College of General Dentistry News

New PDJ online: Leadership

The new issue of the Primary Dental Journal, on the topic of ‘Leadership’, is available to read online now.

This ‘Leadership’ issue of the PDJ has been brought together by Guest Editor Dr Sreenivas Koka FCGDent, 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.

The focus of this issue is on helping every member of the primary oral healthcare team to become better leaders and better team members. A wide range of topics are explored, in both clinical papers and opinion pieces, including the hotellier secrets that can help us provide a five-star dental experience for our patients; professional parenting tips and how to juggle the demands of work and family life; how to successfully manage difficult conversations; identifying growth moments, negotiating and embracing your career transitions; and the power of emotional intelligence in leadership. A full list of papers can be found under ‘Issue Contents’ below.

Dr Koka outlines his ambition for this PDJ:

“As you progress on your leadership journey, I hope that you will find some valuable perspectives in this issue that can help you choose to be a wonderful leader; one who is followed because your team members want to follow you and not because they have to.”

Full online access to the majority of articles in this and previous issues is reserved for College of General Dentistry members and Primary Dental Journal subscribers, who can expect their printed copies to arrive by the end of December. New joiners wishing to receive a copy of this issue can let us know by emailing contact@cgdent.uk

For non-members / non-subscribers, at least one paper in each issue is made available online free of charge, with all other articles available to purchase via the links below.

An annual print subscription to the PDJ is included with membership of the College, which also includes online access to over 1,500 current and past articles in the PDJ Library and a range of other benefits.

On behalf of the College, the PDJ editorial team would like to express its gratitude to all the authors and peer reviewers who have contributed to this issue.

ISSUE CONTENTS:

  • Everyday leadership by Akira Maeda, Kohji Nagata, Elizabeth O. Carr, Sreenivas Koka, Sawako Yokoyama

CGDent members can view full articles by logging in via the yellow button below, then clicking ‘Access the PDJ Library’:

PDJ MEMBER ACCESS

The next issue of the journal, on the topic of TMJ, is due out in Winter 2025/2026.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

Career barriers and breakthroughs for academic dental therapists and dental hygienists

Sarah Murray MBE, Reader in Dental Therapy Education at Queen Mary University of London and Board Member of the College’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, and Leon Bassi, Clinical Lecturer in Primary Dental Care (Dental Therapy) at the University of Liverpool, discuss academic career pathways for dental therapists and dental hygienists.

The development of academic expertise within a professional group is essential to the process of professionalisation. To foster ownership of a specific body of knowledge, professional groups must possess adequate academic training to identify (through scholarly and research study), defend (through critical understanding and articulation), and sustain (through research and scholarship) that knowledge. Therefore, it is critical to provide opportunities for professionals to cultivate research skills and engage in research that is specific to their field. This strengthens the professional group to claim custodianship over their clinical discipline but also contributes to the broader process of professionalisation. (Dussault, 1981)

Utilising all of the dental team

In recent years, the NHS has placed increasing emphasis on ‘Building Better Teams’ (NHS England 2017), recognising that high-quality care relies on the effective integration of different professional skills. This is very relevant in dentistry, where the role of dental hygienists (DH) and dental therapists (DThs) has expanded significantly over many years. In a review of the literature, Nash and colleagues (2008) concluded that “access to basic dental care will not be available without the utilisation of dental therapists in the workforce”, whilst Johnson (2009) argues for a paradigm shift using dental hygienists to shift the culture “from treatment to prevention, wellness and self-care”. Research has shown that DTh are able to undertake over 70% of tasks routinely delivered in NHS primary care and ‘that only around 23% of clinical time was spent on “dentist only” tasks within the NHS nationally’ (Wanyonyi et al., 2015). Harnessing the potential of dental hygienists and dental therapists through skill mix, not only enhances efficiency but also addresses workforce challenges for greater access for the population to access dental care.

The NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan in 2023 highlighted the need to invest in dental education, and the Dental Schools Council (DSC) has called for an increase in both dentistry and dental therapy training places as a key priority. Chen et al. (2021) conducted a global scoping review of the education and career pathways of dental therapists, dental hygienists, and oral health therapists, synthesising 53 sources to explore their professional development. The review found that, despite advocacy for expanded roles beyond traditional clinical practice, most professionals in these fields continue to primarily practise as clinicians and express dissatisfaction with limited career progression opportunities. In our opinion, the Health Education England’s Advancing Dental Care project failed to illustrate how dental hygienists and therapists can have a fulfilling academic career. The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy and Action Plan for Oral Health (WHO, 2024) emphasises the need to focus on the oral healthcare team, particularly mid-level care providers, which we feel includes dental hygienists and dental therapists and their unique place in offering research led preventative based care to help tackle the global burden of non communicable diseases.

The dental academic landscape

Within academic institutions, there are other registered dental care professionals who work alongside their dentist colleagues, however, their route to comparable academic career pathway opportunities is varied across the United Kingdom. Unlike the standardised and managed academic career pathways for dentists, the career pathways for DH and DTh working in dental academia are neither standardised and at times not comparable in terms of academic opportunities.

As an example, we thought we would share our own academic career journeys.

