Quality Assurance

We are proud to say that our masterclass in periodontal disease 3-day workshop meets the Enhanced CPD criteria set out by GDC. Our course also meets ALL of the criteria set out by COPDEND (Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors).

As part of our Quality Improvement Strategy, this programme has been mapped against the QAA Benchmarking Statements for Dental Professionals at Post Graduate level and against the 9 Principles of the General Dental Council Standards.

We have made series of changes on how we run our courses and how we aim to keep improving it in the coming days. Below are few examples of it.

Pre-reading materials (papers, guidelines)
Pre-course questionnaires and examples of personal development plan
Post-course questionnaire
Daily feedback forms
Received feedback will be analysed and interrogated to see true picture of the results and any changes that are necessary to be made
Feedbacks from all the delegates will be collected and, the statistical trend (where possible) will be generated automatically using IT system. This trend will guide us in the areas where course improvement is required
Feedback trend generated after each course will be collected and analysed and interrogated again 3-6- 9 months
Any points highlighted during these analyses will be taken on-board into the curriculum, course framework, and the general administration of the course
We will also have a provision which delegates can provide anonymous feedback on our website which will be acted upon when necessary

External independent experts for QA of our course:

Our courses are quality assured by 2 set of external independent experts. They looked at our course framework, course content as well as course evaluation, feedback and quality assurance measures.

1. Course content experts:

Professionals who have extensive knowledge and experience in the field of Periodontology.

Dr Amit Patel (Periodontist & Implant Dentist)

Mrs Maggie Jackson (Dental Hygienist)

2. Educational experts:

Professionals who have been working in the UK educational sector for many years helped us create a robust framework to adhere it in many ways.

Dr Om Kurmi (Assistant Professor)

Mrs Helen Bridgman (Quality Assurance Auditor)

Wendy Lodge (RN, Postgraduate Dental Administrator)

Dr Nick Barker (Restorative Consultant, Postgraduate Dental Tutor BDS MSc FHEA MDTFEd MFGDP (UK) PGCertMedEd)

Profile of our external QA experts:

Dr Amit Patel – Periodontist/Implant Dentist (BDS MSc MClinDent FDS RCSEd MRD RCSEng)

Amit graduated in Dentistry from the University of Liverpool in 1997. Following a training post in Restorative Dentistry at the Liverpool Dental School, he gained significant experience in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery through 3 prestigious hospital posts. He obtained his Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgeons at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in 2000.

Alongside his private practice, he also works as Associate Specialist in Periodontics and Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham Dental School. His special interests are dental implants, regenerative and aesthetic periodontics.

Amit obtained his Masters in Clinical Periodontology and Clinical Dental Dentistry at Guy’s, Kings and St Thomas’ Dental Institute. Amit then obtained his Membership in Restorative Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and became a registered Specialist in Periodontics. He works with several different implant systems including Biohorizons and Astra Dental Implant systems. He is also experienced in advanced surgical techniques for the treatment of Periodontal (gum) disease including sinus lift surgery, bone augmentation, the use of growth factor for bone regeneration and cosmetic root coverage surgery.

Amit is dedicated to providing specialist dentistry at the highest level and to training other dental professionals and has been voted inside the top 50 most influential dentists in the UK. Amit is very well known lecturer nationally and internationally.

You can read Amit’s review of our course content by clicking here

Course Appraisal – Masterclass in Periodontal Disease (3 days) by Dr Amit Patel

Having looked through the full course materials, aims, objectives, learning outcomes and higher learning outcomes (as per new GDC guidelines, 2018), the course looks very comprehensive with regards to course content starting from the basics to the more complex management of periodontal therapy. The aims, objectives and learning outcomes for the course is clearly laid out. The course content and delivery of the course clearly meets aims and objectives. Different learning style techniques were used to engage the participants and to maximize the delegates learning process. All the course material is very heavily based on science, appropriate guidelines and the current evidence based knowledge, covering the important points of NSPT. Lecturer discuss various range of products/materials, supporting with up-to-date research, factual evidence however he also covers his personal preference.

