senior House Officer in restorative dentistry and oral surgery, completed speciality training in periodontology and became a specialist associate at King’s College Hospital. She has been awarded Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Membership in Periodontics of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, a Master’s in Clinical Dentistry and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. She is an adviser to the BDA Indemnity board, a member of the Invisalign Advisory Board, founder of Perio School and lectures nationally. Author of several articles in the Primary Dental Journal and Guest Editor of the issue dedicated to periodontics (volume 8, number 4), she is also co-editor of ‘Other Journals in Brief’ in the British Dental Journal, a trustee of the Oral & Dental Research Trust, a reviewer of the current edition of the CGDent Standards in Dentistry guidance and was previously a board member of the FGDP (UK).

Dr Andy Toy

BDS MMedSci(Clinical Education) FCGDent

Speaker profile >

Dr Andy Toy FCGDent qualified from Bristol University in 1980, built his own practice from scratch in 1984 and became a Foundation Trainer in 1987.  He soon became the local Training Programme Director, holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Mentoring in Dentistry and in 1999 became the first general dentist in the UK to gain a Master’s in Clinical Education.

With an ongoing interest in occlusion, in 1982 he attended the LD Pankey Institute in the US, later joining their Teaching Faculty and Advisory Board. Andy has been a member of a research team at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, and published a number of peer-reviewed papers on dental occlusion and oral-muscle function.

Co-Director of the Postgraduate Diploma in Clear Aligner Therapy at the City of London Dental School,  he has been an International Speaker for Align Technology since 2010 and is an Ambassador for the Aligner Dental Academy.

He was a member of the former FGDP(UK) from the start, successfully completed the MFGDP(UK), became a Divisional Research Facilitator and served on the Board from 2004-2014. He was a contributing author to the Faculty’s, now College’s, Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography and An Introduction to Research for Primary Dental Care Clinicians guidelines, and has been a reviewer in the development of the third edition of Standards in Dentistry and the forthcoming Standards in Dental Photography. He has authored over a dozen articles for the Primary Dental Journal, was Guest Editor of the Spring 2015 issue on Communication, complaints and consent, was awarded Fellowship by election in 2021 and is now a Fellow of the College.

Symposium fee

To ensure the Symposium is accessible to early career dental professionals, we have set the fee at an affordable rate.

  • £70 – early careers (qualified 2020-2025)
  • £90 – other dental professionals

Verifiable CPD: approx 6 hours

Programme

08:15-08:50 – Registration – Tea/coffee provided

Dr Raman Aulakh FCGDent is a Specialist Orthodontist, co-founder of Aligner Dental Academy and an Invisalign Platinum Elite Doctor. He is a clinical speaker and a post-graduate tutor at King’s College Dental Institute London.

09:00-09:20 – Dr Tom Bereznicki >
  • Welcome and introduction

09:20-13:00 – Dr Reena Wadia >

Aims & Objectives:

To gain an understanding of the indications and steps of crown lengthening surgery and optimal aesthetics we aim for.

To develop an understanding of the indications of gum recession surgery and the various procedures available.

13:00-14:00 – Lunch break + trade exhibition

14:00-16:45 – Dr Andy Toy >

Aims & Objectives:

Provide a simple practitioner’s guide to occlusion and aligner orthodontics

– Understand the origins of traditional thinking on occlusion in orthodontics (including Angle & Andrews)

– Know how to assess the orthodontic patient for signs of TMD or occlusal distress

– Know how to plan and deliver aligner treatment to produce a healthy, functional occlusion

16:45-17:00 – Dr Tom Bereznicki >

Closing remarks

Trade exhibition

You are invited to visit our trade exhibition and education stands in the breaks to find out more about high-quality postgraduate courses available to you.

Lunch and refreshments

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

Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided throughout the event.

Getting there

The venue address is: Small Hall, Kensington Conference and Events Centre, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton 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!

To book your place at the Perio-Occlusion Symposium, please sign in to your online account or create a new subscriber account for free and then refresh this page.

Cancellation and refund policy

A full refund will be provided up to 14 days before the date of the symposium. No refund will be issued within 14 days of the event. If you would like to cancel your place and request a refund, please email us at [email protected]

No refund will be made for non-attendance.

Places are non-transferable to other events.

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CGDent Midlands Annual Symposium

Conference Aston, Birmingham, B4 7ET

Oral Cancer: Diagnosis, Treatment and Management 

This year’s Symposium is targeted at the core CPD topic of diagnosing and managing oral cancer. Including three sessions delivered by expert speakers, the day is targeted at early career dentists, but all are welcome.

