College of General Dentistry News

Dental leaders discuss professional development and career support

Senior College members took part in a recent meeting of dental leaders from across the UK to share learning on how best to support the careers and professional development of the future dental team.

College panellists, speakers and presenters at the Dental Leadership Network: (l-r) Roshni Karia, Manish Prasad, Ewen McColl and Catherine Rutland

Dr Roshni Karia MCGDent (President of the College) and Dr Manish Prasad FCGDent (Clinical Director at MyDentist and a CGDent Certified Membership Facilitator) both participated in a panel discussion on the question of ‘How do we align the needs of the sector with the expectations of new dental professionals?’.

Dr Karia, who was previously an early careers observer on the board of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) and more recently was a member of the College’s Career Pathways Programme Board, noted that new dental professionals are looking for support and guidance to enable them to have fulfilling careers offering flexibility, a sustainable work-life balance and opportunities for growth and recognition. She added that the College is in the process of developing structured pathways for all members of the dental team which will align these desires with the needs of the sector by recognising appropriate education, experience and skills acquisition at each career stage.

Professor Ewen McColl FCGDent (Chair of the Dental Schools Council, member of the College Council and Editor of the College’s Standards in Dentistry publication) gave a presentation on “How do we prepare BDS students for practice?” and took part in a panel discussion on “Ensuring development opportunities that meet the needs of  individual dental professionals“.

The sessions took place at the most recent ‘Dental Leadership Network’ day convened by the General Dental Council to facilitate shared ownership in addressing key challenges facing the profession.

Dr Catherine Rutland FCGDent (Clinical Director at Denplan) closed the event, and was also a facilitator of the final workshop session alongside Fiona Ellwood BEM (Executive Director of the Society of British Dental Nurses, Associate Member of the College and former Honorary Fellow of the FGDP).

Other attendees included Professor Avijit Banerjee FCGDent (Chair of the College’s Faculty of Dentists), Dr Debbie Reed FCGDent (Chair of the College’s Faculty of Dental Nursing & Orthodontic Therapy), Bill Sharpling FCGDent (Chair of the College’s Faculty of Clinical Dental Technology & Dental Technology), and College Council members Helen Kaney FCGDent and Miranda Steeples AssocFCGDent.

Held in London on 25 March on the theme of ‘Future dental team: their expectations, development and career’’, the event followed a previous meeting on workforce challenges involving Dr Abhi Pal FCGDent (then President of the College), Dr Debbie Reed FCGDent, Dr Catherine Tannahill MCGDent (Director of Clinician Engagement of Portman Dental) and Ashley Byrne FCGDent (Board Member of the Dental Laboratories Association). 

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College of General Dentistry News

Dental professionals invited to College Summer Reception

The College has issued an open invitation to all College members and other dental professionals to attend its 2025 Summer Reception.

The Summer Reception, incorporating the fourth annual College Fellows’ Summer Reception, will be an opportunity to network with your peers in the grand surroundings of the historic Cutlers’ Hall, and all dental professionals and those with professional interests in contemporary dentistry are invited to attend, with discounted tickets available to College members.

The event will include the ceremonial admission of new Fellows, and for the first time also Associate Fellows of the College. The President’s Award, typically given for charitable endeavours related to dentistry, will also be presented during the Reception, and this year’s winner of the prestigious College Medal is also expected to be announced. Photographs of the event will be made available to attendees shortly afterwards to download free of charge.

The College Summer Reception takes place from 5pm to 8pm on Friday 13 June in Sheffield, with registration open from 4.30pm.

It will be preceded from 2pm by the Inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture, to be delivered by Martin Kelleher FCGDent, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Dental Hospital. Intended to stimulate and provoke healthy debate, this will challenge the notion of the ‘ideal treatment plan’ and contend that subconscious bias and possible self-interests can lead some supposed experts to confuse their version of a questionable ‘gold standard’ with what is really in a patient’s overall best interests and with what the law expects. This is also open to all dental professionals to attend, and CPD certificates will be provided.

Tickets are available for the reception only, lecture only, or combined lecture and reception. ‘Early Bird’ rates currently apply.

To secure your place, click the button below:

BOOK YOUR PLACE

For further information, visit the College’s events pages.

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College of General Dentistry News

Martin Kelleher to deliver inaugural College Lecture

The College has announced that Martin Kelleher FCGDent will be delivering the inaugural College Lecture on 13 June 2025.

‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits? will challenge the notion of the ‘ideal treatment plan’ and contend that subconscious bias and possible self-interests can lead some supposed experts to confuse their version of a questionable ‘gold standard’ with what is really in a patient’s overall best interests and with what the law expects.

