College of General Dentistry News

Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award in Coaching and Mentoring 2026

The 2026 Foundation Nakao – CGDent Coaching and Mentoring Award for Dental Care Professionals is now open.

Establishing a mentor 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, and following the success of the 2025 award, we are able once again to a number of places on a three day training course in mentoring and coaching in 2026.

The award is open to College members who are registered as a dental therapist, dental hygienist, dental nurse, orthodontic therapist, dental technician or clinical dental technician. Our aspiration is to cultivate a community of College members amongst Dental Care Professionals who are equipped and confident to nurture their peers, and dentist members are therefore asked to support this aim by highlighting the opportunity to dental team colleagues.

The short course will be delivered synchronously online, using the Zoom platform, by UMD Professional, an organisation with more than thirty years of experience with dentistry, medicine, healthcare and law, to establishing coaching and mentoring practices within organisations*.

Course dates

  • Day 1. Friday 9 October 2026
  • Day 2. Saturday 10 October 2026
  • Day 3 Friday 27 November 2026

Applicants must:

  1. Hold a current membership of the College at the time of application, in one of the registered Dental Care Professional roles. Join today.
  2. Have at least two years of post-qualification experience in the role.
  3. Be available to participate in all three days of the training.
  4. Be prepared to:
    • apply mentoring or coaching skills between Day 2 and Day 3.
    • apply the learning to support less experienced colleagues through the College
    • contribute to the promotion of the experience in mentorship through an article or at a College event.

To apply

Download and complete the application form, which should be submitted by email to [email protected] using the subject line “Application for Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026”.

DOWNLOAD

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on Friday 31 July 2026.

Places will be awarded based on candidates’ motivations, commitment to professional development and potential for impact in their practice and more widely, as evidenced through their application form. Successful applicants will be informed by email in August.

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 Trainees and The Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases.

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College of General Dentistry News

Fellowships for the whole dental team

The College has launched fellowships for each role in the wider dental team.

Recognising professional accomplishment in clinical and other areas of practice, the new fellowships are:

  • Fellowship in Dental Nursing – FDN (CGDent)
  • Fellowship in Orthodontic Therapy – FOT (CGDent)
  • Fellowship in Dental Hygiene – FDH (CGDent)
  • Fellowship in Dental Therapy – FDTher (CGDent)
  • Fellowship in Dental Technology – FDTech (CGDent)
  • Fellowship in Clinical Dental Technology – FCDT (CGDent)

The launch of the new fellowships represents a significant advance in the professional recognition available to members of the wider dental team.

It is also the latest stage in the fulfilment of the College’s founding ambition to promote and develop the whole team, and follows the recent inauguration of Deans to lead its Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy, Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy and Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology & Dental Technology.

Every registered Dental Care Professional is eligible to join the College as an Associate Member. Those holding a recognised and relevant Postgraduate Certificate may join as (or upgrade to become) a Full Member (MCGDent), and those satisfying any one of the College’s five fellowship domains (see below) can qualify as an Associate Fellow (AssocFCGDent).

The six new fellowships are open to dental professionals with at least ten years’ experience in practice who fulfil the requirements of any two of the College’s fellowship domains. Each domain has a range of possible routes to eligibility. Example routes are in the following table:

Fellowship domainSummary / example routes
Clinical & TechnicalRecognised and relevant PgDip or Master’s degree  
Teaching & AssessmentFHEA or FAcadMEd or  
PgCert in Dental, Medical or Clinical Education plus 3 years’ service in a recognised role or  
8 years’ service in a recognised role plus either 27 hours’ relevant and recent CPD or FDTFEd  
Leadership, Management & Clinical GovernanceDiploma-level leadership qualification or
Certificate-level leadership qualification plus 3 years’ leadership experience or  
3 years’ senior leadership experience plus 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD
Research & PublicationsPhD or
Master’s degree including a research dissertation worth 30+ credits or
5+ peer-reviewed articles published in MEDLINE-indexed publications or Dental Update
Law & EthicsPgCert or PgDip in a legally-related subject relevant to dentistry plus 1 year’s experience in a relevant role or  
5 years’ experience in a relevant role plus 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD

A Fellow in Dental Nursing, Orthodontic Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Dental Therapy, Dental Technology or Clinical Dental Technology may also become a College Fellow (FCGDent) should they meet the requirements of a third fellowship domain. Fellowship for dentists is only available in the form of College Fellowship, requiring satisfaction of three domains.

