College of General Dentistry News

Candidates for election to the College Council 2025

Nominations recently closed for seats on the College Council and verification of candidates has now taken place.

 A ballot of eligible members is required for three of the seats being decided this year:

  • National
  • Overseas
  • South Thames

The candidates for these seats are as follows:

National seat

Overseas seat

South Thames

Eligible members will receive the candidates’ election statements, with instructions on how to vote, when voting opens on Wednesday 26 March 2025. These will be sent by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice, to the email address which the member has registered with the College. Members will then have until Friday 2 May 2025 to cast their vote(s).

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College of General Dentistry News

Recruitment of a Membership Manager

The College is looking for a Membership Manager to join its staff team.

The post-holder will oversee and deliver the College’s membership administration and support function. Dealing directly with our dental professional members and subscribers, they will assess sometimes complex applications, manage member queries and oversee membership subscriptions. They will also be required to confidently use and interrogate the College’s CRM database and payment platforms to support these processes. 

The College is a small team, and so the role will be varied and dynamic, with the opportunity to help improve and build our processes as we grow as an organisation. We are looking for someone who is quick to learn, organised and who has excellent attention to detail. 

You will need to have drive and a passion for process excellence and improvement. You will need to be able to think logically, and proactively deal with some complex information and situations related to membership and other applications. The role will therefore suit someone who is interested in thinking beyond the issue at hand and who will proactively problem solve, and advise on process improvement.

Previous experience in using and interrogating a CRM database is essential, and experience in a membership role is preferred. The role is full-time and hybrid (but predominantly home-based). Full details are available in the role description below.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

To apply, submit your CV and covering letter, outlining why you think you are suitable for the role, to [email protected]

**PLEASE NOTE THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS NOW CLOSED**

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College of General Dentistry Blog

Why learning about occlusion is vital for early career dentists

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, founder of the Tom Bereznicki Dental Educational Foundation, explains the importance of occlusion and why he is committed to educating younger colleagues on the topic.

The modern undergraduate curriculum allows very little time for occlusion to be covered as a topic. Through my experience of teaching younger dentists, I have noticed in recent years that when I ask what the clinical occlusal examination findings are, the reply often comes back with an orthodontic classification. Few early career dentists are aware of the importance of studying not just the static occlusion, but the dynamic one too.

In over 40 years of practice, I have seen many cases of occlusally-related failure, highlighting the vital importance of paying due consideration to the occlusal scheme in treatment planning. I am passionate about educating early career dentists and through my charitable foundation, I have organised a symposium on the topic of occlusion, in collaboration with the College, which aims to enhance delegates’ knowledge of the basic principles of occlusion and how they can support the success and longevity of restorative treatment.

With the odd exceptions such as anterior open bites and skeletal Class 3’s, patients’ occlusal schemes should adhere to the basic principles of occlusion, not just when providing complex multiple indirect restorations and treatment of wear cases, but also simpler single indirect restorations, and most importantly, the long-term maintenance of intact healthy dentitions.

The cases illustrated below draw attention to some common examples of occlusally-related failure.

To avoid occlusal derangement, the extracted tooth should have been replaced as soon after extraction as possible

Failure to investigate the crack when it first appeared – now the tooth needs to be extracted

Correct dynamic mandibular excursions when fitting fixed restorations to help prevent failure especially with cantilever designs

Missing the tell-tale signs of unwanted wear, seen here as wear facets, can lead to root fracture

Spotting early signs of unwanted occlusal wear helps prevent extensive treatment at a later date

Failure to check excursive mandibular excursions, especially when fitting restorations, can result in loss of canine guidance and restorative failure

In bruxers, veneer failure can also frequently be seen as fracture of the porcelain in the gingival third of the restoration

Over instrumentation during root canal therapy weakens the root making it susceptible to fracture particularly when acting as a cantilever abutment

Although titanium is extremely hard, it is not unbreakable. If occlusal forces are not refined, fracture or associated non-perimplantitis bone loss can lead to failure

As I did at the first Introduction to Occlusion Symposium in London, I will be addressing occlusally-related failure cases like these in the opening session at the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium in Edinburgh. I will be joined by a fantastic line-up of experts: Professor Paul Tipton, Dr Ken Harris, Dr Tif Qureshi, Dr Shiraz Khan and Dr Koray Feran. Through a series of lectures, they will examine the five basic principles of occlusion in detail and how they can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations.

Information will also be available on a range of postgraduate courses which cover aspects of occlusion in greater depth, for those who wish to extend their knowledge further.

The Introduction to Occlusion Symposium: Edinburgh, takes place on Saturday 1 November 2025 at The University of Edinburgh.

Click for further information and to book your place

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College of General Dentistry News

Recruitment of Board member (Faculty of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology)

The College is seeking a new board member for its Faculty of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology, and all dental technicians and clinical dental technicians are invited to apply.

The Faculty of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology is a constituency of the College automatically comprising all members who are dental technicians or clinical dental technicians. Advising and reporting to the elected College Council, the Faculty Board advances the interests of these members within the College as a discrete professional group.

Faculty Board members are appointed for renewable three-year terms, and the appointee will be expected to attend at least three Faculty Board meetings per year from June 2025 – June 2028.

Candidates will need to be an Associate Member, Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College at the time of application, and anyone interested in applying who is not yet a member of the College is advised to allow at least two weeks for their membership application to be fully processed prior to applying for this role.

The role is voluntary, with any essential expenses covered. A role profile is available below.

ROLE PROFILE

Applications should be made by email, headed “Board member (Faculty of Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology)”, to [email protected], attaching a CV and covering letter addressing the person specification. 

The closing date for applications is Sunday 4 May 2025.

