Members of the College of General Dentistry who are UK taxpayers can now claim income tax relief on their membership fees.

The College began enrolling founding members in 2020, and qualifying professional bodies can apply after three years to have their subscriptions allowed as a tax deduction. The College has now been added to HMRC’s List of approved professional organisations and learned societies (List 3), where it is listed under ‘G’ with the title ‘General Dentistry College of (with effect from 6 April 2023)‘.

Both employed and self-employed members of the College can therefore now claim tax relief on their full annual fee, and the size of the saving they make will vary from £8.40 to £227.95 according to the individual’s team role, membership grade, tax position and jurisdiction.

Those who are self-employed can claim the fee as an expense against their relevant self-employment income, and those who are employed can claim tax relief as an employment expense under section 344 ITEPA 2003.

However, tax relief can only be claimed by those who pay the fee themselves. It cannot be claimed by those whose employer pays their membership fee, nor by those who claim the cost of membership back from their employer, nor in most cases by retired practitioners, and claims for tax relief cannot be made in relation to fees paid in tax years prior to 2023/24.

The tables below illustrate the effective cost of current College membership fees for each team role and membership grade after relief at the basic and higher rates of income tax currently applicable in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (These are also now shown on the College’s membership fees page). The effective costs will differ for additional rate taxpayers and those living in Scotland.

Dentists

Dental Hygienists, Dental Therapists, Dental Technicians, Clinical Dental Technicians, Orthodontic Therapists

Dental Nurses, plus concessionary fees for all groups

Other members

The College of General Dentistry has endorsed a scheme offering dental professionals certified training and experience in research.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Associate Principal Investigator Scheme is aimed at health and care professionals who would not normally have the opportunity to take part in clinical research in their day to day role, but who are interested in learning about it and willing to make a significant contribution to the conduct and delivery of a study for at least six months.

Participating practitioners work alongside the Principal Investigator (PI) of a relevant NIHR Portfolio study being carried out locally, at the same site, typically for 2-3 hours per week. Mentored by the PI, they also complete a checklist of study activities and an online learning pathway, and on successful completion of the scheme are issued a certificate confirming NIHR Associate Principal Investigator status.

Endorsement by the College has allowed the scheme to open to NIHR Portfolio studies in the institute’s Oral and Dental Specialty, and certificates issued to successful trainees will be endorsed by the College.

An introductory video is above, and details of how to become a trainee, or how to register a study for the scheme, can be found on the NIHR Associate PI Scheme website.

The College of General Dentistry’s online Member Register, a public record of each current member’s membership number and grade, can now also display their postgraduate qualifications and awards.

The new functionality has been developed following interest from College members, who can now proudly display their educational and career achievements alongside their membership. The register displays only eligible awards, and only at the request of individual members and once validated by the College.

There is no charge for the service, which is open to all those in full membership of the College (Full Members, Associate Fellows and Fellows). Permitted inclusions are those postgraduate qualifications and professional accomplishments which contribute to eligibility for the individual’s grade of membership, with Associate Fellows also able to display awards which are recognised in the criteria for individual domains of Fellowship. The following awards are currently eligible for inclusion:

• Accredited Full Membership of the British Association for Cosmetic Dentistry
• Board Certification by the American Board of General Dentistry
• CGDent Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics
• Diploma in General Dental Practice
• Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies
• Fellowship of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
• Fellowship of the College of Dentistry of South Africa
• Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Fellowship of the Faculty of Medical Leadership & Management
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
• Fellowship of the International College of Dentists
• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow or its Faculty of Dental Surgery
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland or its Faculty of Dentistry
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh or its Faculty of Dental Surgery
• Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England or its Faculty of Dental Surgery
• Fellowship or Honorary Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice
• FGDP(UK) Diploma in Implant Dentistry
• FGDP(UK) Diploma in Minor Oral Surgery
• FGDP(UK) Diploma in Orthodontics
• FGDP(UK) Diploma in Primary Care Oral Surgery
• FGDP(UK) Diploma in Restorative Dentistry
• Law degree or LLM
• Master’s level qualification(s) in a relevant subject
• Membership in Advanced General Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Membership in General Dental Surgery
• Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons
• MFDS
• MFGDP(UK)
• MJDF
• MPhil or PhD in a relevant subject
• Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education
• Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in a relevant legal subject
• Postgraduate Certificate(s) in a subject relevant to oral health
• Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a leadership and/or management subject
• Postgraduate Diploma(s) in a subject relevant to oral health
• RCS(Ed) Diploma in Implant Dentistry
• Specialty Membership of a Royal College or Royal College faculty

To be accepted, Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas and Master’s-level qualifications must be university-awarded or equivalent credentials at Level 7 as defined in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (equivalent to Level 11 in Scotland). They must also provide respectively 60, 120 and 180 UK credits or their international equivalent.