Fellows are senior members of the College, with their Fellowship marking them out as ‘Accomplished Practitioners’ on the College’s Career Pathway. Providing leadership and support to the development of dentistry, they can attend the College’s biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and have the opportunity for ceremonial admission by the President.

In addition to enhanced professional standing, Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College receive a reduction in their dental indemnity fees with Dental Protection. They can also enrol on a one year, part-time, distance learning MSc in General Dental Practice (which in itself satisfies the Research & Publications domain of fellowship).

All College members receive quarterly print issues of the Primary Dental Journal, the only peer-reviewed professional development journal dedicated to general dental practice, as well as free or heavily discounted access to live CPD events, study days and networking opportunities.

Dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists all receive a one-third discount on the College’s standard membership fees. Dental nurses receive a two-thirds discount, as do retired members and overseas practitioners.

There is no fee for applying to become a Fellow, and existing members who successfully upgrade will only start paying the applicable higher membership fee from their next annual renewal.

Full details of the College’s fellowship domains, and a link to apply for the relevant Fellowship, are available via the button below:

FELLOWSHIP DOMAINS

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College of General Dentistry News

Midlands Study Club summer programme

The CGDent Midlands group hosts regular face-to-face midweek Study Club evenings, with CPD certificates provided. These are free for College members, with a small fee payable by non-members.

Leaders of upcoming CGDent Midlands Study Club events (clockwise from top left): Dr Aron Kandola, Dr Prakash Parekh, Dr Simran Bains, Dr Nick Robson, Dr Kam Panesar and Dr Vishal Klaire

Study Club evenings are designed to provide practical, peer-led learning that can be immediately applied in general dental practice, combining short, GDP-focussed teaching with interactive discussion of real-world cases and clinical challenges.

Most recently, the group discussed aesthetic and adhesive dentistry, and other subjects covered this year include cracks and dental pain, periodontics and dental implants. Previous topics have included endodontics, difficult extractions, dental photography, occlusion, tooth wear and bruxism, paediatric dentistry, managing medically compromised patients, hands-on suturing and rubber dam isolation.

Its summer programme of upcoming events comprises:

Each of the above events will take place at Rock Dental, a specialist referral practice in Wolverhampton, and is sponsored by Wrights UK. Space at each event is limited so early booking is advised.

Further information and booking is available via the button below:

BOOK NOW

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College of General Dentistry News

New member elected to College Council

The College has announced that Dr Ralph Pickup FCGDent has been elected to the Mersey & North West seat on its Council.

Dr Ralph Pickup FCGDent, the newly elected College Council member for Mersey & North West

Dr Pickup is a partner and general dental practitioner in a private dental practice in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where he accepts referrals for endodontic treatment. He graduated BDS from Newcastle Dental School in 1997 with distinction in restorative dentistry, and subsequently practised NHS dentistry in Newcastle, Stanley (County Durham) and Thornton Cleveleys (Lancashire). He holds a Diploma in Conscious Sedation in Dentistry from Newcastle University, both an Advanced Certificate in Facilitating Learning in Healthcare Practice and a Postgraduate Diploma in Endodontics from the University of Central Lancashire, the Diploma in Dental Health Services Leadership and Management and Diploma of Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP), and the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. A former FGDP Fellowship Facilitator, he is a Foundation Member, Founding Contributor, Fellow and Certified Membership Facilitator of the College of General Dentistry, as well as a donor to its recent Coat of Arms Appeal. Chair of East Lancashire Local Dental Committee and a member of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, he participates in his Local Dental Network and Dental Practitioner Advice and Support Service scheme, and has previously been an educational supervisor for NHS Foundation Training. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists, he is a member of the British Endodontic Society, American Association of Endodontists, Northwest Endodontic Study Circle, Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry, British Society for Restorative Dentistry and the British Society for Academic and Clinical Hypnosis.

