The countdown to The Dental Awards 2024 is on, as entries are now open here and at the-probe.co.uk/awards. Register before 12th January 2024 to qualify for an early bird discount of £35 per entry.
2024 marks the 26th year for The Dental Awards, presented by The Probe, which celebrates the very best of British dentistry.
As the original and most respected awards programme in UK dentistry, The Probe’s Dental Awards are judged by a panel of leading practitioners and KOLs, providing an unrivalled opportunity for practices and DCPs to shine a spotlight on the vast skill and talent that exist within their teams.
The 12 categories that comprise The Dental Awards 2023 are:
“We at The Probe are so excited to announce the 26th edition of The Dental Awards for 2024 – the longest-running awards event in British dentistry,” said James Cooke, Editor of The Probe. “And, for the third year in a row, we’re going to follow what has proven to be a popular and successful new format for The Dental Awards ceremony. Finalists, Highly Commended, and Winners will all be announced via a streamed video presentation in the spring. The winners will then have the opportunity to join members of the judging panel and our sponsors for a free, intimate meal, where they will be presented with their certificates and trophies in person. So, there’s no need to pay extortionate ticket costs!”
The Dental Awards 2024 is presented by B.A. International, Colosseum Dental, Dental Elite, Johnson & Johnson – the makers of LISTERINE – and Waterpik, in association with The Association of Dental Administrators and Practice Managers, British Association of Dental Nurses, British Association of Dental Therapists, British Society of Dental Hygienists and Therapists, and the Oral Health Foundation.
Christie & Co. Head of Dental, Paul Graham, returns to discuss the company’s Dental Market Review 2023, which offers a panoramic view of the UK dental business sector, spotlighting important areas, including sector ownership structures, evolving market dynamics, current pricing patterns, an insightful operational review, and an assessment of the current appetite of banks to lend to the sector.
Dr Balaji is the principal dentist and owner of The Gallery Dental and Implant Centre in Buckingham and has placed over 5,000 dental implants since he opened the practice in 2008. He is also the founder of ASHA (the Academy of Soft and Hard Tissue Augmentation), running courses and lectures across the UK and Europe
Or watch the interview via The Probe’s Youtube channel:
When I started The Gallery in 2008, the building was a complete shell and we had to start from scratch to establish a dental practice. In the first year, we had five employees and focused mainly on general dentistry.
However, my aim was to grow the practice to include teaching and I have been fortunate to have travelled the world, learned different skills and been able to share my knowledge and passion for education, which in turn has helped me to develop my practice.
All my skills came together when I developed an interest in implant dentistry. I had learned basic surgical skills early in my career and implant dentistry allows me to utilise these to change patients’ smiles and often their lives.
I’m now doing more and more complex cases and am building a reputation as a clinician who can solve implant failures. Currently, 30% of my work is regular implant placement, and 70% is complex cases, such as bone and soft tissue augmentation and rehabilitation. I place around 300 to 400 implants a year.
The first thing I look for as a clinician is really good reliable equipment that will make my surgical life easier and won’t let me down. Secondly, it needs to be comfortable for the patient and thirdly I look for company support and service. I currently use the NSK Surgic Pro and VarioSurg3 because these tick all the boxes.
The VarioSurg3 makes surgery highly predictable, it’s faster and therefore better for the patient and the success rate is excellent. The VarioSurg3 and Surgic Pro can be linked using a simple cable. They sit on top of each other which keeps everything really compact and neat, makes life simpler and only requires one foot pedal. With everything in one place it really cuts down my surgical time and a faster procedure also means reduced swelling and reduces the chance of post-operative complications, so in every sense, a more efficient procedure benefits everyone. NSK also gives me fantastic support, they service my equipment regularly, so I never need to postpone appointments due to equipment failure. I can really rely on them.
I also use the iSD900 Prosthodontic Screwdriver on almost every case and this is a fantastic little tool. It’s an amazing instrument because it gives you great accessibility, in particular in the posterior maxilla and mandible. Trying to screw in manually with your fingers is very difficult, but with this screwdriver you simply pop the screw in and it becomes a single unit. The torque calibration system means you can prevent over or under torquing. It’s fantastic and again just makes life so much easier, it saves time and means I can carry out the procedure with confidence.