Further details are available here.

All registered dental professionals are eligible to become an Associate Member of the College, and the College would be delighted to discuss full membership options with any dental professionals holding or working towards eligible postgraduate qualifications. Eligibility criteria for each grade of membership are available here.

Marie Parker and Jane Clarke have been appointed as Trustees of the College of General Dentistry. They are the third and fourth new Trustees appointed since the College opened its doors to members in 2021, with Fred Thomson and Onkar Dhanoya having been appointed in 2022.

Marie Parker FCGDent is the Deputy Programme Director of Hygiene and Therapy at University College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust London.  Since qualifying as a dental nurse, she has worked in various areas of dentistry and completed a number of leadership and management qualifications, as well as a Master’s in Education. An advocate and promoter of dental nursing careers, and of improving the accessibility of education and training for all registered dental care professionals, she has been involved in the training and education of dental nurses and other members of the dental team throughout most of her career.  She is a past Chair and Trustee of the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses, and Co-chair of the Dental Trailblazers group.

Dr Onkar Dhanoya FCGDent has been Principal Dentist at Honour Health, a mixed NHS-and-private dental group, since 1986, providing treatments including dental implants, facial aesthetics and orthodontics at its three practices across the North East of England. He graduated from Newcastle University in 1985, is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and represented the Yorkshire and Northern region on the FGDP National Board, and later on the CGDent Council, from 2014-22. Chair of North Tyne LDC, and past President of the BDA’s Northern Counties branch, he has been a clinical teacher at Newcastle Dental Hospital since 1995 and a Director of Dental Protection since 2019. He served two terms as Vice Dean of the FGDP, was an MJDF examiner for ten years, and chaired the FGDP’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programme Board.

Jane Clarke is a governance specialist in the professional body and not-for-profit sectors. In a seventeen-year career at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, her posts included Head of the Executive Office and Director of Policy Coordination. In 1995 she moved to the National Trust, where she was Assistant Director for Committee Services and Administration, Deputy Secretary then Secretary. In 2006 she joined the Royal College of Nursing, working as Director of Governance Support and Group Secretary. She was also Company Secretary of its commercial subsidiary, RCNi, and a Founder of the RCN Foundation. Since retiring in 2020, she has been a Director of Landscape Services and Trustee of the Landscape Institute, and is an appointed Independent Person for a group of borough councils in Surrey.

“Fred Thomson is a solicitor specialising in procurement law. After graduating in computing, he became an IT systems engineer and consultant and programme manager, later completing a Bachelor’s in Law and Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice. He also holds an MSc in Engineering and Management, an LLM and a Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management, and is a Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Fellow of both the Institution of Analysts and Programmers and the Institute of Leadership, and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. An officer in the Royal Naval Reserve for over 20 years, he holds the rank of Commander. He was also a mentor for the charity IntoUniversity, which helps young people achieve the best results they can in accessing higher education.”

Members of the Board of Trustees, who serve three-year terms of office, are accountable for the fulfilment of the College’s legal and regulatory duties as a charity, and for ensuring the proper running of the organisation.

The other members of the Trustee Board are Dr Mick Horton FCGDent, former Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK, who has served since 2017 and became Chair earlier this year; Dr Janet Clarke MBE FCGDent, former Deputy Chief Dental Officer for England, who joined the Board in 2019 and served as Chair from 2020-23; and Neil Sawbridge, an experienced banking and leasing Chief Financial Officer who has been an independent Trustee since 2017.

The new appointees have succeeded Dr Kevin Lewis FCGDent, former Dental Director at Dental Protection, who served on the Board from 2017-22 and is now a College Ambassador; fellow former dental Trustee Professor Liz Kay MBE FCGDent, Foundation Dean and Emeritus Professor at Peninsula Dental School (2019-22); Kate Gregory, a legal consultant and qualified litigator (2019-22); and fellow former independent Trustee Lesley Pan, who specialises in building and developing charitable enterprises (2019-23).