He will be inaugurated at the Council’s Summer meeting in London on Friday 12 June, and succeeds Janine Yazdi-Doughty FCGDent

The Council is the voice of the College’s members, overseeing its role as a professional body and guiding its development to fulfil its mission. Elections are held annually on a rotational basis, with elected members serving three-year terms after which they are eligible to stand for re-election (subject to a lifetime limit of nine years’ service on the Council, including any past service on the National Board of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK).

Nominations will open in January for 11 seats due for election in 2027:

  • Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy
  • Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy
  • Faculty of Dental Technology & Clinical Dental Technology
  • Faculty of Dentists
  • Central London
  • North Thames
  • South West England
  • Trent & East Anglia
  • Wales
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire & Northern

To stand for a Faculty seat, you must be an Associate Member, Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College, and must be registered with the GDC (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant role for the seat. Candidates for regional seats must be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College (in any team role) and must live or work within that region, and be registered to that region with the College.

Further information is available here

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College of General Dentistry News

Four new routes to Associate Fellowship

The College has opened four new routes to Associate Fellowship, expanding eligibility to those with suitable knowledge and experience in teaching, leadership, research or dento-legal matters.

A stepping stone to Fellowship, Associate Fellowship was introduced by the College at its inception to increase the standing of those dental professionals who have significantly developed their knowledge and skills. Open to those in all dental team roles, it bridges the large gap between Membership and Fellowship which previously offered no further recognition of these individuals’ achievements.

To date, Associate Fellowship has only been open to those holding particular qualifications, broadly aligning it to the requirements of the old Clinical domain of College Fellowship.

However, to widen relevance across different aspects of professional achievement, and to further recognise the diversity of contributions made to the profession in the service of patients, Associate Fellowship is now open to any dental professional with at least five years’ experience in practice who meets the requirements of any one of the College’s five Fellowship domains.

The recently revised domain requirements are openly published so that prospective Associate Fellows can easily check their eligibility and be confident in their application.

A summary of the domain requirements is below:

Clinical & Technical

This domain requires the applicant either to hold an eligible award or to submit a clinical portfolio demonstrating equivalent training and capability.

Qualifying awards include a relevant Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s degree or PhD from a recognised UK or EHEA higher education institution or an accredited UK provider; the CGDent Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics or Certified Practitioner status; specialty membership of a UK Royal College or Royal College faculty; a diploma in a specific dental discipline from RCS England, RCS Edinburgh or the former FGDP; the MGDS, MAGDS, MDS or MRACDS; and Accredited Full Membership of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Alternatively, applications by clinical portfolio are currently open in Restorative Dentistry, with specifications for Implant Dentistry and Orthodontics due to be published soon.

Teaching & Assessment

This requires applicants to either be recognised by an authoritative body in this field, to have a relevant Postgraduate Certificate together with three years’ qualifying experience, or to have eight years’ qualifying experience plus verified training.

For example, applicants can qualify if they have eight years’ service as an NHS Educational Supervisor (for at least 200 hours per year), together with either 27 hours’ relevant and recent CPD or Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Leadership, Management & Clinical Governance

Applicants under this domain should either hold an eligible diploma-level leadership qualification, or a certificate-level leadership qualification together with three years’ service in a relevant leadership role, or have three years’ experience in a defined senior leadership role together with 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD.

For example, applicants qualify if they have three years’ experience of leadership, oversight and accountability as principal or partner of a multi-chair practice with a minimum of six registrants, together with a relevant Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate or ILM Level 5 diploma.

Research & Publications

Applicants should either have completed a relevant Doctorate or Master’s degree including a research dissertation, or have had at least five peer-reviewed articles published in MEDLINE-indexed publications (such as the Primary Dental Journal) or Dental Update.

