College of General Dentistry News

Northern Ireland representative

Andrew Wallace has become the new representative for Northern Ireland on the College Council, succeeding Susan Nelson.

Dr Andrew Wallace AssocFCGDent (l) and Dr Susan Nelson MCGDent (r)

Dr Andrew Wallace AssocFCGDent is a dentist at Cranmore Dental and Marlborough Clinic, two private dental practices in Belfast. He qualified from Queen’s University Belfast in 1998, and during 25 years as a general dental practitioner, including six in NHS practice, he developed interests in more complex dentistry and undertook postgraduate training in the treatment of patients with missing teeth using implants and bridgework, as well as in cosmetic makeovers. He has been accepting referrals for over 10 years and now limits his practice to referrals in prosthodontics, endodontics and orthodontics. He was previously a partner at Bachelors Walk Dental, where he successfully took the practice through assessments including the British Dental Association’s Good Practice Scheme, Denplan Excel and Investors in People.

He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Chester, and has been awarded the Master of Clinical Dentistry in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics (MClinDent with Distinction) by King’s College London. He also completed the IAS Academy Advanced Course, which since 2021 has been the preparatory course for the CGDent Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

Now a Director of the IAS Academy, he has been a lecturer, trainer and mentor for over 15 years, providing Inman Aligner training, teaching its minimally invasive ‘align, bleach and bond’ protocol, and delivering courses on clear aligners, fixed braces, ortho-restorative and restorative space closure. He has also been a trainer for Philips, ClearCorrect, Dentsply Sirona and Henry Schein, and was previously a postgraduate tutor and honorary clinical lecturer at King’s College London.

He gained full Membership of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice of the Royal College of Surgeons England (FGDP) in 2015, became a Foundation Member of CGDent in 2020, and was admitted to Associate Fellowship of the College in 2021. He is also an active member of the Irish Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry.

Dr Susan Nelson MCGDent is lead dentist and implant dentist in private practice in Holywood, County Down. Graduating with Honours in 1993 from the University of Edinburgh, where she won the McGregor Gold Medal for the most distinguished dental graduate, she completed Vocational Training in Fife before joining the practice as an associate in 1994. A Fellow of the International College of Dentists (FICD), she is a member and former Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee and a former Northern Ireland Representative of the Association of Dental Implantology. She was Portman Healthcare’s Regional Clinical Lead for Northern Ireland from 2020-25, and for Scotland from 2024-25.

She joined the FGDP in 1998, examined and sat on the core group for the Membership of the FGDP(UK) and Membership of the Joint Dental Faculties (MJDF) qualifications for 16 years, and served as Director of the former Faculty’s Northern Ireland division. She was first elected to represent the region on the national FGDP Board in 2017, and following her re-election in 2020 chaired its Education and Qualifications Committee, was elected as a Vice Dean and was a contributor to the joint FGDP-CGDent guidance Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice.

She continued to represent Northern Ireland on the College Council when the FGDP transferred into CGDent in 2021. She also sat on the College’s Advisory Strategy Group, became a member of its Regional Funding Panel, served as Vice-Chair of its Careers and Training Committee, led the establishment of CGDent Northern Ireland and was a member of the working group which developed the College’s Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.  She was re-elected to Council in 2023 and demitted in June 2026 after completing the maximum permitted nine years’ service.

Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent, President of the College, said:

“Susan has been a wonderful colleague and incredible mentor, and will be sorely missed; it fills me with great sadness to lose such a motivated and selfless individual from the College Council. She has been a determined and committed member of both Council and the FGDP Board, has embodied collegiate leadership values and given tirelessly to both the College and former Faculty. I will always remember her support and wise counsel, and have been inspired by her contributions, humility and personality.

 “Many congratulations indeed to Andrew on his now joining the Council; we very much look forward to working together with him in the further development of the College for the benefit of our members, the wider profession and the patients we serve.”

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College of General Dentistry News

Leadership Development Masterclass 2026

The College will be hosting its second Leadership Development Masterclass for dental professionals on Thursday 24 September 2026.