Sarah Murray

My academic journey began with a primary qualification as a dental hygienist and dental therapist. My curiosity was sparked by thinking about how different professionals across the wider healthcare community could work together, which led me to pursue an MA in Primary Health and Community Care, with the University of Westminster.

During my postgraduate studies I developed a strong grounding in reflective practice and learning from other healthcare professionals, that included health visitors, GPs, complementary therapists, and these interactions helped me to consider the challenges surrounding working together for enhanced patient centred outcomes. However, at the time there were no structured academic pathways for me to take, so I had to find my own path, seeking out opportunities and mentorship for myself.

I am currently a Reader in Dental Therapy Education at Queen Mary University of London, and have held previous roles with the University of Essex as a Senior Lecturer within the Oral Health Sciences team, and the University of Suffolk in 2023 as the Curriculum Development Lead for their new BSc (Hons) in Dental Hygiene and Therapy. These opportunities have helped shape my academic career journey, each contributing differently, but complementing my academic development as an educator, leader and academic innovator.

Leon Bassi

I graduated as both a dental therapist and dental hygienist from Queen Mary University of London (Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry). I went on to complete an MSc in Advanced Specialist Health Care at the University of Kent, and then a PG Diploma in Paediatric Dentistry for Dental Therapists.

My career spans community, hospital and specialist private practice. Alongside my clinical practice, I work as a Clinical Lecturer in Primary Dental Care (Dental Therapy) at the University of Liverpool.

It is important that student dental hygienists and dental therapists are taught by colleagues within their own profession, because this ensures teaching is grounded in the specific scope of practice, professional identity, and affords the opportunities to explore what the professional boundaries are in various care settings, and real-world challenges unique to their roles. Interprofessional education is key for us to meet the WHO global oral health strategy (WHO, 2024), however, peer-led education is also crucial to foster a deeper understanding of clinical competencies, role boundaries, and teamwork, while also modelling career pathways and inspiring professional confidence.

Conclusion

Dental hygienists and dental therapists play an integral role in oral healthcare, yet the academic pathways leading to professionalisation in these fields remain underdeveloped compared to other dental professions. As the demand for advanced clinical practice, research and teaching continues to grow, it is crucial to support the academic development of these professionals, fostering their ability to become the next generation of researchers, academics and advanced clinical practitioners.

Through the Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, the College offers structured support to colleagues, helping to forge their academic career. Through professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities, dental hygienists and dental therapists can enhance their skill set and strengthen their leadership, educational, policy and research skills within the wider dental community.

References

Chen, D; Hayes, M; Holden A (2021). A global review of the education and career pathways of dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists. BDJ Team 8, 36-42 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41407-021-0654-4

Dussault, G. (1981) The Professionalisation of Dentistry In Britain: A Study of Occupational Stratification, published PhD thesis. The University of London.

Johnson, P. (2009). International profiles of dental hygiene 1987 to 2006: a 21-nation comparative study. International Dental Journal, 59(2), 63–77. https://doi.org/10.1922/IDJ_2076Johnson15

Health Education England (2021). Advancing Dental Care: Education and Training Review – Final Report. HEE, London.

NHS England (2017). Building Better Teams: Exploring the contribution of skill mix in NHS primary dental care. NHS England.

Nash, D.A., Friedman, J.W., Kardos, T.B., Kardos, R.L., Schwarz, E., Satur, J., Berg, D.H., Nasruddin, J., Mumghamba, E.G., Davenport, E.S., & Nagel, R. (2008). Dental therapists: a global perspective. International Dental Journal, 58(2), pp. 61–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1875-595x.2008.tb00177.x

Wanyonyi, K.L., Radford, D.R., & Gallagher, J.E. (2015). Alternative scenarios: harnessing mid-level providers and evidence-based practice in primary dental care in England through operational research. Hum Resour Health. 2015 Sep 15;13:78. doi: 10.1186/s12960-015-0072-9

WHO (2024). Global strategy and action plan on oral health 2023–2030. [online] www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090538.

Sarah Murray and Leon Bassi delivered a CGDent lecture on academic career pathways for dental therapists and dental hygienists at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show in 2025.

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College of General Dentistry News

College members appointed to senior BADN roles

Members of the College have been appointed to the Executive Committee of the British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN).

(l-r): Preetee Hylton, current BADN President; Carolyn Roberts, BADN President-elect; Rebecca Silver AssocFCGDent, the new BADN Treasurer

Carolyn Roberts, an Associate Member of the College and Board Member of its Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy, is the BADN’s new President-elect. Her career in dental nursing began in 1989 with Saturday work at a local practice, and she then spent a decade working in two NHS General Dental Services practices before joining the North Wales Community Dental Service (CDS) in 1999. She is now the Senior Dental Nurse for Anglesey and Gwynedd within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, covering 21 CDS clinics, and is part of the North Wales CDS Senior Management and Improvement Team. She has developed a local CDS Dental Nurse Peer Review Group and remains clinical, with particular experience in supporting sedation, general anaesthetics, Special Care and also patient and staff wellbeing. A committed advocate for career development, she is currently studying for a BSc in Public Health and Wellbeing.