Speakers, aims & objectives

Speaker: Dr Ana Poveda +

Dr Ana 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.

Session aims:

Introduce intraoral soft tissue pathology and pre-malignant lesions

Session objectives:

  • Run through a systematic approach to assessing for intraoral soft tissue lesions
  • Revise the nomenclature used when describing soft tissue pathology when referring to secondary care
  • Provide differential diagnoses for potentially malignant lesions and be able to describe what features make them concerning
Speaker: Professor StJohn Crean +

Professor StJohn 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.

Session aims:

Diagnosis and treatment of Oral Cancer

Session objectives:

  • Epidemiology, presentation and prognosis of oral cancer (including HPV positive SCC)
  • Pathology of cancer, TMN staging
  • Treatment modalities for Oral Cancer, radiotherapy vs surgery and their implications
Speaker: Dr Sadiq Mawji +

Sadiq 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.

Session aims:

Equip DFTs with some skills for managing patients on the ward

Session objectives:

  • Provide personal experience of career journey and the Maxillofacial Surgery Pathway
  • Considerations for patient management immediately following surgery, eg tracheostomies, flaps, ITU, fluid maintenance
  • Tips and tricks for managing a cancer patient as a new DCT

6 hours verifiable CPD

GDC development outcomes: A, C, D

Delegates receive a three course lunch and morning and afternoon tea and coffee is provided.

Full venue details including facilities and how to get there, are available here.

A car park is available and you must book and pay for your place in advance – pre-book your space here.

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry – £120
  • Non-member – £160

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

To book your place at the CGDent Midlands Annual Symposium 2025, please sign in to your online account or create a new subscriber account for free and then refresh this page.

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Composite layering course for Foundation Trainees

Thursday 10 July – Friday 11 July 2025

GC European Education Campus, Leuven, Belgium.

Places on this course are awarded to successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees

The GC composite layering course provides in-depth guidance on the complete process of restoring teeth using contemporary composite layering techniques and materials. Through hands-on sessions, supported by lectures, demos and one-to-one training, participants will gain an enhanced understanding of the science and protocols which will enable them to practice restorative dentistry with increased confidence, for the benefit of patients.

The course itinerary is tailored to meet the experience and skills of participants, and will cover:

  • Colour perception for recreating natural looking anterior direct restorations
  • Using a detailed layering technique with only inside and outside shades in a Class IV
  • Dealing with the challenging situation of masking a strong discoloration with a direct veneer
  • Finishing and polishing protocols
  • Injection Moulding Technique (IMT) – principles, indications and clinical guideline
  • Treating posterior and anterior tooth wear with IMT
  • Extending the limits of a direct Cl II restoration with a fibre reinforced and a high-filled injectable composite

Course leader

Dr Simone Moretto

Dr Moretto graduated in Dentistry from State University of Campinas in Brazil, going on to become a Specialist, Master and PhD in Restorative Dentistry at the Sao Paulo University, Brazil. as a research at BIOMAT, the Biomaterials Research group of the Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, she developed a sound scientific background with papers published in peer reviewed journals and presentations at several International Congresses. Following her time at the University of Leuven, she taught as an Associate Professor in Brazil and then lectured in modern dentistry internationally. Since 2014, she has worked GC Europe as a Training Manager.

Attending the course

A fully funded place on the composite layering course is offered to successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which is open to Dentists and Dental Therapists who qualified in the UK or Ireland in 2024 and are practising in the UK or Ireland, or who are undertaking Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training. The prize for successful candidates also includes hotel accommodation, international travel and subsistence.

To enter, eligible Dentists and Dental Therapists must submit a restorative case they plan to treat, which involves more than one tooth, including at least one anterior tooth, and the use of composite to restore teeth.

The entry deadline is Friday 14 February 2025.

The hygienist’s role in the management of the implant patient in primary care

CGDent webinar, Wednesday 9 July 20257pm

This webinar explores the essential role of dental hygienists and therapists in the long-term success of dental implants within a primary care settings. It provides a comprehensive overview of best practices for prevention, early detection, and management of peri-implant diseases. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their clinical responsibilities across all stages of implant care — from pre-operative risk assessment and patient education, to post-operative maintenance and monitoring. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based techniques, communication skills, patient motivation, and collaboration with the wider dental team.

Objectives:

  • To demonstrate the ability to explain implant-related risks and maintenance strategies clearly and effectively to patients.
  • To communicate effectively with the wider dental team to support continuity of care for implant patients.