Law & Ethics

This domain requires applicants to have either five years’ experience in a qualifying role together with 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD, or to have a law degree or relevant postgraduate qualification together with a year’s experience in a relevant role.

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 out by the use of the postnominal AssocFCGDent.

As members of the Fellowship Community, Associate Fellows reflect the College’s values and focus on professionalism, and help provide leadership and support to the development of dentistry. They can attend the prestigious biannual Fellows’ Receptions, and have the opportunity for ceremonial admission by the President.

Associate Fellows receive a 5% reduction in their dental indemnity fees with Dental Protection. They are also eligible to enrol on a ‘top-up’ MSc in General Dental Practice, completion of which can be achieved in a single year of part-time distance learning and would take them a further step towards Fellowship by satisfying the Research & Publications domain.

Like all College members, Associate Fellows receive quarterly print issues of the Primary Dental Journal, the only peer-reviewed professional development journal dedicated to general dental practice, as well as free or heavily discounted access to live CPD events, study days and networking opportunities.

There is no fee for applying to become an Associate Fellow, and existing members who successfully upgrade will only start paying the applicable higher membership fee from their next annual renewal.

Full details of the domains, and a link to apply for Associate Fellowship of the College, are available by clicking the button below:

FELLOWSHIP DOMAINS

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College of General Dentistry News

Catherine Rutland to deliver 2026 College Lecture

The College has announced that Catherine Rutland FCGDent will be delivering the 2026 College Lecture.

The Ethical Shield: Protecting enamel, professional integrity and patient smiles will explore how dental professionals can continuously integrate ethical values into their working lives in order to provide patients with assurance and confidence in the care they receive.

This will be the second annual College Lecture, and will build on both Martin Kelleher’s inaugural College Lecture, Satisficing standards in dentistry, and on the rich legacy of Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures previously hosted by the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP).

Dr Rutland is Head of Clinical and Policy at Dentaid, representing the dental charity across the profession and engaging with MPs, public health teams and commissioners. She is also a Board Member of Dental Protection, which indemnifies and supports 70,000 dental professionals worldwide, and a Non-Executive Director and Council Member of the Medical Protection Society, which has a further 245,000 medical professional members in 40 countries. Part of the General Dental Council’s Dental Leadership Network, she is a Trustee of the Dentists’ Health Support Trust, which supports dentists facing mental health and addiction challenges, and was appointed a Trustee of the College of General Dentistry in 2026. She was previously Director of Policy and Clinical Affairs at the Association of Dental Groups, whose members work with over 22,000 registered dental professionals in treating over 10 million dental patients, and Clinical Director at Simplyhealth, including Denplan, where she chaired both the Clinical Governance Committee and the Denplan Excel Board.

After qualifying as a dentist in 1992 from the University of Leeds, where she achieved a Distinction in oral surgery, she spent two and a half years in secondary care as a House Officer in Leeds and Senior House Officer in Newcastle before moving into general dental practice. She completed Vocational Training in Sunderland and spent a year there as an associate GDP before practising in Reading for three years. From 2000-2019, she was Principal Dental Surgeon and a joint partner at a private dental practice in Thatcham, West Berkshire. She joined Denplan as a Dental Advisor in 2010, and was later promoted to Senior Dental Advisor, Head of Professional Support Services and Head Dental Officer before working there full-time from 2019. In 2013, she completed a Master’s degree in Medical Ethics and Law at King’s College London, writing her dissertation on whether both professional integrity and patient autonomy can be satisfied in fulfilling patients’ cosmetic dental desires. She became a Certified Member of the Institute of Risk Management in 2015 and was awarded a Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Certificate in Leadership Mentoring and Coaching in 2016. She became a Fellow of the College in 2023, and in 2024 was a keynote speaker at the CGDent Scotland Annual Study Day, the College’s largest annual CPD event, lecturing on ethical and legal considerations in the provision of aesthetic and cosmetic dental procedures.

