‘What are you doing in Glasgow in December?’

Patricia Thomson FCGDent, Vice President of the College and Council representative for West and North Scotland, reviews the College’s third annual study day in Scotland, which took place on Friday 1 December 2023.

On 1 December 2023, the dental community of Scotland, and beyond, convened at Glasgow Science Centre for our third Annual Study Day as CGDent Scotland. This was the continuation of a tradition of annual high-quality CPD conferences in Glasgow, initiated by the highly esteemed John Craig, the man charged with setting up the West of Scotland division of FGDP (UK) when it was established in 1992. He was a man of great vision, and supported by a group of other altruistic like-minded GDPs, nurtured the community of dental practice in Scotland, an initiative which has been continued to this day.

Many distinguished speakers from around the world have addressed our conference over the years. Memorably, several years ago Professor Van Haywood travelled from Georgia with his wife to headline our study day. On being transported from Glasgow Airport by one of Glasgow’s finest taxi drivers, after asking where they had come from and receiving the reply Georgia USA, the taxi driver spluttered: “What the **** are you doing in Glasgow in December?!!!”. The warmth of this reply was much to Van Haywood’s amusement and he recounted the conversation to the delegates, delivered in his version of a broad Glasgow accent.

This year’s speakers, the mild mannered Professors Subir Banerji FCGDent and Shamir Mehta FCGDent may have been asking themselves the same question in less fruity language when they experienced the sub-zero temperatures during their stay in Glasgow, and woke up to a blanket of thick snow on the day of their departure. Finally, after spending Saturday’s daylight hours in Glasgow Airport, they managed to board a flight back to Heathrow that evening.

We were very honoured to welcome Subir and Shamir to spend the study day with us addressing the problem of toothwear.

The 400 delegates present comprised dental professionals of all levels of experience, over 130 Vocational Dental Practitioners, the final year students at Glasgow Dental School, and a number of dental students from Dundee University. Most delegates attended in person, but a small number participated online.

In step with our evolution from FGDP West of Scotland to CGDent Scotland, we were delighted to welcome VDPs from all parts of our country, and are grateful to National Health Service Education Scotland (NES) for continuing to engage with this event, which welcomes the most recent recruits to our profession into the community of general practice and demonstrates to them the fellowship and support that we offer.

The day was very generously supported by various dental organisations and members of the dental trade who have enabled the event to grow to the ambitious scale that we now enjoy.

Proceedings kicked off at 8.15am with hot beverages and breakfast rolls, before a prompt start to the lecture programme at 9am.

Our speakers held the delegates’ attention for two lectures in the morning and one lecture after lunch, during which they discussed the need to record and categorise tooth wear, and moved on to the aetiology and treatment. The lectures were titled “The How and The What and The Wear”.

Subir and Shamir have a unique style of delivery which consists of them sharing the stage and running through their presentation in a conversational manner, in which they discuss various points and anecdotes, bouncing ideas and, occasionally, challenging each other. They have an excellent interpersonal chemistry, and their discussion appeared to flow effortlessly throughout the sessions. Proposed treatment techniques were backed by evidence. The feedback revealed that this format was warmly received by the delegates, and is a presentation formula that works very well for them.

There was a separate breakout session for the students during the second lecture of the day, and they convened in another lecture theatre for several “TED”-style talks presented by multiple stakeholders. This started with an introduction to the College of General Dentistry, its aims and ambitions, the Career Pathway, and the study clubs and activities that we offer in Scotland, together with an encouragement to engage. This was followed by talks on entering the Vocational Training Scheme and ultimately embarking on general practice as an independent practitioner. There was a very enlightening presentation by one of our main sponsors, Martin Aitken, a Scottish accountancy firm with an in depth knowledge of the business of Dentistry, in which they were introduced to the concept of keeping financial records and paying tax!

