College of General Dentistry News

College to develop register of dental experts and assessors

The College has declared its intention to develop a register of individuals with suitable experience and training to act as dento-legal expert witnesses or dental assessors.

At present, the College recognises education and experience in this area through the Law & Ethics domain of Fellowship – which can be fulfilled (among other ways) by holding a PgCert or PgDip in a legally-related subject relevant to dentistry, or a law degree or LLM together with five years’ experience as an expert witness, or having substantial experience of providing or assessing performance and/or expert reports.

Experience as an expert witness is also one of the means by which a dental professional might demonstrate Accomplished Practitioner status in the Professionalism domain of the College’s Professional Framework.

However, there is no formal or understood route to working in this field, and it is hoped that a transparent pathway to do so will encourage more practising dental professionals to undertake suitable training, increasing the pool and visibility of available experts and assessors so that those with the most relevant experience can be easily identified and instructed.

Guidance from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges states that to act as an expert witness, healthcare professionals should have the necessary clinical knowledge, training and experience1, and the College will convene a working group drawn from across the dental professions to determine appropriate criteria for inclusion in the register.

Dr Abhi Pal, CGDent President, said:

“The College considers it essential that those who are given the huge responsibility of providing opinion on a colleague’s performance in an official capacity have the appropriate training and experience to do so. This not only includes expert witnesses but also other dental professionals who provide performance reports. The College supports improved training and standardisation of dental expert witnesses as part of its mission of supporting careers and setting standards for the ultimate benefit of the profession and public. We intend to develop a register of suitably trained expert witnesses and assessors to support this work, and look forward to working with all stakeholders in the dento-legal field to achieve this.”

PDJ’s Dento-legal matters issue
For an in-depth dive into dento-legal matters, see volume 8, issue 2 of the Primary Dental Journal. College members have exclusive and searchable online access to the PDJ archive. For access, log in to the website and click here

College of General Dentistry News

Diversity in Dentistry Action Group moves to CGDent

The Diversity in Dentistry Action Group (DDAG) is now hosted by the College of General Dentistry.

The group, formed in 2020 to deliver action to identify and address discrimination of all types within the dental professions, comprises over 70 members drawn from more than 35 national dental organisations.

These include the College as well as the Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees, the African & Caribbean Dental Association UK, the Association of Dental Groups, the Association of Dental Hospitals, the British Association of Dental Nurses, the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the British Association of Dental Therapists, the British Association of Oral Surgeons, the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, the British Association of Clinical Dental Technology, the British Dental Association, the British Dental Industry Association, the British Dental Students’ Association, the British Endodontic Society, the British Institute of Dental & Surgical Technologists, the British Orthodontic Society, the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, the Care Quality Commission, Dental Protection, the Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors, Community Dental Services, the Dental Laboratories Association, the Dental Professionals Alliance, the Dental Schools Council, the European Dental Students Association, the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the General Dental Council, the LDC Confederation, the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers, the National Institute for Health Research, the NHS Business Services Authority, NHS Health Education England, Restorative Dentistry UK and the Society of British Dental Nurses.

In 2021, DDAG published a landmark report, Equality, diversity and inclusion within dentistry: a profession-wide commitment, which made a number of recommendations after identifying significant disparities in the ethnic profile of dental students, dental professionals and clinical dental academics, and significant under-representation of individuals from black ethnic minority backgrounds, and of women in leadership positions within dentistry.

While originally initiated within the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England, DDAG has always been led by the member organisations themselves and operated independently of the NHS, and it will continue to operate independently within CGDent.

Dr Nishma Sharma, Chair and founder of the DDAG, said:

“Like the College of General Dentistry, the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group is an organisation formed by and for the profession it serves, and our move to the College reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that all dental team members are represented and supported, across both NHS and private dentistry, throughout the UK and beyond. On behalf of DDAG’s members, I would like to thank the OCDO for having enabled and supported our work over the last two years, and we look forward to continuing to work together at CGDent.”

