College News

Abstract

College invites dental professionals into Fellowship by Experience

Sturti

The College of General Dentistry has launched a landmark new route to fellowship based on experience, and has issued an open invitation to suitably experienced dental professionals to apply.

The community of Fellows lies at the heart of the College, providing leadership and collectively supporting the development of dentistry, as well as reflecting the values of the organisation and its focus on professionalism.

In line with the College’s ambitions and inclusive approach, applicants do not need to be an existing member of the College, and fellowship is open to all members of the dental team should they meet the criteria. However, a minimum of ten years’ practice as a registered dental professional is required for the application to be considered.

The College has set out transparent criteria for its new Fellowship by Experience route, so that prospective fellows can be confident in their application. A straightforward application process has also been designed to suit the busy modern dental professional, with applicants needing to submit only their CV, registration certificate and evidence of meeting the requirements of three of five fellowship domains.

For each of the five domains – Clinical; Teaching, Learning & Assessment; Leadership & Management; Publications & Research; and Law & Ethics – two sets of criteria have been published online.

Evidence for capability in a domain using the standard criteria will need to be accompanied by a reflective account of professional development covering that domain, which will be assessed by the College’s Membership Admissions Panel.

However, meeting the ‘gateway’ criteria will automatically qualify the applicant under that domain.

For example, automatic satisfaction of the Clinical domain of fellowship is available to anyone who holds the FGDP(UK) Diploma in Implant Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry or Minor Oral Surgery, a Masters in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent), RCS Edinburgh’s Diploma in Implant Dentistry or Membership in Advanced General Dental Surgery (MAGDS), a Membership in General Dental Surgery from any UK Royal College or RCS Ireland (MGDS), membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgery, a Specialty Membership of a UK Royal College, Accredited Full Membership of the British Association for Cosmetic Dentistry, or any UK-regulated Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a clinical subject qualifying as at least 120 credits in the UCAT (previously the UKCAT) scheme.

Anyone who already holds a fellowship with one of the UK or Ireland Royal Colleges or their faculties of dental surgery or dentistry, with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgery, or with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, will not need to apply for Fellowship based on experience, but can instead apply for Fellowship by Equivalence, which succeeds the Faculty’s Fellowship ad eundum route.

Successful applicants will be entitled to use the postnominal designation ‘FCGDent’, and as members of the College will receive access to live CPD events and an online library of over 900 hours of content, an online Personal Development Planning tool, quarterly print copies of the Primary Dental Journal and online access to an archive of 90 past issues, heavily discounted access to study days and local and national networking opportunities.

The College has also recently launched its innovative new Associate Fellowship membership grade, which acts as a stepping stone to Fellowship. This confers the postnominal designation ‘AssocFCGDent’, and is open to those who hold the MGDS, a Specialty Membership of a UK dental faculty, or a Postgraduate Diploma level or Masters level qualification in a subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare.

Full criteria for application to Fellowship are detailed on pages 8–9.

For full details of eligibility and how to apply, visit: cgdent.uk/fellowship

Are you eligible for Fellowship by Experience?

Fellowship of the College recognises your accomplishment in dentistry, and admission to Fellowship ‘by Experience’ is open to all dental professionals who have practised for at least ten years, and who fulfil the requirements of at least three of the College’s five domains of Fellowship.

To apply:

1. Upgrade your membership, or join the College, online

• Existing members: log in at cgdent.uk and follow the top menu to Membership > Upgrade

• Prospective members: visit cgdent.uk/join and sign up to membership, selecting ‘Fellow’ as the category for which you are applying, and pay the Fellows’ membership fee.

You will be sent an email with instructions on the next stage.

2. Submit your supporting evidence

• A summary CV, showing qualifications and career history

• For each domain under which you are applying, a document of evidence that you fulfil either the Standard or Gateway requirements

We will need evidence of recognition of your achievement by a respected third party which itself is overseen or regulated by an appropriate authority. This might take the form, for instance, of a formal certificate of achievement (e.g. for a qualification or award by a regulated university), a letter of reference from a professional client (e.g. a solicitor, for the Law & Ethics domain), or an inspection report.

• A Reflective Account of your professional development covering each domain under which you are applying using the Standard criteria

• Prospective members only: a copy of your latest registration certificate with your national regulatory body (e.g. GDC, DCI), unless retired from practice

You will also need to provide the names of two Fellows of the College who will support your application (one if you are applying entirely via Gateway criteria).