Preetee Hylton, also an Associate Member of the College, became BADN President last year and will remain so until 2026. A full-time dental nurse and safeguarding lead at a private dental practice in London, she is an Associate Examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses and delivers the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Principles and Practice in Dental Nursing. A former receptionist, practice manager, lead dental nurse and clinical mentor to student dental nurses, she holds the NEBDN National Certificate in Dental Nursing, BDA Education Certificates in Oral Health and Dental Radiography, a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector qualification and a Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, and in 2021 she completed the DDS Treatment Coordinator Programme. A founding member and the former Study Club Co-Director of the ITI UK & Ireland Dental Nurse community, she is an honorary ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, a member of the editorial board of Dental Nursing, and a past contributor to the Primary Dental Journal.

Rebecca Silver AssocFCGDent has become the BADN’s Treasurer. She has assisted in both NHS and private dental care since 2009, supporting the delivery of a wide range of general and specialist disciplines including endodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, orthodontics, conscious sedation, prosthodontics and implant dentistry, as well as facial aesthetics. A Fellow of the BADN and Associate Fellow of the College, she passed her foundation degree in Advanced Dental Nursing with distinction and in 2021 achieved a merit in completing an MSc in Advanced and Specialist Healthcare (Applied to Dental Practice) at the University of Kent. She also holds post-qualification certificates in Oral Health Education and Conscious Sedation and a Level 3 award in Education and Training, and is currently studying to become an assessor. On the editorial board of Dental Nursing and the reader panel for BDJ Team, she has published articles in a variety of UK and international dental publications and her work has been referenced in the British Medical Journal. In November 2025, she won the first prize in the graduate category of the British and Irish Dental Editors and Writers Forum’s new communicator awards for her article, ‘Hierarchy in dentistry: A dental nurse perspective‘.1 

College membership is open to dental professionals in all team roles. Associate Membership is open to all registered dental professionals, with Full Membership, Associate Fellowship and Fellowship available based on further eligibility criteria. Dental nurses receive a two-thirds discount on standard membership fees, but receive the same benefits as all other members at each grade, including quarterly copies of the Primary Dental Journal and online CPD (all members), post-nominal recognition and a discount with Dental Protection (Full Members and above), and access to College Fellows’ Receptions (Associate Fellows and Fellows).

The Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy comprises all dental nurse and orthodontic therapist members of the College, and its Faculty Board supports the College in developing career pathways for dental nurses and orthodontic therapists and contributes to the work of the College Council.

Founded in 1940, the BADN is the UK’s oldest and largest professional association for dental nurses.

  1. Silver R. Hierarchy in dentistry: A dental nurse perspective. BDJ Team 2025; 12: 38–39.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

Rethinking leadership in dentistry: beyond clinical excellence

Professor Igor Blum, Editor of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), reviews the meaning of leadership – the theme of the upcoming issue – within the context of dentistry and the general dental team.

Dentistry stands at a crossroads. Today’s dental professionals do more than deliver treatment – they manage teams, communicate under pressure, work across complex systems, manage regulatory challenges, navigate ethical dilemmas, adopt new technologies, and care for increasingly diverse and complex patient needs.

In this context, dentistry depends as much on leadership as it does on clinical competence. Dentistry cannot meet tomorrow’s challenges without educating the leaders of tomorrow, and the dental profession and dental educators have an essential role in shaping that future.

The Autumn 2025 issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ) explores what “leadership” means in the context of healthcare and, in particular, dentistry from the perspective of a variety of team members, and why leadership is increasingly recognised as a critical domain for dental professionals.

Leadership in dentistry has long been viewed through the narrow lens of clinical seniority: the most experienced clinician, the most decorated consultant or specialist, or the individual who has simply “been around the longest.” Yet modern dentistry – multidisciplinary, digitally driven, team-based, and increasingly complex – demands a different understanding of what leadership truly means.

Nowadays, leadership in dentistry is less about hierarchy and more about fostering a positive, supportive culture, creating environments where people can thrive. It is the ability to navigate uncertainty, steward organisational or practice culture, support colleagues’ wellbeing, and translate vision, both clinical and non-clinical, into systems and behaviours that improve patient care. In an era marked by relentless workforce shortages, escalating regulatory scrutiny, and a more litigious landscape, let alone increasing patient expectations, and an expanding scope of practice, leadership is no longer optional – it is compulsory.

In many cases, dentists – and sometimes dental care professionals – enter leadership positions almost by chance, without prior preparation or intention, rather than through deliberate career planning. Many find themselves leading teams, services, or departments without formal leadership training, relying instead on clinical logic and common sense to solve organisational challenges. But clinical acumen and common sense do not automatically confer leadership competence.

As readers can glean from articles in this issue of the PDJ, effective leadership in dentistry requires:

  • reflective practice to learn from error, change behaviour, and model humility
  • clear communication to translate strategy into day-to-day action
  • the ability to effectively manage difficult conversations
  • emotional intelligence to respond to stress, conflict, and diverse personalities
  • courage to address performance concerns, speak up for safety, and challenge inefficient systems
  • vision to anticipate future needs – technological, educational, and demographic

These attributes are cultivated, not inherited. As a profession, we must recognise that leadership is a skillset that demands deliberate development.

Good leadership has measurable clinical consequences. Teams led by authentic, supportive leaders demonstrate better compliance with safety protocols, fewer adverse incidents, and higher patient satisfaction. Conversely, poor leadership is a well-recognised contributor to staff burnout, low morale, regulatory referrals, and declining quality of care.

