Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
This lecture was delivered by Preetee Hylton RDN, President-Elect of the British Association of Dental Nurses.
A full-time dental nurse and safeguarding lead at a private dental practice in London, Preetee 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. She was a founding member and the Study Club Co-Director of the ITI UK & Ireland Dental Nurses community, and is a member of the editorial board of the Dental Nursing journal and an Associate Member of the College of General Dentistry.
CPD:
0.75 hours
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of four College sessions at the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show 2024 (BDCDS24), a two-day conference hosting over 200 CPD lectures, 400 exhibitors and 9,000 dental professionals.
College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
It was not possible to register for specific lectures in advance, but those wishing to attend needed to have registered for BDCDS24 either in advance or on the day
Friday-Saturday 17-18 May 2024, 9.00am – 5.30pm, Birmingham
Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
The College is a key education partner for the British Dental Conference & Dentistry Show (BDCDS), hand hosted four lectures in the Enhanced CPD Theatre during the two-day conference.
Members and non-members alike were welcome to the College’s sessions, in which experts in their fields will share their knowledge and give advice on a range of subjects encompassing clinical dentistry and professionalism. Lectures included:
College representatives were also available throughout the conference at Stand Q01 to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer questions.
BDCDS is the UK’s largest dental event, bringing together the whole dental team with 9,000 dental professionals gathering under one roof.
FREE to attend for all registered dental professionals, attendees can expect 200 CPD lectures across 11 theatres. Co-located with Dental Technology Showcase, it is also a great opportunity to meet new and existing suppliers, with 400 exhibitors on site, including all the industry leaders.
Clinical Dental Technicians Emily Pittard MCGDent and Carmel Vickers-Wall, an Associate Member of the College, examine the role of a CDT and how they can work efficiently and effectively within the dental team.
What are Clinical Dental Technicians?
Firstly, what actually is a Clinical Dental Technician (CDT)? Well, they are a registered dental care professional who can provide complete dentures direct to the public. They can also provide partial dentures and other dental devices on prescription from a registered dentist.
What can we do?
A CDT is able to oversee the patient’s whole denture journey. They can treatment plan (complete dentures), take the impressions, do a bite registration and then manufacture the denture from start to finish. This results in the patient receiving a high-quality denture, and changes can be made instantly rather than trying to communicate through prescriptions where information can be missed. Many times, we’ve heard “A CDT is a Dental Technician who just takes impressions”, which isn’t true. A CDT has a large scope of practice and takes on a variety of responsibilities within the dental team:
taking impressions
taking a detailed medical history
carrying out clinical examinations
taking and processing radiographs
recognising abnormal mucosa and referring to the appropriate healthcare professionals
giving appropriate oral health advice
Many edentulous patients won’t see a general dentist as they believe they don’t need to if they don’t have any remaining teeth. This means that they might only see a CDT if their denture breaks, or they feel they need a replacement. Therefore, it is crucial that CDTs have a full understanding of a patient’s mucosa and are able to identify any abnormalities as well as understanding medications in detail and their interactions.
Clinical Dental Technicians have an extensive knowledge of anatomy, pharmacology, cross infection and health promotion. A CDT can also further enhance their scope of practice by gaining relevant training so that they can re-cement crowns, provide anti-snoring devices, replace implant abutments and provide tooth whitening treatment on prescription.
How can we be beneficial to your dental team?
Dentistry is currently in a crisis with some patients unable to see a dentist for up to four years. CDTs can help to alleviate this strain by seeing all denture treatment; allowing dentists to focus on other treatment. Dentures are very time-consuming as they require adjustments and reviews to help the patient acclimatise; CDT’s can take over this entire journey.
They can also take impressions, see whitening patients, mouthguards and sports guards appointments and, on prescription from a dentist, they can temporarily fit crowns, bridgework and implant work. So how would this work in practice? Let’s take a look at three examples of how a CDT could help to significantly improve a workflow:
A patient who needs an upper denture but has teeth in their lower arch. Typically, this would take a dentist up to five appointments to get the patient to final fit, and then multiple review appointments. Instead, the dentist could see them for the initial examination and then hand over all the other appointments to a CDT.
A patient who needs a dental implant. A dentist could see the patient up to their uncover and then the CDT could take over, take the impression / scan and temporarily fit the implant crown. The patient would then see the dentist for a review a few weeks later. This requires great communication within the team and a CDT who has knowledge of implants, but it would mean that in the time frame a dentist would have seen one patient for one implant placement, they could have seen two.