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent (l) and Professor Elizabeth Carr FCGDent (r), co-presenters of the CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass 2026

Following the success of the 2025 event, the masterclass will teach some of the most critical elements needed to be an effective team leader, with carefully curated content offering appropriate breadth and depth for early-career leaders, including:

  • Giving and receiving feedback as a leader
  • Learning one’s motivations for leadership (and adapting accordingly)
  • Measuring your leadership effectiveness

The one-day programme, which will take place in London, will be led by Professor Sreenivas Koka DDS MS PhD MBA MAS FACD FCGDent and Professor Elizabeth Carr MAADH DHA FACD(Hon) FCGDent.

Professor Koka is co-founder of Executive Leadership Enterprises and the Future Leaders in Prosthodontics (FLiP) programme, and founder of both the Shaping the Future of Implant Dentistry (SHIFT) leadership workshop series and the non-profit Career Design in Dentistry organisation. He is also a former Chair of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management Alumni Board. Dean of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry from 2021-2024, he has been a lecturer at the University of Michigan and University of California Los Angeles, and a professor at Loma Linda University, the University of Nebraska and the Mayo Clinic. In addition to qualifying as a Doctor of Dental Surgery, he holds a Master’s in Prosthodontics from the University of Michigan, an MBA from MIT, a Master’s in Applied Sciences from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD from the University of Nebraska. He was the founder and owner of Premium Dental Editing in Rochester, Minnesota, and of Koka Dental Clinic in San Diego, and is the author/co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters. A Fellow of CGDent, he was brought up in Romford, emigrated to the United States at the age of 19 and is one of 16 dentists in his family.

Professor Koka was also the guest editor of the recent themed issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), highlighting the power of leadership for all members of the primary dental care team and its impact on their patients.

Professor Carr is Chair of the Department of Dental Hygiene, Professor of Dental Hygiene and Director of the Mississippi Population Oral Health Collaborative at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, where she has worked for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene and a Doctorate in Health Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s in Dental Hygiene from the University of Tennessee. She has also completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Executive Certificate programme in Leadership and Management. A Fellow of the CGDent, she is also an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a past President of the Mississippi Dental Hygienists’ Association, and a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and the American Academy of Dental Hygiene. Her peer-reviewed articles on leadership and dental education have been published in the Journal of the American College of Dentists, the Journal of International Oral Health, the Journal of Prosthodontic Research, the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, the Journal of Dental Hygiene and the Journal of Dental Education.

Professor Carr was also the author of Effectively managing difficult conversations with patients and dental teams and co-author of Everyday leadership in the leadership-themed issue of the PDJ.

The first CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass in October 2025

The Leadership Development Masterclass, which has a limited number of places, costs only £225 to attend (£175 for College members) and comes with 4.75 hours of CPD verified for GDC Development Outcome B. Booking is now open for College members, who benefit from an early booking window prior to general booking opening on Wednesday 1 July.

Launching the leadership development masterclass initiative last year, Simon Thornton-Wood PhD, Chief Executive of the College, said:

“To practise dentistry requires years of education, yet people can take on leadership roles with little or no training at all. First-time and second-time dental leaders are challenged because other people’s actions now define them; the potential to fail in a leadership role is high and the consequences can be significant.

“That’s why leadership in dentistry is such a focus for the College [and] it is one of our five domains of Fellowship. Leadership can be taught and learned, so we are delighted to be able to host this masterclass, and privileged that it will delivered by two College Fellows who are world-leading scholars in the art and science of practising leadership in the context of oral healthcare delivery.”

For further information, and to book your place at the Leadership Development Masterclass, click the button below.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOK YOUR PLACE

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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

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

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

Fast-track MSc for Associate Fellows and Fellows, 2026-27

Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College are reminded that they are eligible to enrol on a ‘top-up’ Master’s degree which can be completed during a single year of part-time distance learning. The next cohort starts in September 2026 and successful completion satisfies the Research & Publications domain of Fellowship.

Holders of ‘FCGDent’ and ‘AssocFCGDent’ status can enter via advanced standing into Stage 3 of the MSc in General Dental Practice offered by Aston University, with their attainment recognised as equivalent to 90 credits of relevant prior learning at level 7.

The arrangement applies regardless of dental team role or location, so long as the applicant meets the university’s standard postgraduate admissions criteria.

