top-post

The Dental Awards 2024 – Shortlist Revealed

The 2024 Dental Awards are almost upon us and, as the original and most prestigious Awards event in British Dentistry gears up for its 26th edition, it gives us at The Probe great pleasure in announcing the shortlisted entries for each of the categories.

Dates For Your Diary

The winners and finalists will be announced in a live-streamed presentation on Thursday 23rd 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 5th July 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, Tim Newton, Lisa Bainham, Miranda Steeples, Debbie Hemington, Pam Swain, Davinder Raju, Amit Patel, Paroo Mistry, Ewa Rozwadowska, Glenys Bridges, and Amanda Oakey.

The Dental Awards is sponsored by B.A. International, Colosseum Dental, Dental Elite, and Waterpik, and is presented in association with the Oral Health Foundation, ADAM, BADN, BADT, and BSDHT. We thank you all.

Shortlist Reveal

And now, on to today’s main event, as we reveal the entrants shortlisted for contention in The Dental Awards 2024:

BEST OUTREACH OR CHARITY INITIATIVE

  • Avan Mohammed, Queen’s Gate Orthodontics
  • Community Dental Services CIC – Severe Multiple Disadvantage Project
  • Gold For Kids Charity
  • KeepStokeSmiling
  • Liz Matthews, Langmans Dental Health Centre
  • Smile Together Dental CIC
  • Well Connected

 

WEBSITE AND DIGITAL CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

  • Cheadle Hulme, Manchester
  • DRMR Clinic, London
  • Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Meliora Dental, Leeds
  • {my}dentist, Kearsley

 

FRONT OF HOUSE/RECEPTIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Kelly Bird, All Saints Dental Clinic, Kings Heath
  • Mary Holroyd, Shiraz Endo, Solihull
  • Shauna Church, Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Trudy Horne, Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole

 

TEAM OF THE YEAR

  • Cheadle Hulme Dental and Cosmetics, Manchester
  • Community Dental Services CIC, Prisons Team
  • Cyncoed Dental Practice, Cardiff
  • Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole
  • Glenhaven Dental, Cardiff
  • Kings College Hospital Community Oral Health Promotion Team, London
  • Lodge Causeway Dental Centre, Bristol
  • Ridge Dental, Bristol
  • Ropergate Dental Care, Pontefract
  • Shiraz Endodontic Practice, Solihull
  • Smile Stories, Bournemouth
  • Stradbrook Dental, Tonbridge
  • Weybridge Dental Care, Weybridge

 

PRACTICE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

  • Alex McWhirter, North Cardiff Dental, Cardiff
  • Amanda Reast, The Dental Architect, Leeds
  • Amy Eadie, Ropergate Dental Care, Pontefract
  • Brittany Pittham, Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Denise Griffiths, Glenhaven Dental, Cardiff
  • Fiona McHugh, Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole
  • Lorraine Diaper, Bar Hill Dental, Cambridgeshire
  • Simona Pacuraru, All Saints Dental Clinic, Kings Heath

 

DENTAL NURSE OF THE YEAR

  • Amy Collin, Ropergate Dental Care, Pontefract
  • Aqsah Ali, All Saints Dental Clinic, Kings Heath
  • Brittany Pittham, Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Karima Ewida, Need A Nurse, Kidderminster
  • Naomi Gbasai, Shiraz Endo, Solihull
  • Natalie Marucci, Clear Dentistry, Southampton
  • Rebecca Silver
  • Shannon Wilkes, Euston Place Dental Practice, Leamington Spa
  • Wiktoria Wisniewska, Ridge Dental, Bristol

 

DENTAL HYGIENIST OF THE YEAR

  • Amanda Harbrow-Harris, Sharrow Dental Group, Chelmsford
  • Carly Perry, Six Gables Dental Care, Cardiff
  • Danuta Kurcharczyk, Six Gables Dental Care, London
  • Emma Fletcher, Dental Studio, Waterlooville
  • Gemma O’Callaghan, The Periodontal Therapy Clinic @ 10 Dental, Southport
  • Poppy Irvine, Adel Dental Practice, Leeds
  • Rafina O’Brien, Colosseum Dental, Yeovil
  • Sakina Syed, Bupa Dental Care, London Bank
  • Zara Shirvani, Zara The Hygienist

 

DENTAL THERAPIST OF THE YEAR

  • Chrystal Sharp, Wimpole Street Dental Clinic/ODL, London
  • Emily Hatfield, Ridge Dental, Bristol
  • Francesca Rhodes, Mola Dental, Sheffield
  • Jagjit Malhi, Clear Smiles, Wolverhampton
  • Kayley McCauley, Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole
  • Natalie Peary, Smile Together Dental CIC, Bodmin
  • Victoria Akinfenwa, New Cross Dental Practice, London

 