Outcomes:

After completing this course the learner will gain an understanding of:

  • The role of the dental hygienist in primary care throughout the patient’s implant journey during the three identified areas of implant placement.
  • The communication needed within a multidisciplinary team through the implant journey.

Speakers:

  • Kate Reading, dental hygienist
  • Lisa Knowles, dental therapist

CPD approx 40 minutes

GDC development outcomes: A, B, C

This webinar is hosted by the College of General Dentistry and powered by our CPD delivery partner, ProDental CPD – register below.

It is 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 £135 for dentists, £45 for dental nurses and £91 for other registered dental professionals. The full list of CGDent membership rates is here 

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The biomechanical principles of restoring dental implants – a GDP’s perspective

CGDent on-demand webinar

As dental implants become increasingly mainstream in general practice, understanding their biomechanical principles is vital for long-term success. This webinar explores the key differences between natural teeth and implants, the implications for occlusal load management, and how restorative design choices influence biomechanical outcomes.

Objectives:

  • Comprehend the distinctions in (biomechanical) performance between natural teeth and implants.
  • Plan occlusion to minimise restorative or integration failure.
  • Identify long-term occlusal changes and their implications.

Outcomes:

  • You will gain an understanding of how to proficiently assess an implant restoration in relation to the current occlusal scheme and monitor the changes in dentition in relation to the occlusal forces exerted on the implant restoration over the long term.

Speakers:

  • Amin Aminian FCGDent, specialist in prosthodontics.
  • Shushil Dattani AssocFCGDent, implant surgeon and CGDent Recognised Mentor in Implant Dentistry
  • Anoup Nandra FCGDent, member of the College Council, principal dentist of a private practice, implant surgeon

CPD approx 1 hour, 10 minutes

GDC development outcomes: C, D

This 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 £135 for dentists, £45 for dental nurses and £91 for other registered dental professionals. The full list of CGDent membership rates is here 

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College Summer Reception

Friday 13 June 2025, 5pm-8pm

The Old Banqueting Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, 7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG

The College Summer Reception, incorporating the fourth annual College Fellows’ Summer Reception, was an opportunity to network with peers in the grand surroundings of the historic Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield.

All dental professionals and those with professional interests in contemporary dentistry were invited to attend, with discounted tickets available to College members.

The Summer Reception will include the ceremonial admission of new Fellows, and for the first time also Associate Fellows of the College. The President’s Award was also presented during the Reception, and the 2025 winner of the prestigious College Medal was announced. Photographs of the event will be made available to attendees shortly afterwards to download free of charge.

Taking place at 5pm to 8pm, with registration open from 4.30pm, it followed the 1992 Circle Lunch (12.30pm-2pm – open to all College members) and the Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture, which will be delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Dental Hospital.

For these events, we also gathered alumni, course directors and examiners to celebrate the achievements of the Diploma in Restorative Dentistry programme which was established 20 years ago by our predecessor organisation, the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP). 

These special events were open to all dental professionals and others with professional interests in contemporary dental practice.

Lecture onlyReception onlyLecture & Reception
Member or Fellow£20 £15£55 £40£65 £50
Non-member£30 £20£75 £60£95 £70

Associate Fellows and recent Fellows expecting to be ceremonially admitted could book their place at the reception free of charge until 30 April.

Non-members or existing members applying for Fellowship who wished to be ceremonially admitted at the reception were advised to submit their applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.

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

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Presentations of Associate Fellows and Fellows

Friday 13 June 2025, 5pm-8pm

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent being ceremonially admitted into Fellowship by College President Dr Roshni Karia

The Old Banqueting Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, 7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG

Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College were invited to be presented for ceremonial admission into our Fellowship community by the President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia.

The presentations were incorporated within the College Summer Reception, and took place in front of gathered Fellows, Associate Fellows and members of the College, alumni of the former FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry programme and other members of the dental professions.

This is the first time Associate Fellows had the opportunity to be presented, and all Associate Fellows attending the Summer Reception were ceremonially admitted and can attend the event free of charge if they booked their place by 30 April 2025.

New Fellows, and any College Fellow attending the Summer Reception who has not either been ceremonially admitted at a previous College Fellows’ Reception or had their fellowship of the former FGDP(UK) conferred at a Diplomates’ Day, were also be ceremonially admitted and can likewise attend the reception without charge if they book by 30 April 2025.

Photographs of each presenting Fellow and Associate Fellow being ceremonially admitted by the President will be made available shortly afterwards to download free of charge.

The Summer Reception was an opportunity for dental professionals to network with their peers and also included the presentation of the President’s Award and the announcement of the 2025 winner of the College Medal (tbc).