In this sense, leadership is not separate from clinical practice – it is clinical practice. When a leader fosters psychological safety, team members are more likely to ask for help, discuss decisions, and escalate concerns before harm occurs. When leaders model professionalism, the culture follows. Leadership, therefore, is an evidence-based intervention that directly affects patient outcomes.

The document “The Safe Practitioner: A framework of behaviours and outcomes for dental professional education”,1 published by the General Dental Council (GDC) has replaced “Preparing for Practice”2 as the curriculum document for all programmes of undergraduate dental education in the UK from September 2025. The new framework states that all dental professionals should “where appropriate, lead, manage and take professional responsibility for the actions of colleagues and other members of the team involved in patient care.” Although the language of the framework throughout its various domains and sub domains may not always mention “leadership”, the expectations clearly do.

Therefore, dental schools and postgraduate programmes have an opportunity – and responsibility – to embed leadership development into curricula. Students and trainees should graduate not only as “competent” clinicians, but as professionals equipped to lead teams, contribute to service improvement, and navigate the emotional realities of modern healthcare.

Leadership training should include:

  • human factors and systems thinking
  • communication and conflict resolution
  • reflective and resilient practice
  • understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • ethical decision-making and professionalism
  • real-world exposure to service leadership, not purely theory

We cannot expect clinicians to lead effectively if we never teach them how. If we want graduates who are truly prepared for practice, we must prepare them for leadership.

The College of General Dentistry defines leadership as a learnable “science and art” and integrates it as a key domain within both its Professional Framework for Dentistry and its experience-based route to Fellowship.3,4 Rather than prescribing specific qualities for every single stage, the framework outlines a general progression across career levels, with leadership skills becoming increasingly sophisticated and team oriented as a practitioner advances. The College emphasises that leadership skills are vital for all members of the dental team, regardless of their formal role, as every dental professional is inherently a leader within their practice.

The pressures of contemporary practice – clinical, financial, organisational, and regulatory – will only intensify. Strong leadership is the compass that keeps teams aligned, grounded, and focused on what matters most: the delivery of safe, compassionate, and high-quality care. It is recognised that, ultimately, there is no “one size fits all” approach to leadership in dentistry, but recognition of its importance, and perseverance with establishing a leadership model that works, can transform our clinical environment.5

Our profession must embrace leadership as a collective responsibility, not a title reserved for the few. Every dental professional – whether in training, practice, education or governance – has a role to play in shaping a culture where people feel valued, supported, and inspired.

The future of dentistry will not be defined only by the technologies we adopt or the treatments we deliver, but by the leaders we develop. In this token, I am deeply grateful to Dr Sree Koka, the guest editor of the upcoming leadership-themed issue, and to the many other contributing authors for their essential input producing such wealth of excellent, interesting, and informative articles which can serve as an invaluable source of wisdom for the general dental practice team. It is my sincere hope that readers will find the collection of articles of interest and that the issue will be an asset to all dental professionals in their working environment.

To receive the Leadership issue of the PDJ, join the College by Thursday 4 December 2025.

find out more about the pdj

The Primary Dental Journal is the College’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to general dental practice. The titles and abstracts of PDJ papers are available to all dental professionals via the searchable PDJ homepage, with full paper access available to College members through the PDJ Library.

The leadership issue will be available online in mid-December and printed copies should arrive with College members in late December.

References

1. General Dental Council (GDC). The Safe Practitioner: A framework of behaviours and outcomes for dental professional education. [Internet]. London: GDC; 2025. Available at gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/dental-education/quality-assurance/learning-outcomes-and-behaviours#safe [Accessed Nov 2025].

2. General Dental Council (GDC). Preparing for practice: Dental team learning outcomes for registration (2015 revised edition). [Internet]. London: GDC; 2015 (updated 4th July 2019). Available at gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/registration/registration-for-dcps-qualified-in-an-eea-member-state/preparing-for-practice-(revised-2015).pdf?sfvrsn=e76ff46d_2 [Accessed Nov 2025].

3. The College of General Dentistry (CGDent). Career Pathways in Dentistry: Professional Framework. [Internet]. London: CGDent; 2022. Available at cgdent.uk/career-pathways [Accessed Nov 2025].

4. The College of General Dentistry (CGDent). Fellowship by experience. [Internet]. London: CGDent; 2024. Available at cgdent.uk/fellowship-by-experience [Accessed Nov 2025].

5. McColl E, Bryce G. Leadership in dentistry: what does it really mean? Dental Update. 2025;51(6):383-384.

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College of General Dentistry News

Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award winners 2025

The College and Foundation Nakao would like to congratulate the successful candidates in this year’s Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award in Coaching and Mentoring for Dental Care Professionals.

The winning entrants comprise five Dental Therapists, four Dental Nurses, two Clinical Dental Technicians, one Dental Hygienist and one Orthodontic Therapist from across the UK and elsewhere.