Other former members of the Board include Professor Sir Nairn Wilson CBE FCGDent, Past President of the British Dental Association and Honorary Founding President of the College, who served as Chair from 2017-20; Dr Ian Mills FCGDent, former Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK, who was a Trustee from 2018-21; and Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive and Registrar of the General Pharmaceutical Council, who served from 2017-19.

On Saturday 25 November 2023, the College of General Dentistry held its first ‘NextGen’ event, part of a new initiative to raise awareness of its mission among dental students and early career professionals.

The CGDent NextGen Leadership Workshop, which took place in Manchester, was open to students on the Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BSc or DipHE Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, BSc Clinical Dental Technology and BSc Dental Studies courses at the University of Manchester, the University of Liverpool, the University of Birmingham and the University of Central Lancashire, as well as Foundation Dentists and Foundation Dental Therapists in the North West region.

Successful applicants were awarded a fully funded place at the one-day workshop, which explored the skills required for effective leadership in dentistry, through a series of talks, workshops and discussion. The day focused on the five competencies in the Agency Domain of the College’s Professional Framework for Career Pathways in Dentistry: autonomy, decision-making, influence, leadership and management.

Supported by five College facilitators, the delegates were encouraged to examine the key leadership skills and consider how they could develop them through short-term, medium-term and long-term goals.

Christy, a BDS student at the University of Birmingham who took part in the day, said: 

“It was great to meet the facilitators and other students there. Everyone was so welcoming, and the talks and activities were easily accessible – no matter what stage or area of dentistry we were in. I’ve learnt multiple ways to develop my skill set, information about the College of General Dentistry and thoroughly look forward to future events.”

Many of those who attended the workshop have become NextGen Ambassadors for the College, with the aim of raising awareness within their communities of CGDent’s mission and of the career support it offers to dental professionals.

The College wishes to thank the students and Foundation Trainees who enthusiastically took part in the day; the workshop facilitators who generously gave their time and expertise (Phillip Brown, Poppy Dunton, Roshni Karia, Abhi Pal and Sir Nairn Wilson); and the University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, University of Birmingham, University of Central Lancashire and Health Education North West for their support.

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) has published Sustainability in dentistry: Leading for change, a scoping review to inform and engage the dental profession, industry, and wider oral health and dental care infrastructure on the environmental sustainability of practicing dentistry.

With the sub-title Environmentally sustainable dentistry to address the climate crisis, the review is organised thematically to provide an in-depth exploration of a wide range of factors such as legislation, health service emissions targets, prescribing, procurement, education and regulation, and makes recommendations for change that can be undertaken by each part of the system. It also presents case studies of exemplar efforts made to address the environmental impact of dental care and oral health services, and includes suggestions for further reading.

The review was written by a team of eight Clinical Fellows working at national dental organisations as part of the Chief Dental Officer for England’s Clinical Leadership Scheme, with input from expert contributors from academia, dental practice and government organisations.

Produced with the support of the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England and the College of General Dentistry, it aims to inspire positive change by all those involved in the provision of oral healthcare related products, services and policy.

On behalf of the authors, Amarantha Fennell-Wells, Senior Clinical Policy Manager at the Office of the Chief Dental Officer England, said:

“Dental care creates a significant carbon footprint, and we owe it to current and future generations to contribute to emissions reduction by making our dental practice as environmentally sustainable as possible. Each practice and all staff can play their part in delivering sustainability in dentistry, and our review synthesises information which we hope will be educational and inspiring of collaboration to achieve a more sustainable future for the profession and dental patients.”

The document is freely available to download via a new College webpage which signposts a selection of free e-learning resources, guidelines and other tools which dental practitioners and practices can use to understand and reduce their environmental impact.

The new page can be found at https://cgdent.uk/sustainable-dentistry/

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) will be the headline education partner for the Enhanced CPD Theatre at Dentistry Show London 2023.

