Keith David William Fraser (1920-2012), who was in private practice between 1947 and 1966 and subsequently worked in the NHS until his retirement in 1985, died on 10 January in Eastbourne. He was 91.

Keith was born in a nursing home on Lavender Hill, South London, in 1920. He was educated at Emmanuel School, an education which lent him considerable erudition in some surprising subjects. His first intention had been to enter medicine, but in the event he decided on a dental career, training at the Royal Dental Hospital (later part of King's College Hospital). Keith was a distinguished student. His dexterity and striving for perfection resulted in his winning a number of prizes as a student, notably for work in surgery.

On qualifying in 1943, Keith took up an appointment as a house surgeon at the Royal Dental and worked as dresser to Frank Coffin, who died some years ago. Keith volunteered for service with the Royal Navy in the summer of 1944, becoming Surgeon-Lieutenant (D) before he left in 1947.

After his naval service, Keith at first combined private practice (in Sutton, Surrey) with teaching at the Royal Dental as a demonstrator, joining the NHS dental service in 1948. In 1966 he left practice to take up a post as a Dental Adviser at the Dental Estimates Board where his talents were soon recognised and he was promoted to Senior Dental Adviser. In this capacity part of his duties were to travel round the country fostering links between the Board and practitioners, a task which he tackled with enthusiasm and greatly enjoyed, and practitioners may remember him in that role. Keith's delight in associating with fellow practitioners led to his being active in the Epsom, Sutton and District and later the Eastbourne sections of the BDA, and he was chairman of the former in 1965-1966.

Keith married Margaret ('Peggy') in 1944 and they had one son, Ross: both Peggy and Ross survive him, and have lost a devoted husband and father. Keith had one brother, Ian, whose career was also in dentistry but who sadly died in 1986.