The course consists of a 30-credit taught module in advanced research methods followed by a 60-credit individual research project pertaining to clinical dental practice.

The programme develops competence in research skills including:

  • development of hypotheses
  • research design and execution
  • data analysis and interpretation
  • critical evaluation of literature
  • understanding of ethical issues
  • reporting of an empirically-based project

On completion of the taught component, students will be able to select and implement appropriate quantitative and qualitative techniques for different research questions and designs, and will know how to manage their time and resources when undertaking research independently. They will then develop a suitable research question for their topic of choice within the field of general dental practice and plan a programme of research.

Led by Dr Stuart Ellis FCGDent, a former FGDP(UK) examiner and Clinical Director of a five-surgery general dental practice, the programme is delivered by the Cambridge Academy of Implant Dentistry. Learning methods include online lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group activity, independent study, assignments and reflections on assignment feedback. Assessment will be through a combination of continuous assessment, logbook, research proposal, presentations and a dissertation.

In meeting the requirements of the Research & Publications domain of College Fellowship, successful completion of the MSc in General Dental Practice would enable most Associate Fellows to take a step closer to full Fellowship, which requires the fulfilment of three of the five Fellowship domains.

For further information, and to register your interest, email [email protected], call 0121 204 3200 (Monday-Friday 9.30am-4.30pm), or click the button below.

FIND OUT MORE & APPLY

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College of General Dentistry Event

Birmingham meet-and-greet

Friday 14 May (9am-5.30pm) & Saturday 15 May 2027 (9am-5pm), Birmingham

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

The College invites all dental professionals to visit its exhibition stand at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2027

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Registration for BDCDS27 will be FREE for all dental professionals.

A registration link will be added here once available.

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College of General Dentistry News

Revised Fellowship criteria

The College has revised its criteria and application process for Fellowship, and encourages experienced dental professionals to review the revised criteria with a view to applying.

Our landmark experience-based route to Fellowship, launched in 2022, offers recognition of the skills, knowledge and experience accrued by committed general dental professionals over the course of their careers. The revision, four years on, is designed to widen relevance across different aspects of professional achievement, and to further recognise, within the College’s community of practice, the diversity of contributions made to the profession in the service of patients.

As before, all those with at least ten years’ practice as a registered dental professional can apply. Applicants will need to provide evidence of meeting the criteria in at least three of the College’s five Fellowship domains, which are published openly and transparently so that prospective Fellows can easily check their eligibility and be confident in their application.

The previous distinction between ‘standard’ and ‘gateway’ criteria in each domain has been removed, and the application process has been further streamlined to suit the busy modern dental professional, with the submission of reflective statements and CVs no longer required in most cases.

Satisfying the Clinical & Technical (previously Clinical) domain of Fellowship now requires the applicant either to hold a recognised and eligible postgraduate qualification or diploma of membership, or to submit a clinical portfolio demonstrating equivalent training and capability.

For example, applicants holding a relevant Master’s degree or PhD; a recognised postgraduate diploma; a specialty membership of a UK Royal College; a diploma in a specific dental discipline from CGDent, FGDP or RCS England; a diploma or membership in a specific dental discipline from RCS Edinburgh; or the MGDS, MAGDS, MDS or MRACDS, all qualify in this domain, as do CGDent Certified Practitioners and Accredited Full Members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The Teaching & Assessment domain now 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 now qualify in this domain 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.

The Leadership and Management domain, now called Leadership, Management & Clinical Governance, is no longer satisfied through ten years’ experience as principal or partner in a practice of any size together with evidence of external validation such as a CQC inspection report. It now requires applicants either to hold an eligible diploma-level leadership qualification, to hold a certificate-level leadership qualification together with three years’ service in a relevant leadership role, or to have three years’ experience in a defined senior leadership role together with 10 hours’ relevant and recent CPD.

For example, applicants can now qualify in this domain 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.

The Research & Publications domain requires applicants either to have had at least fivepeer-reviewed articles published in relevant and recognised publications, or to have completed a relevant doctorate or master’s degree with a research dissertation.

The Law & Ethics 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.