YOUNG DENTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Awaz Sharief, Bupa Dental Care, Bolton Silverwell
  • Azhar Chauhan, 1 Kings Dental, London
  • Chloe Harrington-Taylor, Hereford Dental Implant Clinic, Hereford
  • Dharmesh Mistry, YOR Dental, Salford Quays
  • Giovanni Martino, Somerford House Dental Clinic, Bristol
  • Karam Singh Lalli, Staffa Lodge Smile Clinic, Ipswich
  • Rajen Nagar, Yorkshire Dental Suite, Leeds
  • Roshan Vasaiwalla, Denvolve | Dental, London
  • Russell Hashemi, Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Salman Siddiqi, Queensway Dental, Stockton on Tees
  • Sanjana Sudarshan, Wimpole Street Dental Clinic and Kings Road Dental Practice, London
  • Shamaila Mahmood, All Saints Dental Clinic, Kings Heath
  • Uzair Janjua, Clear Smiles, Wolverhampton
  • Wiktor Pietraszewski, Fulham Road Dental, London
  • Zain Remy, Auckland Cosmetic Dental Clinic, Bishop Auckland

 

DENTIST OF THE YEAR

  • Ahmed Farooq, All Saints Dental Clinic, Kings Heath
  • Aly Virani, North Cardiff Dental, Cardiff
  • Anam Sadozai, Solihull
  • Andre Faro Leite, Inspired Dental Care, Exeter
  • Andy Davies, Abercorn Dental Care, Banbridge
  • Avan Mohammed, Queen’s Gate Orthodontics, London
  • Gayathiri Ramani Balasubramaniam, Sandal Dental Care, Wakefield
  • Karen Gangotra, Smilessence, East Molesey
  • Kunal Rai, Meliora Dental, Leeds
  • Martina Hodgson, The Dental Architect, Leeds
  • Nida Kamal, Shiraz Endo, Solihull
  • Philip McCauley, Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole
  • Rachel Derby, Chapel Dental, Flackwell Heath
  • Shi Karim, Cheadle Hulme Dental and Cosmetics, Manchester
  • Wajiha Basir, Trinity House Dental Care, Wilmslow

 

PRACTICE OF THE YEAR

  • Cheadle Hulme Dental and Cosmetics, Manchester
  • Codsall Dental Practice, Codsall
  • Cyncoed Dental Practice, Cardiff
  • Dorset Dental Clinic, Poole
  • DRMR, London
  • Glenhaven Dental, Cardiff
  • Lodge Causeway Dental Centre, Bristol
  • North Cardiff Dental, Cardiff
  • Ropergate Dental Care, Pontefract
  • Shiraz Endodontic Practice, Solihull
  • Smile Stories, Bournemouth
  • Smile Together Dental CIC, Bodmin
  • SMILESSENCE, East Molesey
  • The Dental Parlour, Coventry
  • Vitaliteeth Dental Spa, Edinburgh
  • York House Dental Practice. West Byfleet

Greater powers for dental hygienists and therapists? (Podcast/Video)

Following news that the Department of Health and Social Care plans to streamline processes within dental settings by granting ‘new powers’ to dental hygienists and dental therapists, we caught up with BSDHT President Miranda Steeples to discuss what this means for the profession and patient access.

Miranda also talks about how the decision to allow dental hygienists and therapists to supply and administer medicines, including pain relief and fluoride without sign-off from a dentist, came about, and how long we might have to wait for this to come into effect.

This episode of The Probe Dental Podcast is sponsored by Oralieve: Dry mouth relief for dry and sensitive mouths.

https://www.oralieve-direct.co.uk/

Listen here as well as on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

 

Or watch the interview via The Probe’s YouTube channel: 

 

Linda Giles provides a positive balance

Which?⁠ recently revealed the results of a dental survey it had conducted, with approximately 90% of respondents saying they would recommend their dental practice. Linda Giles from ⁠Ross Brooke Dental⁠ discusses what practices can be doing with this data, as well as how it provides a more balanced perspective of UK dentistry services.

Listen here as well as on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

Or watch the interview via The Probe’s YouTube channel: 

 

For more information, visit ⁠https://www.ross-brooke-dental.co.uk/

R A Medical celebrates 30 years

Janet Pickles, CEO of R A Medical, discusses what inspired the formation of the specialist company for the supply, installation, repair, and maintenance of inhalation sedation and associated equipment three decades ago.

Janet also reflects on changes she has witnessed over the course of 30 years, and fills us in on what R A Medical provides today.

Listen here as well as on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

Or watch the interview via The Probe’s YouTube channel: 

 

 

For more information, visit https://ramedical.com/

Reimagining group dentistry. Making lives better.

