George was born in Bonn in 1921. His father was Jewish and Professor of Dentistry at Bonn Dental School. Leaving Nazi Germany in 1934 his father became Dean of Istanbul Dental School. George went to school there and excelled in gymnastics and swimming. He also took a BSc at Robert College.

As a young man he left Turkey for Palestine with two passports and the intention of joining the British Army. However, his plan backfired and he was arrested and spent some time in a Syrian jail.

Eventually George made it to Palestine where he joined the British Army although, because of his German background, his papers were stamped 'Not to be promoted beyond Corporal'. Despite this he was promoted to Sergeant in Austria and was 'mentioned in dispatches'. He served as a medical orderly across North Africa and Italy and as a multilingual interpreter, driver and general factotum in Austria.

After the war George went to Glasgow where he qualified as a dentist and where he met and married Hilda. He practised in Lichfield for a while and then moved to London where he started his own practice in Muswell Hill and later in Wimpole Street. He taught at the Royal Dental Hospital where he was appointed Consultant.

His teaching will be fondly remembered by several generations of students as vivacious, skilful, caring and with a great sense of humour. He was the main author of Inlays, crowns and bridges, first published in 1963 and revised for five editions over 30 years. It was the standard textbook on the subject in most dental schools in the UK.

A pioneering part of his career was his appointment to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children where he treated children with cleft lip and palate. This often involved extensive fixed bridges and splints.

George died on 16 November 2010 at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife Hilda, his three children and six grandchildren.