Your application will be assessed by the College’s Membership Admissions Panel, which will determine that you have either:

• demonstrated full equivalence, and will be admitted to Fellowship

• demonstrated partial equivalence, in which case you will be guided on action to address specific requirements before resubmission

The requirements for the five domains of Fellowship are below.

Clinical domain
• Show that you have been a GDC recognised Specialist AND demonstrated activity as a referral practitioner; OR • Demonstrate that you have the training and/or experience to provide clinical care to the level of a practitioner with a UK clinically-oriented Postgraduate Diploma AND EITHER ○ that the training included an assessment of the clinical capability of the candidate OR ○ the practitioner can demonstrate being a referral practitioner (or having such experience for retired applicants). Non-UK qualifications will require specific assessment by the Panel	Any of the following: • UK regulated Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a clinical subject (qualifying as 120 Credits minimum in the UCAT scheme [previously known as UKCAT]) • Masters in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent) • FGDP Diploma in: Implant Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, or Minor oral Surgery from RCS England • Membership in Advanced General Dental Surgery (RCS Edinburgh) (MAGDS) • Diploma in Implant Dentistry (RCS Edinburgh) • Membership in General Dental Surgery from any UK Royal College, or RCS Ireland (MGDS) • Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgery (Australia and New Zealand) • Specialty Membership of a UK Royal College • Accredited Full Member of the British Association for Cosmetic Dentistry

Clinical domain

Standard criteria Evidence to be assessed

Gateway criteria For automatic qualification

• Show that you have been a GDC recognised Specialist AND demonstrated activity as a referral practitioner; OR
• Demonstrate that you have the training and/or experience to provide clinical care to the level of a practitioner with a UK clinically-oriented Postgraduate Diploma AND EITHER
○ that the training included an assessment of the clinical capability of the candidate OR
○ the practitioner can demonstrate being a referral practitioner (or having such experience for retired applicants). Non-UK qualifications will require specific assessment by the Panel

Any of the following:
• UK regulated Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a clinical subject (qualifying as 120 Credits minimum in the UCAT scheme [previously known as UKCAT])
• Masters in Clinical Dentistry (MClinDent)
• FGDP Diploma in: Implant Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry, or Minor oral
Surgery from RCS England
• Membership in Advanced General Dental Surgery (RCS Edinburgh) (MAGDS)
• Diploma in Implant Dentistry (RCS Edinburgh)
• Membership in General Dental Surgery from any UK Royal College, or RCS Ireland (MGDS)
• Membership of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgery (Australia and New Zealand)
• Specialty Membership of a UK Royal College
• Accredited Full Member of the British Association for Cosmetic Dentistry

Teaching, Learning & Assessment domain
• Demonstrate that you have at least four years’ experience in a substantive academic post related to dentistry OR • Demonstrate that you have at least four years’ experience in a role as an appraiser, assessor, or mentor in an official capacity OR • Demonstrate that you have worked in a role where you have made a substantial contribution to the delivery of pre- or post-qualification training, including provision of CPD	• One of: ○ A PG Certificate in Medical Education, ○ Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), ○ Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Trainers (RCS Edinburgh) • AND evidence of at least four years’ experience in a paid teaching role, either ○ with a regulated UK Higher Education provider (including Visiting lecturer status), OR ○ as an Educational Supervisor/Trainer in a recognised NHS Foundation or Dental Core Training or equivalent scheme

Teaching, Learning & Assessment domain

Standard criteria Evidence to be assessed

Gateway criteria For automatic qualification

• Demonstrate that you have at least four years’ experience in a substantive academic post related to dentistry OR
• Demonstrate that you have at least four years’ experience in a role as an appraiser, assessor, or mentor in an official capacity OR
• Demonstrate that you have worked in a role where you have made a substantial contribution to the delivery of pre- or post-qualification training, including provision of CPD

• One of:
○ A PG Certificate in Medical Education,
○ Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA),
○ Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Trainers (RCS Edinburgh)
• AND evidence of at least four years’ experience in a paid teaching role, either
○ with a regulated UK Higher Education provider (including Visiting lecturer status), OR
○ as an Educational Supervisor/Trainer in a recognised NHS Foundation or Dental Core Training or equivalent scheme