If you weren’t already aware, Portman Dental Care and Dentex Health merged in April 2023 to form one of the most prominent providers of privately focused dental care in UK and Ireland. This week, with the reveal of the new name and brand for the business – PortmanDentex – they’ve shared their mission to reimagine group dentistry and wellness enabling happier and healthier futures for patients, clinicians and colleagues.

A smile. For life.

We know that good dental care matters. It’s a vital part of a healthier, happier life – and it matters to people of all ages. Across the UK and Ireland, patients rely on highly experienced clinicians who are empowered to do their best work. At PortmanDentex our practices are integral parts of their local communities, and our role is to support our clinicians and practice teams to deliver the best care possible to their patients – every day.

Today we support over 370 practices, with more than 2,400 passionate clinicians and 4,500 dedicated practice colleagues providing dental care for around 1.5 million patients every year. We are passionate about creating better ways to support our network of clinicians in delivering excellent care to our patients and we have the scale and commitment to make a lasting positive difference to the world of dentistry.

“We’re excited to share with you our new brand – marking the next step in our exciting journey as PortmanDentex… We now have a huge opportunity to provide best in class care to our patients, an inspiring place to work for both our clinicians and colleagues and a sustainable platform with which to achieve this.” Julie Ross CEO UK & Ireland

For every practice. And every smile.

The key is partnership. We know that every community and every patient is unique. As a dental group we strive to balance celebrating the individuality of our clinicians and practices, while using the benefits of our scale and commitment to deliver the best care possible for all of our patients.

In all of our work, we aim to deliver for our patients, our colleagues and our clinicians. That means supporting our high-performing practices with continual curiosity about what comes next,  constantly imagining new possibilities and harnessing technology to innovate and improve the way we do things.

Dental health. Brighter futures.

We’re delighted to reveal our new identity. It’s based on positive partnerships – the power of working together to provide dental care that enables better health and happiness across lifetimes. Please watch our new film – we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

We’d love for you to support us, so please do follow us on LinkedIn [insert handle] – and keep up-to- date with what we’re up to and our future plans.

 

For more information please visit: portmandentex.com

Or follow Portman Dentex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/portmandentex/

Dental Awards submission deadline extended to 1st March

Due to high demand, the deadline for submissions to this year’s Dental Awards has been extended a week, until Friday 1st March 2024. This will allow those who have registered to enter an extra seven days to complete their entries at the-probe.co.uk/awards.

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 2024 are:

  • National Smile Month Award
  • Dentist of the Year
  • Young Dentist of the Year
  • Dental Therapist of the Year
  • Dental Hygienist of the Year
  • Practice Manager of the Year
  • Dental Nurse of the Year
  • Front of House/Receptionist Award
  • Practice of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Best Outreach or Charity Initiative
  • Best Website or Digital Campaign

For more information on each category, including entry criteria, visit https://the-probe.co.uk/awards/categories/

Enter here.

“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, 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.

Enter The Dental Awards 2024 by 23rd February

The countdown to The Dental Awards 2024 is on, as entries are now open here and at the-probe.co.uk/awards. The deadline for submissions is 23rd February 2024.

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 2024 are:

  • National Smile Month Award
  • Dentist of the Year
  • Young Dentist of the Year
  • Dental Therapist of the Year
  • Dental Hygienist of the Year
  • Practice Manager of the Year
  • Dental Nurse of the Year
  • Front of House/Receptionist Award
  • Practice of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Best Outreach or Charity Initiative
  • Best Website or Digital Campaign

For more information on each category, including entry criteria, visit https://the-probe.co.uk/awards/categories/

Enter here.

“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, 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.

The Dental Awards 2024 is now open for entries

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 2024 are:

  • National Smile Month Award
  • Dentist of the Year
  • Young Dentist of the Year
  • Dental Therapist of the Year
  • Dental Hygienist of the Year
  • Practice Manager of the Year
  • Dental Nurse of the Year
  • Front of House/Receptionist Award
  • Practice of the Year
  • Team of the Year
  • Best Outreach or Charity Initiative
  • Best Website or Digital Campaign

For more information on each category, including entry criteria, visit https://the-probe.co.uk/awards/categories/

Enter here.

“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, 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.

For more information on our sponsors and partners, visit https://the-probe.co.uk/awards/sponsors/

Enter The Dental Awards 2024 here.

Christie & Co’s Dental Market Review 2023 with Paul Graham (Podcast/Video)

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.

Listen here as well as on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

Or watch the interview via The Probe’s YouTube channel: 

 

Read the report at ⁠https://www.christie.com/news-resources/publications/dental-market-review-2023/

The Probe Presents: Implants, Education and NSK (VIDEO)

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

Listen here as well as on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more:

 

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.

Find out more about NSK’s range of surgical equipment at https://www.uk.nsk-dental.com/products/surgical/

More about ASHA courses at https://www.ashaclub.co.uk/