It was a bit of an undertaking to feed almost 400 delegates at lunchtime, but this was ably achieved by the staff of the Science Centre, and there was even time for delegates to visit the exhibition hall and interact with our trade sponsors.

All delegates reconvened in the IMAX auditorium for the afternoon with Subir and Shamir’s final lecture, and after another coffee break, the final lecture, The Caldwell Memorial Lecture, was presented by Professor Jason Leitch, the National Clinical Director for NHS services in Scotland. Jason graduated as a dentist from Glasgow University, became an oral surgeon, and then attended Harvard to undertake his Masters in Public Health. He then returned to Scotland, but not to dentistry, climbed the ladder of promotion in Public Health, and found himself in the unenviable position of Clinical Director of Scotland when the Covid pandemic arrived. He became the main media persona in Scotland during the pandemic, and was praised for the clarity of his Public Health messaging. He spoke eloquently on the demands that governments faced throughout the pandemic, balancing the four challenges of the harm to health of the virus, economic harm, impact on health and social care service, and social isolation. He then moved on to the challenges that we face in the future as a nation with the provision of health and social care, discussing the implications for both manpower and finance.

Although very sobering, Jason’s talk was delivered in an entertaining and thought provoking manner.

Just after 5pm, it was time for the delegates to return to the upper floor of the Science Centre for the post-conference drinks reception, and to admire the night-time panoramic view of the banks of the Clyde stretching to the spires of Glasgow University. This part of the day facilitates the mingling of the varied members of our community, the chance for delegates to meet the speakers, networking, and catching up with old friends and colleagues.

The success of the day is down to cooperation and engagement of the entire dental community, and was capably orchestrated by our events coordinator Patricia de Vries. As a result of Patricia’s expert and meticulous planning, we filled our sponsor and delegate places by early October. Patricia also liaised with the Science Centre to ensure the smooth running of the day. We are hugely indebted and grateful to her for the service that she provides.

The Study day in Glasgow is a well oiled machine that has been staged over the last three decades, but it does not happen without much planning and effort by the events planners and members of the CGDent Scotland Committee. However, it is very rewarding for all involved, and we believe it displays the essence of what it means to belong to the “community of practice”.

Any speaker or delegate who comes to Glasgow in future, even though in December, can be assured of a warm welcome from everyone…even the taxi drivers.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Scotland Study Day on Friday 6 December!

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CGDent Midlands Annual Symposium

Conference Aston, Birmingham, B4 7ET

Tooth wear in modern general dental practice

Mr Kushal Gadhia, Consultant and Honorary Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry Eastman Dental Hospital

Key learning points:

  1. Does every case need to be restored in Centric Relation?
  2. Material selection in managing tooth wear
  3. Costings, Consent and Communication involving tooth wear cases

Speaker:

Mr Kushal Gadhia is a Consultant and Honorary Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital and a Specialist in Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry.

He qualified as a dentist from the University of Bristol in 2005. He was appointed as a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital in 2014. He has a particularly keen interest in treatment planning of the failing dentition, managing complex restorative and implant cases and in Dental Implant Surgery.

Since graduating, Kushal has won over 13 national and international awards for his commitment to dentistry. He was the Chair of the Young Practitioners Group for British Society of Prosthodontics (BSSPD) between 2014-2018 and has held various positions within national dental societies including the British Society of Periodontology (BSP), British Society of Prosthodontics (BSSPD) and Specialist Registrar in Restorative Dentistry Group (SRRDG).

He has organised various national and international study days and conferences, as well as being actively engaged in lecturing, teaching and research. He has published in over 20 peer-reviewed journals. In 2017, Kushal co-founded the Advanced Centre Of Excellence (ACE) to teach and provide post graduate dental education to dentists.

Event information:

Verifiable CPD: 4 hours

Delegates received a three course lunch and morning and afternoon tea and coffee was provided.