Leadership & Management domain
• Six years’ service in a role where the key qualities of leadership and management have been exhibited. The qualities to be shown are: ○ demonstrating personal qualities of effective leadership and management ○ setting direction ○ working with, and managing others ○ managing services ○ improving services Examples of evidence may include the following, for which we will require evidence of specific leadership achievements in post: • Substantial experience in a Clinical leadership role in a corporate dental environment or Community Dental Service or Educational Institution • Substantial service in a national committee or equivalent of a bona fide national dental organisation, for at least five years (for example BDA, GDC, FGDP, CGDent, RCS, BADN, SBDN, BSDHT, BADT, Committees of NHS bodies, indemnity organisations) • Chair or Secretary in a UK lDC for at least five years	Any of the following: • Fellowship of the Faculty of leadership and Management • Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a leadership/Management subject • Acted as a Practice Principal for at least ten years (evidenced by reference from a Chartered Accountant) with evidence of a satisfactory external assessment within three years such as: ○ a CQC/NHS Scotland/HIW/RQIA (or equivalent body) report currently showing no areas for improvement ○ BDA Good Practice certificate ○ Denplan Excel certificate ○ Investors in People certificate ○ Foundation Training Practice Review certificate • UK Training Programme Director in Dental Foundation Training/ Vocational Training for at least six years • Associate Dean for an NHS Education body for at least four years • Dental Tutor employed by an NHS Education body for at least six years • Holding a post as a Clinical Dental Advisor for at least six years: ○ NHS Clinical Advisor, OR ○ CQC/NHS Scotland/HIW/RQIA (or equivalent) Advisor, OR ○ Clinical Advisors for a UK-based dental corporate organisation • Holding the post of CDo or Deputy CDo of a UK nation OR • Holding the post of a Consultant in Dental Public Health for at least six years • Admitted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists

Leadership & Management domain

Standard criteria Evidence to be assessed

Gateway criteria For automatic qualification

• Six years’ service in a role where the key qualities of leadership and management have been exhibited. The qualities to be shown are:
○ demonstrating personal qualities of effective leadership and management
○ setting direction
○ working with, and managing others
○ managing services
○ improving services
Examples of evidence may include the following, for which we will require evidence of specific leadership achievements in post:
• Substantial experience in a Clinical leadership role in a corporate dental environment or Community Dental Service or Educational Institution
• Substantial service in a national committee or equivalent of a bona fide national dental organisation, for at least five years (for example BDA, GDC, FGDP, CGDent, RCS, BADN, SBDN, BSDHT, BADT, Committees of NHS bodies, indemnity organisations)
• Chair or Secretary in a UK lDC for at least five years

Any of the following:
• Fellowship of the Faculty of leadership and Management
• Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in a leadership/Management subject
• Acted as a Practice Principal for at least ten years (evidenced by reference from a Chartered Accountant) with evidence of a satisfactory external assessment within three years such as:
○ a CQC/NHS Scotland/HIW/RQIA (or equivalent body) report currently showing no areas for improvement
○ BDA Good Practice certificate
○ Denplan Excel certificate
○ Investors in People certificate
○ Foundation Training Practice Review certificate
• UK Training Programme Director in Dental Foundation Training/ Vocational Training for at least six years
• Associate Dean for an NHS Education body for at least four years
• Dental Tutor employed by an NHS Education body for at least six years
• Holding a post as a Clinical Dental Advisor for at least six years:
○ NHS Clinical Advisor, OR
○ CQC/NHS Scotland/HIW/RQIA (or equivalent) Advisor, OR
○ Clinical Advisors for a UK-based dental corporate organisation
• Holding the post of CDo or Deputy CDo of a UK nation OR
• Holding the post of a Consultant in Dental Public Health for at least six years
• Admitted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists

Publications & Research domain
• Involvement in research related to Primary Dental Care, or activities contributing to the improvement of knowledge and the evidence base, by: ○ publications in peer reviewed journals; ○ receipt of research grants or awards; ○ presentation and dissemination of the results of your research; ○ contribution to working parties or guidelines; ○ involvement in Clinical Audit (continuous involvement over a significant period of time); ○ commissioned authorship of relevant, peer-reviewed textbooks	• Masters level qualification in a relevant dental subject or subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare, including a research dissertation OR • MPhil or PhD in a relevant dental subject or subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare OR • At least five publications, of which at least one must be a first author paper, in peer-reviewed publications relevant to dentistry or the enhancement of oral healthcare

Publications & Research domain

Standard criteria Evidence to be assessed

Gateway criteria For automatic qualification

• Involvement in research related to Primary Dental Care, or activities contributing to the improvement of knowledge and the evidence base, by:
○ publications in peer reviewed journals;
○ receipt of research grants or awards;
○ presentation and dissemination of the results of your research;
○ contribution to working parties or guidelines;
○ involvement in Clinical Audit (continuous involvement over a significant period of time);
○ commissioned authorship of relevant, peer-reviewed textbooks

