Aesthetic award invites entries from dental therapists

15 June 2024

The College of General Dentistry and GC Award, which recognises clinical skills and patient care, is being expanded to include dental therapists.

The award, which is run by the College of General Dentistry (CGDent) and GC in association with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation, was open to foundation dentists in its inaugural year. From September 2024, it will also be open to dental therapists taking part in foundation or vocational training in 2024/25. The number of award winners is also being increased in line with the expanded eligibility.

Entrants must submit an aesthetic case they treat during their foundation/vocational training year. The winner will receive a fully funded place on a composite layering course at GC’s European Education Campus in Belgium.

Frances Robinson, chair of the board of the college’s Faculty of Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, said, “I am immensely pleased that dental therapists will now be eligible to enter the prestigious CGDent-GC award for newly qualified clinicians. This development will ensure parity between dental therapists and their dentist colleagues for clinical skills that align with their scope of practice; in line with the college’s mission. Please share this opportunity with your colleagues, students and networks, and we wish all next year’s entrants good luck!”

John Maloney, GC’s director and country manager for the UK, Ireland and South Africa, said, “Involving dental therapists in the CGDent-GC competition is a really positive step that will open up this comprehensive training opportunity to even more dental professionals. We would like to thank the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation for continuing to support the development of early career dental professionals through this award.”

Tom Bereznicki said, “I am delighted that the scope of the CGDent-GC Award has been extended to offer the same clinical and development opportunities to both early career dentists and dental therapists alike. This will further support the oral health care team, and ultimately benefit patients.”

Full details of the 2024/25 CGDent-GC Award will be published in September.

For more information visit cgdent.uk/cgdent-gc-award