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

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

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry – £85
  • Non-member – £105

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Membership of the College of General Dentistry is open to all registered dental professionals. Membership is available from £130 for dentists, £44 for dental nurses and £87 for other registered dental professionals. The full list of CGDent membership rates is here  

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Endodontics

Thursday 4 July 2024, 6.30pm, Solihull

CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza

This peer review session on endodontics is part of the CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza series, which aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry. Sessions take place every two months and free pizza is provided.

The session will cover common issues with endodontics and how some of these can be avoided, the standard of care expected by a primary care GDP and when to refer, and tips and tricks to make your Endo go smoothly and your post-op PA’s look beautiful!

The case-based discussion is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out! This is an opportunity to bring your most difficult cases and learn tips and tricks on how to better manage them in the future.

The guest moderator is Dr Joanna Batt. Dr Batt graduated in 2007 and worked in NHS and private practices following qualification, and has been working at Birmingham Dental Hospital since 2011. She was awarded a PhD in 2017, and has been completing specialty training in Endodontics since 2020.

This peer review series is open to students, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Dentists.

Date/Time:

Thursday 4 July 2024, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • Current member of the College: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Name and address of your current practice

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Managing medically compromised patients and hands-on suturing

Tuesday 5 March 2024, 6.30pm, Solihull

CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza

This peer review session on managing medically compromised patients and hands-on suturing is part of the CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza series, which aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry. Sessions take place every two months and pizza is provided.

The case-based discussion is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out! This is an opportunity to bring your most difficult cases and learn tips and tricks on how to better manage them in the future. We will ask you to provide some details of a challenging extraction case or where you have managed a medically compromised patient, to facilitate discussion.

The guest moderator is Dr Sukhi Atthi FCGDent. Dr Atthi is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and a Tier II Oral Surgeon for North Midlands, with special interests in Sedation, MOS and Orthodontics. He will be available to help discuss and treatment plan those cases that you may want advice on. You will be not only developing your practice but also providing the best care to your patients.

This peer review series is open to students, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Dentists.

Date/Time:

Tuesday 5 March 2024, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration
  • Name and address of your current practice

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Paediatric dentistry

Tuesday 6 February 2024, 6.30pm, Solihull

This Study Club session is postponed. The next session takes place on Tuesday 5 March at 6.30pm, on the topic of managing medically compromised patients.

CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs

This study session on paediatric dentistry is part of the CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, which aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry. Sessions take place every two months.

Deter, defer, silver and refer – The GDP’s tool kit for managing the paediatric patient 

In this session, we will highlight the importance of the GDP in the management of the paediatric patient. We will look at common clinical presentation such as caries and MIH, discussing the GDPs role in their management and when to refer. 

Speaker: Dr Laura Warrilow

Laura qualified from Bristol university in 2016. Since then she has worked in a variety of roles before beginning specialist training in paediatric dentistry in 2019. She successfully completed her royal college exams in 2022 and began working as a specialist in Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust. She is particularly passionate about the care of special needs and medically compromised patients. 

The session is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out!

The study club is open to GDPs who have completed Foundation Training or PLVE between 2017-2022.

Date/Time:

Tuesday 6 February 2024, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Date of completing your Foundation Training / PVLE (specify).
  • Name and address of your current practice

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Occlusion, Wear and Bruxism – How do we treat?

Tuesday 21 November 2023, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Birmingham

Fine Art Dental Studio, R/O 1 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8AR (car park at rear)

Speaker : Prof Paul Tipton FCGDent

This CGDent Midlands Study Evening will discuss the aetiologies of tooth wear including stress and bruxism and the influence that occlusion has on bruxism and wear.

The treatment modalities that will be shown include occlusal splint therapy, composite restorations to improve occlusion and ceramic partial and full mouth reconstructions dealing with treatment protocols for design and planning from diagnostic waxing to planning occlusal planes and OVD.

Specific emphasis will be placed on understanding the five principles of occlusion and establishing Class 3 leverage when restoring.