A patient who wants a denture on locators. Again, the dentist can place the implants and uncover and then hand over to the CDT who can then complete the treatment for the patient.
These are just a few examples but there are many more. As with any dental professional, to incorporate them into the team workflow will take great communication between clinicians and excellent records, but as that is something that we all intend to maintain as part of our general standards anyway, it shouldn’t take much to adapt to incorporate a CDT.
A CDT is also the only dental professional who bridges the gap between the dental practice and the laboratory. They have an intimate understanding of dental prosthesis and can help to manage patient expectations; take shades; quickly repair some things; provide teeth in a day and help to treatment plan complex cases.
Q&A
What was your experience like in your first few months to a year post qualification?
Emily: I was in a lucky position to already be working in a CDT-recognising clinic, however I did find it took forever to be on the GDC register! I had previously worked and gained qualifications as a dental nurse and a dental technician and had been fortunate enough to work in a specialist practice as a Dental Technician under my extended scope of practice. So, I had been taking impressions of denture patients and implant patients and digital scans for a number of years before I qualified as a CDT. This helped me to gain confidence in my clinical skills and after qualifying I opened my own Clinic attached to my Laboratory.
Carmel: It was very daunting coming out of university from the new CDT course. Mainly because nobody else was out there who was in a similar position to me. I felt, on one hand, that some Dental Technicians I spoke to weren’t positive about the qualification I held and, on the other hand, general dentists didn’t understand what my job was!! However, I’ve met some fantastic Dental Technicians along the way who have been extremely supportive and provided me with a lot of knowledge and work experience. As I already came from a dentistry background (ex Dental Nurse) I had some good connections in the industry who helped me and I was even lucky enough to be offered a CDT job upon qualifying.
Do you feel like a CDT is a fully recognised member of the dental team by other professionals?
EP: Not at all, I have found that many dental professionals have never heard of a Clinical Dental Technician. I have, however, seen a shift for the better amongst new dentists just qualifying who seem to understand what a CDT can do and how valuable we can be to wider dental team, so it feels like we are moving in the right direction.
CVW: Sadly not yet. I think this is due to not seeing Clinical Dental Technicians in general practice. We regularly see Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists and even Orthodontic Therapists, but as CDTs currently don’t have an NHS contract, it means we are predominantly private/independent.
How easy was it to find indemnity or relevant CPD courses?
EP: Almost impossible to find indemnity! I ended up getting indemnity that has elements of every other dental team role in the script as they didn’t have a CDT-specific one!
CVW: I agree with Emily, I couldn’t believe how few options there were for indemnity. This is the same with CPD. There are very few courses out there specifically designed for CDTs. I figured I’ll have to take courses aimed at the other members of the dental team which I could relate to within my scope of practice.
The College will be the headline education partner for the Enhanced CPD Theatre at Dentistry Show London 2023.
CGDent speakers at Dentistry Show London 2023, clockwise from bottom left: Paul Batchelor, Abhi Pal, Tim Newton, Sukhvinder Singh Atthi, George Wright
The Enhanced CPD Theatre will feature 14 lectures over the two-day conference, with experts in their fields sharing their extensive knowledge, and offering practical advice, on an array of important CPD areas. All lectures will be free of charge for both members and non-members of the College. Five of these lectures will be delivered on behalf of the College:
Professor Paul Batchelor BDS, DDPH, Dip. FFGDP(UK), MCDH, PhD, FCGDent, FDS (RCS Eng.), FFPH; Honorary Clinical Professor, University of Central Lancashire; Honorary Lecturer, University College London; Associate and Dental Group Chair, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare
Dr Abhi Pal BDS, MGDS RCSI, Dip. FFGDP(UK), FDS (RCPS Glasg.), FCGDent; President of the College of General Dentistry; General Dental Practitioner; independent dental expert witness
Professor Tim Newton CPsychol, AFBPS; Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry, King’s College London; Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Dr George Wright BDS, Dip. MJDF, PgDip (DLE), ACIArb, Cert CII (Claims), FFFLM, MCGDent, MDTFEd; Deputy Dental Director, Dental Protection; Chief Examiner, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians
Full details of all the College lectures are available via the above links, and details of the full programme for the Enhanced CPD Theatre and other theatres are available here.
College representatives will also be available throughout the conference at Stand G52 to talk to attendees about all aspects of membership, fellowship and the College’s vision for the profession.
It is not possible to register for any specific lecture in advance, however those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023, which is free for all dental professionals. Conference attendees will have access to over 100 CPD lectures in all, as well as 180 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network with over 3,000 dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians and laboratory owners.