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College of General Dentistry News

Recruitment of Board Chair (Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy)

The College is seeking the next Chair of the Board of its Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, and all dental hygienists and dental therapists are invited to consider applying.

The Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy is a constituency of the College automatically comprising all members who are dental hygienists or dental therapists. The interests of these members as a discrete professional group are advanced within the College by both a voting representative on the elected College Council and by a Faculty Board which advises and reports to Council.

Membership of the Faculty Board is appointed by Council, including the Chair, who works closely with the President and other Faculty Board Chairs in realising College priorities.

The Chair will be appointed for a non-renewable three-year term from June 2025 – June 2028, during which they will be expected to attend the three formal meetings of Council each year, and to coordinate at least three meetings of their Faculty Board annually with these dates. Council holds full day hybrid meetings, with attendance in person preferred.

Candidates will need to be an Associate Member, Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College at the time of application, and anyone interested in applying who is not yet a member of the College is advised to allow at least two weeks for their membership application to be fully processed prior to applying for this role.

The role is voluntary, with essential expenses covered. A role profile is available below.

ROLE PROFILE

Applications should be made by email, headed “Board Chair (Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy)”, to [email protected], attaching a CV and covering letter addressing the person specification.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 4 May 2025.

Interviews will be held online from the week beginning 12 May (tbc) with a selection panel convened by Council, and the appointee should be available to attend the College Council meeting on Friday 13 June 2025.

If you have questions or would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Simon Thornton-Wood PhD, Chief Executive of the College, at [email protected]

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College of General Dentistry News

Widening the Circle – ‘1992’ meetings now open to all retired members

The College has expanded eligibility to join its 1992 Circle to all fully retired members.

Cutler’s Hall, London; venue for the next 1992 Circle gathering

Created shortly after the inception of the College, the 1992 Circle initially brought together a dedicated group of retired College Fellows and past Fellows of the Faculty of General Dental Practice with a shared enthusiasm for the work of the College.

The group is named in honour of the year the FGDP(UK) was founded, a key moment which brought together the members of the College of General Dental Practitioners (UK) and the former RCS Advisory Board in General Dental Practice with the shared ambition to create an independent College over time.

More than 30 years later, the 1992 Circle celebrates the vision of those who put the general dental profession in the UK on a journey towards independent collegiate status. Bringing the benefit of our members’ significant experience to the work of the College today, the Circle promotes their continued standing in the profession in retirement and creates a sociable network of like-minded individuals.

Since its formation, the 1992 Circle has since held a series of gatherings prior to the College’s biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and its members have been involved in recording the histories of the formation of the FGDP and of FGDP qualifications, and in raising funds to secure the College’s Coat of Arms. The Circle has also fed into discussions on the ambitions and priorities for the future development of the College.

The College is now building on this by extending Circle membership to all fully retired members, with the aim of fostering continued close connections with and between our whole retired community.

Retired members enjoy the same benefits, rights and privileges of the College as practising members, but enjoy a fee discount of up to 66% from their next renewal – and there is no additional charge for membership of the 1992 Circle.

Circle members receive special invitations to College events, as well as periodic updates from its Convenor, Sir Nairn Wilson CBE, and information on the events and activities of the Lindsay Society for the History of Dentistry.

All members of the College who are already fully retired from practice have now been enrolled in the 1992 Circle, and College members who are currently in practice will be enrolled once fully retired.

Members of the 1992 Circle are invited, for their Winter 2025 gathering – the first since the expansion in membership – to attend a special reception marking the 50th issue of the Primary Dental Journal. This takes place on the afternoon of Thursday 30 January 2025 in London. There is no charge for this event, but prior registration via the button below is requested.

REGISTER HERE

Circle members are also invited to join the online Annual Members’ Meeting on 4 March 2025, and will soon be invited to the inaugural College Lecture and the Fellows’ Summer Reception in Sheffield on 13 June 2025. Details will be circulated soon, and interest will also be gauged in holding a 1992 Circle Lunch the same day.

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College of General Dentistry Event

London meet-and-greet

Friday 9 – Saturday 10 October 2026, 9.00am – 5.00pm, London

ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

The College invites all dental professionals to visit its exhibition stand at Dentistry Show London 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The College will also be an education partner for the show, hosting CPD lectures.

Dentistry Show London gives you access to over 180 exhibitors and 4,000 fellow dental professionals, and offers over 100 CPD lectures in all. It’s FREE to attend for all registered dental professionals.

A registration link will be added below once registration is open.

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College of General Dentistry Event

Dentistry Show London

Friday 9 – Saturday 10 October 2026, 9.00am – 5.00pm, London

ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

The College will once again be an education partner for Dentistry Show London 2026

We will welcome members and non-members alike to our CPD lectures, with experts in their fields sharing their knowledge on a range of subjects and giving advice to support the professional development of the whole dental team. Details of the lecture programme will be announced in due course.

Delegates will have access to over 100 CPD lectures in all across multiple lecture theatres, as well as over 180 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network among 4,000 dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental nurses, practice managers, dental technicians and laboratory owners.

College representatives will be available throughout the show at the CGDent exhibition stand to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer your questions.

Registration for DSL26 will be free for all dental professionals.

A registration link will be added below once registration is open.

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College of General Dentistry Event

Birmingham meet-and-greet

Friday 15 May (9am-5.30pm) & Saturday 16 May 2026 (9am-5pm), Birmingham

Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT

The College invites all dental professionals to visit its exhibition stand at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

The College will also be an education partner, hosting CPD lectures.

The British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show is the UK’s largest dental event, giving you access to 400 exhibitors and 10,000 fellow dental professionals, and offering over 200 lectures across 11 CPD theatres.

Registration for BDCDS26 will be FREE for all dental professionals.

A link will be added below once registration is open.

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