Dr Abhi Pal, President of the College of General Dentistry, said:

“The realisation of the College’s founding mission – to promote career progression and job satisfaction for every dental professional – requires a wholehearted commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusivity within our great profession. The Diversity in Dentistry Action Group brings the whole profession together with this purpose, we have been a member since its inception, and we are extremely proud to be its new home.”

Further information is available here

College of General Dentistry News

CGDent-Quintessence International Conference: full programme now available

A complete programme has now been published for the Excellence for the dental team International Conference, which is being co-hosted by the College of General Dentistry and Quintessence Publishing in London on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March 2023.

The conference boasts 34 of the biggest names in dentistry, drawn from eight nations, and will deliver a unique two-day programme encompassing all aspects of dental care from implantology to endodontics.

With 36 presentations and 29 moderated discussions taking place across four different lecture theatres, it will cover the most up-to-date and effective procedures to help everyone in dental practice deliver the best possible patient outcomes, and on the Friday evening delegates will have the opportunity to socialise with the speakers, fellow College members and other participants at a drinks reception, three-course dinner and a party with live band.

The programme is available via the button below.

full Programme

College of General Dentistry News

CGDent-Quintessence International Conference: one-day, two-day & dinner tickets now available

One-day, two-day and dinner tickets for the ‘Excellence for the dental team’ International Conference, which is being co-hosted by the College of General Dentistry and Quintessence Publishing in London on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March 2023, are now all available.

Until now, only two-day tickets have been available, however with the publication of the full conference programme, and confirmation of arrangements for the Friday night, single-day tickets and dinner tickets have now gone on sale.

As with the two-day tickets, there are differing rates for one-day tickets for dentists, dental technicians, dental team members and students, and College members receive discounts on all rates.

Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College receive a 40% discount, and Associate Members and Affiliate Members receive a 20% discount.

Associate Members who hold the MJDF, MFDS, MFGDP, DGDP or a Postgraduate Certificate in a relevant subject are eligible for Full Membership, and may wish to take advantage of the additional conference discount by upgrading their membership here

To take advantage of the discount, members will need to be logged in to the College website and click the button below:

member discount code

Attendance at the reception and dinner is not included in the main conference fee, and must be booked in addition. The full table of fees is below.

Ticket typeStandard
(non-member)		Affiliate &
Associate Members*		Full Members, Associate Fellows & Fellows*
DentistTwo days
One day		£700
£350		£560 £700
£280 £350		£420 £700
£210 £350
Dental technicianTwo days
One day		£600
£300		£480 £600
£240 £300		£360 £600
£180 £300
Dental teamTwo days
One day		£500
£250		£400 £500
£200 £250		£300 £500
£150 £250
StudentsTwo days
One day		£500
£250		––
AllReception & dinner£120£120£120
BOOK NOW
College of General Dentistry News

CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics – now accepting applications for 2023-25

The College is currently accepting applications for its Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics, starting in April 2023.

The comprehensive Level 7 programme is designed to give General Dental Practitioners the skills and knowledge needed to treat more complex malocclusions, including extraction cases, taking them up to just below specialist training level. It covers all appliance systems – fixed functional, aligners, lingual and Inman – and includes both the theory and practical aspects of orthodontic care.

Through a combination of lectures, seminar and practical sessions, the syllabus includes:

  • Records, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Treatment planning for Class I, Class II div1, Class II div 2 and Class III malocclusions
  • Radiography – Ceph/OPG/CBCT
  • Fixed appliances
  • Lingual appliances
  • Removable appliances
  • Functionals
  • Retention
  • Aetiology of malocclusion, growth & development
  • Development of the dentition and tooth movement
  • Dental material & biomechanics
  • Multidisciplinary care, including restorative, periodontics & surgery
  • Critical reading skills
  • Health education, health & safety, legislation and audit
  • Marketing and practice management 

During the programme, which is limited to 12 places, students will discuss multiple new cases, participate in hands-on practical sessions and weekly online planning discussions, and will be given one-to-one mentoring by the course lead for ten treated cases. The 2023-25 programme is supported by six training blocks of 3-4 days each in April, September and November 2023, and February, May and September 2024.