The Summer Reception was preceded in the same venue by the Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture, ‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits?. Delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Dental Hospital, the lecture will build on the rich legacy of the former FGDP’s Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures. Registration on the day opened at 2pm, with the lecture starting promptly at 2.30pm and the event concluding at 4.30pm after Q&A/discussion.

Members of the College were also welcome to attend the 1992 Circle Lunch, hosted by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE and the 1992 Circle, which took place prior to the College Lecture.

Associate Fellowship of the College recognises enhanced knowledge and skills, and demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning and the highest levels of patient care. Associate Fellows are senior members of the College who are advancing their journey towards Fellowship. Recognised as Enhanced Practitioners on the College’s Career Pathway, their professional standing is marked with the use of the postnominals ‘AssocFCGDent’.

Associate Fellowship is currently open to those holding an eligible Postgraduate Diploma or Masters level qualification in a relevant subject.

Fellowship is the most senior membership of the College; a mark of distinction across clinical and professional domains, and of significant commitment to the art and science of dentistry through professional development, reflective practice and diligence in upholding the highest standards of clinical care. Recognised as Accomplished Practitioners on the College’s Career Pathway, the professional standing of College Fellows is signified through the use of the postnominals ‘FCGDent’.

Admittance to Fellowship can be achieved by experience or by equivalence.

Anyone successfully completing an application to join the College as an Associate Fellow or Fellow (or to upgrade their existing membership to become an Associate Fellow or Fellow) before 30 April had the opportunity to be ceremonially admitted at the Summer Reception and could therefore book their reception ticket at no charge.

It was advised to submit applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.

Prices were as follows:

Lecture onlyReception onlyLecture & Reception
Associate Fellow or presenting Fellow£20 £15£55 FREE£65 £15
Member or Fellow£20 £15£55 £40£65 £50
Non-member£30 £20£75 £60£95 £70

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Inaugural College lecture (by Martin Kelleher)

Friday 13 June 2025, 2pm-4.30pm

The Old Banqueting Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, 7-15 Church St, Sheffield S1 1HG

The Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture was delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent.

‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits? challenged the notion of the ‘ideal treatment plan’ and contended that subconscious bias and possible self-interests can lead some supposed experts to confuse their version of a questionable ‘gold standard’ with what is really in a patient’s overall best interests and with what the law expects.

Intended to stimulate and provoke healthy debate, the lecture built on the rich legacy of the Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures hosted by the College’s predecessor organisation, the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP).

Martin Kelleher has been a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Hospital, London since 1984 and has well- known interests in solving seemingly complex dental problems with various minimally destructive approaches. He is on the GDC specialist lists for Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics and owned his own practice in Bromley, Kent for nearly 40 years.

He is a Fellow of the Faculties of Dental Surgery at the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and England, as well as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, a Fellow and former President of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, and a former Chairman of the Southern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association. 

Mr Kelleher graduated from University College Dublin in 1971, holds a Master’s degree in Conservative Dentistry and is the author or co-author of very numerous peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of topics, as well as chapters in dental textbooks and a book on dental bleaching. He served on the board of Dental Protection for a decade, including three years as Chair of its Advisory Committee for Dental Claims. He is a renowned speaker, having lectured to many national dental associations and specialist societies as well as internationally for over 40 years.

CPD approx. 2 hours

Members of the College were invited to attend a self-funding lunch prior to the lecture, hosted by Sir Nairn Wilson CBE and the 1992 Circle, which took place at 12pm-2pm.

Registration for the inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture started at 2pm, with the lecture and Q&A taking place from 2.30pm-4.30pm. This was followed by the College Summer Reception from 5pm-8pm, including the ceremonial admission of Associate Fellows and new Fellows of the College.

For these events, we also gathered alumni, course directors and examiners to celebrate the achievements of the Diploma in Restorative Dentistry programme which was established 20 years ago by our predecessor organisation, the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP). 

All dental professionals, and others with professional interests in contemporary dental practice, were eligible to attend both the Inaugural College Lecture and Summer Reception.

Students and staff at the University of Sheffield who wished to attend the College Lecture were asked to email us at [email protected] using the subject header ‘University of Sheffield place at Lecture’

Tickets were priced as follows:

Lecture onlyReception onlyLecture & Reception
Member or Fellow£20£55£65
Non-member£30£75 £95

Associate Fellows and recent Fellows expecting to be ceremonially admitted could book their place at the reception free of charge until 30 April.

Non-members or existing members applying for Fellowship who wished to be ceremonially admitted at the reception were advised to submit their applications as soon as possible in order to allow enough time for admissions procedures to be completed.

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

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