The College of General Dentistry Lecture 2026 will take place at 3pm on Thursday 25 June in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in London, and is the centrepiece of the Summer Day programme of events marking the College’s fifth anniversary. The other Summer Day events include the Fellows’ Summer Reception, the inaugural Academic Court Convention, and a lunch for retired members.

All dental professionals, and others with professional interests in contemporary dental practice, are eligible to attend the 2026 College Lecture. Discounted places are available to College members.

To secure your place, click the button below:

BOOK YOUR PLACE

For further information, visit the College’s events pages.

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College of General Dentistry News

Occlusion symposium Manchester – early bird booking open

The Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, which took place in London and Edinburgh last year, is heading to Manchester on Saturday 24 October 2026. Registration is now open and an early bird discount is available until 26 May.

Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, London and Edinburgh

The aim of the event, which has been organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College, is to elevate delegates’ knowledge of the fundamental principles of occlusion and how they can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions. It is designed for early career dental professionals but all dental professionals are welcome to attend.

Members of the College are asked to share details of the symposium with friends and colleagues who may wish to attend.

The programme will be delivered by the panel of six renowned speakers who impressed delegates at the symposia in London and Edinburgh.

The day will commence with a lecture by Dr Bereznicki, who will use real failure cases to illustrate what can happen if a patient’s occlusion is not assessed and treated.

This will be followed by lectures from renowned speakers Professor Paul Tipton, Dr Ken Harris, Dr Tif Qureshi, Dr Shiraz Khan and Dr Koray Feran, who will examine the five basic principles of occlusion and how they can be applied in practice to ensure the longevity of restorative treatment.

Symposium speakers l-r: Dr Shiraz Khan, Dr Ken Harris, Prof Paul Tipton, Dr Tom Bereznicki, Dr Koray Feran, Dr Tif Qureshi

Alongside the programme of lectures, delegates who wish to develop their knowledge of occlusion further can visit a hand-picked selection of education stands to learn more about leading postgraduate courses available in this field.

The fees have been set to ensure the symposium is accessible to all dental professionals. A limited number of free places are available to students who graduate after 2026. For early career practitioners who qualified between 2021 and 2026, the fee is £90.

For all other dental professionals, the early bird rate is £175 and is available until midnight on Tuesday 26 May. The full fee of £225 will then be available. Fees include refreshments throughout the day, a two-course lunch and 6 hours of verifiable CPD.

You can find further information and secure your early bird place by clicking the button below.

book your place

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, in collaboration with the College, offers a range of clinical skills competitions and events for early career practitioners. Two competitions are currently open for entries:

Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry – open until Monday 8 June 2026 – 23 successful candidates will each receive a fully funded place on a two-day digital dentistry course.

Tom Bereznicki Award for Tooth Wear Cases – open until Monday 10 August 2026 – 20 winners will each be awarded a fully funded place on an injection moulding course.

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College of General Dentistry News

Education partnership with Dentistry Show 2026

The College will once again be an education partner at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show this year.

CGDent speakers at British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2026: Helen Kaney FCGDent (left) and Tom Bereznicki FCGDent (right). Centre: College representatives at the CGDent stand

The College will be delivering two lectures, which will be open to all dental professionals and free of charge for members and non-members of the College alike:

Oral cancer risk management

Friday 15 May 2026, 3.30pm – 4.15pm

Helen Kaney FCGDent, Head of the Dental Division at the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, will deliver this lecture in the Private Dentistry Theatre. A dually qualified dentist and solicitor, Helen graduated 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, is a Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians, and served as an elected National Representative on the College Council from 2019-2025.