• Masters level qualification in a relevant dental subject or subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare, including a research dissertation OR
• MPhil or PhD in a relevant dental subject or subject relevant to the enhancement of oral healthcare OR
• At least five publications, of which at least one must be a first author paper, in peer-reviewed publications relevant to dentistry or the enhancement of oral healthcare

Law & Ethics domain
• Substantial experience of one or more of the following: ○ law, ethics, dento-legal issues and risk management as it affects patient care; ○ providing ethical and dentolegal advice which can include: case handling experience in relation to complaints, clinical negligence or regulatory cases; providing or assessing performance and expert reports; ○ contributing to the development or presentation of formal guidelines, or relevant educational resources in law and ethics or risk management	• A postgraduate qualification (Certificate or Diploma) in a legally-related subject of relevance to dentistry, OR • A law degree or llM together with five years’ experience in any of the following: ○ a dento-legal advisor, OR ○ a decision-maker on a regulatory panel, OR ○ an expert witness – undertaking Part 35 compliant expert reports and giving live evidence (minimum 60 reports or giving live evidence as an expert on at least 20 occasions)

Law & Ethics domain

Standard criteria Evidence to be assessed

Gateway criteria For automatic qualification

• Substantial experience of one or more of the following:
○ law, ethics, dento-legal issues and risk management as it affects patient care;
○ providing ethical and dentolegal advice which can include: case handling experience in relation to complaints, clinical negligence or regulatory cases; providing or assessing performance and expert reports;
○ contributing to the development or presentation of formal guidelines, or relevant educational resources in law and ethics or risk management

• A postgraduate qualification (Certificate or Diploma) in a legally-related subject of relevance to dentistry, OR
• A law degree or llM together with five years’ experience in any of the following:
○ a dento-legal advisor, OR
○ a decision-maker on a regulatory panel, OR
○ an expert witness – undertaking Part 35 compliant expert reports and giving live evidence (minimum 60 reports or giving live evidence as an expert on at least 20 occasions)

President discusses access to dental careers at No. 10

On 29 March 2022, College President Dr Abhi Pal visited No.10 Downing Street to attend a roundtable breakfast meeting on access to careers and progression in dentistry hosted by the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on healthcare policy.

Dr Pal commented:

“It is great to see recognition at the top of government that widening access to dental training, followed by career progression based on merit and not hindered by inequalities, are vital in order to recruit and retain a workforce reflective of the population it serves and able to meet the UK’s oral health needs.

For its part, the College of General Dentistry is committed to breaking down unnecessarily prescriptive and exclusionary professional barriers, and is developing a Professional Framework with accompanying Career Pathways that will offer all general dental professionals staged recognition of their knowledge and skills, and a range of routes to planning a fulfilling career in dentistry.”

How to Get the Best From Your Career in Dentistry

No matter your career stage, this recorded webinar can guide you in making the best career decisions. With a range of experienced speakers, the webinar looks at career and development planning for the whole dental team, exploring next steps, what courses and opportunities are available, and provides information on CGDent’s ‘Career Pathway’ to give your dental career a boost.

Free to watch for CGDent members, with over two hours of verifiable CPD.

https://bit.ly/3hcc3ZD

Social Inequalities When Applying to Study Dentistry

Monday 4 July 2022, 7pm

This live webinar will discuss social inequalities and how they may affect students when applying to study dentistry.

Free to view for all dental professionals on the day. A recorded version will be available to CGDent members shortly after the event. Offers approx. 1.5 CPD hours.

https://bit.ly/3z0BzLd

Why Colour is the Elephant in the Room

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, this recorded webinar is an honest exploration of racial inequality and prejudice, with real life experiences from colleagues working in all areas of dentistry. It highlights ways in which we can tackle inequalities and systemic racism.

“This webinar was so, so important and impactful”

Provides approx. 2 hours of CPD

https://bit.ly/3yK8P9d

Posthumous honour for John Craig

John Craig Dip.FFGDP(UK), 1943–2021

The College of General Dentistry has recognised the late John Craig Dip.FFGDP(UK) with the posthumous award of a President’s Commendation.