Anyone previously admitted as a Fellow of the former FGDP, of one of the surgical Royal Colleges in the UK or Ireland or their faculties of dental surgery or dentistry, of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Dentists of Canada or College of Dentistry of South Africa, or who holds Certification by the American Board of General Dentistry, is automatically eligible for Fellowship by equivalence without reference to the above domains.

Marking professional accomplishment, Fellowship celebrates both excellence in dental practice and commitment to the art and science of improving patients’ oral health. The community of Fellows lies at the heart of the College, providing leadership and collectively supporting the development of dentistry, as well as reflecting the values of the organisation and its focus on professionalism.

Those successfully admitted to Fellowship can use the postnominal designation ‘FCGDent’, and are eligible to attend our regular Fellows’ Receptions, where they can have their Fellowship formally presented by the President. As members of the College, they also receive quarterly print copies of the Primary Dental Journal and free or heavily discounted access to live CPD events, study days and other local and national networking opportunities.

Full details of the revised domains, and how to apply for Fellowship of the College, are available by clicking the button below:

FELLOWSHIP DOMAINS

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College of General Dentistry News

Nominations open for Council elections

Nominations are now open for elections to two seats on the College Council, and eligible individuals are invited to nominate themselves as candidates.

College Council members meeting in Sheffield, 13 June 2025

The Council is the voice of our members.  Overseeing our role as a professional body and guiding Trustees on the development of the College to fulfil its mission, it includes representation based both on geographical region and professional role.

Seats to be elected this year

Nominations are sought for the following seats in 2026:

  • Mersey & North West
  • Northern Ireland

Further seats on the Council will be due for election in 2027 and 2028 – see the College Council page for details.

Eligibility to stand

All Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College, regardless of dental team role, who live or work within one of the above regions, and who are registered with that region with CGDent, are eligible to nominate themselves as candidates for election to the relevant Council seat.

Members who live and work in more than one region are welcome to change the address with which they are registered with the College in order to stand (or vote). This can be done at any time through their online account: log in at cgdent.uk then navigate via My Account to Update my details. (Please note that the new address will then be used for all correspondence, including receiving copies of the Primary Dental Journal.)

Associate Members within these regions who wish to nominate themselves for election will need to have successfully completed an upgrade to Full Membership before doing so. Any non-members will first need to join the College as a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow. It is advised to allow at least a week for this to be processed.

The role

As a Council member, you would provide leadership, strategic input and direction in all the professional affairs of the College. You would be helping to shape key moments in the College’s growth and could also get involved in specific initiatives on areas such as careers, policy and standards.

If elected, you would serve a three-year term from June 2026 – June 2029, during which you would be expected to attend three one-day, face-to-face meetings in June, October and February each year, as well as regular online meetings and occasional committees outside of business hours.

You would also be expected to vote, and eligible to stand, in the annual election of up to two Vice Presidents; eligible to participate in the triennial appointment of a College President in 2027; and expected to attend College events around the UK.

You would be able to stand for re-election in 2029, and individuals may serve up to three elected terms (i.e. nine years) on the Council. The role is voluntary, but we do cover essential expenses. 

Elected candidates are expected to attend their first Council meeting on Friday 12 June 2026, when they will be formally inducted.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

College electoral regions

If you are unsure which College region you are in, check your entry on the Member Register

Nominations process

All existing members who are eligible to stand for either seat based on their current membership grade and College region (as of 15 January 2026) will be sent an email from the College’s election services provider, Mi-Voice, containing a link to the nominations website.

If you are interested in standing for election, you will need to complete the nomination process via that link, where you will be asked for further information, and to submit an election statement.

You will also be required to provide the names of two supporters of your nomination. Your supporters must each be a Full Member, Associate Fellow or Fellow of the College within the constituency you are standing for. If you are unsure of the membership status or region of potential supporters, please consult our Member Register

If you think you might like to put yourself forward as a candidate and would like further information before deciding, we would be pleased to have a confidential discussion and answer any questions about the role and the process – please get in touch via [email protected]

**The deadline for receipt of nominations is Tuesday 17 February 2026**

If a ballot is required, voting will open on Monday 23 March 2026 and close at 23:59 on Monday 27 April 2026, with the results announced in May.

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