Transitioning to a digital workflow in restorative dentistry

Saturday 16 May 2026, 2.45pm – 3.30pm

Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, general dental practitioner and founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, will deliver this lecture in the Private Dentistry Theatre. After graduating from Edinburgh, Dr Bereznicki worked as a house surgeon at Guy’s and The Royal Dental Hospitals before entering general dental practice, in which he has over 40 years’ experience. With a special interest in restorative dentistry, in particular occlusion and emergence profile, he was also a visiting clinical specialist teacher at King’s College London Dental Institute and later joined the teaching faculty for the university’s MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry. In 2018, he joined the Academy of Dental Excellence as a senior specialist teacher, and in 2021 became a partner associate lecturer for the University of Portsmouth’s Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry. A former member of the FGDP and Founder Member of CGDent, he has been a Fellow of the College since 2022, is a regional speaker on occlusion for the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and is a member of both the Faculty of Dental Trainers at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

College representatives will also be available throughout the show at the College’s exhibition stand (L75) to talk to attendees about all aspects of membership, fellowship and the College’s vision for the profession.

It is not possible to register for any specific lecture in advance, however those wishing to attend will need to register for BDCDS26, which is free for all dental professionals.

Conference attendees will have access to 200 CPD lectures, as well as 400 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network with 10,000 dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians and laboratory owners.

REGISTER HERE FOR FREE

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College of General Dentistry News

Voting open in College Council election 2026

Voting is now open for the Mersey & North West seat on the College Council, and eligible members are encouraged to cast their ballot.

Candidates for the Mersey & North West Council seat: Ralph Pickup FCGDent (l) and Anand Chandrasekaran FCGDent (r)

Two candidates are standing – Anand Chandrasekaran FCGDent and Ralph Pickup FCGDent – and Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College who have registered an address with the College which is within its Mersey & North West region are encouraged to vote.

Dr Anand Chandrasekaran is an associate dentist at a mixed NHS-and-private practice in Helsby, Cheshire, where he accepts referrals for advanced restorative dentistry. He qualified BDS in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 2000, graduating top of his class in oral medicine, radiology and oral surgery. He later founded a charitable dental practice in the city, providing basic dental care for the underprivileged population of the district of Kolathur. After co-owning a dental practice in India for several years, he re-located to the UK, where he has practised since 2008. In 2017, he completed an MSc in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry at the University of Manchester with distinction. The following year he joined the course as a tutor and mentor, and in 2021 he was made an Honorary Teaching Associate in Dentistry within the university’s School of Medical Sciences. He holds the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (MFDS) award of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and joined the College of General Dentistry as an Associate Fellow in 2023, becoming a Fellow in 2024. He has a special interest in minimally invasive aesthetic dental treatments, has undertaken additional training in periodontics and the restoration of dental implants, and is currently in the final year of an MSc in Orthodontics at the University of Plymouth.

Dr Ralph Pickup is a partner and general dental practitioner in a private dental practice in Clitheroe, Lancashire, where he accepts referrals for endodontic treatment. He graduated BDS from Newcastle Dental School in 1997 with distinction in restorative dentistry, and subsequently practised NHS dentistry in Newcastle, Stanley (County Durham) and Thornton Cleveleys (Lancashire). He holds a Diploma in Conscious Sedation in Dentistry from Newcastle University, both an Advanced Certificate in Facilitating Learning in Healthcare Practice and a Postgraduate Diploma in Endodontics from the University of Central Lancashire, the Diploma in Dental Health Services Leadership and Management and Diploma of Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP), and the Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. A former FGDP Fellowship Facilitator, he is a Foundation Member, Founding Contributor, Fellow and Certified Membership Facilitator of the College of General Dentistry, as well as a donor to its recent Coat of Arms Appeal. Chair of East Lancashire Local Dental Committee and a member of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, he participates in his Local Dental Network and Dental Practitioner Advice and Support Service scheme, and has previously been an educational supervisor for NHS Foundation Training. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists, he is a member of the British Endodontic Society, American Association of Endodontists, Northwest Endodontic Study Circle, Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry, British Society for Restorative Dentistry and the British Society for Academic and Clinical Hypnosis.

The Council is the voice of our members, overseeing our role as a professional body and guiding the development of the College to fulfil its mission. Council members serve three-year terms and elections are held annually on a rotational basis. The elected candidate for the Mersey & North West region is due to serve from June 2026 – June 2029.