Intended to stimulate and provoke healthy debate, the lecture will build on the rich legacy of the Malcolm Pendlebury Lectures hosted by the College’s predecessor organisation, the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP).

Martin Kelleher has been a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at King’s College Hospital, London since 1984 and has well- known interests in solving seemingly complex dental problems with various minimally destructive approaches. He is on the GDC specialist lists for Restorative Dentistry and Prosthodontics and owned his own practice in Bromley, Kent for nearly 40 years.

He is a Fellow of the Faculties of Dental Surgery at the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and England, as well as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is also a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, a Fellow and former President of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry, and a former Chairman of the Southern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association. 

Mr Kelleher graduated from University College Dublin in 1971, holds a Master’s degree in Conservative Dentistry and is the author or co-author of very numerous peer-reviewed articles on a wide variety of topics, as well as chapters in dental textbooks and a book on dental bleaching. He served on the board of Dental Protection for a decade, including three years as Chair of its Advisory Committee for Dental Claims. He is a renowned speaker, having lectured to many national dental associations and specialist societies as well as internationally for over 40 years.

The inaugural College of General Dentistry Lecture will take place in the historic Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield, and will be followed by the College’s Summer Reception. CPD certificates will be provided.

All dental professionals, and others with professional interests in contemporary dental practice, are eligible to attend both events. Discounted places are available to College members.

To secure your place at current ‘Early Bird’ rates, click the button below:

BOOK YOUR PLACE

For further information, visit the College’s events pages.

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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

As I did at the first Introduction to Occlusion Symposium in London, I will be addressing occlusally-related failure cases like these in the opening session at the Introduction to Occlusion Symposium in Edinburgh. 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: Edinburgh, takes place on Saturday 1 November 2025 at The University of Edinburgh.

Click for further information and to book your place

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College of General Dentistry Event

Dentistry Show London

Friday 9 – Saturday 10 October 2026, 9.00am – 5.00pm, London

ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

The College will once again be an education partner for Dentistry Show London 2026

We will welcome members and non-members alike to our CPD lectures, with experts in their fields sharing their knowledge on a range of subjects and giving advice to support the professional development of the whole dental team. Details of the lecture programme will be announced in due course.

Delegates will have access to over 100 CPD lectures in all across multiple lecture theatres, as well as over 180 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network among 4,000 dentists, dental therapists, dental hygienists, dental nurses, practice managers, dental technicians and laboratory owners.

College representatives will be available throughout the show at the CGDent exhibition stand to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership and fellowship, and to answer your questions.

Registration for DSL26 will be free for all dental professionals.

A registration link will be added below once registration is open.

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College of General Dentistry Event

Leadership Development Masterclass

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday 24 September 2026, 10am-4pm, London

The first CGDent Leadership Development Masterclass held at the Royal Society of Medicine, London, October 2025

Venue to be confirmed

**RESTRICTED TO 25 PLACES, PRIORITY GIVEN TO COLLEGE MEMBERS AND FELLOWS**

JOIN TODAY

A full day Masterclass with Prof Sreenivas Koka FCGDent and Prof Elizabeth Carr FCGDent

We don’t let anyone practise dentistry without years of education and training. Yet, we let people practise leadership with little or no education and training; and this despite the fact that, just like dentistry, there is a science and an art to leadership that can be taught and learned.

First-time and second-time dental leaders are challenged because they are now judged by the performance of their team and not their own performance – other people’s actions define you. The potential to fail in a leadership role is high and the consequences of failure may be significant emotionally, ethically, spiritually and financially.

In this programme, the course faculty will teach the science and art of some of the most critical elements needed to be an effective team leader. The content for the programme has been carefully curated to offer the appropriate breadth and depth for early-career leaders and will focused on the following:

  • Developing the ability to sense one surroundings (sensemaking)
  • Giving and receiving feedback as a leader
  • Learning one’s motivations for leadership and adapting accordingly

Provisional programme

  • 10:00-12:00 – What really matters in life? – SK
  • 12:00-13:00 – Lunch and networking
  • 13:00-14:00 – Giving and receiving feedback – EC
  • 14:00-14:15 – Break
  • 14:15-15:00 – Determining your career anchor – SK
  • 15:00-16:00 – Measuring your leadership effectiveness – SK

CPD verified for GDC Development Outcome: B

Speakers

Prof Sreenivas Koka
DDS MS PhD MBA MAS FACD FCGDent

Profile >

Sreenivas “Sree” Koka was born in the UK to Indian immigrants, and grew up with two nationalities, two religions (Anglican and Hindu), two languages and two cultures. At the age of 19, he emigrated to the US and began his university education.

A lifelong learner, Sree has earned five graduate level degrees including a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, a Master in Applied Sciences (MAS) from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Sciences from the University of Nebraska. In addition, Sree received a Master’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan.