I’m a great believer in ongoing education and am the founder of ASHA, the Academy of Soft and Hard Tissue Augmentation. We run courses and lectures on treating difficult implant cases and I often mentor dentists who have been on my course. I’ve run some of my ASHA courses at NSK’s Headquarters in Stevenage and NSK has been incredibly supportive, providing all the kit and equipment necessary.
I’m very particular about the companies I work with and the equipment I use. NSK offers great support and a very high standard of equipment, both of which are fundamental, but they also invest time and money to educate dentists, which is something I’m passionate about so our relationship is built on a shared vision.
Dr Sonia Szamocki discusses her company, 32Co – a 50-person London-based clear aligner company disrupting some of the biggest brands in dentistry. 32Co has differentiated itself by offering free, comprehensive training for new and experienced clear aligner providers, specialist orthodontist mentorship, and wholesale prices. The company has even partnered with Dental Protection, the first partnership between a clear aligner company and a dental indemnifier, which exists to both reduce risk for dentists, and improve patient outcomes.
Frank Taylor & Associates’ Managing Director, Lis Hughes, joins us to discuss the dental practice sales market as mortgage rates continue in their state of flux.
Lis also provides her top tips for anyone currently thinking of buying – or selling – a practice.
A new Software of Excellence podcast for the whole dental team offers reassurance and advice on how to build growth that can be sustained in the face of current market challenges
Software of Excellence has released a new podcast covering some of the most important issues in UK dentistry today. Durable Growth – a practice perspectiveis a 50-minute conversation with two people involved in practice life on a practical level, providing ‘real world insight’ into how they are overcoming the challenges currently being faced by practice owners. Here’s a taster of what the podcast covers.
Emerging industry challenges
Team empowerment and motivation
Staff recruitment and retention
In-practice experience and patient journey
Operational control and the power of delegation
Join Sales Manager at Software of Execllence Josh Wren and listen to the thoughts of two people at the sharp end of UK dentistry; Clinical Director at Archway Dental in Devon, Felicity Bender, and Kunal Thakker, CEO of Tooth Club, a medium sized group of 11 practices across the South East.
A brief analysis of the rollercoaster landscape in which dentistry has existed since 2020 demonstrates clearly why creating growth based on strong foundations gives practices the ability to flex with changing external factors – building what Software of Excellence calls ‘Durable Growth’. In his introduction Josh asks listeners to consider the factors that are contributing to a less predictable dental arena. He highlights the drop off in Google searches for dental terms such as ‘teeth whitening’ and a reduction in average transaction values, as pointers to some emerging challenges for dentists, which, if not tackled, could present real dangers for practice teams in the near future.
Both Felicity and Kunal explain their personal experiences and paint a picture of a challenging but as yet manageable environment, raising issues of recruitment, team morale and motivation, and the importance of delivering great patient experience.
Anecdotally we know that recruitment remains an issue for practices and Felicity and Kunal’s experience bears this out. They give practical examples of how they expedite these challenges by putting the team at the top of their priorities, offering suitable training, a clear career pathway and good working conditions. They recognise that team building and developing a positive culture is an important part of each individual’s motivation and these factors are acknowledged as being fundamental to the success of their practices.
Felicity explains that in her view a happy team is contagious, and she believes that patients can sense a positive atmosphere within a practice, which in turn puts them at their ease. In her practice their team is empowered to act independently and use their initiative. She finds that giving her team this freedom promotes goodwill throughout the practice and means that people are willing to ‘go the extra mile’ and she gives some great examples of how they do this.
Kunal explains how he personally has found it difficult to ‘let go’ of some aspects of his operations but knows that to grow he needs to do so. He explains how he overcomes this by recruiting people who are the best at what they do – thereby building his confidence in their abilities.
Interestingly Felicity and Kunal both encourage a vibrant therapist’s model within their practices, working to their full scope of practice, they explain how this benefits the whole practice and its patients, who enjoy better access to care.
The podcast points to the importance of providing patients with an excellent experience and offers real-world insight and examples of how the teams work to ensure that the patients’ journey is as smooth and stress free as possible.