Born in Rutherglen in 1943, John graduated BDS from Glasgow University in 1966 and remained a general dental practitioner until he retired from practice in 2002. He spent over 30 years of his practising life as a partner in his own practice in Falkirk, where he earned a reputation for the highest standards of clinical excellence, strong mentorship of colleagues, and empathy for staff and patients.

Not content with confining his activities and boundless abilities and energies to his surgery, he was extremely active in almost every aspect of general dental practice through his involvement in many dental organisations.

John possessed excellent skills of diplomacy and organisation, and was active in the British Dental Association (BDA) from the outset of his career, joining as a student in 1965. He later served as Secretary of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire Section and then the West of Scotland Branch, eventually becoming President of the West of Scotland Branch in the 1990s. He chaired the Scottish Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees, and was often a delegate at the LDC National Conference. He was elected to the BDA’s Representative Board in 1991 and was a member of the Executive Board for nine years, including three as Deputy Chairman. He was elected BDA National President in 2005, and to mark this distinguished accolade, the West of Scotland Branch commissioned a bagpipe tune called ‘John Craig of Rutherglen’, composed by Angus Lawrie, former Pipe Major of the Oban Pipe Band.

A Vocational Trainer from 1986, he was chair of the Scottish Dental Vocational Training Committee for seven years, and was a member of numerous postgraduate committees including the General Dental Council’s General Professional Training (GPT) Committee from 1997–98.

He was also involved in a number of dental practice research-based groups, and was a member of the development group for the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on management of unerupted and impacted third molars in 1999, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Oral Health Seminars Group from 1996–99, engaging in postgraduate lectures on practice management. In 2014, he joined forces with Martin Kelleher to write a paper on the damaging effect of the overpreparation and unjustified loss of tooth tissue in the attempt to gain aesthetic improvement of the anterior teeth, and he railed against dentistry being relegated to just another arm of the beauty and cosmetic industry.

Instrumental in laying down the foundations of what is now the College of General Dentistry, in 1992 he chaired the steering group which set up the Faculty of General Dental Practice in Scotland. Achieving the Diploma in General Dental Practice in 1992, he was a member of the FGDP’s national Finance Committee in 1993–1994 and the first Director of the Faculty’s West of Scotland Division from 1993–1996. In 2004, the Faculty awarded him Fellowship by Election, and he was also awarded Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for his work in postgraduate education.

His other areas of activity saw him as a Regional Dental Advisor to BUPA Dental Cover, a founder member of Forth Valley Independent Dentists Group, Chair of Glasgow Dental Educational Trust, Trustee of the BDA Benevolent Fund, occasional expert advisor to various legal firms and insurance companies, and a member of the Denplan Advisory Board, MDDUS Dental Advisory Panel, and Edinburgh Postgraduate Dental Institute’s management committee.

His talents were not limited to the dental profession; he was also a sportsman, whose first love was climbing, undertaking expeditions throughout Scotland and in the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Himalayas. He was a skier, golfer, and an accomplished musician, being a folk singer, guitarist and jazz band banjo player.

He also had a deep interest and knowledge of literature, opera, art, politics, languages, history, and astronomy, and was a past President of the Astronomical Society of Glasgow, and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. In 2003, he was made captain of the BDA team which represented the nation’s dentists on BBC2’s University Challenge: The Professionals. Answering most of the questions himself, the team knocked out the General Practitioners in the first round before going out in the quarter finals to the Inland Revenue.

Unfortunately, John suffered a devastating stroke two and a half years ago, and was nursed at home by his wife Irene until he died in September 2021. His funeral drew hundreds, including many colleagues of all ages from all over Scotland, demonstrating the high regard in which John was held by so many generations in the profession.

Dr Abhi Pal, President of the College of General Dentistry, said:

“John was a visionary, a pioneer in the establishment of the Faculty of General Dental Practice in the West of Scotland, and a tireless moderniser who endeavoured to keep our profession at the forefront of healthcare. He was also an inspirational colleague, whose principles, high standards and excellence earned the deep respect of all who encountered him, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to honour his illustrious career.”

President’s Commendations & Fellowship awards 2022

The College of General Dentistry has announced the recipients of its inaugural award of President’s Commendations, and has awarded fellowships to four dental professionals in recognition of their exceptional professional achievements.

Six individuals have received the President’s Commendation, which recognises significant service to the dental profession through the College or former Faculty of General Dental Practice, at local or national level, by Associate Members, Full Members, Associate Fellows or Fellows of the College, and is conferred by the President on the recommendation of the elected College Council.