The programme is delivered by IAS Academy and led by Professor Ross Hobson, a specialist orthodontist, former Head of Orthodontic MSc/Specialist training at Newcastle University, and former Chair in Orthodontics at the University of Central Lancashire. He holds a Master’s in Dental Surgery and PhD from Newcastle, a Membership in Orthodontics at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and was the first dentist to be awarded the Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

To ensure enough case-flow and experience, the course is recommended for dentists who have treated at least ten fixed cases, are treating a minimum of ten orthodontic cases per annum, and are familiar with using fixed appliances. Assessment will take place throughout the 120 credit programme, with a final examination held by the College.

FIND OUT MORE

In January, the College will be running three online Introduction to Orthodontics seminars presented by Prof Hobson. All three will be available free of charge to all dental professionals to watch live (prior registration required), and College members will also be able to watch them on-demand after broadcast, and can also claim free CPD certificates: 

College of General Dentistry News

New synopsis of antimicrobial prescribing guidelines

The College of General Dentistry and Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England have co-published a chairside synopsis of Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.

Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines offers clear, simple and practical guidance on the use of antimicrobials by dental teams, and the current third edition was developed by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (now College of General Dentistry) and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and published in 2020.

The new one-page synopsis summarises the recommended treatments for seven types of infection, including indications for the use of antimicrobials, and the first choice antimicrobial where use is indicated, with dosages and duration for adult patients.

Page references are indicated and a QR code included so that users can quickly and easily consult the appropriate section in the full guidance document, which also includes recommendations for other conditions, second choice antimicrobials (in case, for example, of penicillin allergy), dosages for children and hospital patients, consideration of medically compromised patients, and guidance on prophylactic prescribing for the prevention of local and distant site infections.

Dr Wendy Thompson PhD FCGDent, the College of General Dentistry’s lead on antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship, and the lead developer of the synopsis, said:

“The scale of the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections cannot be overstated. They already kill more people worldwide than HIV and malaria combined, and they will cause more deaths than cancer within a generation.

“By prescribing antibiotics only when strictly necessary, dental practitioners can keep antibiotics working and ultimately save lives. Using the new synopsis as an aide memoire, and referring to the full guidelines as necessary, will help them to do so.”

Mr Matthew Garrett, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said:

“Our new one-page synopsis outlines treatment recommendations for a number of infections commonly encountered by dental practitioners, and makes it easy to access the full, detailed, condition-by-condition guidelines document, which is freely available online for the benefit of all dental professionals and their patients.

“If you only have time for one thing this World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, download and print out the new synopsis to help you play your part in combatting antimicrobial resistance all year round.”

Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines is available to view online free of charge, and College members can download it to access save, search and print functionality.

The new one-page synopsis is available for all dental professionals to download and print free of charge.

Both can be found on our Standards & Guidance page

College of General Dentistry News

Preventing antimicrobial resistance together: a joint statement from the UK’s dental professional bodies for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022

‘Preventing antimicrobial resistance together’ is the theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022. Held annually from 18-24 November, WAAW is led by the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership this year with the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the UN Environment Programme.

The World Health Organization has declared antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity, requiring urgent multisectoral action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Members of the wider oral healthcare community, including decision makers and those with influence in governmental, non-governmental, academic and regulatory domains, must therefore consider their impact on AMR as a critical part of the sustainability agenda.

During WAAW 2022, the College of General Dentistry, Association of Clinical Oral Microbiologists and Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, are highlighting the importance of working together to tackle AMR, supported by the Association of Dental Hospitals, British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, British Association of Dental Nurses, British Association of Dental Therapists, British Association of Oral Surgeons, British Association of Private Dentistry, British Dental  Association, British Endodontic Society, British and Irish Society of Oral Medicine, British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

“Everyone delivering and supporting oral healthcare has a role to play.”