Kunal and Felicity are both passionate about their businesses and this podcast provides an opportunity for them to share their experiences, successes and failures with dentists and practice owners who might be undergoing similar challenges.
This is just a small taster of the many topics covered in the podcast, which can be viewed here:
The winners, highly commended, and finalists of the 25th annual Dental Awards have been revealed. The presentation, which streamed on the-probe.co.uk, as well as on The Probe’s Youtube channel, is available to watch on-demand now. Click play below to see the winners of The Dental Awards 2023 react to their victories, as well as to discover who was named a finalist in each of the 12 hotly contested categories.
Here is the full list of winners and finalists in each category of The Dental Awards 2023:
BEST OUTREACH OR CHARITY INITIATIVE
Winner: South West Foundation Dentists and Therapists, Health Education England Wincanton
South West Foundation Dentists and Therapists primarily work with vulnerable adults who do not visit a dentist and showed great data in their application. They have a holistic approach that addresses mental and overall whole-body health. The judges recognised the significance of the fact that the South West Foundation team maintains a line of communication with other health professionals, including GPs.
Highly Commended: Torrs Park Dental Practice, Ilfracombe
WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Winner: Abbey House Dental, Stoke on Trent
The presentation along with the testimonials reflect a dental practice that cares for its patients, and the overall success of their treatments.
Winner: Oral Health Promotion Team (AKA The Tooth Fairies), Nottinghamshire
Their presentation detailed a National Smile Month campaign, designed and delivered specifically to educate and share the key messages and campaign to their audience. An impact was both intended and delivered with National Smile Month and oral health activity as the vehicle. This was Oral Health promotion at its best, reaching all population groups with oral health education. Working with families and professionals across Nottinghamshire. Resulting in reaching all ages with a huge impact across social media, displays and visits.
Highly Commended: Torrs Park Dental Practice, Ilfracombe
A dedicated team working to improve patient care together. Examples of training across the team are strong, the social aspect is strong, and the patient and community care is outstanding. Great to see the shortlisting last year spurred them to improve further.
Highly Commended: Glenhaven Dental, Taff’s Well
Finalists:
Abbey House Dental, Stoke on Trent
EGO Dental, London
Torrs Park Dental Practice, Ilfracombe
PRACTICE MANAGER OF THE YEAR – in association with ADAM
Winner: Janine Kidd, Middleton St George Dental Care, Darlington
Janine has shown that she has that sixth sense, also known as an extremely high level of emotional intelligence that helps her beyond the extensive duties of a practice manager, which she also does diligently and with pride in her role.
Highly Commended: Alex McWhirter, North Cardiff Dental, Cardiff
Finalists:
Christy Rush, Affinity Dental Care, Gloucester
Kelly Davies and Stacey Lungrin, Abbey House Dental, Stoke on Trent
DENTAL NURSE OF THE YEAR – in association with BADN
Athansia is a credit to her profession. Continuous development of her skills and knowledge and is also striving to ensure her patients care is the priority. Athansia demonstrates a nurturing, supportive attitude to all her team.
New regulations have been influenced by the Christine, resulting in a widespread effect on the entire profession. A lovely example of someone quietly getting on with the job without trumpeting themselves. Christine is inspired by others, uses visual aids to educate, and follows current guidelines. Far exceeded statutory requirements with her ongoing education.
Miss Kirsty Ives, Vitaliteeth Dental Spa, Edinburgh
Sakina Syed, Bupa Dental Care – London Bank
Sanae El Hasnaoui, Harley Street Dental Clinic, London
DENTAL THERAPIST OF THE YEAR – in association with BADT
Winner: Jyoti Sumel, Community Dental Services CIC, Sharnbrook
Works to her full DT scope with different patient groups and has pushed herself to become the first DT Fellow for NHSE , which is what a role model should be. Students and novice DTs should aspire to do this. She has learned sign language to aid communication, is a BADT member, and has done volunteering work. She has presented and been published.
She also includes special care patients in the oral health regime. It’s fantastic to see a dental therapist working in the non “glamourous” service and still pushing boundaries. A refreshing change! Jyoti is a credit to the profession.