The Enhanced CPD Theatre will feature 14 lectures over the two-day conference, with experts in their fields sharing their extensive knowledge, and offering practical advice, on an array of important CPD areas. All lectures will be free of charge for both members and non-members of the College. College-hosted lectures include:

Sustainability in dentistry and healthcare

Friday 6 October, 9.15am – 10.00am

Professor Paul Batchelor BDS, DDPH, Dip. FFGDP(UK), MCDH, PhD, FCGDent, FDS (RCS Eng.), FFPH; Honorary Clinical Professor, University of Central Lancashire; Honorary Lecturer, University College London; Associate and Dental Group Chair, Centre for Sustainable Healthcare

Record-keeping in the real world of general dental practice

Friday 6 October, 1.15pm – 2.00pm

Dr Abhi Pal BDS, MGDS RCSI, Dip. FFGDP(UK), FDS (RCPS Glasg.), FCGDent; President of the College of General Dentistry; General Dental Practitioner; independent dental expert witness

The mental health and well-being of dental staff

Saturday 7 October, 9.15am – 10.00am

Professor Tim Newton CPsychol, AFBPS; Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry, King’s College London; Honorary Consultant Health Psychologist, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Medical emergencies

Saturday 7 October, 2.00pm – 2.45pm

Dr Sukhvinder Singh Atthi BDS, Dip. MFDS (RCS Ed.), PgCert/s , Dip. FFGDP(UK), MSc Oral Surgery, MSc Orthodontics, FCGDent, FHEA, ILM; Lecturer in oral surgery, University of Birmingham; Tier II-accredited oral surgeon 

Complaints handling: a step-by-step approach

Saturday 7 October, 4.30pm – 5.15pm

Dr George Wright BDS, Dip. MJDF, PgDip (DLE), ACIArb, Cert CII (Claims), FFFLM, MCGDent, MDTFEd; Deputy Dental Director, Dental Protection; Chief Examiner, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Royal College of Physicians

College representatives will also be available throughout the conference at Stand G52 to talk to attendees about all aspects of membership, fellowship and the College’s vision for the profession.

Full details of all the lectures are available at https://cgdent.uk/events

It is not possible to register for any specific lecture in advance, however those wishing to attend will need to register for Dentistry Show London 2023, which is free for all dental professionals.

Conference attendees will have access to over 100 CPD lectures in all, as well as 180 exhibiting suppliers, and the opportunity to network with over 3,000 dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians and laboratory owners.

To register, visit https://rfg.circdata.com/publish/DSL23/

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) has announced changes to the membership of its Council, with four members newly appointed and two re-elected.

Photo (left-right, top row first) Debbie Reed, Dalip Kumar, Susan Nelson, Victor Gehani, Frances Robinson and Roshni Karia

Roshni Karia MCGDent, an associate dentist in general dental practice in London, has been re-elected to represent South East and South West Thames. After developing a special interest in periodontics, she completed an enhanced two-year postgraduate study programme and is now also a clinical tutor in periodontology at King’s College London. She qualified from King’s College London in 2010, and joined the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP), the forerunner of the College, in 2012. She was appointed to the FGDP national board as an early careers observer in 2015, was elected to represent her region in 2017, and after re-election in 2020 transferred to the College Council in 2021. She chaired the Faculty’s Education & Qualifications and Membership Affairs committees, was elected its youngest ever Vice Dean in 2019 and in 2020 was a contributor to the joint FGDP-CGDent guidance Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice. She has been the College’s representative in national policy fora on children’s oral health improvement and on periodontics, has served on its Careers and Training Committee and Career Pathways Programme Board, is involved in the rollout of the Certified Membership scheme and served as Vice-President from 2021-22. 

Debbie Reed FCGDent, a Reader and Director of Advanced and Specialist Healthcare in Global and Lifelong Learning at the University of Kent, has been appointed to represent the dental nursing and orthodontic therapy professions. A dental nurse for almost forty years, she is a past Executive Chair of the British Association of Dental Nurses. She was Head of the University of Kent’s Centre for Professional Practice for eight years, Head of Digital and Lifelong Learning for nine, developed and runs its MSc in Advanced and Specialist Healthcare, and previously had a 23-year career in the Royal Navy. An Affiliate Member of the FGDP from 2008 until its transfer into the College, she was Chair of the Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy Working Group for the Career Pathways Programme which developed the College’s Professional Framework for Career Pathways in Dentistry, and was Vice Chair, now Chair, of the inaugural board of the College’s Faculty of Dental Nursing and Orthodontic Therapy. She is a peer reviewer for the British Dental Journal and the Annual Clinical Journal For Dental Health, is on the Editorial Board of the Advanced Journal of Professional Practice, and was a contributor to An introduction to clinical research for health and social care professionals. Her qualifications include a Doctorate in Education, an MSc in Human Resources Management, the FGDP(UK) Certificate in Dental Practice Appraisal, and a BA in Post Compulsory Education, and she is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Honorary Vice President of the British Society for Dental Hygiene and Therapy. In 2020 she received the BADN Outstanding Contribution to Dental Nursing Award, and in 2021 she received the inaugural FGDP(UK) Janet Goodwin Award.

