Dental Care Professionals Hub, Hall N2, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture will be delivered by Poppy Dunton, a dental therapist working in general dental practice and implant clinics in Harrogate and County Durham, Clinical Lecturer in Dental Hygiene at Teesside University, and Dean of the College’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy.
Also a dental business consultant who helps ailing squat practices to improve their periodontal care, she was previously Operations Manager, CQC Manager and Lead Dental Therapist at a private dental practice group in Northampton. Having first worked in dentistry on a work placement as a 15-year-old, she has also been a receptionist, compliance and treatment coordinator and dental nurse.
She completed the National Certificate in Dental Nursing in 2008 and graduated from Cardiff University with a Diploma of Higher Education in Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene, where she was awarded the Johnson and Johnson Clinical Excellence Prize, in 2011. She also holds a City & Guilds Diploma in Leadership and Management, a Level 6 qualification in employment law from the Institute of Paralegals, the Perio School Diploma in Periodontics for Hygienists and Therapists and the Smile Dental Academy Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry for Dental Therapists, and has completed training as a Menopause Coach in order to help improve the care provided to her patients. In 2026 she launched the Diploma in Advanced Dental Health and Business Strategy, an EduQual-accredited Level 7 programme for dental hygienists and therapists which bridges clinical dentistry with leadership, reflective practice and business development.
CPD:
0.75 hours
This lecture is free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of three College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2026, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures,180 exhibitors and 4,000 dental professionals.
College representatives will be available throughout the conference at the CGDent exhibition stand to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
It is not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend should register for Dentistry Show London either in advance or on the day.
Registration will be FREE for all dental professionals, and a link will be added here once registration is live.
Aesthetic & Digital Dentistry Theatre, Hall N2, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture will be delivered by Nicola Gore FCGDent, principal of a dental practice in north London and co-author of Dentistry in a Nutshell.
Since qualifying as a dentist from the University of London in 1993, Nicola has held various general practice and hospital maxillofacial posts within the UK and Australia, has taught undergraduate and graduate dental students and has trained 25 Foundation Dentists. She holds the MJDF, an MClinDent in Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics from the Royal London, a Postgraduate Certificate in Dental Education from the University of Bedfordshire, and has also undertaken postgraduate training in orthodontics. Co-founder and President of the British Iranian Dental Association, she is a past committee member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a member of the British Society of Prosthodontics. She is among the authors of Standards in Dentistry, was elected to represent the North Thames region on the College Council in 2024 and is currently serving as a Vice President.
CPD:
0.75 hours
This lecture is free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of three College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2026, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures,180 exhibitors and 4,000 dental professionals.
College representatives will be available throughout the conference at the CGDent exhibition stand to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
It is not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend should register for Dentistry Show London either in advance or on the day.
Registration will be FREE for all dental professionals, and a link will be added here once registration is live.
Funded places on this course are reserved for successful applicants for the 2026 Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award in Coaching and Mentoring. It is not possible to register on this course separately.
Delivered onlinevia Zoom
Establishing a mentoring and coaching culture is key to the College’s commitment to workforce diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. In promoting effective mentoring practice, we aim to foster appropriate support in the career pathway progression for all members of the oral healthcare team.
Thanks to sponsorship by Foundation Nakao, generously donated through Prof Avijit Banerjee FCGDent, the College is offered a very special opportunity for a three-day training course in mentoring and coaching for dental care professionals. Our aspiration is to cultivate a community of College members amongst dental care professionals who are equipped and confident to nurture their peers.
College members who are registered as a dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental nurse, orthodontic therapist, dental technician or clinical dental technician and who have at least two years’ post-qualification experience are eligible to apply.
The short course is being delivered synchronously online, using the Zoom platform, by UMD Professional, an organisation with more than thirty years of experience within dentistry, medicine, healthcare and law, to establishing coaching and mentoring practices within organisations.
Foundation Nakao – also known as The Nakao Foundation for Worldwide Oral Health – was founded in Luzern in 2018 by Makato Nakao, Chairman of GC Corporation, a leading manufacturer of dental materials and equipment. GC also partners with the College on the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Traineesand The Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases
We regret to report the passing of Kevin James Lewis FCGDent, former Trustee, Ambassador and Founder of the College.