Candidate nameRoleMembershipRegion
Zahra AkhtarDental TherapistAssociate MemberYorkshire and Northern
Humair AlamClinical Dental TechnicianAssociate MemberNorth Thames
Dena AndrewsDental TherapistAssociate Member Trent & East Anglia
Kenneth Binnah AssocFCGDentDental NurseAssociate Fellow Central London
Steven William CatterallDental Nurse Associate Member Mersey & North West
Poppy Louise IrvineDental Hygienist Associate MemberYorkshire and Northern
Sara Amina JalloulOrthodontic TherapistAssociate Member Wessex & Oxford
Maria de los Llanos Martinez AssocFCGDentDental TherapistAssociate FellowOverseas
Caroline PersaudClinical Dental Technician Associate MemberWessex & Oxford
Carolyn Roberts Dental Nurse Associate MemberWales
Michaela Christina Robinson Dental Therapist Associate Fellow Wessex & Oxford
Georgina Smith Dental Nurse Associate Member South Thames
Tyra Anne Watt Dental Therapist Associate Member West & North Scotland

The successful candidates have each been awarded a fully-funded place, worth £375, on a three-day training course in mentoring and coaching. Delivered online by UMD Professional – an organisation with more than thirty years’ experience of establishing coaching and mentoring practices within medical and legal organisations – the short course takes place over two days in November 2025 and one in January 2026, with eight weeks of assimilation and application and a 30-minute 1:1 supervision session in between.

Course content will include:

  • What are coaching and mentoring?
  • Skills, knowledge, attributes and behaviours required in coaching and mentoring
  • A personal SWOT
  • Contracting in coaching and mentoring
  • Understanding boundaries
  • Communication theories:
    • Shannon and Weaver
    • Transactional analysis
    • Johari
    • Assertiveness
  • Objectivity v emotional response and unconscious bias
  • Setting meaningful objectives and action planning
  • Giving feedback
  • The GROW model
  • The OSCAR model
  • Scaling
  • Reflection
  • Successes and challenges
  • Cognitive distortion
  • The role of emotional intelligence
  • Supervision, group supervision and peer review
  • Action learning using delegate examples

The award was made possible by the generous donation through Prof Avijit Banerjee FCGDent of sponsorship by Foundation Nakao. Also known as The Nakao Foundation for Worldwide Oral Health, it was founded by Makato Nakao, Chairman of GC Corporation, a leading manufacturer of dental materials and equipment. (GC also partners with the College on the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees.)

To enter the award, participants each submitted an application form stating how they would be able to apply their mentoring or coaching skills in practice during the assimilation and application period, and how they would apply the learning to support less experienced colleagues thereafter. The award was open to all Dental Care Professional members of the College.

Establishing a mentoring and coaching culture is key to the College’s commitment to workforce diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. In promoting effective mentoring practice, we aim to foster appropriate support in the career pathway progression for all members of the oral healthcare team. Our aspiration is to cultivate a community of College members amongst Dental Care Professionals who are equipped and confident to nurture their peers.

It is anticipated that the Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026 will open soon. To register your interest in the 2026 award and receive notifications as soon as applications open, email contact@cgdent.uk with the subject line “Foundation Nakao – CGDent Award 2026”.

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College of General Dentistry News

College masterclass teaches leadership development skills

The College recently hosted a Leadership Development Masterclass for dental professionals.

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent presenting to participants at the CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass

The masterclass taught 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 took place at the Royal Society of Medicine in London on Tuesday 14 October 2025, was restricted to Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows of the College and was attended by members from across the dental team.

The event was 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 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 Koka is also the guest editor of the next issue of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), which will be published later this year on the theme of leadership, and co-author of its paper ‘Oral health in the context of patient well-being: Implications for the general dentist’. Professor Carr is the author of ‘Effectively managing difficult conversations with patients and dental teams’. Both are co-authors of ‘Everyday leadership’.

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. It was the theme of our very first journal issue in 2021, we’re re-visiting it in the next issue, it is one of our five domains of Fellowship and we have a recorded webinar on the subject available free of charge for all our members. It is also the topic of a blog post by our Immediate Past President, under whose Presidency we hosted a Leadership Workshop for early career dental professionals.

“Leadership can be taught and learned, so we were delighted to be able to host this masterclass, and privileged that it was 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.”

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College of General Dentistry Blog

The art and science of oral medicine

Professor Igor Blum, Editor of the Primary Dental Journal (PDJ), outlines the evolution of oral medicine – the theme of the latest issue, which provides an overview and update of the field for the general dental team

The art and science of oral medicine begins with the pioneering work of Sir Jonathan Hutchinson (1828–1900), a surgeon at the London Hospital, who is also regarded in the UK as the Father of Oral Medicine.1 He reported on the dental manifestations of congenital syphilis, intraoral pigmentation and perioral pigmentation associated with intestinal polyposis, later described by Peutz in 1921.2 Subsequently, ten further cases were described by Jeghers, McKusick, and Katz who also reviewed the literature on this topic in 1949.3 Individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome commonly present with an association of gastrointestinal polyps, mucocutaneous pigmentation, a familial incidence, and are at an increased risk of various cancers.

Much of the early description of oral mucosal diseases was found in dermatology textbooks, as documented in the works of the English surgeon and dermatologist Sir William James Erasmus Wilson (1809–1884).4,5 Sir William Osler (1849–1919), a Canadian physician and co-founder of the Medical Library Association of Great Britain and Ireland, recognised the importance of the oral cavity and believed that the tongue and oral mucosa reflect a patient’s overall health.6 This idea, held in various medical and traditional practices, suggests that changes in the appearance or condition of the mouth, including the tongue and soft tissues, can indicate underlying systemic health issues.

