The GDC’s Corporate Strategy for the next three years has been approved, after a public consultation over the summer.

Our vision is good oral health for all. We want to play our part, with others, in achieving this. Our mission is that, through trusted and effective regulation, we will support dental professionals to provide the right care for their patients.

We want to develop our approach to regulation and how we work with others, particularly dental professionals, our partners and patients, using our values to drive these changes: we want to be recognised as being respectful, transparent, inclusive and purposeful. 

The feedback that we consistently receive from dental professionals and stakeholders is about fear and the need to modernise and reform. We have listened. Addressing these priorities is at the centre of our priorities for the years ahead.

In this session, we will share what we have and will do to reduce the negative impact that fear around Fitness to Practise proceedings has on professionals and therefore upon patient safety.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the GDC’s priorities to move towards trusted and effective regulation

• Learn about how the GDC is working with others to reduce the negative impact of Fitness to Practice

• Understand some of the ways the GDC plans to modernise and improve regulation

Theresa joined the GDC in September 2023 as Executive Director, Regulation. Theresa is a Solicitor-Advocate (Criminal), with over 20 years’ experience advising and presenting in the public and private spheres. She is a qualified Advocate with rights of appearance in the South African High Courts and a Solicitor-Advocate in England and Wales. A former Crown Advocate specialising in prosecuting child abuse and serious sexual offences, she joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 2015 and thereafter the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2017 before joining the GDC.

This case involved a UR2  crown root fracture which patient choosing an implant option to replace. We decided to carry out immediate implant placement and have a temporary crown fabricated and placed to maintain as much of the gingival zenith profile and bone profile.

The case came out beautiful with maintained bone volume and gingival zenith and patient was very happy with the aesthetics. It involved grafting and using the temporary to maintain the gum profile.
 

Learning Objectives

• Case selection is critical – Immediate implant placement offers excellent outcomes in the anterior zone only if conditions are ideal (intact socket, no infection, sufficient bone).
• Immediate placement preserves tissue architecture – It can maintain buccal bone and gingival contours, reducing treatment time and improving aesthetics.
• Delayed placement remains a safe option – When infection, trauma, or thin buccal plate is present, delaying allows healing, reduces risk, but may require grafting and longer treatment.
• Patient-centered decision-making is essential – Aesthetic demands, risk profile, and long-term function must guide whether immediate or delayed placement is chosen.

Dr. Neha Khade is a visionary dental surgeon, entrepreneur, and motivator whose career has been defined by excellence, innovation, and a passion for empowering both patients and professionals. 

With credentials including BDS, MFDS RCS, MSc Restorative Dentistry, and PGDip Implant Dentistry, she has built a reputation as a highly skilled clinician in advanced restorative and implant dentistry while simultaneously leading some of the UK’s most forward-thinking dental practices.

From her early years in dentistry, Neha combined clinical precision with an entrepreneurial spirit. She established Riverside Dental Spa and later expanded with Dentalia, creating practices that blend cutting-edge digital dentistry with a spa-like patient experience. 

Her focus on treatments such as All-on-4 full arch implants, advanced bone grafting, sinus lifts, and Invisalign® orthodontics reflects her belief that modern dentistry should transform not only smiles, but lives.

Neha’s vision extends well beyond clinical care. She has become a strong advocate for digital transformation in dentistry, integrating intraoral scanning, digital smile design, and fully digitised workflows into her practices to deliver accuracy, comfort, and long-lasting results. Her approach ensures patients receive a seamless journey from consultation to final restoration, with both aesthetics and long-term oral health in mind.

Alongside her clinical and business ventures which she started at the age of 28, Neha has emerged as a powerful leader and mentor in the dental industry. She is passionate about practice growth, team development, and innovative business models. Her entrepreneurial focus is matched by her commitment to culture: she invests in staff empowerment, leadership training, and operational excellence to ensure her practices thrive as cohesive, high-performing teams.

Outside the dental chair, Neha is the creator and host of the newly launched Level Up Podcast, a platform that amplifies stories of resilience, growth, and personal transformation. Through her podcast and personal brand, she inspires fellow professionals, people in the practice local community and raises money for various charities. She would like to encourage anyone watching to rise above challenges, embrace continuous learning, and create extraordinary careers. She would like to encourage more females to get into implant dentistry also as she has never looked back whilst balancing a family, education, clinical dentistry and her businesses.