Born in Hounslow, Middlesex, in May 1949, he qualified BDS from The London Hospital in 1971 and LDS in 1972, worked full-time as a general dental practitioner and practice owner for 20 years, then part-time for another ten years while he developed his interests in the dento-legal field.
In 1989 he began a 27-year career at Dental Protection, initially as a member of the Board of Directors, then as a dento-legal adviser, and as Dental Director between 1998 and 2016, serving on the Council and Executive of the Medical Protection Society.
In the 1980s and 1990s he was involved in broadcasting, being the monthly dental contributor on a BBC Radio 2 programme and a regular contributor on both BBC and commercial local radio in the East Midlands and East of England. He also gave a number of TV interviews, participated in dentistry-related documentaries and was the host of The Dental Channel.
Better known to many now for his writing, he was a long-serving Associate Editor of Dental Practice, Consultant Editor of Dentistry from 2006 and a contributing author to The Technologist since 2018, providing the profession with contemporary, insightful political commentaries, editorials and dento-legal articles for over forty years. He also wrote two textbooks on dental practice management and guest chapters in several others.
He enjoyed some part-time teaching and supervision of undergraduate students, and lectured throughout the UK and internationally, presenting at seven FDI World Dental Congresses as well as regional or national conferences in almost 30 countries, including regular lectures in Australia, New Zealand, North America and South East Asia.
In the early part of his career, he was heavily involved in the British Dental Association up to Branch Council level and in Local Dental Committee matters, and for some years was a Vice President of the British Association of Dental Therapists. He was a Trustee of the Oral & Dental Research Trust and a past Trustee of the Cordent Dental Trust, a Special Consultant to BDA Indemnity and he provided consultancy and advisory services to a variety of organisations in dentistry and wider healthcare.
In 2017, following the decision of the national board of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) to build an independent college for general dental practitioners and the whole dental team, he was appointed a founder member of the Transition Board tasked with creating what became the College of General Dentistry. He subsequently served as a Trustee of the College until 2022, then as a College Ambassador. He was a College Fellow, College Founder and College Donor, presented College webinars on dento-legal topics, and wrote for the Primary Dental Journal.
He was also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, achieved the Diploma of Fellowship of the former FGDP, and was awarded Honorary Membership of the British, Irish and New Zealand Dental Associations. He was an Honorary Member, and past Council Member, of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry.
Last month he was awarded the College Medal, the College of General Dentistry’s most prestigious honour, in recognition of his consistent championing of general dental practice during a career spanning over half a century, and for his contributions to the establishment and development of the College from its formative stages.
He passed away peacefully in Peterborough Hospital, with his family around him, on Wednesday 30 July, aged 76. He is survived by his wife Rhiannon (formerly Head Dental Nurse of the Department of Periodontology at The London Hospital), son Nick (a College Fellow and former Course Director of the FGDP Diploma in Restorative Dentistry), daughter Angharad Sian (a solicitor in Hong Kong) and daughter-in-law Jane (a GDP in Hampshire).
Paying tribute to his legacy, the President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent, said:
“Kevin was a great champion of general dental practice. As a young graduate, I was inspired in so many ways by the humility, insight and expertise which were the hallmarks of his lecturing, and I know that his loss will be felt by many others in our professional community. He will be dearly missed.”
Clinical Excellence Theatre, Hall N2, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture will be delivered by Helen Kaney FCGDent, Head of the Dental Division at the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, and a dually qualified dentist and solicitor.
Helen qualified BDS from Glasgow University in 1987 and spent many years in general dental practice as well as working as a clinical assistant in conservative dentistry and prosthodontics at Glasgow Dental Hospital and at Guy’s Hospital in London. She developed an interest in law and ethics early in her career and studied law, obtaining an LLB, and then trained and worked as a solicitor for several years, acting for doctors and dentists in clinical negligence claims, regulatory matters and Fatal Accident Inquiries (Coroner’s Inquests) on the instructions of UK indemnity providers. She has significant experience in advising and assisting dentists in the UK and Ireland and in several international jurisdictions, and spent 14 years at Dental Protection as a Dentolegal and Senior Dentolegal Adviser and latterly as Medico and Dentolegal Services Team Lead and Head of Dental Services, Scotland. She completed an MBA at Strathclyde Business School and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians. She served as an elected National Representative on the College Council from 2019-2025.