In a thoroughly researched and well written article by Professor Crispian Scully in 2016, he described the immense contributions of various stalwarts who were instrumental in the initiation and popularisation of the discipline of oral medicine over a 50-year period, between 1920 and 1970.7 In the UK, the evolution of oral medicine has its origin in oral pathology and resulted in its recognition as a dental specialty by the General Dental Council in 1998, with tribute paid to the founders of the British Society for Oral Medicine (BSOM) – the predecessor organisation of The British & Irish Society for Oral Medicine (BISOM) which was established in 1981.

Although not a substitute by any means for an extensive quality textbook on oral medicine, the editorial team felt it was timely to produce an issue of the Primary Dental Journal devoted to the common and important oral medicine conditions encountered in general dental practice. This themed issue on oral medicine is geared to primary care dental practitioners and dental care professionals as a refresher and an update on oral medicine-related diseases. The articles in this issue provide an overview of current thinking in the more relevant areas of oral medicine. The clinical aspects of the relevant disorders are discussed, including a brief overview of the aetiology, detail on the clinical features, and how the diagnosis is made. Guidance on management and when to refer is also provided, along with relevant websites which offer further detail.

A major challenge in the diagnosis of oral disease is the need for memorising long lists of oral lesions from oral medicine/oral pathology literature. This is made more difficult because many of these lesions are not frequently encountered by the primary care dental team. This new issue of the journal highlights common oral conditions that may be encountered in the dental practice. Pulpal, periapical, and periodontal diseases are intentionally not discussed in this issue since primary care dental clinicians are experienced in diagnosing and managing those conditions.

I trust that the oral medicine-themed issue of the PDJ will serve as a tabletop reference in General Dental Practice. The discussion of the entire spectrum of oral diseases is beyond the scope of this single issue; instead, we have selected what we believe to be important oral medicine conditions. The introductory article addresses an approach in formulating clinical diagnosis and management of the various types of oral candidosis. This is followed by articles on oral lichen planus and lichenoid lesions, managing a dry mouth in primary care, a review of common oral medicine conditions in children, oral facial pain, burning mouth syndrome, and chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD). Although the latter is less common, it can occur in the increasing numbers of patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants.8

The information presented is primarily aimed to cover the diagnostic aspects and an overview of patient management, including patient referral. The main objective is to provide readers with a cutting-edge update on the above topics, including raising awareness of the need to diagnose and manage patients with oral medicine conditions in primary care, and when to make a referral to an oral medicine service if available. Alternatively, a referral to a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery can be made when appropriate.

It is hoped that this themed issue will help the primary care dental team to integrate the principles of oral medicine and oral pathology into clinically applicable concepts that will enable the practitioner to develop clinical differential diagnoses and participate in definitive diagnosis through a multidisciplinary approach with dental specialty teams. It is my further hope that the reader will not only be provided with updated information as to the multiple facets of oral medicine conditions but will also find new information to further aid them in the diagnosis and management of these occasionally enigmatic disorders.

No issue of the Primary Dental Journal could come to successful fruition without the contributions of well-qualified authors. I am extremely thankful to the guest editor, Dr Emma Hayes, consultant in oral medicine, and to all contributing authors for their invaluable input to this issue. I believe that this edition of the Primary Dental Journal will be an asset and resource to the general dental practice team.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ORAL MEDICINE ISSUE

The Primary Dental Journal is the College’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal dedicated to general dental practice. The titles and abstracts of PDJ papers are available to all dental professionals via the searchable PDJ homepage, with full paper access available to College members through the PDJ Library.

Printed copies of the Summer 2025 issue on oral medicine should arrive with College members in the second half of September.

References

1 Spielman AI. History of Oral Diagnosis, Medicine, Pathology and Radiology. In: Illustrated Encyclopedia of the History of Dentistry. [Internet]. New York: History of Dentistry and Medicine; 2023. Available at historyofdentistryandmedicine.com [Accessed Jun 2025]

2Peutz JLA. Over een zeer merkwaardige, gecombineerde familiaire pollyposis van de sligmliezen van den tractus intestinalis met die van de neuskeelholte en gepaard met eigenaardige pigmentaties van huid-en slijmvliezen (Very remarkable case of familial polyposis of the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract and nasopharynx accompanied by peculiar pigmentations of skin and mucous membrane). Nederl Maandschr v Geneesk. 1921;10:134-146. Dutch.

3Jeghers H, McKusick VA, Katz KH. Generalized Intestinal Polyposis and Melanin Spots of the Oral Mucosa, Lips and Digits — A Syndrome of Diagnostic Significance. N Engl J Med. 1949;241(26):1031-1036.

4Wilson E. On The Management of the Skin as a Means of Promoting and Preserving Health (3rd ed.). London: John Churchill; 1849. Retrieved 15 June 2025. Full text at Internet Archive (archive.org)

5Wilson E. On Diseases of the Skin (4th American, from the 4th & enlarged London ed.). Philadelphia: Blanchard & Lea; 1857. Retrieved 15 June 2025. Full text at Internet Archive (archive.org)

6Stone MJ. The wisdom of Sir William Osler. Am J Cardiol. 1995;75(4):269-276.