Highly Commended: Lorena Pivoda, Greenwich Dental Health, London
Finalists:
Amy Mesilio Peralta, The Dental Care Centre, Gibraltar
Neringa Krusinskaite, Falkirk Dental Care, Falkirk
YOUNG DENTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Dr Aly Virani, North Cardiff Dental, Cardiff
Highly commended in 2022, Aly wins Young Dentist of the Year for 2023. Committed to the dental profession, shows enthusiasm to develop himself and others in his team. Humble, small practice owner doing his thing and doing it well. Shows true passion for work.
Highly Commended: Dr Affan Saghir, Space Dental, Wakefield
Highly Commended: Dr Balraj Sohal, Ridgway Dental, Wimbledon Village and Hacton Dental Care, Essex
Finalists:
Dr Kalpesh Prajapat, Abbey House Dental, Stafford
Dr Kiran Shankla, Kendrick View Dental Practice, Reading
DENTIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Dr Amit Jilka, Abbey House Dental, Stoke on Trent
Amit demonstrates excellent leadership for growth, combined with mentoring in clinical excellence with clinicians and team members.
Highly Commended: Dr Martina Hodgson, The Dental Architect, Leeds
Finalists:
Dr Neel Tank, Imogen Dental, Benson
Dr Wajiha Basir, Trinity House Dental Care, Wilmslow
Dr Rachel Derby, Chapel Dental, High Wycombe
PRACTICE OF THE YEAR
Winner: The Dental Architect, Leeds
Exceptional vision by practice principal, with systems delegated professionally to a highly trained team delivering excellent care and patient journey.
Highly Commended: Abbey House Dental, Stoke on Trent
A very well-run practice with good mentoring towards excellent clinical performance and teamwork.
Commended: Glenhaven Dental, Taff’s Well
Finalists:
Falkirk Dental Care, Falkirk
Imogen Dental, Benson
Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners! Finalists and commended will receive their certificates shortly in the post, while winners will be invited to join judges and sponsors at a top London venue on Friday 30th June to celebrate their victories in style, and to be presented with their trophies and certificates in person.
The wait is almost over as the winners and finalists of the 25th annual Dental Awards will be announced during a live-streamed presentation on Thursday 18th May at 12pm (Midday). The broadcast, hosted by BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas, will be available here on the-probe.co.uk, as well as The Probe’s Youtube Channel.
Don’t worry if you’re unable to watch live, as the presentation will be immediately available on-demand.
The winners will then be invited to join judges and sponsors at a top London venue on Friday 30th June to celebrate their victories in style, and to be presented with their trophies and certificates in person.
The 25th Annual Dental Awards are almost upon us and, as the original and most prestigious Awards event in British Dentistry gears up for its silver edition, it gives us at The Probe great pleasure in announcing the 2023 shortlisted entries for each of our 12 categories.
Dates For Your Diary
The winners and finalists will be announced in a live-streamed presentation on Thursday 18th May at 12pm (Midday). The broadcast, hosted by BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Sarah Keith-Lucas, will be available to tune into on the-probe.co.uk, as well as The Probe’s Youtube Channel.
Don’t worry if you’re unable to watch live, as the presentation will be immediately available on-demand.
The winners will then be invited to join judges and sponsors at a top London venue on Friday 30th June to celebrate their victories in style, and to be presented with their trophies and certificates in person.
Special Thanks
A massive thank you to everyone who entered this year’s awards. The high volume of entries from dentists, therapists, hygienists, practices, nurses and dental teams lends itself to the immense talent and skill within the profession, as well as the high esteem in which the Dental Awards is held.
A special thanks goes to our expert judging panel, comprising: Ben Atkins, Mhari Coxon, Lisa Bainham, Miranda Steeples, Debbie Hemington, Pam Swain, Amit Patel, Paroo Mistry, Ewa Rozwadowska, Glenys Bridges, and Amanda Oakey.
Hot on the heels of the launch of Christie & Co’s report, Business Outlook 2023: Finding Clarity, The Probe caught up with the specialist property adviser and brokerage’s Head of Dental, Paul Graham, to find out how external factors such as the cost of living are affecting the market, as well as dentistry specific elements, including NHS contract reforms. After a tumultuous 2022, what might 2023 have in store?