CPD:
0.75 hours
This lecture is free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of three College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2026, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures,180 exhibitors and 4,000 dental professionals.
College representatives will be available throughout the conference at the CGDent exhibition stand to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
It is not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend should register for Dentistry Show London either in advance or on the day.
Registration will be FREE for all dental professionals, and a link will be added here once registration is live.
The College has launched a fundraising appeal to support the full adoption of its Coat of Arms, Badge and new colours following its recent Grant of Arms.
(l-r): The College’s recently-granted Coat of Arms; Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent receiving the Grant of Arms; the College Badge
Donations to the Coat of Arms Fund will be used specifically to realise the privileges of being granted Arms to best possible effect in order to further enhance recognition of the College, the status of Members and the standing of the general dental profession in the UK and elsewhere.
The appeal has been kick-started by Mick Horton FCGDent, Chair of CGDent’s Trustee Board, who has generously agreed to fund the design and production of a run of College Medals – the College’s most prestigious honour, awarded annually for exceptional service to the profession.
In addition, Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, the Honorary Founding President of the College and Chair of College Fundraising, has made a donation which will cover the cost of designing and producing a number of Past President’s medals.
A key ambition for further donations is the design, production and distribution of a new College lapel pin for every Member and Fellow featuring the College Badge – an opinicus rampant holding a giant pearl of wisdom – granted by the College of Arms. It is intended that the College’s Arms and Badge will soon become recognisable symbols of College membership, raising the profile and impact of the College across the UK and around the world as the only independent collegiate home for all members of the dental team.
The Coat of Arms Fund will also be used to have the College’s Grant of Arms by Letters Patent professionally mounted for permanent display.
Subject to the donations received, the Fund will also enable the design and production of other regalia to incorporate the Coat of Arms, Badge and new College colours, including membership and diploma certificates; an embossed leather-bound Fellows’ Register; ceremonial gowns for use by serving College Officers; and a special medal to be worn by the sitting President, which in recognition of the College’s history will be hung on the Chain of Office previously worn by Deans of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) [FGDP].
Another significant use will be to fund an application for the matriculation of the College’s Grant of Arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. The Letters Patent by which the College has been granted Arms provide official recognition in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but as a UK-wide organisation, parallel recognition in Scotland is a priority for the College and will be important in the future application for Royal Charter.
Over 120 individuals and organisations from across the UK and beyond have so far donated to support the establishment and development of the College. These are listed on the College website’s donors page, and in launching the Coat of Arms Appeal the College would like to thank a number of these whose generous contributions covered the £22,500 required for the processes which culminated in the Grant of Arms:
Dr Ali Al Bayati FCGDent
Col John Anderson FCGDent
Dr Tariq Ashraf FCGDent
Dr Christine Breare FCGDent
Dr John Gamon CBE FCGDent
Prof Stanley Gelbier FCGDent
Dr Edgar Gordon FCGDent
Dr Andrew Hadden FCGDent
Dr Robert Hensher FCGDent
Dr Stuart Johnston FCGDent
Dr Anthony Kravitz OBE FCGDent
Dr Graham Orr FCGDent
Dr Abhijit Pal FCGDent
Mr William Sharpling FCGDent
Smile Academy
Dr Christopher Turner FCGDent
Prof Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent
The College is now seeking an additional £28,000 to fully realise the benefits of the Grant of Arms, and all Members and Fellows, supporters and supporting organisations of the College are encouraged to give generously to enable this to happen.
All donors, existing and new, will be acknowledged in the Autumn 2025 issue of the Primary Dental Journal and in perpetuity on the College website, with their cumulative donations, including to the Coat of Arms Fund, categorised as follows:
Major benefactors (>£50,000)
Benefactors (>£25,000)
Major donors (>£10,000)
Donors (>£5,000)
Major contributors (>£1,000)
Contributors (<£1,000)
Sir Nairn said:
“Donating to the Coat of Arms Fund is a special opportunity to go down in history as having contributed to the realisation of a historic milestone in the development of the College. This is a one-off opportunity to contribute to a lasting legacy which recognises the origins of dentistry as we know it today, and signifies the purpose, aims and aspirations of the College.”