Dalip Kumar Assoc.FCGDent, Principal of a mixed NHS-and-private general dental practice in Swansea, has been appointed to represent Wales. After graduating in India in 1994, he practised in Delhi for seven years before spending eight years in Riyadh as a general dentist and dental surgeon in both private and public hospitals. In 2008 he was awarded the Diploma of Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and from 2009-12 he worked on dental implant research and assisted in dental implant placement for Saudi Arabia’s government-funded health system. After completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Dentistry at Cardiff University, he undertook a clinical attachment in oral and maxillofacial surgery at East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, and after passing the Overseas Registration Exam in 2017 became a dental core trainee at Mid Essex Hospital. He then spent eighteen months practising in Stornoway, a year working for Bupa in Cardiff and two years for Roderick’s Dental in Aberdare and Neath before buying his current practice in 2021. He completed an MSc in Dental Implantology at the University of Salford in 2022 and has also undertaken training on Invisalign Go and in the administration of Botox and dermal fillers. He is a Facilitator for the College’s Certified Membership scheme.

Susan Nelson MCGDent, a lead dentist and implant dentist in private practice in Holywood, County Down, and the Regional Clinical Lead for Portman Healthcare, has been re-elected to represent Northern Ireland. Graduating with Honours in 1993 from the University of Edinburgh, where she won the McGregor Gold Medal for the most distinguished dental graduate, she completed Vocational Training in Fife before joining the practice as an associate in 1994. She joined the FGDP in 1998, examined and sat on the core group for the MFGDP(UK) and MJDF qualifications for 16 years, served as Director of the Faculty’s Northern Ireland division, sat on the College’s Advisory Strategy Group and was instrumental in the recent establishment of CGDent Northern Ireland. She was first elected to represent the region on the national FGDP board in 2017, was re-elected in 2020 and transferred to the College Council in 2021. She chaired the FGDP Education and Qualifications Committee, served as Vice Dean of the Faculty from 2020-21 and Vice-Chair of the College’s Careers and Training Committee from 2021-22, and is a member of the College’s Regional Funding Panel. She was a member of the working group which developed the College’s Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines publication, and a contributor to the joint FGDP-CGDent guidance Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice. She is a member and former Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee, and former Northern Ireland Representative of the Association of Dental Implantology.

Victor Gehani FCGDent, a general dental practitioner and implant dentist in Hertfordshire, Associate Professor in Advanced General Dental Practice at the College of Medicine and Dentistry and Ulster University, and Associate Dental Dean for London Dental Education and Training, has been appointed to represent North East and North West Thames. After graduating BDS in 2000, he spent a year at the Eastman Dental Institute, and successfully completed the MFDS in 2003 and the MFGDP(UK) in 2004. He was awarded the Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies from the University of Bristol in 2007, and also holds a PgCert in Medical and Dental Education, a PgCert in Restorative Dental Practice from University College London and an MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Warwick. He is a past MJDF Examiner and MFDS tutor, has 14 years’ experience as an Educational Supervisor, has mentored numerous dentists to complete restorative and implant cases, and has been awarded Fellowship of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the Higher Education Academy, the International Congress in Oral Implantology and the International Academy of Dento-Facial Esthetics.

Frances Robinson Assoc.FCGDent, a dental hygienist working in private practice in London and oral health practitioner in NHS community outreach, has been appointed to represent the dental hygiene and dental therapy professions. She completed a Diploma of Higher Education in dental hygiene from Cardiff University in 2015, a Master’s degree in Dental Public Health from University College London in 2017, and is an Associate of the Faculty of Public Health. In 2022 she was a Health Education England Oral Health Clinical Transformation Fellow, the first dental hygienist or dental therapist to undertake an HEE fellowship. She was a member, later Chair, of the Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Working Group for the Career Pathways Programme which developed the College’s Professional Framework for Career Pathways in Dentistry, and was Vice Chair, now Chair, of the inaugural board of the College’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Therapy. She is an active member of a dental hygienists’ study club in London, lectures for HEE and NHS England, and sits on the British Society of Dental Hygienists and Therapists’ Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Board. She has volunteered for a number of dental and medical charities in Nepal, India, Cambodia, Panama and Greece, and is a volunteer officer for Dental Mavericks, for whom she has written a field guide for oral care in humanitarian situations as well as helping them with grant writing and fundraising. Earlier this year she co-hosted a College webinar on how to get involved in dental volunteering.