Sree has had an active leadership career in private practice including as business owner; in hospital practice including serving as Department Chair at Mayo Clinic; as Executive Director of a non-profit organization; in academics including serving as Dean at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; by leading professional national and international organizations; and through professional service as Chair of the MIT Sloan School of Management Alumni Board. During his career he has been chosen as the outstanding teacher of the year many times by professional/graduate students.

Sree has lectured extensively nationally and internationally (six continents) and has given a TEDx presentation. He is the founder of the Shaping the Future (SHIFT) leadership workshop series specifically designed to teach the human side of leadership to early-career and mid-career professionals. He presents on a variety of leadership topics, focusing on the human side of building great teams, and is a sought-after speaker for audiences across many industries.

Prof Elizabeth Carr
MAADH DHA FACD (Hon) FCGDent

Profile >

Elizabeth Carr is a native of the Mississippi Delta, where she was raised in both Catholic and Baptist communities. She has earned numerous degrees including Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, culminating with a Doctorate of Health Administration. In a successful faculty career, she has led university academic units at departmental and programme levels, and is an experienced leader of degree-level online education efforts. A lifelong learner, she has completed the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Executive Certificate programme in Leadership and Management.

Elizabeth is a sought-after speaker; her invited presentation portfolio includes national venues across the US and international venues in Europe and Asia. A talented scholar, she has published research on leadership, specifically the why, when and how of courage in leadership, as well as the communication skills requisite for effective team-building. These attributes embody her passion for inspiring others to make courageous choices and navigate career and life changes confidently while simultaneously leading high-performing teams.

Elizabeth’s commitment to advancing public health has been recognized with numerous accolades. With a track record of working with non-profit and political stakeholders, Elizabeth has advocated for and enacted changes that reshape communities through public health initiatives. Her leadership capabilities have been honed through years of efforts at the local, regional, state and national levels and in academic, community, organisational and legislative arenas.

Masterclass fee: TBC

The Leadership Development Masterclass will be open to all but priority will be given to current Members and Fellows of the College (Full Member, Associate Fellow, Role Fellow & Fellow).

Further details, including venue, pricing, eligibility and a registration link will be added here in due course.

**STRICTLY LIMITED OPPORTUNITY OF JUST 25 PLACES**

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College of General Dentistry Event

MSc in General Dental Practice, 2026-27

September 2026 – June 2027

Distance learning

Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College can enter via advanced standing into Stage 3 of Aston University’s MSc in General Dental Practice; with their attainment recognised as equivalent to 90 credits of relevant prior learning at level 7, a Master’s degree can be achieved after a single year of part-time distance learning.

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

Successful completion of the MSc in General Dental Practice also satisfies the Research & Publications domain of Fellowship, enabling Associate Fellows to become Role Fellows or take a step closer to full Fellowship.

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

The programme develops competence in research skills including:

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

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

Learning methods include online lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group activity, independent study, assignments and reflections on assignment feedback. Assessment will be through a combination of continuous assessment, logbook, research proposal, presentations and a dissertation.

Led by Dr Stuart Ellis FCGDent, a former FGDP(UK) examiner and Clinical Director of a five-surgery general dental practice, the programme is delivered by the Cambridge Academy of Implant Dentistry.

The one year course costs £15,000, payable in instalments. Tuition loans are available to those without an existing master’s degree or higher qualification.

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

fIND OUT MORE & APPLY

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College of General Dentistry Event

Advanced orthodontics course (block 2)

Wednesday 9 September 2026 – Saturday 12 September 2026

This training block is reserved for enrolled candidates progressing towards the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

IAS Academy, Towergate House, 22 Wintersells Road, Byfleet, Surrey KT14 7LF

The Advanced Orthodontics course is a comprehensive, 120-credit, Level 7 programme leading to the award of the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics.

Delivered by IAS Academy, it is designed to give General Dental Practitioners the skills and knowledge needed to treat more complex malocclusions, including extraction cases, taking them up to just below specialist training level. It covers all appliance systems – fixed functional, aligners, lingual and Inman – and includes both the theory and practical aspects of orthodontic care.

In addition to lectures, students will discuss multiple new cases, participate in hands-on practical sessions and receive one-to-one mentoring by specialists for ten treated cases. The syllabus, which is delivered across six 3-4 day training blocks as well as weekly online planning discussions, includes:

  • Records, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning
  • Treatment planning for Class I, Class II div1, Class II div 2 and Class III malocclusions
  • Radiography – Ceph/OPG/CBCT
  • Fixed appliances
  • Lingual appliances
  • Removable appliances
  • Functionals
  • Retention
  • Aetiology of malocclusion, growth & development
  • Development of the dentition and tooth movement
  • Dental material & biomechanics
  • Multidisciplinary care, including restorative, periodontics & surgery
  • Critical reading skills
  • Health education, health & safety, legislation and audit
  • Marketing and practice management 

Successful completion of the CGDent Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics satisfies the Clinical & Technical domain of Fellowship and brings automatic eligibility for Associate Fellowship of the College.