All members eligible to vote have been sent an email by the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice, to the email address which the member has registered with the College. This contains the unique link/details they will need to cast their ballot online, as well as the candidates’ election statements. The deadline to vote is 23:59 on Monday 27 April 2026.

Please ensure that your membership of CGDent remains up to date before you vote, otherwise your vote might not count. The CGDent Member Register displays a list of all current Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows, together with their College region.

Each member’s allocated region is determined by the postal address they have registered with the College. This must be where the member either lives or works, and will be where their copies of the Primary Dental Journal and all other physical correspondence is sent. Your registered address can be updated in My Account following any change of location. A map of the College’s regions is here.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you think you are a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College but cannot find yourself on the Member Register, or if any of your listed details are incorrect.

If you need to renew your membership, you can do this easily online here.

If you are an Associate Member considering upgrading your membership in order to vote, or a non-member considering joining in order to do so, you will need to allow 1-2 weeks for the process to complete and for your unique voting details to be issued to you. Late votes will not be counted.

Following the election, the results will be announced at the end of April.

If you are an eligible member but cannot find the email from Mi-Voice inviting you to vote in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder, and if necessary double-check the email account you have registered with the College by logging in at https://cgdent.uk/my-account.

If you experience any technical difficulties submitting your vote(s), please contact Mi-Voice at [email protected] or on 02380 763987.

For information on when elections will next be held for other seats, see the College Council webpage.

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College of General Dentistry News

College Fellow honoured with IADR award

Dr Wendy Thompson FCGDent, College Lead on antimicrobial prescribing, resistance and stewardship, has received a Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR).

Dr Wendy Thompson FCGDent with the plaque commemorating her IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology

Given annually, IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards recognise outstanding research achievements in a variety of disciplines. Considered a mark of leadership in the field of dental research, they are among the most prestigious honours bestowed by the organisation. Dr Thompson has received this year’s award for research in the fields of pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology.

A general dental practitioner in Cumbria and Clinical Senior Lecturer in Primary Dental Care at the University of Manchester, Dr Thompson researches and lectures nationally and internationally on tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), reducing the overprescribing of antibiotics, and optimising the prevention and control of infections. She graduated BDS from the University of Liverpool, was awarded the Diploma of Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, holds a BSc in Microbiology & Microbial Technology from the University of Warwick, and completed a PhD in antibiotic prescribing at the University of Leeds.

She is a CGDent Ambassador, a member of the College’s Research Advisory Group, and represents the College on the UK Health Security Agency’s dental sub-group and oversight committee on antimicrobial use and resistance. Guest Editor of the College’s 2021 Primary Dental Journal issue dedicated to COVID-19 and urgent dental care, she became a Fellow of the College in 2022 and has written about her journey to gaining Fellowship through the experience route. She delivered the Caldwell Memorial Lecture 2024 on using antibiotics sustainably, has lectured for the College at the annual Dentistry Show, presented the College’s Talking Standards webinar on antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry and was the lead developer of its chairside synopsis of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.

She is also Vice Chair of the FDI World Dental Federation Science Committee, Chair of its working group on preventing antimicrobial resistance and infections, an advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, a member of the BDA Health & Science Committee, a Council member of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, a member of the BNF Dental Advisory Group, Trustee of the charity The AMR Narrative and a member of Antibiotics Research UK’s Public Engagement and Patient Support Committee. She was an honorary consultant to the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England on antimicrobial stewardship and attended the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on AMR in September 2024. She is a Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the International College of Dentists, and prior to becoming a dentist spent nine years working at the Ministry of Defence.

The award was formally conferred last week at the IADR General Session in San Diego, California, where Dr Thompson delivered a keynote lecture on antimicrobial stewardship research in dentistry, spoke on the President’s Panel about research into infection prevention and control, and chaired a session on adverse outcomes from the use of antimicrobials.

Professor Igor Blum, the editor-in-chief of the College’s Primary Dental Journal, won the Ivar Mjör Award, the IADR’s highest award for practice-based research, in 2024; read more here

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