All those wishing to secure a special place in the history of the development of the College should contact Sir Nairn, who will be pleased to assist you in becoming a Coat of Arms donor, and, if you are so minded, a College legator or regular donor. Please email [email protected]
DrTom Bereznicki FCGDent, founder of the Tom Bereznicki Dental Educational Foundation, considers the vital role of gum aesthetics in digital smile design, an area of dentistry which early career practitioners are increasingly becoming involved in.
It is increasingly important to consider the appearance of the gum when treating aesthetic cases, particularly in digital smile design. But despite the crucial role of ‘pink aesthetics’ in aesthetic dental practice, it is a topic that is often not so well understood by early career dental professionals, mainly due to a lack of education in this area.
In many cases, paying attention to a patient’s pink gum can be as vital as treating the shape, position and colour of their dentition. Cultivating the right balance between the tooth and periodontal tissue may be key to achieving the ‘ideal smile’ and improving your patient’s confidence.
In days gone by, patients were happy with their appearance if they avoided dentures. These days, patients are much more discerning and restorations like the cases shown below from my archives, would now be regarded as aesthetically unacceptable.
If a patient has a low lip line, the position of the gum, in theory, is not an issue. However, many patients these days often judge outcomes by aesthetics when they lift their lips out of the way.
If a lot of gum is visible when the patient smiles, the appearance and position of the gingival tissue, as well as the teeth, will certainly need to be carefully planned – in particular matching zenith points and ideally showing no ‘black’ triangles.
Correct diagnosis is essential. In the two cases below, both patients attended asking to have their teeth veneered as they hated their smiles because they thought their teeth looked too short. However, neither case required procedures to lengthen their teeth, they merely had too much gum showing and required crown lengthening.
Correct treatment planning is also crucial to greatly improve the final aesthetics of treatment. In this case, crown lengthening around the lateral incisors prior to the provision of two veneers delivered the best result for the patient.
Improving a patient’s smile by treating the appearance of the gum does not have to be complex. Even the smallest minimal surgical procedure can have a dramatic effect on aesthetics and patient confidence.
Whereas carrying out crown lengthening procedures exposes more of the patient’s tooth to achieve a harmonious balance between the gum and the tooth, gingival recession can also be treated through minor surgical procedures. In the cases shown below, a laterally repositioned flap provided a successful, long-term solution.
30-year follow-up
The upcoming Perio-Occlusion Symposium on 20 September addresses gum surgery cases similar to the cases covered in this blog. My introduction to the topic will be followed by a half-day lecture delivered by Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent, a well-known specialist periodontist. Reena will examine the indications and steps of crown lengthening surgery and the optimal aesthetics we aim for. In addition, she will discuss the indications of gum recession surgery and the various procedures available. The afternoon session will be delivered by Dr Andy Toy FCGDent on how occlusion can affect the long-term stability of treatment using aligner therapy.
For those who wish to extend their knowledge further, information will also be available on postgraduate courses which cover these topics in greater depth.
The Perio-Occlusion Symposium takes place on Saturday 20 September in London.
Choudhury Rahmangraduated from the University of Manchester in 2023 and joined the College as an Associate Member, also becoming a CGDent Ambassador. Here are his tips to help you submit a successful application for your first Associate Dentist position after DFT.
After Dental Foundation Training (DFT) is completed, you will be faced with the prospect of getting your first job as an Associate Dentist. You may be able to become an Associate Dentist at your FD practice, if that suits you and if a position is available. Or you might want to work in a different practice, maybe in another part of the country, and the search for a job will then begin.
I stayed on part time at the practice where I did my DFT, and looked for other positions to fill my week. In my first year post FD, I have moved practices a fair bit as I’ve tried to find a position and practice that suits me. I’ve worked for two of the major corporates in the UK along with a variety of different independent practices and have learnt a lot about applying for jobs along the way.
From my experience in the dental jobs market, here are my tips on making a successful application.
How to find a job in the first place
There are many different ways to find a job and it’s worth exploring all avenues until you find the job that’s right for you. Here are some of the ways I have found out about available Associate Dentist roles.
Online platforms
Good and reliable websites which advertise dental positions include BDJ Jobs and Indeed, and there are many other online platforms that you will come up when you search. These advertise a wide variety of Jobs. BDJ also gives an extra level of assurance in that it will specify which practices are part of their ‘Good practice’ programme which demonstrates their ongoing commitment to standards of good practice in relation to professional and legal responsibilities.