Dental teams across the country face great challenges in providing accessible support for their patients and communities. The College of General Dentistry works to support the whole dental team in addressing these challenges, for the benefit of the nation’s oral health.
We have been working with Haleon, a global leader in consumer health with brands like Sensodyne or Corsodyl trusted by millions of patients, to conduct a survey to better understand the role preventative oral care plays in routine dental appointments.
The study, featuring insights from dental health professionals and patients, highlights the importance of preventative oral care, whilst also pointing to opportunities for its enhancement, supported by the clinical team, across the UK.
In order to unlock the findings of the survey, the College and Haleon hosted a live webinar on 30 November 2023. A recording of the webinar is available to view below.
Speakers:
Sarah Murray MBE, Board Member of the Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, College of General Dentistry
Bas Vorsteveld, Vice President and General Manager, GB&I, Haleon
Dr Kate Fabrikant, Medical Director, Northern Europe, Haleon
Membership of the College of General Dentistry is open to all registered dental professionals and dental students. Find out about our membership types and fees here.
Can you help us in the next phase of our research? We would like to hear from practices around the UK who are interested in hosting an evening focus group to explore preventative oral care advice given within practice – find out more.
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall N9, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
Aimed at all members of the dental team, this lecture highlighted key stages of the complaint-handling process, and discussed worked examples using real patient complaints.
It was delivered by Dr George Wright MCGDent, Deputy Dental Director of Dental Protection and Chief Examiner at the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians. After qualifying from the University of Sheffield and completing Foundation Training, Dr Wright moved straight into NHS general dental practice, later becoming a Foundation Trainer in South Yorkshire, and Training Programme Director for Performer List Validation by Experience in Yorkshire and the Humber. He joined Dental Protection part-time in 2016, became a full-time Dento-legal Consultant in 2018, and in 2020 was appointed Senior Dental Educator in Risk Prevention, and subsequently Deputy Dental Director. He continues to work clinically within a family-friendly private dental practice.
Objective:
At the end of the session, attendees will understand the best way to handle a complaint using a step-by-step approach
Learning outcomes:
Understand key stages of the complaint handling process
Understand how early intervention can help to avoid unnecessary escalation of a complaint
Appreciate the differing requirements for responding to verbal and written complaints
Understand the importance of self-care when in receipt of a complaint
CPD:
0.75 hours
GDC development outcomes:
A
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of five College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2023, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures, 180 exhibitors and over 3,000 dental professionals. It is not possible to register specifically for this lecture in advance, but those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023 either in advance or on the day.
Conference visitors are also encouraged to drop by Stand G52 to meet College representatives.
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall N9, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture offered delegates up-to-date knowledge in order to sustain life when a medical emergency occurs in general dental practice.
It was delivered by Dr Sukhvinder Singh Atthi FCGDent, a lecturer in oral surgery at the University of Birmingham, and Tier II-accredited Oral Surgeon who treats nervous minor oral surgery patients with intravenous sedation. With 25 years’ experience working as an associate then principal dentist in general dental practice, he has also worked part-time in the Community Dental Service and spent part of his vocational training working in oral maxillofacial surgery units. He holds Master’s degrees in both Orthodontics and Oral Surgery, Postgraduate Certificates in Conscious Sedation, Leadership & Management and Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, the Diploma of Fellowship and Certificates in both Minor Oral Surgery and Dental Practice Appraisal from the FGDP(UK), and is qualified to ILM Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring in Management. He is a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry and Higher Education Academy, an experienced dental trainer, and has been a board member of CGDent West Midlands (previously the FGDP West Midlands Division) since 2013.
Objective:
To enable the early recognition and management of deterioration in a patient that may become medically compromised during their dental treatment
To understand how to use mandatory drugs within an medical emergency
Learning outcomes:
Awareness and management of medical emergencies within dental practice
Review mandatory audit processes for drugs to use in medical emergencies
Knowledge of how to deal with an unconscious patient
Recognise and manage suspected sepsis
CPD:
0.75 hours
GDC development outcomes:
A
B
C
D
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of five College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2023, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures, 180 exhibitors and over 3,000 dental professionals. It is not possible to register specifically for this lecture in advance, but those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023 either in advance or on the day.
Conference visitors are also encouraged to drop by Stand G52 to meet College representatives.