Her ethos can be summed up in her personal mantra: “Level Up.” Whether helping patients regain confidence with life-changing implant treatments, guiding her team towards professional excellence, or motivating audiences to chase their goals, Dr. Neha Khade embodies growth, resilience, and unstoppable drive.

Looking forward, Neha continues to expand her impact - with plans to grow her group of practices, elevate her media presence, and create wider opportunities for education and mentorship within dentistry and beyond. Her journey is one of clinical mastery, entrepreneurial ambition, and a commitment to helping others unlock their fullest potential.

This presentation, which has evolved from a poster that won the Best Poster Award at the ADI Congress in Brighton earlier this year, explores how the timing of implant placement affects bone remodeling through the lens of osteoimmunology. It begins with a brief overview of immune-regulated bone dynamics during post-extraction healing. Scalar mapping of STL data is introduced as a powerful technique for high-resolution volumetric analysis, enabling precise visualization of remodeling patterns.
Clinical comparisons of immediate versus delayed implant placements are presented, revealing distinct site-specific remodeling trajectories. These data suggest that the temporal decision of implant surgery can shape osteoimmune responses, with significant implications for tissue stability and implant integration. By integrating digital analytics with biological insight, this presentation promotes an evidence-based, osteoimmune-aware approach to optimizing implant protocols.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the Basics of Osteoimmunology

  • Explain the interplay between the skeletal and immune systems, focusing on how immune cells such as macrophages, T cells, and innate lymphoid cells regulate bone homeostasis and repair
     

• Review the Physiology of Bone Remodeling

  • Describe the coupled activity of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteal macrophages in bone remodeling, emphasizing their roles in extraction socket healing and implant site adaptation
     

• Compare Bone Remodeling Patterns in Immediate vs. Delayed Implant Placement

  • Analyze clinical and digital evidence of alveolar bone remodeling trajectories under different timing protocols, highlighting volumetric changes and site-specific dynamics
     

• Integrate Osteoimmune Mechanisms into Clinical Implantology

  • Evaluate how surgical timing influences osteoimmune responses, tissue stability, and long-term implant integration, supporting an evidence-based, osteoimmune-aware approach to treatment planning.

Dr Jakub Batycki is a dentist based in Aberystwyth, Wales, with a special interest in implantology, periodontology, and immunology. He graduated in Dentistry from the Medical University of Wroclaw and went on to complete an Advanced Postgraduate Degree in Oral Surgery at the University of Central Lancashire, as well as a Postgraduate Degree with distinction from the University of Salford.

Jakub has also earned a Certificate in Periodontology from Manchester and is currently pursuing a PhD in Periodontology at the Medical University of Wroclaw. He is committed to providing patient-focused care and continually develops his skills and knowledge in osteoimmunology based implant treatment.

This presentation introduces a simultaneous clinical protocol combining immediate implant placement, guided bone regeneration (GBR), and immediate loading in the aesthetic zone—without the use of titanium mesh or block grafts. Developed for highly demanding, high-precision cases, this approach achieves stable, aesthetic results through precise implant anchorage, controlled GBR, and advanced soft tissue management.

The GBR technique utilises a circular-cut resorbable membrane placed over the implant to protect and shape the graft, preserve vascularity, and maintain bone volume. Key elements include careful case selection, optimal implant positioning, flap design, and meticulous periosteal suturing. These are not routine cases—they are advanced challenges requiring refined technique and execution.

Participants will learn how this protocol delivers long-term stability, papilla regeneration, and membrane fixation without compromise, offering a fresh surgical perspective and a predictable, time-saving pathway for clinicians seeking superior outcomes in the most demanding scenarios.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the key clinical indications for immediate implant placement with simultaneous GBR and immediate loading in the aesthetic zone

• Apply surgical strategies for achieving primary stability, controlled GBR, and optimal soft tissue outcomes without mesh or block grafts

• Describe the role of resorbable membranes and advanced suturing techniques in preserving vascularity and maintaining bone volume

• Integrate this protocol into clinical practice for selective cases to achieve predictable, aesthetic, and long-lasting results.