The course address various issues which are not covered in training at university, but essential and appropriate to deliver good quality of care in real world of dentistry e.g. time management, treatment planning, ethical selling, record keeping etc and to avoid any potential legal litigation cases. I also feel the course content gives a good foundation on periodontal therapy which then advances on to newer technologies with the management and maintenance of periodontitis allowing the newly qualified to strengthen their skills and more experience clinicians to refresh their skills in NSPT.

The three-day program is very well laid out to improve delegates knowledge, skills and management of periodontal patient successfully. Day one focuses on improving delegates underlying knowledge and understanding of NSPT (aetiology, progression and stages of wound healing), treatment planning and record keeping. Second day it looks at improving delegates understanding on instruments, how they work and refining their instrumentation skills hence enabling them to provide successful NSPT in general practice. On the final day, it looks at periodontal and implant maintenance, implementing periodontal protocol, when and how to refer to specialist for periodontal treatment.

The lecturer uses evidence based materials and some personal experience which helps to give confidence and reassurance to the delegates that they can defend their therapy robustly. Delegates are encouraged to provide comprehensive treatment plan for each patient explaining cost, pros and cons of treatment, length of treatment and to record contemporaneous notes of it all to avoid any potential legal litigations. The course reinforces the delegates’ own responsibility to act in the best interest of patient, give correct information and good record keeping skills.

Maggie Jackson – Dental Hygienist (MPhil EDH Dip DHE FAETC)

Maggie has received awards for dental hygiene services and periodontal research. She is the first dental hygienist to hold an MPhil qualification in periodontology. After several extensive years of experience in treating periodontal diseases without surgery, Maggie Jackson decided to start her own practice. Maggie is a hygienist of exceptional reputation and experience.

In November 2003 she was awarded a Master of Philosophy in Dentistry a post graduate degree from Leeds University. She has a number of publications and has used her personal research findings to help design a new interdental brush.

She lectures throughout the UK and locally on the hygienist (BSDHT) committees. She regularly receives referrals for more complex, non-surgical periodontal (gum) treatments from other dental practices.

You can read Maggie’s review of our course content by clicking here

Appraisal of Master class in Periodontal Disease by Maggie Jackson.

I have attended this course and closely appraised all of the course content. This includes all of the slide material which is a very valuable contribution to the various learning methods incorporated in this course, clearly expressing relevant points

The course is directed at professionals who have been, or will be, working in a general practice setting and will encourage and empower the ethical standards that the recently clarified guide lines stipulate should be adopted in primary practice in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal diseases. These authoritative guidelines have been formulated by the British Society of Periodontology (BSP) and are referred to in legal challenges in cases of claimed negligence.

The clear aims and objects of this course address many issues which are not covered in the training of the DHT, and yet are appropriate and essential to the needs in the ‘real world’ of primary dental care. The programme and delivery of the set aims, objectives as well as the learning outcomes are in my opinion well planned and come together in this course to meet a need at the right level for qualified dental professional wishing to develop skills in the delivery of appropriate non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT).

This is especially relevant in a general practice setting. The Dental Hygiene/Therapists (DHT) often express at the start, feelings that reflect a lack of support in their role within general dental practice. This can relate to their positioning, conferring a sense of isolation, being placed between the prescribing general dentists and the other staff and reception. Together with trying to introduce ‘a new way of doing things’ to patients and staff who may have little previous experience of comprehensive periodontal programmes (NSPT) in their practice, they may have got into the habit of ‘going through the motions’ without encouragement to achieve to their potential.

On this course there are the means and opportunity to express their existing knowledge, skills attitude, objections and problems. This is followed by expanding their knowledge, reviews, questions, development and reflections so that, with the month of ongoing support, they truly do continue their professional development. This is largely because in small groups with the peer dynamic, participants support each other and can rely on the given ‘unbiased clinically sound, knowledge and information that is evidence based’. They return to practice with what they have learned and more courage and ‘know how’ to implement that knowledge. Although aimed primarily at the DHT a whole team attending would surmount some of the previous barriers mentioned and be a great asset to a practice.

