Interview

On 4 September 2017, Tristen Kelso was appointed Director, BDA Northern Ireland, against a backdrop of political uncertainty in the country. A year later there is still no sign of Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont, so how has he spent the time in office? BDJ In Practice and BDJ Student Editor David Westgarth met with Tristen to find out.

Michael Norton, implant surgeon, became the 31st President of the Academy of Osseointegration (AO) in 2017, the first British dentist to hold that position and indeed the first ever non-American to do so. In March 2018, Michael's Presidential AO meeting was held in Los Angeles, California and the conference attracted over 2,500 delegates from around the world. Michael graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine Dental School in 1988, and went on to specialise in oral surgery, researching, teaching and practising specifically in the field of implants for over 25 years. Michael's implant practice is based in Harley Street, London.

Dr Mick Horton is the outgoing Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP[UK]), the ninth Dean since its founding in 1992. In his time as Dean, Mick presided over the decision to establish FGDP(UK) as an independent college for general dental practice. The new organisation aims to provide a collegiate home and professional standing for GDPs and all members of the general dental team. Mick qualified from Manchester University in 1986. In 1992, he purchased a mixed NHS/private practice in Caergwrle, north Wales. His experience includes being a member of the Welsh Dental Committee, 19 years as the chair of his local dental committee and 10 years as the vice chair of his local health board.

Professor Mike Curtis is the new Executive Dean of King's College London Dental Institute. He moved to King's from his former position as Dean of Dentistry and Deputy Vice-Principal (Health) at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL. Mike is a microbiologist and his research is focused on the role of the oral microbiome in maintaining oral health and developing disease, and key microbial virulence determinants of oral bacteria. He is a former President of the British Society for Oral and Dental Research, and he delivered the 2016 BDA/BDJ Winter Lecture.

Ruth Doherty, Senior Managing Editor of the BDJ, interviews BDA President, Peter Dyer. Peter graduated in dentistry from the Royal Dental Hospital in 1979 and then qualified in medicine from University College Hospital, London in 1988. He was appointed consultant in oral and maxillofacial surgery to the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in 1998 with a special interest in trauma and orthognathics. As Chair of the Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services Peter was highly involved in the industrial action taken by trainee hospital dentists in 2016.

Jonathan Lewney, Associate Editor for the BDJ Portfolio, interviews Professor Paula Moynihan. Paula is Professor of Nutrition & Oral Health at Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences, Director of Newcastle University Centre for Oral Health Research, and Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Nutrition and Oral Health. In December 2016, Paula was elected Vice-President of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), which means she will become IADR President in 2019.

In August 2016, Dr Colette Bridgman left her role in Greater Manchester to take up office as the Chief Dental Officer (CDO) for Wales. Six months into the role, BDJ In Practice editor David Westgarth caught up with Dr Bridgman to find out what challenges lie ahead.

Dr Christopher Longbottom is Assistant Director of the Dental Innovation and Translation Centre (DITC), King's College London, where he helps develop technology applications for clinical use, principally in dentistry. He has been involved in the application of optical, electrical and ultrasound methodologies to caries detection, dental erosion detection, and monitoring of the developing occlusion. Chris graduated from Dundee in 1971 and after working in general practice, spent 13 years in the Community Dental Service before teaching paediatric dentistry at Dundee as a Senior Lecturer until 2012, after which he moved to King's to help set up the DITC with Nigel Pitts.

Dr Sandra White has been the National Lead for Dental Public Health at Public Health England (PHE) since 2014. Before taking on her current role, Sandra has had a varied and substantial career in dentistry working as a consultant in dental public health for many years, before which she worked in various roles in special care dentistry, general dental practice and oral surgery.

Ian Brack was appointed Chief Executive of the General Dental Council (GDC) in May this year, after a period as Interim Chief Executive starting in January. Prior to joining the regulator, he was Chief Executive at the Office for Legal Complaints. He also led the Olympic Lottery Distributor where he oversaw substantial grant expenditure, including the multi million pound grant for the Paralympics.

Marcus Woof, Honorary Senior Lecturer for Disability Studies at the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, spoke to News Editor Kate Quinlan about his career in dentistry and his involvement with the Association of LGBT Doctors and Dentists – also known as GLADD.

Dr Aditi Desai is President of the British Society of Dental Sleep Medicine. A restorative dentist for over 36 years, she now limits her practice predominantly to the management of sleep disorders. She works with respiratory, chest and sleep physicians, ENT consultants, neurologists and psychologists helping manage patients with snoring and sleep apnoea. Dr Desai's late husband was also a dentist.

Professor Ros Keeton is Honorary Treasurer and Trustee for the BDA Benevolent Fund, visiting Professor at the Faculty of Health at Birmingham City University and a Fellow at the University of Worcester. Ros was a partner at Keetons Dental Practice in Kinver with her husband for just over 30 years and is an experienced NHS Chief Executive. News Editor Kate Quinlan spoke to Ros about her work for the BDA Benevolent Fund.

Helen Falcon has just recently retired as Postgraduate Dean for Dental Education and Training for both the Thames Valley and Wessex local offices of Health Education England, and as Chair of the UK Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND). Ruth Doherty, BDJ Managing Editor, caught up with Helen to find out more about dental education, COPDEND and CPD standards.

Professor Phillip Dowell is International College President of the International College of Dentists 2015-2016. Phillip was principal of Witley Dental Practice in Godalming for almost 30 years and has lectured widely in periodontology. In the 1970s he worked in the West Indies then studied periodontology in the USA and in Cardiff. A keen traveller, skier and sailor, Phillip has led dental study tours and in late 2015 sailed 2,700 nautical miles non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean. He is married to Sheila, a consultant in occupational and aviation medicine.

University life as a student is fraught with challenges, excitement and development opportunities – personally and professionally – but what is life like for the staff? David Westgarth met with the Executive Dean of the College of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire, StJohn Crean, about life in Preston.

Heather Pope is Clinical Director for Dental Services, East Cheshire NHS Trust and a specialist in special care dentistry, based in Crewe. Heather is also a member of the BDA's Salaried Dentists Committee and its representative on the Advisory Committee for Community Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons (England). Ruth Doherty, BDJ Managing Editor, caught up with Heather at the BDA Conference in Manchester last year to find out more about the challenges faced in special care dentistry.

There's no escaping the escalating rates of head and neck cancers we've seen over the last decade, and that will inevitably lead to an expansion in the role of the dental professional over time. David Westgarth speaks to Professor Simon Rogers at Aintree University Hospital about what it takes to succeed as an oral and maxilliofacial surgeon.

In the second part of her exclusive interview, new Chief Dental Officer for England, Sara Hurley, talks to news editor David Westgarth about the GDC, judging the success of contract reform, antibiotics and students

Change. One word that can conjure up a whole range of emotions. Excitement. Apprehension. Worry. Uncertainty. For new Chief Dental Officer (CDO) for England, Sara Hurley, change means opportunity. In the first of a two-part series, news editor David Westgarth went to meet the new CDO to talk all things dentistry.