Dr. Bardhyl Rraci completed his dental studies at the University of Pristina (Kosovo)2006,  his oral surgery practice at the Oral Surgery Department in Pristina in 2011. He is currently in the final year of his Master’s degree in Oral Surgery and Implantology at the University of Aldo More, Italy. He has trained at numerous leading universities, including the University of Bern, University of Bologna, University of Ankara, University of San Raffaele in Milan, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, gaining expertise in atrophic jaw rehabilitation, periodontology, implantology, osseointegration, and aesthetics.

By blending these experiences, he developed advanced surgical techniques and, in 2024, was named Oral Surgeon of the Year in London by the International Award of Excellence and the British Awards. Dr. Rraci has delivered presentations and lectures at prestigious events, including the Tirana Dental Meeting, the Italian Maxillofacial Surgery Congress, the Royal Society of Medicine in London, the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) Congress in Monaco etc.

This session explores how digital case planning streamlines clinical workflows, enhances communication between lab and clinic, and significantly reduces chair time. By leveraging digital tools for diagnostics, mock-ups, and design previews, clinicians can improve efficiency, reduce adjustments, and deliver predictable outcomes with fewer appointments

Learning Objectives

• Understand how digital planning tools can reduce clinical time by improving accuracy and predictability

• Learn how to integrate digital workflows with your lab to minimise chairside adjustments

• Apply strategies to incorporate digital diagnostics, mock-ups, and previews into everyday cases for more efficient appointments

Kristina Vaitelytė is a digital dental technician with over a decade of experience in CAD/CAM technologies. She began her career with a BA in Fine Arts and photography, later earning a BSc in Dental Technology to merge her artistic skills with digital dentistry. Kristina has collaborated internationally with industry pioneers and serves as the Technical Representative on the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) board. She is also an international speaker, sharing her expertise at various conferences and events worldwide

A practical and visually engaging presentation on transforming implant dentistry using a fully digital workflow. Discover how cutting-edge tools like CBCT, intraoral scanning, guided surgery, photogrammetry, and 3D printing can deliver faster, more accurate, and highly aesthetic outcomes. This session introduces the TRI Matrix implant system-an abutment-free, screw-retained solution designed for seamless integration with open digital platforms such as Exocad, 3Shape, and Medit. Learn how to plan prosthetically driven cases, fabricate same-day Provisionals, and achieve passive-fit full-arch restorations with confidence. Real clinical cases will illustrate the workflow from scan to final prosthesis.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the Complete Digital Workflow
  • Demonstrate knowledge of each stage in the digital implant workflow, from intraoral scanning and CBCT integration to design and 3D printing, for both single-unit and full-arch implant restorations.
•  Digital Design Solutions for Implant Prosthetics
  • Utilising Smile& design service to design accurate, functional, and aesthetic implant restorations, including single crowns, implant bridges, and full-arch Provisionals , ensuring proper occlusion, emergence profile, and fit.
• Implement 3D Printing in Clinical Practice
  • Select appropriate 3D printing technology, materials, and post-processing techniques to produce high-quality provisional restorations for immediate loading and patient try-in.
• Integrate Digital Solutions to Enhance Clinical Outcomes and Efficiency
  • Evaluate the benefits of digital workflows in reducing treatment time, improving precision, enhancing patient communication, and increasing predictability in implant dentistry.

Dr Arshad Mahmood qualified as a dentist in 2003 and went on to spend over a decade working in the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery department, gaining extensive surgical experience. He later completed a Master’s degree in Aesthetic Dentistry and transitioned into private practice, where he developed a strong focus on advanced restorative and implant dentistry.

Dr Mahmood has undertaken numerous postgraduate courses in dental implantology across the UK, Germany, Italy, and Brazil, learning from some of the world’s leading clinicians. His particular passion lies in harnessing the latest digital technologies to deliver a complete, fully integrated digital implant workflow — from single-tooth replacements to full-arch rehabilitation.

With a commitment to precision, efficiency, and patient satisfaction, Dr Mahmood continues to refine and share his expertise, helping patients and dental professionals alike benefit from the innovations transforming modern implant dentistry.

