CV - WHO IS Doctor Dental?

DD qualified at Guy´ s Hospital in 1964 as the top prize winning dental student and was awarded the Senior House Surgeon appointment to Professor Herbert. He gained one of only three honours Degrees (BDS) in operative dental surgery from London University in 1965.

DD spent 8 years in the Royal Army Dental Corps and was awarded the Broderick Gold Medal for Forensic Odontology and the work he carried out at the Aberfan Disaster in 1966. He served with the Gurkhas in the Far East and with 1st Parachute Regiment for a short spell on active service. He played cricket for the Army and the Combined Services and became a playing member of MCC in 1966.

He left the Army in 1973 and began a career in general practice and soon became one of the youngest elected members of the National Representative Board of the British Dental Association in 1976. He set up a new private dental practice in 1981 in Wiltshire and soon afterwards a commercial dental laboratory Accord Moulding Systems Ltd. That created the "Accord" Denture Brand.

He spent some time in the early 1980´s as a dental advisor to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services Patrick Jenkin, a Cabinet Minister in the Thatcher Government. More recently he developed the concept of an NHS Dental Passport for children that was adopted by the Conservative Party as part of their dental policy at the General Election in 2005.

In private practice he developed innovative technology to ensure that complete dentures (Accord) fitted more precisely and he was appointed to represent the Dental Laboratories Association on the British Standards Institute (BSI) Committee responsible for dental materials. He has been a regular contributor to several dental journals and magazines. DD left clinical practice in 2000 to pursue his research interests and set up two software companies in dentistry (Dentsure Ltd) and the veterinary market (Gemsite Solutions Ltd.).

He holds two dental consultant appointments with Western Provident Association (since 1975) and Renishaw Plc (since 2005).

DD is a consumer champion (see evidence to the General Dental Council) and believes in the provision of the highest quality dental services. Dentistry should be based upon preventive methods. What is the point in paying for expensive restorative work when the acid conditions that have led to the tooth destruction in the first place still exist? His main hope is that Practice Search will become the equivalent of a dental Google where his knowledge and experience can be used by patients for their benefit. DD´ s hospital motto "Dare Quam Accipere" has always been his guiding star. "To give rather than receive" or putting patients interests first should be the hallmark of any true professional.

DD´s pet hates - the politics of the NHS, the prodigal waste of money spent on cheap dentistry, the lack of measurable quality, no product standards (see DD´s Paper on this subject in response to request from the GDC) and the fact that not one nanosecond of any GDC recognised Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD) is required for the revalidation of clinical/technical skills (Clinical/Technical Competence) of Registered Dentists and Dental Technicians.

DD is a family man with a wife, three children and seven grandchildren. His leisure Interests are Cricket, Horseracing and Husbandry.
Cricket: DD has been appointed to several MCC Working Parties and sits on one that is currently looking at the future of Lord´s.
Horseracing: DD owns Arakette a 4 year-old filly by Arakan ex Etiquette who was owned by The Queen and a 3 year-old filly Neston Grace by Kayf Tara ex Politely bred by DD to go steeple chasing.
Husbandry: DD maintains 4 acres and is self-sufficient in vegetable production. He also breeds Alpacas and has expanded his herd from six to nine. Other residents include chickens and ducks. In the past he has been a Beekeeper.