Three individuals have been made Honorary Fellows of the College, and one has been awarded Fellowship by Election.

College Fellowship marks out a dental professional’s ongoing commitment to professional development and reflective practice, diligence in upholding the highest standards of clinical care, and distinction across clinical and professional domains. While the main routes to fellowship are Fellowship by Experience and Fellowship by Equivalence, the Council makes annual awards of Fellowship by Election and Honorary Fellowship to a small number of individuals deemed to meet the required standard.

President’s Commendations

Mark Richardson FCGDent is commended in particular for his significant contribution to the Faculty’s education provision. He became an examiner for the MFGDP in 2007 and a Core Group MJDF examiner in 2013, later serving as a Facilitator for the FGDP(UK) Fellowship and as a key member of the Faculty’s Academic Board. He also represented the Wessex and Oxford region on the National Faculty Board from 2016 to 2021, chairing its Education & Qualifications and Finance committees, and serving on the Dean’s Executive Committee and as a Vice Dean from 2018–19.

Since 1989, Group Captain Richardson has served as an RAF dental officer in the UK, Europe, the Far East and Afghanistan. Now Assistant Head of Clinical Operations (Dental) and Chief Dental Officer (RAF and Defence), he was previously the Armed Forces’ Principal Dental Officer for the Wessex Region, and Armed Forces’ Clinical Adviser on Paedodontic Dentistry. In 2018 he was appointed Her Majesty The Queen’s Honorary Dental Surgeon.

Paul Friel MCGDent, a general dental practitioner in East Kilbride, is recognised for his service as Lead Tutor of the FGDP West of Scotland division’s MJDF Study Group, in particular his adaptation in response to coronavirus restrictions of the division’s highly interactive face-to-face study evenings into content-rich, virtual group meetings which have provided excellent support to candidates.

Jonathan Hiscocks MCGDent has been commended for his service to the Faculty in Scotland. A former director of its East of Scotland division, for many years he acted as a mock examiner in the preparation of MJDF examination candidates across the country, and was the Faculty’s representative on NHS Education for Scotland’s Dental Committee. Originally from County Down, he is a partner and dentist in a mixed NHS-and-private dental practice in Edinburgh.

Mutahir Rahman MCGDent has been awarded the President’s Commendation for his service to the Faculty and College in the West Midlands. A member of the FGDP since 2010, he has been active in its West Midlands division since 2012, soon being elected Treasurer. He was Divisional Director from 2016 until the Faculty’s transfer into the College of General Dentistry last year, energetically leading the delivery of many successful educational events and helping to support local colleagues, and is now a Director of CGDent Midlands. He works in the Community Dental Service in Worcestershire, and as Specialty Dentist in the Periodontology Department at Birmingham Dental Hospital, and is also a DCT1 Educational Supervisor in the West Midlands.

Charles Ormond Dip.FFGDP(UK) is honoured for his remarkable commitment to the Faculty, which he joined at its inception in 1992. He served its West of Scotland division for a quarter of a century in a variety of capacities, including Treasurer, Director, committee member, Candidates’ Counsellor for the DGDP and MFGDP, and throughout as a mock examiner for its Study Club. He also represented the region on the National Faculty Board for nine years, chairing its Education, Research and External Affairs committees, serving as Vice Dean from 2009–2011, and representing it on the Scottish Dental Training Committee and the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme’s Oral Health Assessment Group. In addition, he was a member of the working group which developed the Faculty’s definitive Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping guidance, now published by the College.

Recently retired from dental practice, during his career he also served as President of both the Stirling and Clackmannan and the West of Scotland branches of the BDA, Chair of the Vocational Training Selection Committee and of NHS Education for Scotland’s Dental Education Committee, President of the Royal Odonto-Chirurgical Society of Scotland, and as a Board Member of Dental Protection.

The late John Craig Dip.FFGDP(UK) has been conferred the award posthumously in special recognition of his wide-ranging contributions to advancing the profession, and in particular his instrumental role in laying down the foundations of the FGDP in Scotland. Further information on this award is available at cgdent.uk/news .

Fellowship by Election

Allan Pirie FCGDent has been a dental implant surgeon for 25 years of a 40-year career, and receives referrals for complex implant treatment from all over Scotland to his practice in Glasgow. He was awarded the Diploma in General Dental Practice from the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1995, and an MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Warwick in 2006, has served as an examiner for the Diploma of Implant Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh since 2007, and has tutored at the University of Warwick and the University of Glasgow Dental School. Generous with his time and greatly admired for the assistance that he gives freely, he teaches the restorative side of implant dentistry via local study groups, and mentors local practitioners to introduce implant dentistry into their own practices.