Optimizing the peri-implant emergence profile is essential for achieving functional and esthetic success in implant dentistry. The emergence profile refers to the contour of the restoration as it transitions from the implant platform through the soft tissue to the visible crown. Proper design enhances soft tissue support, promotes plaque control, and ensures natural-looking results. A well-contoured emergence profile mimics the shape of natural teeth and helps maintain mucosal architecture, preventing tissue collapse and recession. Techniques such as customized healing abutments, provisional restorations, and digital technologies aid in sculpting the soft tissue and guiding proper tissue healing. Moreover, consideration of implant positioning, depth, and angulation is crucial in the early planning stages. By integrating biological, prosthetic, and esthetic principles, clinicians can optimize the emergence profile to achieve long-term stability and patient satisfaction. Ultimately, this approach supports both the health of peri-implant hard and soft tissues and the longevity of the restoration.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of emergence profile
• Recognize the key aesthetic, prosthetic, and biologic considerations
• Applying the clinical strategies for optimizing emergence profile
• Understand the importance of the soft tissue on the long-term outcomes
• Anticipate and manage complications.

Dr Khalid Al-Helli, born in Hilla, Babylon, Iraq, is a highly skilled dentist and implantologist with more than 14 years of experience. He graduated among the top ten students from the College of Dentistry at Babylon University and went on to gain an MSc in Implantology from Cardiff University, United Kingdom. His career has spanned academic, clinical and leadership roles, reflecting a commitment to excellence in oral healthcare.

Dr Al-Helli began as a teaching assistant and trainee dentist before serving as a resident and practitioner dentist within the Iraqi Ministry of Health, where he also established his private dental clinic. In 2023, he became the first specialised implantologist in his city and was appointed Head of the Implant Unit at Hilla Teaching Hospital. His expertise is further strengthened by training in endodontics, dental surgery, composite restorations, and advanced bone and soft tissue augmentation techniques.

In addition to his clinical achievements, Dr Al-Helli has contributed to his community by establishing two specialised dental centres and volunteering his time to support local initiatives. Fluent in Arabic and English, he is recognised for his problem-solving, adaptability and creativity, alongside a strong dedication to advancing dentistry in Iraq.

Tooth loss leads to bone remodelling and we often have to graft the alveolar bone for Implant placement. There are many Biomaterials available to Implant Dentists, and choosing the best biomaterial for each individual case can be daunting. There are many factors to consider when choosing a Biomaterial. This presentation will discuss the way the Immune System responds to Biomaterials in general and how this relates to bone grafting procedures in Implant dentistry. Biomaterial origin, manufacturing process, surface conditions and purification can affect the response of the Immune System and lead to more or less Inflammation which will determine the outcomes of our grafting procedure.

Learning Objectives

• To understand how the Innate Immune System is involved in the bone regeneration/ graft healing process and how it can drive graft integration or failure

• To have a better understanding on how the biomaterial origin, properties, and manufacturing process can affect the Innate Immune system response leading to positive or negative outcomes

• To gain insights on how to select Biomaterials based on patient factors, defect type and expected outcomes.

Dr Stavros Eleftheriou is a Specialist in Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery and a Specialist in Oral Surgery.

Dr Stavros graduated the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 1996 and then continued his surgical training in Israel (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel). Following the completion of his surgical training (General Surgery, Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery), Dr Eleftheriou traveled to Europe and to North America for further refinement of his surgical techniques in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Facial Plastic Surgery and Implantology. In 2004, Dr Stavros established his practice in Cyprus, offering Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery , Facial Cosmetic Surgery and Implantology. In 2015, Dr Eleftheriou moved to the UK. His practice is now focused and limited to Advanced Implantology and Reconstructive Oral Surgery. Dr Stavros’s main areas of expertise are: Alveolar Bone Reconstruction and Regeneration, the Treatment of Atrophic Maxilla with implants (including zygomatic, pterygoid and trans-nasal Implants), the Treatment of the Atrophic Mandible with Implants, Sinus Floor Elevation and Grafting (including minimally invasive procedures), Full Arch Implants for Immediate Loading Restorations and Implants in the Aesthetic Zone.

Dr Stavros Eleftheriou mentors, lectures, runs courses and workshops nationally and internationally on advanced subjects in Implantology and in Bone Reconstruction and Regeneration. He also serves as a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) and Instructor for Dental Implant Companies, Surgical Instrument Companies and Biomaterial companies

including:

•  KOL and Instructor for Southern Implants
• KOL for Bredent Implants
• KOL, Instructor and International Faculty for Versah and Versah ZGO
• KOL and Instructor for Process for PRF by Joseph Choukroun
• KOL for BoneEasy Custom-made Titanium Implants and Titanium Mesh
• KOL for Cervico by VPI
• KOL for Devemed GmbH
• KOL for Purgo Biologics

Dr Stavros is a Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London and runs several workshops every year for the Postgraduate Dentists. He is also listed as a Dental Expert on Dental XP - the largest online educational platform. As a travelling surgeon, Dr Stavros offers his services to Implant Dentists around the UK, assisting them in the treatment of complex cases including cases with atrophy, severe bone loss and previous failures.