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall N9, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
The practice of dentistry is challenging, and there is a body of evidence demonstrating high levels of stress-related burnout and impact on the well-being of dental professionals. This lecture explored common sources of stress and the evidence of the extent of their impact on well-being in the dental profession, and outlined evidence-based approaches to managing the well-being of the dental team.
It was delivered by Professor Tim Newton, a psychologist who has spent over 30 years working in dental settings. Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry at King’s College London and Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist to Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, he has undertaken a range of research and service delivery addressing the well-being of all those working in dentistry, including developing resources to support the mental health and well-being of the dental team. His clinical work is focussed on individuals with dental phobia, and support for individuals facing challenging dental procedures.
Objective:
To provide an overview of the published information on the well-being of the dental team, including the impact of stress and burnout, and identify evidence-based approaches to tackling the impact of stress and burnout on well-being
Learning outcomes:
Identify the common sources of stress identified in dental practice
Outline the extent of burnout and stress-related impact on well-being amongst members of the dental team
Describe techniques for alleviating work related stress in dental settings
Plan steps to alleviate personal stress
CPD:
0.75 hours
GDC development outcomes:
B
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of five College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2023, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures, 180 exhibitors and over 3,000 dental professionals. It is not possible to register specifically for this lecture in advance, but those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023 either in advance or on the day.
Conference visitors are also encouraged to drop by Stand G52 to meet College representatives.
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall N9, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture discussed the importance of comprehensive and accurate record-keeping, and why it is fundamental for good clinical practice and essential for delivering quality patient care.
It was delivered by Dr Abhi Pal FCGDent, Principal of a mixed NHS-and-private dental practice and the first elected President of the College of General Dentistry. Dr Pal has worked in general dental practice since qualifying with honours and distinction from Guy’s Hospital, London, in 1987, and has practised at the The University Dental and Implant Centre in Birmingham since 1991. Editor of the College’s Training Standards in Implant Dentistry and Co-Editor of its Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines, he was elected to represent the West Midlands region on the National Board of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK in 2014, re-elected in 2017 and 2020, and was the Faculty’s eleventh and final Dean. In 2019 he was Guest Editor of the Primary Dental Journal issue focussed on dento-legal matters.
Objective:
At the end of the session attendees will have an understanding of the current guidance and best practice for dental record-keeping
Learning outcomes:
Understand what constitutes effective record-keeping in dentistry
Understand the dento-legal issues that can arise when storing, sharing and disposing of patient records
CPD:
0.75 hours
GDC development outcomes:
A
D
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of five College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2023, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures, 180 exhibitors and over 3,000 dental professionals. It is not possible to register specifically for this lecture in advance, but those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023 either in advance or on the day.
Conference visitors are also encouraged to drop by Stand G52 to meet College representatives.
Enhanced CPD Theatre, Hall N9, ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
This lecture explored what sustainability means and how the dental sector can contribute to sustainability goals. It will cover the work of the FDI World Dental Federation, the BDA, CGDent and organisations such as the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, and explore how individual dental professionals and practices can best contribute.
It was delivered by Professor Paul Batchelor FCGDent, Associate and Dental Group Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, and a contributor to the FDI’s report on sustainability in dentistry. Honorary Clinical Professor at the University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry and an Honorary Lecturer at University College London, he is also co-lead of the NHS Complete Care Community Programme and Chief Assessor for Intercollegiate Faculty Specialist Examination in Dental Public Health. He is a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, the Faculty of Public Health and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, holds a PhD from the University of London and is Editor of the College’s Dementia-Friendly Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines. He is a past Vice Dean, Chief Fellowship Assessor and National Research Facilitator of the FGDP(UK) and was Course Director of its Diploma in Leadership and Management. He has also served as President of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, Advisor to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee and as an ORE examiner.
Objective:
At the end of the session attendees will have an understanding of sustainability and how they can contribute to addressing the issues
Learning outcomes:
Provide a definition of what sustainability means
Explore the impact that the delivery of dental care makes
Understand how the individual can contribute
CPD:
0.75 hours
GDC development outcomes:
B
This lecture was free to attend for both members and non-members of the College, and is one of five College sessions at Dentistry Show London 2023, a two-day conference hosting over 100 CPD lectures, 180 exhibitors and over 3,000 dental professionals. It is not possible to register specifically for this lecture in advance, but those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023 either in advance or on the day.
Conference visitors are also encouraged to drop by Stand G52 to meet College representatives.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement
1 year
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
PHPSESSID
session
This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
wordpress_test_cookie
session
This cookie is used to check if the cookies are enabled on the users' browser.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
