College of General Dentistry News

Booking opens for Perio-Occlusion Symposium

Dental professionals are invited to book their place at the Perio-Occlusion Symposium, which has been organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College. Members of the College are urged to share the details of the symposium with early career colleagues.

Lecture by Prof Paul Tipton at the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, April 2025

The symposium will take place on Saturday 20 September 2025 at the Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London and will focus on two aspects of aesthetic dentistry: ‘pink aesthetics’ and the role of occlusion in clear aligner therapy. In a change to previous announcements, lectures will be delivered by Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent and Dr Andy Toy FCGDent. Click for full speaker profiles.

Dr Reena Wadia

Dr Andy Toy

Dr Reena Wadia will present a range of clinical cases and examine the indications and steps of crown lengthening and gum recession surgery, reviewing the procedures currently available. Dr Andy Toy will focus on the steps involved in carrying out an occlusal examination and assessment to arrive at a suitable orthodontic treatment plan using aligner therapy, so as to ensure a healthy, functional occlusion and long-term stability of the treatment provided.

The symposium is designed for early career dental professionals and all dental professionals are welcome to attend. An accessible fee of £70 is available for those who qualified between 2020 to 2025*. For other dental professionals, the fee is £90. Delegates will receive 6 hours of verifiable CPD.

To increase awareness of this educational opportunity, members of the College are encouraged to pass on the details of the symposium to early career members in their team.

Further information & register

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, Founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, said:

“Our new symposium in September highlights two aspects of aesthetic dentistry which are both equally fundamental in the provision of successful treatment but which tend to be less understood by early career dental professionals, due to lack of training or experience.“

“An increasing number of younger colleagues are becoming involved in digital smile design and the provision of relevant restorations and the aesthetics and positioning of a patient’s gingival tissues are a vital part of that delivery. The provision of clear aligner therapy has also become very popular with early career dentists but less well understood is that to ensure successful delivery of treatment, an initial occlusal examination should be carried out. For long-term stability of the desired aesthetics, the occlusion on completion should be refined – if this is not carried out, retention such as splinting is likely to fail, followed by relapse. The symposium programme is designed to address these issues and support the ongoing professional development of early career colleagues.“

The Perio-Occlusion Symposium is the second in a series of symposia organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, in collaboration with the College. The Introduction to Occlusion Symposium took place in April this year, and received positive feedback from those who attended. One delegate described the day as “brilliant” and explained it covered treatments that “weren’t taught in university”.  Another said, “All the speakers spoke about occlusion in a comprehensive manner that I understood.”

Following the success of the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, plans have been made to repeat the event in another part of the country to allow a greater number of early career colleagues to attend. The symposium will take place in Edinburgh and registration will be open soon.

The College is also delighted to collaborate with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation to host the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees, and the Tom Bereznicki Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry, which provide successful candidates with fully-funded clinical training. Anyone wishing to keep up-to-date with these opportunities and other College activities, are encouraged to create a free online account to become a College Subscriber.

*dental professionals who qualify in 2025 but are not yet registered with the GDC may book a place at the symposium and provide their registration details once they have them.

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College of General Dentistry Blog

Why learning about occlusion is vital for early career dentists

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, founder of the Tom Bereznicki Dental Educational Foundation, explains the importance of occlusion and why he is committed to educating younger colleagues on the topic.

The modern undergraduate curriculum allows very little time for occlusion to be covered as a topic. Through my experience of teaching younger dentists, I have noticed in recent years that when I ask what the clinical occlusal examination findings are, the reply often comes back with an orthodontic classification. Few early career dentists are aware of the importance of studying not just the static occlusion, but the dynamic one too.

In over 40 years of practice, I have seen many cases of occlusally-related failure, highlighting the vital importance of paying due consideration to the occlusal scheme in treatment planning. I am passionate about educating early career dentists and through my charitable foundation, I have organised a symposium on the topic of occlusion, in collaboration with the College, which aims to enhance delegates’ knowledge of the basic principles of occlusion and how they can support the success and longevity of restorative treatment.