As well as recruitment websites, you may also find Associate Dentist positions advertised on social media. Some practices will post vacancies in places like LinkedIn and Facebook groups .
Recruitment agencies
There are numerous recruitment agencies which will search for jobs for you based on your set of criteria, which can save you a lot of searching time. These include Henry Schein Dental Recruitment, Dental Elite and Zest.
Word of mouth
Lastly, and possibly one of the most underrated methods of finding a job – word of mouth. Ask around. Ask other dentists if they know any practices with vacancies which they may not be advertising. If there’s a practice you really fancy, that looks like they provide the kind of dentistry you want to do, send them an email and ask if they have any jobs available. You’ll be surprised the number of practices which don’t actively recruit, even with empty chairs, as they want to hire very particular and motivated dentists. This is sometimes the best way to find a position where you can really grow and develop your dentistry.
Making an application that stands out
A compelling CV
First things first, make sure your CV is up to date. In the early stages when you may have not had much professional experience, include roles or responsibilities you had whilst in dental school, or even whilst you were an FT. Talk about your areas of interest , what courses you would like to do, and the experiences you gained whilst being an FT. All of this will show how motivated and keen you are to develop and grow, which practices will want to see. Don’t think to yourself that because you lack experience no one will want you – in fact sometimes it’s the opposite. Having a newly qualified, motivated dentist, who is wiling to learn is a good investment for any practice. On the flip side, someone who is very well experienced, but stuck in their habits and not willing to change may not be right for a practice who are forward thinking and looking to invest in their team.
Covering letter
Secondly, It’s a good idea to personalise your application with a covering letter. Explain what drew you to the practice, what value you might be able to add to the practice (do they lack a DWSI in endodontics? Maybe you can become that for them!), and discuss the qualities you would bring to their team.
Portfolio
Lastly, try and put together a portfolio. Even if it’s not photographs of amazing work, it shows that you are trying, and willing to develop. Adding a reflection on areas you need to improve shows your dedication to developing your skills, and will look attractive to practices wanting a motivated and hard working dentist.
As part of the application process, it’s important to ask questions about different aspects of the practice and the position you are going for, so that you fully understand what it will be like to work there. Having worked in several different practices in the last year, I have learnt that even little things about the way a practice operates can have a big impact on your enjoyment of the job. Read my blog Getting your first job as an Associate Dentist: essential questions you need to ask for a list of things to look out for.
And finally, don’t be down-hearted if you don’t get offered the first job you apply for. Be persistent, keep applying for positions and you will find the Associate Dentist job that’s perfect for you!
Author bio
“I Graduated from University of Manchester in 2023, completed my FD Training in the Greater Manchester North Scheme and am now an Associate Dentist in Greater Manchester. I’m also a NextGen Ambassador for the College of General Dentistry. My clinical interests include Oral Surgery and Prosthodontics. I am currently undertaking a Masters in Prosthodontics at UCLAN and have interests in Implants and also dental education. Outside of work, I enjoy running and 5-a-side football.”
A 2023 graduate from the University of Manchester, Choudhury Rahman is an Associate Member of the College and CGDent Ambassador. Here is his advice about choosing your first Associate Dentist position.
Finishing your Dental Foundation Training (DFT) can be an exciting and challenging time with lots of opportunities to grow and develop. One of the first challenges you will face is finding the right Associate Dentist position for you.
I was fortunate enough to stay on part time at the practice where I did my DFT, and this gave me the opportunity to explore how different practices worked and operated as I looked for other positions to fill my week. In my first year post FD, I have worked for two of the major corporates in the UK along with a variety of different independent practices and have learnt a lot along the way.
There are many things to look out for and think about when finding a job. Here’s a list of some important factors to consider so you don’t make the same mistakes that I did!
Independent practice vs corporate practice
In many (but not all) independent practices you may have more freedom to ask for materials and equipment, within reason, and you can set fees as you wish rather than charging fixed private rates. The management set-up is usually clearer too, so you know who to speak to if you have an issue.
However, many corporates have generous discounts on courses as well as co-funding options for more expensive courses, which can be beneficial especially straight out of DFT (watch out for the tie-in lengths).
Some corporates run networking events to help with meeting other people in the dental profession which is nice!