Aims & Objectives:

1. Treatment modalities, including occlusal splint therapy, composite restorations to improve occlusion and ceramic partial and full mouth reconstructions.

2. Dealing with treatment protocols for design and planning, from diagnostic waxing to planning occlusal planes and OVD.

3. A specific emphasis on understanding the five principles of occlusion and establishing Class 3 and not Class 2 leverage when restoring.

Professor Paul Tipton FCGDent

Professor Paul Tipton is an internationally acclaimed Specialist in Prosthodontics who has worked in private practice for more than 30 years. He is the founder of Tipton Training, one of the UK’s leading private dental training academies and the author of over one 100 scientific articles for the dental press. He gained his Master’s Degree in 1989 from the Eastman Dental Hospital and London University and started teaching at the University of Manchester’s MSc in Restorative Dentistry. He is now Professor of Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry at the City of London Dental School.

His private dental training academy, Tipton Training, was founded in 1991 and to date over 4000 dentists have completed a one year course at the Academy.

In 1992, Prof Tipton was awarded an honorary Diploma in General Dental Practice from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was appointed a member of the British Dental Association’s Independent Practice Committee. In 1999, he was certified as a Specialist in Prosthodontics by the General Dental Council.

Prof Tipton is on the editorial board of Private Dentistry Magazine, The Journal of Indian Prosthodontics Society and Implant Dentistry and is a medical writer and part of the advisory board at Expert Beauty Magazine and ‘Woman’s’ magazine. He was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the British Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry and the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is the past president of the British Academy of Implant Dentistry and is currently the President of the British Academy of Restorative Dentistry. He is a Fellow of the College and was recently elected Fellow of the International Academy of dental Facial Esthetics (IADFE) and Associate Fellow of the University of Warwick.

2 hours CPD

GCD development outcomes: C

Fee:

  • Current member of the College of General Dentistry: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

Membership of the College of General Dentistry is open to all registered dental professionals. Find out about our membership types and fees here.  

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CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs

Tuesday 10 October 2023, 6.30pm, Solihull

Session topic: Hands-on photography and consent

The CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry.

Sessions take place every two months, and this session was on the topic of hands-on photography and consent.

This session aims to provide an overview of the use of photography and consent in routine practice and how best to take easy and reproducible pictures, for patients and portfolio building. Standard intraoral photos and more aesthetic options will be covered with a short presentation, demo and participant practice.

This session will be led by Alice Cheadle. Alice is a Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry (Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics) at the University of Birmingham. She has an interest in all things digital, and alongside her teaching and clinical roles is completing a PhD in 3D printing. Her interest in photography within dentistry developed when working in general practice, realising the importance of photographs for treatment planning, consent and self-improvement.

The session is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out!

The study club is open to GDPs who have completed Foundation Training or PLVE between 2017-2022. 

Date/Time:

Tuesday 10 October 2023, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

  • CGDent member: FREE
  • Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Date of completing your Foundation Training / PVLE (specify).
  • Name and address of your current practice

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CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs

Tuesday 4 April 2023, 6.30pm, Solihull

Session topic: difficult extractions and managing medically compromised patients in general practice

The CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry.

Sessions take place every two months, and this session is on the topic of difficult extractions and managing medically compromised patients in general practice.

The case-based discussion is limited to 12 people so sign up to avoid missing out! This is an opportunity to bring your most difficult cases and learn tips and tricks on how to better manage them in the future. We will ask you to provide some details of a challenging extraction case or where you have managed a medically compromised patient, to facilitate discussion.

The guest moderator will be Dr Sukhi Atthi FCGDent. Dr Atthi is a Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and a Tier II Oral Surgeon for North Midlands, with special interests in Sedation, MOS and Orthodontics. He will be available to help discuss and treatment plan those cases that you may want advice on. You will be not only developing your practice but also providing the best care to your patients.

The study club is open to GDPs who have completed Foundation Training or PLVE between 2017-2022. 