With the odd exceptions such as anterior open bites and skeletal Class 3’s, patients’ occlusal schemes should adhere to the basic principles of occlusion, not just when providing complex multiple indirect restorations and treatment of wear cases, but also simpler single indirect restorations, and most importantly, the long-term maintenance of intact healthy dentitions.

The cases illustrated below draw attention to some common examples of occlusally-related failure.

To avoid occlusal derangement, the extracted tooth should have been replaced as soon after extraction as possible

Failure to investigate the crack when it first appeared – now the tooth needs to be extracted

Correct dynamic mandibular excursions when fitting fixed restorations to help prevent failure especially with cantilever designs

Missing the tell-tale signs of unwanted wear, seen here as wear facets, can lead to root fracture

Spotting early signs of unwanted occlusal wear helps prevent extensive treatment at a later date

Failure to check excursive mandibular excursions, especially when fitting restorations, can result in loss of canine guidance and restorative failure

In bruxers, veneer failure can also frequently be seen as fracture of the porcelain in the gingival third of the restoration

Over instrumentation during root canal therapy weakens the root making it susceptible to fracture particularly when acting as a cantilever abutment

Although titanium is extremely hard, it is not unbreakable. If occlusal forces are not refined, fracture or associated non-perimplantitis bone loss can lead to failure

I will be addressing occlusally-related failure cases like these in the opening session at the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium. I will be joined by a fantastic line-up of experts: Professor Paul Tipton, Dr Ken Harris, Dr Tif Qureshi, Dr Shiraz Khan and Dr Koray Feran. Through a series of lectures, they will examine the five basic principles of occlusion in detail and how they can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations.

Information will also be available on a range of postgraduate courses which cover aspects of occlusion in greater depth, for those who wish to extend their knowledge further.

The Introduction to Occlusion Symposium, takes place on Saturday 5 April 2025 in London.

Click for further information and to book your place

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College of General Dentistry News

Registration opens for Occlusion Symposium

Dentists are invited to book their place at the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists, which has been organised by the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation in conjunction with the College.

The Symposium is designed for dentists but others are welcome to attend. It is open to those who qualified in the UK or overseas between 2019 to 2023 and have been practising in the UK for at least the past two years.

Book your place here.

The event will take place on Saturday 5 April 2025 at the Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London. Six renowned speakers will deliver a series of lectures to enhance delegates’ understanding of the fundamentals of occlusion and how these principles can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions.

Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, Founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, explains why accessible postgraduate training on occlusion is essential:

“Occlusion is the cornerstone of everything that happens in your mouth and sometimes young dentists don’t appreciate that to maintain somebody’s healthy dentition you still have to consider their occlusion. You have to prevent wear which is very often occlusally-related. And when providing restorations, whether simple fillings, advanced multiple crowns, or indirect restorations which you want to last as predictably and as long as possible, if you don’t take the occlusal scheme into consideration then they are likely to fail prematurely.”

The opening lecture will be delivered by Dr Bereznicki, whose dental education charity also funds the CGDent-GC Award for Foundation Trainees, and the College’s new Award for Advanced Aesthetic Dentistry.

Further lectures will then be delivered by Professor Paul Tipton, Dr Ken Harris, Dr Tif Qureshi, Dr Shiraz Khan and Dr Koray Feran. Read speaker profiles.

Dr Tom Bereznicki
Prof Paul Tipton
Dr Ken Harris
Dr Tif Qureshi
Dr Shiraz Khan
Dr Koray Feran

Describing the programme, Dr Bereznicki said: “To cover the length and breadth of the subject of occlusion would in all probability take a week. In the time available we will try to deal with the basic fundamental principles involved, particularly the intraoral occlusal examination which is crucial in treatment planning.  In addition, examples of clinical success as well as occlusally-related failures will be covered.”

Alongside the programme of lectures, delegates who wish to develop their knowledge of occlusion further can visit a hand-picked selection of education stands to learn more about leading postgraduate courses available in this field.

To ensure the symposium is accessible to early career dentists, the fee has been set at an affordable rate of £75 and it takes place on a Saturday to avoid time away from clinic.