How many days are available and what are the hours?
It’s worth considering whether you want to work full time in one practice or divide your working week between different practices.
What is the Unit of Dental Activity (UDA) rate?
Is it a reasonable rate for the area you’re going to be in?
How many UDAs are available?
Are there enough UDAs for you, considering how fast you work?
Why is the job available?
Is there a new surgery? Is someone leaving or reducing days? Ensure the start date is very clear.
What system do they use?
Is it SOE, R4 or Dentally? They’re all quite different, and if the practice uses a different system to the one you’re used to, are you willing to learn? I didn’t like R4 so quit a practice because of this. I much preferred SOE and Dentally.
Is there potential for private work and what is the split?
It’s not always 50/50! Many practices advertise that they do more private work than they actually do so try and gauge what the balance of work is in reality!
What is the split for lab bills?
In my experience it is usually 50/50 but it’s worth checking.
Are you taking over an established list of patients, or are you going to develop your own list?
Some practices may be opening a new surgery and expect you to start a new list. If you are starting a new list with new patients, expect a lot of stabilisation treatment. Are you willing to do this?
How busy is the practice?
When going to visit, check how busy the diary looks for everyone, especially if you are taking over from another practitioner. Check at least three months in the past, and three months in the future. If it’s looking empty, or not busy enough for you, it really won’t magically fill-up once you join!
What kind of X-ray system do they have?
Most practices should be digital. Do they have a scanner? Is there a camera for everyone to use? Do they have an OPG machine (a panoramic X-ray machine)? Do they have a CBCT machine (a Cone Beam Computed Tomography machine)? Are these things you would like access to?
Is there a dedicated practice manager or treatment co-ordinator (TCO)?
Some practices don’t have one, and from my experience they don’t run as well. A TCO can be very useful especially if you are wanting to do more private work.
How will you be paid?
It may be based on activity, which means how many UDAs you do in the payment schedules. Or it may be in twelfths, which is when your total number of UDAs x UDA rate is divided by 12 months, and you receive payment more like a salary. Some people prefer one or the other.
What decontamination system do they use?
It’s a good idea to gain a basic understanding of how decontamination should work in a practice and check how it runs in your potential practice.
Ensure you check your contract very carefully before signing
DDU and DP offer contract checking services, but also get it checked out by other experienced dentists you may have around you. Things to really look out for include notice periods and retention fees.
Finding your first job as an Associate Dentist can be daunting, but if you find the right practice, it will really help you develop and upskill so that you can do the dentistry you want to do. And if you end up in a practice you don’t like, it is not the end of the world, you can always leave and start the search again, as I have done more than once already. Ultimately you need to make sure you’re in a practice you are happy at, with a team you enjoy working with, doing the thing that makes you want to get out of bed every day!
“I Graduated from University of Manchester in 2023, completed my FD Training in the Greater Manchester North Scheme and am now an Associate Dentist in Greater Manchester. I’m also a NextGen Ambassador for the College of General Dentistry. I am currently undertaking a Masters in Prosthodontics at UCLAN and have interests in Implants and also dental education. Outside of work, I enjoy running and 5-a-side football.”
Stephen Rear MBE FCGDent (Founding Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners) and Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent (Founding President Emeritus of the College of General Dentistry) recall the problematic issue of the adoption by the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners of a ‘UK’ suffix while being hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Stephen Rear MBE FCGDent(left)and Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent (right)
Background
From the outset FGDP was conceived to be a UK-wide body, with the intention to become an independent college within a few years of formation. It was proposed, as an interim arrangement en route to becoming an independent college, that the Faculty, while hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons of England, be an intercollegiate faculty of the three Royal Surgical Colleges – the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow, each having equal representation on the Board of the Faculty, i.e., the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners of the Royal Surgical Colleges of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Royal Surgical Colleges were, however, opposed to the concept of an intercollegiate faculty at the time, both for legal reasons and not wishing to invite a flood of proposals for intercollegiate faculties in every surgical specialty, which could threaten the fiercely defended independence of the three Royal Surgical Colleges. This posed a problem for FGDP, which wished to be identified as a UK-wide organisation, providing a collegiate home for all general dental practitioners (GDPs), including GDPs in Scotland who may have had some affiliation, loyalty or simply affection for one of the Royal Surgical Colleges based in Scotland. The solution was to accede to the demand of the Independent College – proposed College of General Dental Practitioners, Group1 to add a ‘UK’ suffix to the name of the Faculty – Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK), and, in addition, to plan to hold educational and diploma ceremony events across the UK, specifically in Scotland. As explained in this historic note, the decision to adopt a ‘UK’ suffix proved problematical.