Honorary Fellowship

Maggie Jackson FCGDent(Hon.) has been a trailblazer at the forefront of the Dental Hygiene profession throughout her 60-year career. With unsurpassed skills as a communicator and dental hygienist, her patience, humour and clarity helped highly perio-compromised patients change their habits and gain a chance of keeping their teeth for longer, confirming her reputation as an inspirational colleague and mentor. For 30 years she worked with specialists who believed in curing periodontal breakdown by empowering patients, without surgery where possible, before opening her own ‘Direct Access’ hygiene practice in Manchester, receiving referrals for the more difficult, non-surgical periodontal treatments from other dental practices. She lectures throughout the UK, and overseas, has had numerous articles published in international journals and books, and is the first and only hygienist to have been awarded an MPhil in Periodontology.

Kathryn Marshall FCGDent(Hon.) is a dental nurse of over 40 years’ experience, and is currently a Dental Educator in quality improvement and Professional Support Tutor at Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW). She co-founded a general and specialist dental practice in Surrey, where she took the opportunity to support student dental nurses though their GDC-registrable qualifications, and was the DCP Tutor for the Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Deanery from 2000 until 2007, and the Training Programme Director for the KSS Dip CDT from 2013 until 2019.

A past examiner for the National Examining Board for Dental Nurses, she was a member of the GDC Fitness to Practice Panel for five years, and the only DCP appointed to the GDC’s e-CPD Advisory Board. She holds a Diploma in Dental Health Education, a Diploma in Leadership and Management, an MSc in Advanced and Specialist Healthcare, and was the External Examiner for the University of Central Lancashire’s Advanced Certificate in Facilitated Learning in Healthcare Practice, and Advanced Certificate in Mentoring and Coaching.

William John Parry FCGDent(Hon.) has been a Consultant Orthodontist at Gwynedd General Hospital in Bangor since 1984, and has particular expertise in managing complex and cleft lip and palate cases. Throughout his tenure, he has devoted considerable time to mentoring and training general dental practitioners to support the delivery of orthodontic care in general dental practice, helping ensure that the highest standards of care are available in remote and rural communities. This support is exemplified by the significant number of GDPs who, since 1988, have worked with him as clinical assistants, many achieving accreditation to provide orthodontic care.

He has been Chair of the BDA hospitals group for Wales, President of the BDA hospitals and speciality services UK group, and regional adviser for postgraduate training for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, of which he is a Fellow. He is currently President of Y Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol (The Dental Society of Wales), which he co-founded in 1991. The society offers postgraduate training and development in Welsh, has delivered 30 unbroken years of annual study days as well as evening lectures for its members, and supports student education through its dental dictionary.

CPD submission reminder

Photograph by Jason Kimmings

College members are reminded that Sunday 28 August 2022 is the deadline for all dental professionals other than dentists to submit an annual CPD statement detailing professional development activity undertaken between and 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022.

The GDC requires dental therapists, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists, and clinical dental technicians to complete a minimum of 75 hours of verifiable CPD every five years, and dental nurses and dental technicians a minimum of 50 hours. See gdc-uk.org/education-cpd/cpd .

All dental professionals need to complete at least 10 hours of verifiable CPD during any two-year period, and must submit an annual CPD statement whether or not they have undertaken any CPD in the preceding 12 months.

The next submission deadline for dentists is 28 January 2023, covering education undertaken during 2022.

The College offers members access to a wide range of CPD opportunities:

CPD library

Free, on-demand access to a library of around 1000 hours of certified, GDC-compliant CPD. To access the content, log in to prodentalcpd.com using the details sent to you following your transfer/entry into College membership.

Live webinars

Live, College-hosted webinars covering a wide range of subjects are available free to members every month, powered by ProDental. Recent subjects include practice ownership, managing traumatic dental injuries, sustainability in dentistry, leadership, professionalism and how to get the best from your career.

Members also have free access to all of ProDental’s weekly live webinars.

And if you miss a live webinar, you’ll find it in the online library within around 24 hours.