7Scully C. Oral medicine in academia. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2016;122(1):111.

8Passweg JR, Baldomero H, Chabannon C, et al. Hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy survey of the EBMT: monitoring of activities and trends over 30 years. 2021;56(7):1651-1664.

College of General Dentistry News

New PDJ online: Oral medicine

The latest issue of the Primary Dental Journal, ‘Oral medicine’, is now available to read online.

The papers in this issue of the PDJ have been brought together by Guest Editor Dr Emma Hayes, a Consultant and Clinical Lead in Oral Medicine at King’s College London Dental Institute.

A core theme in this collection of papers is to highlight the vital role that dental professionals contribute to the diagnosis and management of patients with oral medicine conditions. The issue covers the wide range of oral medicine conditions seen at various ages and stages of life, from an overview of conditions seen in the paediatric population, to salivary gland hypofunction, more often seen in an older population.

As well as common oral medicine conditions frequently encountered in dental practice, this issue of the PDJ also highlights some of the rarer conditions that may initially be presented to dentists (such as trigeminal neuralgia) and where early diagnosis is essential to improving patient outcomes. A full list of papers is below.

Dr Hayes describes the ambition for this Oral medicine issue of the journal:

“It is my hope that these papers will act as a useful reference for dental professionals into the future. I also hope that it will inspire primary dental care practitioners to continue to take an interest in oral medicine and feel empowered to participate in the early identification and management of these patients.”

This issue also marks the first where the College’s new Coat of Arms appears throughout, in light of its newly-acquired Grant of Arms received under Crown authority from the College of Arms. An image of the elaborate Grant of Arms can be seen on the inside front cover of the print edition. The News & Perspectives section of this issue examines the Grant of Arms, the symbolism behind the heraldic elements in the Coat of Arms, and how to donate to the College’s Coat of Arms fund for those wishing to secure a special place in the history of the development of the College.

Full online access to the majority of articles in this and previous issues is reserved for College of General Dentistry members and Primary Dental Journal subscribers, who can expect their printed copies to arrive by the end of September. New joiners wishing to receive a copy of this issue can let us know by emailing contact@cgdent.uk

For non-members / non-subscribers, at least one paper in each issue is made available online free of charge, with all other articles available to purchase via the links below.

An annual print subscription to the PDJ is included with membership of the College, which also includes online access to over 1,500 current and past articles in the PDJ Library and a range of other benefits.

On behalf of the College, the PDJ editorial team would like to express its gratitude to all the authors and peer reviewers who have contributed to this issue.

ISSUE CONTENTS:

CGDent members can view full articles by logging in via the yellow button below, then clicking ‘Access the PDJ Library’:

PDJ MEMBER ACCESS

The next issue of the journal, on the topic of Leadership, is due out in Autumn 2025.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

A dental therapist’s unexpected journey

Poppy Dunton, the newly appointed Chair of the Board of the College’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, reflects on her career in dentistry and how her mantra that “every day is a school day” has supported her development.

Never would I have expected to have the career that I have had out of dentistry. I was a disgruntled 15-year-old being told my graphic design two-week work placement had pulled out. With everyone else having picked their placements, I was left with the unexpected choice of a dental practice. “A dental practice! You’ve got to be joking?” I initially thought. Yet, as I made cups of tea and filed blue forms, the hustle and bustle of the place felt surprisingly comfortable. To say I enjoyed it was an understatement.

As the two-week period ended, the principal dentist offered me a part-time after-school job – making tea and cleaning the old impression trays (pre-single use era), and earning £3.15 per hour. I jumped at the chance, feeling like I was made of money. Every day after school, I would walk and do my 4pm–6.30pm shift. When a trial day at Northampton College for photography didn’t sit right with me, I informed the principal dentist that evening. My father was called in for a meeting, and that’s when the principal dentist said, “I’ll only give her a job here, Graham, if she makes something of her life.” That evening became the catalyst for my passion in dentistry.

The evolution of my career is intricately tied to a commitment to education. I embarked on an evening college course, alongside my apprenticeship, to train to become a dental nurse. Tuesday evenings in Milton Keynes led to passing the NEBDN Certificate in Dental Nursing. Once I had this, I spent the following months learning as much as possible – four-handed dentistry, impression taking, and implant nursing. The practice grew, and another was bought over the road, giving me the chance to set up an oral hygiene programme.

Following my return from Cardiff University, where I completed a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, I was privileged enough to be offered my job back in the practice where I had started. The first week was a week to remember; I ran an hour late, fell down the stairs, and stuck two teeth together. I had the most patient mentors, and working in an NHS practice was fantastic, allowing me to complete my full scope of practice, including paediatrics. Was it hard? Yes. Did it teach me speed and resilience? Absolutely.

After graduating in 2012, there were limited postgraduate options. Notable pursuits included constantly upskilling and working in a team supportive of therapists. Composite courses with GC in Belgium, a Level 6 qualification in employment law, and being promoted to operations manager of two NHS practices – eventually managing a team of 64 staff – led to me being offered a practice manager position four years into my career. This opened learning about people psychology, leadership and planning team meetings alongside my clinical career.