They are reminding all those who deliver or support the delivery of oral healthcare that they have a role to play –working together, dental teams can identify service improvements and help keep antimicrobials working by auditing their prescribing practices, and the wider oral health community can reduce the need for prescribing of antibiotics by ensuring access to the right oral healthcare, at the right time and in the right place.

The organisations are encouraging dental teams to use a number of free resources to ensure that antimicrobials are used only when strictly necessary and appropriate:

They are also highlighting the Dental Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dental-antimicrobial-stewardship-toolkit), which provides links to a range of guidance, training, audit and patient-facing resources (including those above) which will be useful for all members of the dental team, including but not limited to prescribers.

College of General Dentistry News

Dental Protection discount extended to nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians

Dental Protection’s ‘CGDent Scheme’, under which members of the College of General Dentistry receive a discount on their Dental Protection subscription fees, is now available to dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists, orthodontic therapists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians.

The arrangement has been available to dentists since the launch of a partnership between the two organisations in 2020.

Membership of the College is open to all registered dental professionals, and in line with the College’s vision to support the whole dental team, the partnership with Dental Protection has now been extended to College members in all registrant categories. Those holding a Postgraduate Certificate (or higher-level qualification) in a relevant subject are eligible for Full Membership and can qualify for a 5% reduction on their indemnity fee, and those admitted to Fellowship benefit from an 8% discount.

To take advantage of the reduced fees, College members should contact Dental Protection. Existing Dental Protection members should call 0800 561 9000 to get their relevant discount applied, and those who are not yet Dental Protection members should visit www.dentalprotection.org/uk to join. The discount will need to be requested each year at renewal to allow for verification of continued eligibility.

Dental Protection members who are not yet members of the College should visit here

College of General Dentistry News

Domestic abuse in dentistry

The College is working to raise awareness of the safeguarding role of dental professionals in response to signs of domestic abuse, and to support information-gathering on the profession’s own experiences.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

In the UK, around 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experience domestic abuse during their life, including psychological, emotional, physical, sexual or financial abuse, and/or coercion, control or stalking. Healthcare professionals are at even higher risk.

Working in partnership with researchers at Bristol Medical School’s Domestic Violence and Abuse Health Research Group (DVAHG), the College is inviting all dental professionals to join a free webinar to learn how to recognise signs of abuse among colleagues or patients and act accordingly, and is encouraging all those in the profession who have experienced abuse, or supported colleagues who may have done so, to complete the DVAHG’s survey.

The webinar, Domestic abuse in dentistry – speak out, takes place at 7pm this Tuesday, 1 November 2022.

Preetee Hylton, a dental nurse, safeguarding lead and domestic abuse survivor, together with Dr Alison Gregory and Dr Sandi Dheensa of Bristol Medical School, will help participants:

  • Understand the various types of domestic abuse, and recognise the possible signs
  • Be confident in assisting patients and colleagues who require support
  • Work together as a team to create a safe space in the workplace
  • Grasp the importance of the Employer’s Initiative on Domestic Abuse

The webinar, hosted by the College and available through ProDental CPD, is free to view live for all dental professionals, but prior registration is required. CPD certificates for the webinar, and on-demand access to the recording, will be available to non-members on a chargeable basis, but provided free of charge to College members.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE FREE WEBINAR

The survey of primary care staff in England is part of the PRESSURE study, which is examining:

  • the impact of healthcare professionals’ own experiences of domestic abuse and coercive control
  • whether dental practices and other healthcare employers have useful policies for staff who are experiencing domestic abuse
  • what help and support healthcare professionals who have experienced domestic abuse seek or might need; and
  • what implications there may be for managers and senior staff

The study is independent of the NHS and healthcare regulators, and is for healthcare workers who have experienced abuse, control, or violent behaviour from a partner, ex-partner, or family member, and for staff who may support healthcare workers.