Study Days

Members receive heavily discounted attendance fees for study days and events. The following are currently scheduled:

CGDent Midlands Study Day

Friday 1 July, Birmingham https://bit.ly/3FK0hAJ

Y Gymdeithas Ddeintyddol – Dental Society of Wales 30th Annual Study Day and Conference

Saturday 2 July 2022, Cardiff

https://bit.ly/3wKbvmc

CGDent Scotland Study Day

Friday 2 December 2022, Glasgow

https://bit.ly/38YqSh3

CGDent—Quintessence Biennial International Conference: Excellence for the Dental Team

Friday–Saturday 24–25 March 2023, London

https://bit.ly/3vY5e5L

Courses

The courses for the College’s educational qualifications provide significant numbers of CPD hours. The following are currently offered:

Postgraduate Certificate in Non-Surgical Facial Aesthetics

Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry

Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Orthodontics

For further information, visit cgdent.uk/our-dentistryqualifications

Third party resources

The College also recommends the following online resources developed by third parties, each of which offers free CPD:

Antimicrobial stewardship e-learning modules

British Association of Oral Surgeons

Visit: baos.org.uk/elearning

Alcohol (Identification and Brief Advice) for dental teams

ELFH NHS Health Education for England

Visit: e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/alcohol

Details of all upcoming and recent webinars and events can be found on pages 18–19, and at cgdent.uk/events

Stay up-to-date with news about our webinars, study days and educational programmes by ensuring you are signed up to the College’s monthly e-newsletter here:

cgdent.uk/college-newsletter

Education partnership with the British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show

The College of General Dentistry was delighted to be the Education Partner and headline supporter for the Core CPD Theatre at the 2022 British Dental Conference and Dentistry Show.

The Core CPD Theatre featured 11 seminars over the two-day conference, with experts in their fields sharing their extensive knowledge and offering practical advice on an array of essential, GDC-recommended, CPD subjects. The College itself hosted four of these. Dr Kaushik Paul, Specialty Dentist in Oral Surgery and Sedation, delivered the first of these on medical emergencies. This was followed by a session on leadership in infection prevention and control, led by Fiona Ellwood BEM FFGDP(UK)(Hon.), Subject Expert at Bangor University, All Wales Faculty for Dental Care Professionals. On the second day of the conference, Tashfeen Kholasi, Vice President of the College of General Dentistry, delivered a lecture on information sharing in the digital age, and the closing presentation, ‘Complaints handling: a step-by-step approach to resolving a dental complaint’, was given by George Wright, Deputy Dental Director of Dental Protection.

The College also had a stand in the exhibition hall, with representatives available throughout the conference to talk to delegates about our vision for the profession, the benefits of membership, and to answer any questions.

Co-sited with the Dental Technology Showcase, a major exhibition giving visitors the opportunity to discover the latest dental innovations and equipment from over 400 suppliers, the conference was free to attend and provided a great opportunity to network with thousands of dentists, practice managers, hygienists and therapists, dental nurses, technicians, and laboratory owners.

We look forward to seeing College members and PDJ subscribers there next year.

CGDent endorses updated guidance on anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs

The College of General Dentistry has endorsed newly updated guidance on anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme.

The second edition of Management of Dental Patients Taking Anticoagulants or Antiplatelet Drugs provides clear and practical recommendations and advice to enable the dental team to assess bleeding risk, and to plan and deliver treatment to dental patients taking various types of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication.

The guidance has been updated following a thorough review of the evidence and following consultation with dental organisations including the College of General Dentistry. While most of the recommendations remain unchanged from the original 2015 edition, changes include the addition of advice on the direct oral anticoagulant Edoxaban, and on patients taking low molecular weight heparin.

The full guidance document, together with a quick reference guide and a series of pre- and post-treatment information leaflets for patients, can be downloaded at sdcep.org.uk/published-guidance/anticoagulants-andantiplatelets .

NIHR Career Progression Fellowships now available to GDPs

The School for Primary Care Research at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) this year invited general dental practitioners to apply for its Primary Care Clinician Career Progression Fellowships for the first time.

The part-time, one-year Fellowships, aimed at primary care clinicians who want to start or continue a career in primary care research, are an opportunity to further develop an academic portfolio in preparation to apply for and conduct a PhD.

Open to primary care clinicians practising in the UK with a proposed research project compatible with NIHR’s remit, they can be undertaken at any one of the School’s nine member universities: Bristol, Exeter, Keele, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Southampton and University College London.

In addition to the research opportunities available, they offer specialised training opportunities, networking, additional funding, mentoring and NIHR Academy membership.

The next annual application window is expected to open around March 2023, with awards starting the following August.

Further information is available at spcr.nihr.ac.uk/careerdevelopment/funding