In this video, Dr Karina Kowalski, a Trustee of the Tom Bereznicki Foundation, asks Dr Bereznicki about the symposium and what delegates can expect.

You can find further information and secure your place by clicking the button below.

secure your place

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, in collaboration with the College, will hold a second symposium for early careers on the topic of perio-occlusion on 20 September 2025, with speakers Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent and Dr Raman Aulakh FCGDent. Dentists interested in attending can register to receive a notification when bookings open.

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College of General Dentistry News

Occlusion and perio symposia for early career dentists

The College of General Dentistry is delighted to partner with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation to host a series of symposia for early career dentists on the topics of Occlusion and Perio. 

Carefully curated for early career dentists, the symposia will be open to dentists who qualified in the UK or overseas between 2019 and 2023 and have been practising in the UK for at least the past two years.

Introduction to Occlusion Symposium

The first of the symposia, Introduction to Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists, will take place on Saturday 5 April 2025 at the Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London.

A line-up of renowned speakers will deliver a series of lectures to enhance delegates’ understanding of the fundamentals of occlusion and how these principles can support the placement of successful, long-term restorations for patients presenting with tooth wear and other conditions.

The opening lecture will be delivered by Dr Tom Bereznicki FCGDent, a general dental practitioner with a special interest in restorative dentistry and founder of the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation. Dr Bereznicki’s presentation will be followed by sessions from Professor Paul Tipton FCGDent, Dr Ken Harris FCGDent, Dr Tif Qureshi FCGDent and Dr Shiraz Khan, and Dr Koray Feran FCGDent.

Dr Tom Bereznicki
Prof Paul Tipton
Dr Ken Harris
Dr Tif Qureshi
Dr Shiraz Khan
Dr Koray Feran
introduction to occlusion symposium
5 April 2025

Perio-Occlusion Symposium

The second in the series of symposia for early career dentists will focus on the aesthetic aspects of perio and functional occlusal aspects post orthodontic treatment and will also take place at Kensington Conference and Events Centre in London on Saturday 20 September 2025.

The event will consist of two half-day sessions delivered by Dr Reena Wadia MCGDent, a Specialist Periodontist and founder of Perio School, and Dr Raman Aulakh FCGDent, a Specialist Orthodontist, Invisalign Platinum Elite Doctor and co-founder of Aligner Dental Academy.

Dr Reena Wadia
Dr Raman Aulakh
perio-occlusion symposium
20 September 2025

Alongside the programme of lectures, delegates at either symposia who wish to develop their knowledge of occlusion or perio further, can visit a selection of education stands to learn more about leading postgraduate courses available in these fields.

To ensure the symposia are accessible to early career dentists, the fee for each event has been set at an affordable rate of £75 per symposium and they will each take place on a Saturday to avoid time away from clinic.

Tickets for the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists will be made available from January 2025. Bookings for the Perio-Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists will open later next year, and as places are limited, dentists are advised to secure a ticket early to avoid disappointment.

Eligible dentists interested in attending either or both symposia, are urged to ‘save-the-dates’ and sign-up to receive a notification as soon as tickets go on sale.

introduction to occlusion
5 April 2025
perio-occlusion symposium
20 September 2025

The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation supports educational initiatives for early career dentists and is working in conjunction with the College, and other collaborators, to provide a range of developmental opportunities for this cohort. Alongside the Introduction to Occlusion and the Perio-Occlusion Symposia, the Foundation funds the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which offers the chance to win fully-funded composite layering training in Belgium. An advanced aesthetic dentistry competition, which will provide each successful candidate with a fully-funded place on a hands-on digital dentistry course, is launching soon and other projects are also planned.

Subscribe to the College for free to receive our monthly newsletter and stay informed about all upcoming opportunities with the College and the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation.

College of General Dentistry Recent event

Occlusion, Wear and Bruxism – How do we treat?

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

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

Speaker : Prof Paul Tipton FCGDent

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

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

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

Aims & Objectives:

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

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

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

Professor Paul Tipton FCGDent

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

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

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

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

2 hours CPD

GCD development outcomes: C

Fee:

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

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

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