The survey closes on Sunday 4 December 2022, and its findings will inform recommendations to help improve healthcare employers’ policies.

START THE SURVEY HERE

If you have experienced domestic abuse, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and there are people ready to listen and help. Details of support options are included in the survey, including the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247 – 24/7), and Respect Men’s Advice Line (0808 8010327 – Mon–Fri 10am-8pm).

College of General Dentistry News

Study programme 2022-23: events in all four nations, and webinars for all

The College has announced its programme of events between now and Spring 2023, with twenty CPD webinars anticipated as well as study days and conferences in all four nations of the UK.

Study days and conferences

In its first year, the College hosted major study days in Birmingham, Gateshead and Glasgow, and four more, including an international conference, will take place throughout the UK over the next six months:

Masterclass on aesthetic and restorative dentistry with Dr Walter Devoto

Friday/Saturday 14-15 October, Waterfront Hall, Belfast

Justin Durham on TMD, Finlay Sutton on prosthodontics, and The Caldwell Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof Jeremy Bagg on volunteering opportunities in dentistry

Friday 2 December 2022, Glasgow Science Centre

Mike Lloyd Hughes and Karun Dewan

Friday 17 February 2023, Stride Dental Academy, Bangor

Avijit Banerjee, Krzysztof Chmielewski, Vincent Fehmer, Guillaume Jouanny, Bertrand Khayat, Stefen Koubi, Amit Patel, Shanon Patel, Bjarni Pjetursson, Ana Poveda, Tif Qureshi, Irena Sailer, Werner Schupp, Wendy Thompson, Ulrike Uhlmann, Istvan Urban and Otto Zuhr

Friday/Saturday 24-25 March 2023, QEII Centre, London

All these events are open for registration via our events page, with significant discounts offered to College members.

The College is also hosting nine CPD sessions at Dentistry Show London on Friday/Saturday 7-8 October 2022, which are free to all.

CPD webinars

The College has hosted over 25 live webinars to date, and upcoming events include:

Kaushik Paul; Tuesday 4 October 2022, 7pm

Jashme Patel; Thursday 6 October 2022, 7pm

Pat Langley; Tuesday 11 October 2022, 7pm

Preetee Hylton, Alison Gregory; Tuesday 1 November 2022, 7pm

Derek Richards, Mark-Steven Howe; Wednesday 2 November 2022, 1pm

Mick Horton, Tuesday 15 November 2022, 7pm

Fiona Ellwood, Thursday 17 November 2022, 7pm

Derek Richards, Mark-Steven Howe; Wednesday 7 December 2022, 1pm

Abhi Pal; Monday 12 December 2022, 7pm

Jason Wong; Tuesday 10 January 2023, 7pm

Ross Hobson, Tuesday 17 January 2023 (7pm tbc)

Ross Hobson, Tuesday 24 January 2023 (7pm tbc)

Iain Chapple; Thursday 26 January 2023, 7pm

Ross Hobson, Tuesday 31 January 2023 (7pm tbc)

George Wright; Tuesday 7 February 2023, 7pm

Jacqui Elsden; Thursday 16 February 2023, 7pm

Abhi Pal, Pynadath George; Thursday 16 March 2023, 7pm

Dates for a series of webinars on Restorative and aesthetic dentistry, once confirmed, will also be published on our events page

All dental professionals are able to watch our webinars live. CPD certificates and on-demand access to the recordings are provided free of charge to College members, and are available to non-members on a chargeable basis.

College members can also access an online library of 1,000 hours of GDC-compliant e-learning, and an online personal development planning tool to identify and log areas for future learning tailored to their job role and aspirations.

Postgraduate qualifications

The College is also currently accepting expressions of interest for the next cohorts of its Postgraduate Certificate in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics, Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics and Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry