College of General Dentistry News

Award offers hands-on course to Foundation Trainees

The CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which promotes clinical skills and patient care, is now open for entries to the 2024/25 competition.

Following a successful inaugural year, and an expansion to the award’s eligibility criteria, dentists and dental therapists who qualified in the UK or Ireland in 2024, or who are undertaking Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training in 2024/25, are invited to enter. Entrants must submit a restorative case they are about to start treating which involves more than one tooth, and includes at least one anterior tooth, as well as the use of composite to restore teeth.

The number of winning places has also been increased to 18, with each winner receiving a fully-funded place on a hands-on, two-day composite layering course at the GC Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium. The prize is worth around £1,400 per place and includes the costs of international travel, hotel accommodation and subsistence.

The winners of the inaugural competition took part in the bespoke composite layering course in July 2024. One delegate said the course “offered an excellent balance between theoretical and hands-on components of learning” and provided “support to each delegate.” Another commented that they gained “time management, enriched patient communication skills and overall restorative skills.”

The 2024/25 award is now open, the closing date for entry is Friday 14 February 2025, and final cases must be submitted by Friday 11 April 2025. The winners will be announced in May, and their course will take place on Thursday–Friday 10–11 July 2025.

The CGDent-GC Award is funded by The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and organised in conjunction with the College of General Dentistry and GC. The Foundation supports educational opportunities for early career dentists in the UK, and was founded by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, a general dental practitioner with a special interest in restorative dentistry.

GC is an oral health company which manufactures dental systems and products which are sold around the world, and has won awards for its products and innovations. It provides both online and in-person training covering many areas of dental practice.

Speaking about the award, Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent commented:

“The Trustees of the Foundation were delighted with the number and high standard of entries for the inaugural award. The winners thoroughly enjoyed the GC course in Belgium and felt that their knowledge and handling of composite materials and restorations was significantly improved over the two days. One of the requirements of the competition was a reflection on the outcome of the case and feedback from those who did not go through as winners suggests they had learnt a lot during the process, which would positively impact treatment they provide in the future. Based on this unqualified success, the competition will go ahead this year and will also be open to Dental Therapists.”

Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent said:

“As Founding President Emeritus of the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), Patron of the Tom Berezniki Charitable Educational Foundation and a career-long collaborator with GC, I am delighted to encourage all those eligible, to consider entering the 2024–2025 CGDent-GC Award. Based on the outcome and feedback from the inaugural award, the winners of this year’s competition will be able to look forward to a highly rewarding educational experience at the fantastic GC Campus in Leuven, Belgium.”

John Maloney, GC’s Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said:

“GC are proud to continue our collaboration with The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and the College of General Dentistry, to deliver high quality education to dental professionals at the very start of their career. Our team in Belgium were delighted to host the first cohort of award winners, and we look forward to meeting the successful 2024/25 candidates in July next year.”

Click the button below for further information about the award and links to guidance for entrants and the entry form.

further information

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College of General Dentistry News

Expanded CGDent-GC Award to invite entries from Dental Therapists

The CGDent-GC Award, which recognises clinical skills and patient care, is being expanded to include Dental Therapists, starting with the 2024/25 competition which opens in September.

Students on a composite course at GC’s Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium.

The Award, which is run by the College of General Dentistry and GC in association with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, was open to Foundation Dentists in its inaugural year, but from September will also be open to Dental Therapists taking part in Foundation or Vocational Training in 2024/25. The number of award winners is also being increased in line with the expanded eligibility.

Entrants will need to submit an aesthetic case they treat during their Foundation/Vocational Training year and winners will receive a fully funded place on a composite layering course at GC’s European Education Campus in Belgium.

Frances Robinson AssocFCGDent, Chair of the Board of the College’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, said:

“I am immensely pleased that Dental Therapists will now be eligible to enter the prestigious CGDent-GC award for newly qualified clinicians. This development will ensure parity between Dental Therapists and their Dentist colleagues for clinical skills that align with their scope of practice; in line with the College’s mission. Please share this opportunity with your colleagues, students and networks and we wish all next year’s entrants good luck!” 

John Maloney, GC’s Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said:

“Involving Dental Therapists in the CGDent-GC competition is a really positive step that will open up this comprehensive training opportunity to even more dental professionals. We would like to thank the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation for continuing to support the development of early career dental professionals through this award.”

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent commented:

“I am delighted that the scope of the CGDent-GC Award has been extended to offer the same clinical and development opportunities to both early career Dentists and Dental Therapists alike. This will further support the oral health care team, and ultimately benefit patients.”

Full details of the 2024/25 CGDent and GC Award will be published when the competition opens in September 2024. To receive notifications, visit our award web page.

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College of General Dentistry News

CGDent-GC Award 2023/24 winners

The College of General Dentistry, GC and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation would like to congratulate the winners of the inaugural CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Dentists:

Masuma Chowdhury Tendai ManangaziraJuan Salmerón Ramírez
Nathaniel-Edouard DavidsonAsad MasoodGolasa Sheikh Akbari
Milton JustinsuthakaranCónal McKeeSonia Sin
Nafeesa KhanJoseph MulhallArav Soin
Chloe LeungJay PatelJarmima Uddin

The 15 winners were selected from entries submitted by Foundation Dentists / Vocational Trainees from across the UK, each of whom submitted an aesthetic case which they treated during their Foundation/Vocational training year which included at least one anterior tooth and composite restoration. Cases included the use of composite to treat midline diastema, the aesthetic and functional treatment of tooth wear, restoration following dental trauma and aesthetic build-up of peg shaped laterals, as well as more simple multiple composite restorations. View the winning cases here.

The panel of judges, which comprised Trustees of The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, marked each case based on a set of assessment criteria which focused on overall improvement in the patient’s oral health (including periodontal health), the standard of aesthetic dentistry carried out and the quality of the entrant’s reflection on the case.

The prize for the winners is a fully funded place on a composite layering course which is taking place on 11-12 July at GC’s European Education Campus in Leuven, Belgium.

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, Founder of The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, commented:

“We were delighted with the number of entries, which all demonstrated a high level of dentistry skills and patient care. I would like to thank all entrants for submitting their work, and offer my congratulations to the winners.”

A selection of the winning cases which illustrate a range of different types of cases entered in the competition. Cases submitted by (L-R) Nathaniel-Edouard Davidson, Golasa Sheikh Akbari, and Milton Justinsuthakaran.

Remarking on the winning entries, Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, President Emeritus of the College, said:

“Congratulations to all the winners; a great, richly-deserved experience awaits them in Leuven, accounts of which will hopefully encourage even more entrants in future years. Congratulations also to the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation for its ongoing work with the College and GC to promote the personal development of clinical skills among recently qualified colleagues. All entrants to the competition have learnt valuable lessons about the art and science of aesthetic dentistry.”

John Maloney, GC’s Director and Country Manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said:

“It has been truly rewarding to see the admirable level of aesthetic dentistry skills demonstrated by newly qualified dentists. We look forward to continuing our work with the College and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation to provide high quality, clinical training for early career professionals. Congratulations to all the winners, we can’t wait to see them at our Education Campus in Belgium.”

To register your interest in the 2024/25 award and receive notifications as soon as the competition opens in September, visit our award page.  

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College of General Dentistry Student Advice

Taking the big step – student to dentist

Dr Janine Brooks MBE, dental coach and mentor, offers essential advice to help you flourish as you take your first steps into general practice.

1. Celebrate

The day you become registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) is a great day, wonderful, exciting, full of promise and a little bit scary. Suddenly you are no longer a dental student, you are a dentist, with all the privileges and responsibilities that brings. Savour the moment and celebrate, you made it. You are one of a small number of dental professionals, but never forget that we are in service to our patients, not the other way around. 

2. Humility

You have just spent five years of your life at dental school. You know lots of ‘stuff’, particularly about oral health, operative techniques, general health, how to restore teeth, and more. However, you are the newest members of the profession and you need to build your experience and skill. This takes time, be humble enough to know that. Be respectful of your dental nurse’s knowledge and skills and you will become a good team.

3. Networks

Dentistry can be a lonely place, so build your networks from day one. Keep in contact with friends from dental school, make new friends amongst your fellow foundation trainees. Go along to meetings, CPD events, join CGDent and other specialist organisations. Social media is fine, but you really cannot beat face to face networks.  

4. Take it slowly 

Needing to work more quickly is often something that new dentists find very difficult.  You will get there, but it will take you some time and some people need more time than others. Your educational supervisor (ES) knows this – they were a new dentist once. Expect to be slow at first, talk this over with your ES and your fellow foundation trainees. Alongside working clinically more quickly and efficiently, it’s important to take time to learn about NHS regulations, what is included and what is not. The business of running a dental practice is complex and there is a lot to know about employment law, how to recruit and retain good staff. Watch how others in the practice manage their time, this will help you to work quickly and efficiently with your patients.  

5. Be professional 

Even as a student it was important to be professional, but now it’s crucial.  As part of a profession there are standards we must adhere to. Remember you do not stop being a professional outside work, it’s not the uniform you put on, it’s who you are.  Particularly in the age of social media, your poor behaviour can get you into trouble and being a good clinician will not be enough.  Professionals know it is part of who they are to be honest, truthful, uphold confidentiality and act with integrity at all times. 

6. Listen 

Now you are working with more patients and more colleagues you need to sharpen your listening skills. Listening will help to make sure you do not miss important information whether that be from your patients, your educational supervisor or on training days. Listen for words, the spaces in between, what’s not said, body language, emotions and values. Look at people when they are speaking to you, if you don’t you are missing some of the communication and you are not really listening.

7.  Ask questions 

Alongside listening, your foundation year is the time to continually ask questions.  Hone your skills with your patients by asking questions that will give you useful answers. Ask questions of everyone; your educational supervisor, your TPD, your nurse, your practice manager and the tutors at your training days. Ask questions that are open rather than closed, begin questions with What? How? Who? When? Where?  Use why? sparingly, it can seem like an accusation.

8. Keep learning  

You have completed your degree, but that is only the start, there is so much more to learn. You need to learn to put what you did as a student into everyday practice. You need to learn what it takes to run a dental practice. You need to learn how to work with the NHS and the commissioning teams. You need to learn about dentistry, which is a highly technical, constantly evolving profession. 

9. Boundaries 

Now that you are a dentist you need to think about and beware of boundaries.  In your first year you may feel unsure of taking the lead in your surgery. You may want to be friends with all the other staff, go out for drinks, meals and socialising. However, be wary of overdoing this, particularly with staff in more junior positions, especially with your dental nurse. You need to have a professional relationship which must be maintained if you are to provide good patient care. Boundaries with patients are particularly important. It is generally thought unwise to treat family and friends, this makes the therapeutic relationship blurred and difficult. At no time should you begin a romantic relationship with a patient, that is a serious abuse of your position.

10. Breathe

It’s important that you take time out to breathe. I mean to have time to enjoy your life and your other interests and to make time for family and friends. You will be putting in the ground work of balance and that’s important throughout your career.

Author bio

After qualifying from Birmingham Dental School in the early 80′s, I spent my whole clinical career in Community Dentistry, the last 17 years as a Clinical Director working in Herefordshire and South Warwickshire. 

I have a portfolio career. Currently I am an educational associate for the General Dental Council; a coach for the Professional Support Unit, Health Education England, Thames Valley; an expert witness, lead clinical tutor for the Law and Ethics module for University of Bristol BUOLD programme; Trustee of the Dentists Health Support Trust and a Fellow for the Society of British Dental Nurses.  

I launched my own coaching and training consultancy, Dentalia, in July 2011, providing coaching to dental professionals I am a founding partner of the Dental Coaching Academy and in December 2016 I launched Dental Mentors UK with a colleague.  

I write extensively and have published four books, plus a number of articles and papers over the years.

Dr Janine Brooks MBE

This student advice blog was originally published by FGDP(UK) in August 2019 and has been republished by the College of General Dentistry with the author’s permission.