Throughout my review of the material written and slides I have found to be factual with no evidence of bias towards material or equipment. The material presented and equipment described or demonstrated might cover a personal reference, however, there are open questions and a free exchange of views. Recommendations are strictly evidence based, and factual with supporting references that are current with up to date research.

Throughout the course there is sufficient evidence, practical explanation and encouragement that any attendee should go into practice with a changed positivity to initiate the delivery of an appropriate treatment for each patient. The patient may not accept the plan but the way to present and record the recommended course of action that the course teaches should be more than sufficient to warn of potential negligence issues. With no one else to take the blame, delegates are made aware of their responsibility to give correct information. Feedback suggests this is more confidently given (and noted) and should successfully defend any future periodontal negligence litigation issues that are regrettably increasing in number. This course in my opinion could redress the balance.

Dr Om Kurmi BSc, MSc, PhD

Dr Om Kurmi is an Assistant Professor of Respiratory Epidemiology at Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. He worked as a Senior Scientist in Respiratory Epidemiology at the Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, the UK for 5.5 years. After the first degree in microbiology from Nepal in 2001, Dr Kurmi completed a post-graduate degree at De Montfort University in 2003. He then completed a PhD in the field of respiratory and environmental epidemiology from the University of Aberdeen. After working as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham (2009 – 2012), he joined CTSU in August 2012 as a respiratory and environmental epidemiologist. His main work relates to carrying out research in the field of non-communicable diseases, environmental health and occupational health. He has been involved in the supervision of postgraduate students (MSc and DPhil) at University of Oxford and University of Birmingham. He was involved in teaching postgraduate students and problem based learning to undergraduate medical students at the University of Birmingham. He is a visiting faculty member of Central Department of Environmental Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

Mrs Helen Bridgman

Helen is a very experienced and well-respected highly sought after Quality Assurance Auditor, having worked for some 20 years in this area within the broad ‘Health’ arena and having a medical background. She is a centre approval manager and is the lead External Quality Assurance Verifier for Awarding Organisations. Helen liaises with the regulators of qualifications, the regulators of National Occupational Standards, and the BSI. Helen’s recent projects include the writing of Qualifications for the dental industry including the Post Graduate Diplomas for Orthodontic Dentofacial Dentistry, Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry, Management of Clear Aesthetic Orthodontic Alignment.

Wendy Lodge (RN, Postgraduate Dental Administrator)

Wendy qualified as a dental nurse in 1996 and has since gained a qualifications in Dental Radiography (2003) Oral health Education Certificate (2004) Disease Prevention (2012) and Impression taking (2013). Wendy is currently a Practice Manger for a multi-surgery practice over 3 sites, which she helps with mentoring and teaching dental nurses to pursue extra qualifications to enhance their skills into a skill mix team.

Wendy is also the Postgraduate Dental administrator for Health Education England at Colchester Hospital, she also represents Practice Manager’s and Dental nurses at the Local Dental Network.

Nick Barker (Restorative Consultant, Postgraduate Dental Tutor BDS MSc FHEA MDTFEd MFGDP (UK) PGCertMedEd)

Nick Barker qualified in 1990 from London Hospital where he continued to work as the House Surgeon in Prosthodontics. He moved into general practice and became a practice principal in 1994 in a two surgery practice. He now oversees work carried out in a multi-surgery practice over 3 sites with a wide skill mix that involves Hygienists, Therapists, and Extended Duties Dental Nurses, Foundation Year 1 and Associate dentists and MSc students.

He gained an MSc with Distinction in Restorative Dental Practice from UCL Eastman in 2009.

Nick also works as the Postgraduate Dental Tutor for Health Education England at Colchester University Hospital, the Chair of Essex Local Professional Network, an elected member of English and UK councils at the BDA and a dental defence expert witness working with the major dental defence bodies.

He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Barts and the London Dental Institute and a clinical lecturer on the MSc in Periodontology and Advanced Periodontal Practice at the University of Essex.

His work at NHS England includes sitting on the various national dental groups that regularly reviews developing NHS dentistry across the country.

His other work includes being a National Key Opinion Leader for Dentsply Sirona and DMG dental companies.

If you wish to find out more about our quality assurance process or about any of our independent external quality assessors, please send us an email requesting such information at [email protected].