The elections to the regional seats on the College Council are for three years until June 2026, the appointments to the regional seats are for one year until elections are held in 2024, and the appointments to the role representative seats are for renewable one-year terms.

Other members of the Council are Abhi Pal, Patricia Thomson, Matthew Collins, Subir Banerji, Prof Igor Blum, Maria Clark, Jonathan Farmer, Helen Kaney, Eldo Koshy, Yann Maidment, Ewen McColl, Andrew Parashchak, Kanwar Singh Ratra, Bill Sharpling, Sagi Shavit and Sami Stagnell.

Quentin Jones Assoc.FCGDent has demitted office after serving the permitted maximum of nine years on the College Council and the FGDP national board representing Wales.

Sarah Hill Assoc.FCGDent has demitted office after completing a three-year term representing the interests of the wider dental team. Initially Dental Care Professional Representative at FGDP, then an observer on the College Council from 2021-23, the role has now been discontinued following the appointment to the Council of voting representatives for dental nursing, dental hygiene and therapy, and dental and clinical dental technicians, and in anticipation of the faculties for these professional communities becoming fully operational soon.

Tashfeen Kholasi FCGDent, the previous representative for North East and North West Thames, has stepped down after completing two terms as Vice President.

Louise Belfield Assoc.FCGDent, the previous representative for dental nursing and orthodontic therapy, has stepped down from the Council to focus on her new post as Academic Head of Assessment at Brunel Medical School.

John Stanfield Assoc.FCGDent, the previous representative for dental hygiene and dental therapy, has stood down to focus on the completion of his PhD in on the use of hybrid social learning networks for dental CPD.

The College of General Dentistry is the UK’s only healthcare college run by and for oral health professionals, and is unique in welcoming all dental and oral health professionals with relevant postgraduate qualifications into full membership. The Council is the voice of its members, overseeing its role as a professional body and guiding its development to fulfil its mission.  Elections are held annually on a rotational basis, with elections for the seats representing South West England, Trent & East Anglia, Mersey & the North West and the West Midlands also due to take place in 2024.

Abhi Pal FCGDent, President of the College, said: “Many congratulations to Dalip, Debbie, Frances and Victor on their appointment to the Council, and to Roshni and Susan on their re-election. I look forward to drawing on their talents as the College continues to establish itself. I would also like to thank Quentin, Sarah, Tashfeen, Louise and John for their service to the College and former Faculty through the Council and board, in addition to their considerable commitment to our local activity and the establishment of the new faculties.”

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) has announced Professor Shamir Mehta FCGDent, Subir Banerji FCGDent and Professor Jason Leitch CBE FFGDP(UK)(Hon.) FCGDent as the speakers at its annual study day in Glasgow.

Professor Mehta and Dr Banerji will deliver a series of lectures entitled Wearabouts – the how, what, wear and why of managing tooth wear in general dental practice, which will present the current evidence on tooth wear, provide a guide to managing tooth wear in general dental practice, and illustrate the clinical techniques applied in the rehabilitation of the worn dentition.

Professor Leitch will then deliver the annual Caldwell Memorial Lecture on Recovering from a Pandemic: NHS Scotland’s legacy post-COVID.

Shamir Mehta is a Professor and Course Lead for the MSc in Restorative Dentistry at the College of Medicine and Dentistry and Ulster University, Senior Clinical Teacher and Director of the MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry at King’s College London, and Visiting Professor and PhD supervisor at Radboud University, where he is part of the Radboud Tooth Wear Project. He has published papers, written book chapters and co-authored/co-edited textbooks on tooth wear and aesthetic dentistry, and is a member of the European Expert Consensus Panel on Severe Tooth Wear. In addition to his BDS, he holds a BSc, a Master’s in Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics and a PhD, as well as the Diploma of Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice and Fellowships of the International College of Dentists, College of General Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Faculty of Dental Trainers of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is also a partner in two dental practices in Harrow, Senior Clinical Dental Advisor to the GDC on Fitness to Practise, and chaired the Careers Pathways Reference Group which guided the development of the College of General Dentistry’s Professional Framework for Career Pathways in Dentistry.