Problems
When approached, the Royal Surgical Colleges in Scotland objected vehemently to FGDP, as a part of the Royal College of Surgeons of England adopting, a ‘UK’ suffix – both the Royal Surgical Colleges in Scotland considering themselves to have UK-wide roles and responsibilities extending to primary care dentistry. The Privy Council declined to take a position on the matter, suggesting faults on both sides of the argument for and against the adoption of the suffix. And the General Dental Council (GDC), in granting general recognition to the Faculty’s Diploma in General Dental Practice (DGDP) determined, in accordance with the GDC’s standard usage, that the abbreviation to designate the diploma would be ‘DGDP RCS Eng’, i.e., with no reference to the Faculty, let alone the use of a ‘UK’ suffix.
Diplomacy
Voluminous correspondence then ensued through last quarter of 1992 and first quarter of 1993, involving, amongst others, Stephen Rear, the founding Dean of FGDP and driving force behind the initiative, the Presidents and then Deans of the Faculties of Dental Surgery of the three Royal Surgical Colleges, and Sir David Mason CBE, the then President of the GDC. This correspondence and concurrent discussions culminated in the matter being discussed at a meeting of Joint Surgical Colleges in Dublin in April 1994. At this meeting, the Royal Surgical Colleges agreed not to oppose the adoption of the ‘UK’ suffix by FGDP, but grudgingly, given the view of the Royal Surgical Colleges based in Scotland that the use of the suffix would cause irritation until either the FGDP realised its ambition to become a free-standing College, or the use of the suffix was discontinued. If the Royal Surgical Colleges in Scotland had known that FGDP(UK) would continue to exist until 2021, rather than become a free-standing college within a matter of a few years, they may have been less inclined to agree to the adoption of the suffix by the Faculty.
Subsequent developments
Despite the Royal Surgical Colleges in Scotland nursing their irritation over the adoption of the ‘UK’ suffix by FGDP, they agreed to provide observers to serve on the Board of the Faculty, made their facilities available to FGDP(UK) for educational purposes – examinations, courses and, in the case of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh a FGDP(UK) diploma ceremony. Also, the Dental Deans of the Royal Surgical Colleges invited the Dean of FGDP(UK) to join meetings of the Joint Meeting of Dental Faculties (JMDF).
Over time, whatever irritation was caused by FGDP adopting the ‘UK’ suffix, subsided and faded away. And when, FGDP(UK) finally separated from the Royal College of Surgeons of England to meld into the newly formed College, intended Royal College of General Dentistry, the use of the ‘UK’ suffix, together with the Faculty, became a matter of history.
Concluding remarks
The hard won, albeit begrudged acceptance of the adoption of the ‘UK’ suffix by FGDP was important to the Faculty in promoting and maintaining a UK-wide presence and influence during its extended relationship with the Royal College of Surgeons of England. This extended relationship included a failed attempt to combine FGDP(UK) with the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and restructuring arrangements by the host Royal College of Surgeons of England, which eroded the independence of FGDP(UK). This erosion of independence made the eventual separation of the Faculty from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the formation of the College of General Dentistry all the more difficult – a matter for a subsequent paper.
This article was originally published in the Dental Historian, the journal of the Lindsay Society, a membership organisation which promotes interest, study and research into the history of dentistry and brings together people who share these interests.It is re-published here with the kind permission of the Editor. The version of record (‘Formation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice: the problematic ‘UK’ suffix’) is available in the Dental Historian, volume 70 (2025), issue 2.
The authors are most grateful to Dr Edgar Gordon FCGDent for reviewing this note to confirm the accuracy of its contents.
The most recent account of the formation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice, originally the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (‘The history of the College of General Dentistry: The formation of the Faculty of General Dental Practice’), was written by Dr Ario Santini FCGDent, Dr Edgar Gordon FCGDent and Prof Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent and was published in the Dental Historian in 2024 (volume 69, issue 2).
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