Date/Time:

Tuesday 4 April 2023, 6.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

CGDent member: FREE

Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]


BOOKINGS FOR THIS STUDY CLUB SESSION ARE NOW CLOSED

The next session will be held in June 2023. Check our events page for details.

Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Date of completing your Foundation Training / PVLE (specify).
  • Name and address of your current practice

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CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs: Endodontics

Tuesday 21 February 2023, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Solihull

The new CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as encouraging discussion on a diverse range of topics within dentistry.

With sessions planned to take place every two months, the first session was on the topic of endodontics.

The case-based discussion is limited to 12 people and is an opportunity to bring your most difficult cases and learn tips and tricks on how to better manage them in the future. We will ask you to provide some details of a tricky endodontic case that you have managed, to facilitate discussion.

The guest moderator was Dr Joanna Batt. Jo is a Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Birmingham and was on hand to help discuss and treatment plan those cases that you may want advice on. You will be not only developing your practice but also providing the best care to your patients.

The study club is open to GDPs who have completed Foundation Training or PLVE between 2017-2022. 

Date/Time:

Tuesday 21 February 2023, 6.30pm-8.30pm

Venue:

Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic
Doubleday House
29 High Street
Solihull
B91 3SJ

Fee:

CGDent member: FREE

Non-member: £20

2 CPD hours per session

GDC Development Outcomes: B,C

If you have any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

The next Study Club will take place on Tuesday 4 April, 7pm. Further details to follow soon.


Once you have submitted the registration form by clicking on the button above, please also email [email protected] with the following details:

  • Date of your GDC Registration.
  • Date of completing your Foundation Training / PVLE (specify).
  • Name and address of your current practice

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CGDent Scotland Study Day

Friday 2 December 2022, 9am-5.30pm (Registration from 8.15am)

Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow

The CGDent Study Day 2022 featured world-class, headline speakers Justin Durham and Finlay Sutton. The event finished with Professor Jeremy Bagg’s Caldwell Lecture presentation on volunteering opportunities within dentistry. Delegates benefitted from six hours of enhanced CPDA, a three-course lunch and the drinks reception.

Programme

  • Professor Justin Durham: Tough, Maddening, and Daunting: is this a real-world clinicians’ view of TMD?

    There are data to suggest clinicians find Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) challenging to diagnose and manage. This lecture will explore challenges in diagnosis and management of TMD offering practical and evidence-based suggestions to help address these so clinicians feel better equipped to diagnose, educate and manage cases of TMD.
  • Finlay Sutton: Partial dentures that function superbly and look amazing – “The fantastic Scandinavian Hygienic approach

    This lecture explored the construction methods and function of partial dentures which work like removable bridges, protecting the periodontium of compromised abutment teeth. It examined why well designed and well-made partial dentures are valid alternatives (particularly aesthetically) to implant supported restorations. Delegates also learnt the Scandinavian hygienic partial denture design system to cover all combinations of missing teeth which anticipate future abutment failure allowing artificial tooth additions onto cobalt chromium minor connectors of the denture later.
  • The Caldwell Memorial Lecture presented by Professor Jeremy Bagg and colleagues: The MalDent Project – Progress through Partnerships

This study day could be attended in person or virtually.

Alongside the study day programme, delegates were invited to visit the accompanying 30-stand trade exhibition. Free parking was available.

6 hours CPD

For dental professionals practising in Scotland, CPDA was available for two sessions.

Study Day fee

CGDent member: £199

Dentist non-member: £299

Special rate for FD / VDP / Retired Dentist / Technician / Hygienist / Therapist / DCP / Practice Manager: £129

To read a review of the 2021 CGDent Scotland Study Day, visit our blog.

Membership of the College of General Dentistry is open to all registered dental professionals. Membership for dentists is available from £94, and for other registered dental professionals from £33. The full list of CGDent membership rates is at https://cgdent.uk/membership-fees/

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