I was privileged enough to then open a squat practice alongside my principal, with a business plan for two surgeries over two years which resulted in 10 surgeries being opened over five years, including a vaccination clinic.  Three CQC inspections later, and the role of CQC manager was also added to my repertoire. The most rewarding part of project managing the development of this new practice was recruiting a group of individual dental professionals and watching them grow into a wonderful team.

Upon completing the Perio School Diploma in Periodontics for Hygienists and Therapists and the Smile Dental Academy Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry for Dental Therapists, I was introduced to the College of General Dentistry and was eager to explore the recognition I could gain as a dental therapist.

Unfortunately, the course credits were not enough per course to contribute towards Fellowship, so I joined the College’s Certified Membership Scheme (CMS) to gain guidance on how to continue advancing my career and choose the best postgraduate training to reflect my aspirations. As part of the scheme, I have regular contact with a facilitator who consistently ensures that my investment in courses leads me in the correct direction. Ongoing self-reflection allows me to constantly critique myself, and the leadership module fits well with my management of staff, completing practice meetings and public speaking. Being part of the CMS has supported me to complete a City & Guilds Diploma / ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management by enabling me to choose an appropriate course and help develop leadership qualities.

The College’s Professional Framework, which underpins the CMS, maps 22 key capabilities, many of which have played a crucial role in my journey. Emphasising the value of postgraduate education, I would encourage new graduates to embrace opportunities for further learning and to constantly be self-critical of their work. Recording self-reflection, taking photographs, and analysing what went well in each case, shadowing peers, or approaching colleagues for their opinions are essential. Don’t fear failure; it’s what makes you better.

In my experience, this profession can be challenging and, at times, isolating. There are days when running late, neglecting notes, skipping meals and even necessities like restroom breaks become the norm. The toll on one’s body—back pain, eye strain, and hand fatigue—can be significant. Looking after your long-term career is vital. Record-keeping has been one of the largest changes I’ve seen, starting in my early career with very short notes. Now, ensuring my conversations with patients are highlights in notes, and my nurses help and scribe during appointments. This has proved invaluable when a complaint arises. Protecting yourself is vital.

The most unexpected rewards in my dental therapy role often come during these challenging moments. Patient gratitude and the joy of assisting anxious individuals through treatment illuminate the darker days.

This career has allowed me ongoing dedication to continuous learning, reflecting on my mentor’s ethos of “everyday is a school day”. My commitment to education and mentorship is rooted in a desire to guide new professionals in navigating complexities while maintaining their wellbeing. In 2023, I was privileged to join the Board of the Faculty of Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy for the College, and I am even more privileged to have now been appointed Chair.

Recently I have relocated due to family illness, and this marks the end of a significant chapter in my career, prompting reflection on the unconventional path that led me to the field of dentistry, the intricacies of managing a bustling practice, combined with the personal growth and educational pursuits that defined my journey. Alongside all early career dental professionals, I continue to embrace new challenges and aspirations, remaining steadfast in my commitment to contributing positively to the ever-evolving world of dental therapy.

Further details of Poppy’s career to date, and of the role of the Chair of the Board of the Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, are available here

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This article has been updated from a previous version published on 24 January 2024

College of General Dentistry News

Poppy Dunton appointed Hygiene & Therapy Faculty Chair

The College has appointed Poppy Dunton as Chair of the Board of its Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy.

A dental therapist working in general dental practice and implant clinics in Harrogate, York and Durham, Poppy is also a Tutor and Clinical Supervisor in Dental Hygiene at Teesside University, and as a dental business consultant helps ailing squat practices to improve their periodontal care. She was previously Operations Manager, CQC Manager and Lead Dental Therapist at a private dental practice group in Northampton. Having first worked in dentistry on a work placement as a 15-year-old, she has also been a receptionist, compliance and treatment coordinator and dental nurse.

She completed the National Certificate in Dental Nursing in 2008 and graduated from Cardiff University with a Diploma of Higher Education in Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene, where she was awarded the Johnson and Johnson Clinical Excellence Prize, in 2011. She also holds a City & Guilds Diploma in Leadership and Management, a Level 6 qualification in employment law from the Institute of Paralegals, the Perio School Diploma in Periodontics for Hygienists and Therapists and the Smile Dental Academy Diploma in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry for Dental Therapists, and has completed training as a Menopause Coach in order to help improve the care provided to her patients. 

She joined the College as an Associate Member in 2022, enrolled on the Certified Membership Scheme, was appointed to the Board of the Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy and was a facilitator at the College’s NextGen Leadership Workshop in 2023. She is also a member of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, the British Association of Dental Therapists, the Association of Dental Implantology and the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry.

The Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy is a constituency automatically comprising all members of the College who are dental hygienists and/or dental therapists, and the Faculty Board advances the interests of these professional groups within the College. The board also includes Sarah Murray MBE, Fiona Sandom FCGDent MBE and Jyoti Sumel.

The Chair is appointed for a three-year term, and Ms Dunton succeeds Frances Robinson AssocFCGDent in the role. She will advise and report to the College Council, and will work closely with the President and the other Faculty Board Chairs – Avijit Banerjee FCGDent (Faculty of Dentists), Debbie Reed FCGDent (Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy), and Bill Sharpling FCGDent (Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology & Dental Technology) – in realising College priorities for the whole dental team.

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