Subir Banerji is the Programme Director of the MSc in Aesthetic Dentistry and a PhD supervisor at King’s College London, co-author of books including Practical Procedures in the Management of Tooth Wear and Practical Procedures in Aesthetic Dentistry, and an Associate Professor in Prosthodontics at Melbourne Dental School. A general dental practitioner in the same private dental practice in Ealing which he joined after graduating from Newcastle Dental School in 1987, he is particularly interested in restorative, aesthetic, prosthodontic and implant dentistry, and has over 20 years’ experience of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate dentists both nationally and internationally. He has completed both a Master’s in Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics and a PhD from King’s College London, and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, International Academy for Dental Facial Esthetics, College of General Dentistry and the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He is an advisor to the General Dental Council, on the editorial board of the Academy of Dental Excellence, director of his own postgraduate educational academy, and Head of Continuing Medical Education at i2i Telesolutions Pvt Ltd. In 2022 he was elected to the CGDent Council to represent members in Central London.

Professor Mehta and Dr Banerji also guest-edited the most recent issue of the College’s Primary Dental Journal, Aesthetic Dentistry – Part One, with Part Two due to be distributed to College members at the end of September.

Jason Leitch is the National Clinical Director for Scotland, and became a popular and well-known figure to broadcast media audiences throughout the UK for the clarity of his communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating from Glasgow Dental School in 1991, he undertook training posts prior to becoming a clinical lecturer in oral surgery and sedation and honorary consultant in oral surgery. In 2005 he became the first dental professional to be awarded a Health Foundation Quality Improvement Fellowship to study at Harvard, where he later completed a Master’s in Public Health, and in 2004 he completed a PhD at the University of Glasgow. He has worked for the Scottish Government since 2007, with previous roles including National Clinical Lead for Safety and Improvement and National Clinical Lead for Quality. An Honorary Professor at both Dundee and Strathclyde universities, he is also a member of the US National Academy of Medicine, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston, and a Fellow of the College of General Dentistry, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Higher Education Academy. He was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) in 2020, and is a CGDent Ambassador, a non-executive board member of the MDDUS and a past Chair of both the GDC Conduct Committee and GDC Health Committee. He was awarded a CBE in 2019.

The annual study day, organised by CGDent Scotland, takes place at Glasgow Science Centre on the first Friday in December – 1 December this year – and includes six hours of CPD. Finishing with a drinks reception, the day is attended by up to 400 dental professionals from across Scotland and the wider UK, and for its many regular attendees also marks the start of the festive social season.

The Caldwell Memorial Lecture, delivered annually at the end of the study day, is held in memory of Robert Craig Caldwell, who graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1950 and became a much-loved Dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of California, Los Angeles, before he died of leukaemia at the age of just 44.

The study day is open to all dental professionals, and can be attended in person or virtually. Discounted attendance rates are available to recent graduates, Foundation Dentists/Vocational Trainees, dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental nurses, retired practitioners, practice managers and members of the College of General Dentistry, CGDent Scotland study group and Glasgow Odontological Society, and ‘early bird’ discounts for some categories apply until 9pm on 31 August. Year 5 dental students at the University of Glasgow are also hosted. Breakfast, a three-course lunch, refreshments throughout the day and evening drinks are all included in the attendance fee, and there is an accompanying trade exhibition to visit.

The event is supported by Scottish Dental Care, Martin Aitken, Nexus Dental Laboratory, Real Good Dental, Strictly Confidental, Bryant Dental, Clyde Munro, Coltene, the DDU, GC UK, Haleon, IWT, Kerr, MDDUS, Orascoptic, NHS National Services Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Septodont, WEL Medical and Wright’s.

CGDent Scotland brings together dental professionals to share knowledge, learn new skills and improve their practice for the benefit of dental patients, in particular through its annual study day, regular study group meetings and support for dental students and Vocational Trainees. It is a Community Interest Company affiliated to CGDent, and is the successor to the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK’s West of Scotland Division.

For further information on the study day, and to register, visit https://cgdent.uk/events/