College of General Dentistry: aspiration becomes reality
Dentistry in unusual amongst the principle providers of healthcare in not having its own independent college, let alone an independent college with Royal status.
The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) – a collegiate home for all members of dental team in all sectors of general dentistry, is in the process of being created. A priority for the College will be application to be granted a Royal Charter.
The core membership of CGDent will be formed by the existing membership of FGDP(UK), which is in the process of becoming independent of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. All other members of the dental team who sign up as a supporter of CGDent on the College website (www.cgdent.org) will be offered Foundation Membership.
CGDent will set standards to foster excellence in oral health, strengthen and support all members of the dental team, specifically in career development, promote and provide effective leadership and provide high quality programmes of instruction leading to College diplomas in different clinical and non-clinical aspects of general dentistry.
CGDent aims to take a modern, distinct approach to its role and activities, cultivating the best in state-of-the-art, team-based approaches to holistic oral healthcare provision intended to meet the needs and expectations of patients of all ages.
Forming CGDent will realise the unfilled, one hundred and sixty-year-old ambition of Sir John Tomes – the father of dentistry in the UK- for dentistry to have a UK-wide standard setting body with Royal status. This will elevate the standing of the profession and give it a voice equivalent to that enjoyed by the existing Medical Royal Colleges. It is a bold step, but one that is long overdue, necessary to ensure that dentistry becomes and remains fit for future purpose and continues to attract high quality individuals to become members of future generations of the dental team.
Take the opportunity to part of an historic, potentially highly significant development in dentistry – sign up to support CGDent.