Attending

This training block is specifically for candidates accepted onto the 2026-28 cohort of the diploma course and is limited to 12 places. To ensure enough case-flow and experience, the course is recommended for dentists who have treated at least ten fixed cases, are treating a minimum of ten orthodontic cases per annum, and are familiar with using fixed appliances.

further information & REGISTRATION

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College of General Dentistry Event

Composite layering course for Foundation Trainees

Thursday 23 July – Friday 24 July 2026

GC European Education Campus, Leuven, Belgium.

Places on this course available exclusively to successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees

The GC composite layering course provides in-depth guidance on the complete process of restoring teeth using contemporary composite layering techniques and materials. Through hands-on sessions, supported by lectures, demos and one-to-one training, participants will gain an enhanced understanding of the science and protocols which will enable them to practice restorative dentistry with increased confidence, for the benefit of patients.

The course itinerary is tailored to meet the experience and skills of participants, and will cover:

  • Colour perception for recreating natural looking anterior direct restorations
  • Using a detailed layering technique with only inside and outside shades in a Class IV
  • Dealing with the challenging situation of masking a strong discoloration with a direct veneer
  • Finishing and polishing protocols
  • Injection Moulding Technique (IMT) – principles, indications and clinical guideline
  • Treating posterior and anterior tooth wear with IMT
  • Extending the limits of a direct Cl II restoration with a fibre reinforced and a high-filled injectable composite

Course leader

Dr Simone Moretto

Dr Moretto graduated in Dentistry from State University of Campinas in Brazil, going on to become a Specialist, Master and PhD in Restorative Dentistry at the Sao Paulo University, Brazil. as a research at BIOMAT, the Biomaterials Research group of the Department of Oral Health Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium, she developed a sound scientific background with papers published in peer reviewed journals and presentations at several International Congresses. Following her time at the University of Leuven, she taught as an Associate Professor in Brazil and then lectured in modern dentistry internationally. Since 2014, she has worked GC Europe as a Training Manager.

Attending the course

Places on this course available exclusively to successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees

A fully funded place on the composite layering course is offered to successful candidates in the CGDent and GC Award for Foundation Trainees, which is open to Dentists and Dental Therapists who qualified in the UK or Ireland in 2025 and are practising in the UK or Ireland, or who are undertaking Dental Foundation Training or Dental Vocational Training. The prize for successful candidates also includes hotel accommodation, international travel and subsistence.

To enter, eligible Dentists and Dental Therapists have to submit a restorative case they plan to treat, which involves more than one tooth, including at least one anterior tooth, and the use of composite to restore teeth.

The 2025/26 award is open to entries until Friday 20 February 2026.

further information

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College of General Dentistry Event

Presentations of Associate Fellows, Role Fellows and Fellows

SAVE THE DATE

Thursday 25 June 2026, 6-9pm, London

Professor Sreenivas Koka FCGDent being ceremonially admitted into Fellowship by College President Dr Roshni Karia

The Livery Hall, Cutlers’ Hall, Warwick Lane, London EC4M 7BR

Associate Fellows, Role Fellows and new Fellows of the College are invited to be presented for ceremonial admission into our Fellowship community by the President of the College, Dr Roshni Karia.

The presentations will be incorporated within the Fellows’ Summer Reception, and will take place in front of gathered Fellows, Role Fellows and Associate Fellows of the College.

This is the first opportunity for Role Fellows to be presented, and all Role Fellows attending the Fellows’ Summer Reception will be ceremonially admitted.

It is also just the third opportunity for Associate Fellows to be presented, and all Associate Fellows attending the Fellows’ Summer Reception who have not previously been presented will be ceremonially admitted.

New Fellows, and any College Fellow attending the Fellows’ Summer Reception who has neither been ceremonially admitted at a previous College Fellows’ Reception nor had their fellowship of the former FGDP(UK) conferred at a Diplomates’ Day will be ceremonially admitted.

Photographs of each presenting Fellow, Role Fellow and Associate Fellow being ceremonially admitted by the President will be made available shortly afterwards to download free of charge.

The Fellows’ Summer Reception is an opportunity for dental professionals to network with their peers, as well as to meet College Trustees and members of the College Council and Faculty Boards.

Formal business attire is recommended.

Information on ticketing, and a booking link, will be added here in due course.

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