PRGF–Endoret® (Plasma Rich in Growth Factors), developed by BTI Biotechnology Institute in Spain, is a 100% autologous regenerative biotechnology with significant potential to enhance outcomes in dental implantology. Compared to PRP and PRF, PRGF offers superior control, consistency, and biosafety.

Aim:
To present the clinical applications of PRGF–Endoret® in implant dentistry and demonstrate its benefits in accelerating healing, reducing complications, and optimising osseointegration.

Approach:
This session will present step-by-step clinical cases, including socket preservation and ridge augmentation conducted in collaboration with BTI-trained clinicians. PRGF will be shown in liquid, gel, and fibrin membrane forms, with clinical photographs illustrating each stage.

Key Findings:
PRGF enables minimally invasive procedures, improved patient comfort, faster recovery, and predictable regenerative outcomes in implant cases.

Clinical Relevance:
PRGF–Endoret® represents a next-generation approach to biologically driven implant protocols, offering clinicians a proven, patient-focused method to achieve high-quality, reproducible results in implant dentistry.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the clinical applications of PRGF–Endoret® in implant dentistry

• Explain how PRGF–Endoret® can accelerate healing, reduce complications, and improve osseointegration

• Analyse step-by-step clinical cases, including socket preservation and ridge augmentation, to illustrate practical application

• Compare PRGF–Endoret® with PRP and PRF in terms of control, consistency, and biosafety.

Dr Saagarika Sharma is an overseas-qualified dentist and current PhD researcher at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. Her research focuses on the intersection of dentistry, proteomics, and vascular physiology. Alongside her doctoral work, she lectures in NHS and Social Care Operations and Biology at International College Portsmouth and works part-time in a dental clinic, collaborating with clinicians trained in PRGF–Endoret® techniques by the BTI Biotechnology Institute in Spain.

She has experience consulting for dental practices, including CQC compliance and patient care strategies. Her clinical and research interests centre on biologically driven protocols that enhance patient outcomes.

The sudden unexplained loss of a Dental implant without marginal bone loss and suppuration has always led to some deep thought as to how and why. This fortunately rare event appears to be more common in certain types of Implant, mainly the Grade 5 type.

Over the last 10 years there has been a better understanding of Osteo-immunology and the host response to foreign bodies, how the loss of equilibrium may result in a profound re-polarization of Osteomacs from M2 back to the inflammatory M1, leading to this spontaneous implant loss.

As with all cases where some failure has occurred it gives us a chance to think and understand why. The well recorded case shows many problems and solutions which sums up our daily life in implant dentistry.

Learning Objectives

• Osteo-immunology and the host bone healing process
• The effects of Ti and Va Oxides and particles on host immune response and the passivation layer, the implant bone interface

Peter has been placing and restoring Dental implants for 35 Years, all in the same room at the Scarsdale Dental Clinic in West London and is a visiting Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry as well as an honorary life Member of the ADI (UK). He is past President of the London Dental Fellowship and has lectured in over 50 countries globally.

With 3 chapters in published books (Quintessence) and over. Dozen published pubmed papers  along with countless journal articles, he has great interest in Implant Dentistry and sharing thoughts.

This Presentation will cover patient assessment including: patients expectations, history, clinical and radiographic examination. Prosthodontic considerations and planning in the atrophic mandible will be discussed and then surgical considerations in these cases.  

Soft tissue considerations, and final prosthetic design with maintenance will be discussed with case studies.

Learning Objectives

• Understanding prosthodontic options for the Atrophic Mandible. 
• Surgical considerations in implant rehabilitation in the Atrophic Mandible.
• Management of the Mental Nerve.
• Prosthetic design for implant prostheses in the Atrophic Mandible.

Chandan qualified in dentistry from Kings College in 2014 and has gained surgical experience working as a Senior House Officer and Trust Grade Doctor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the West Midlands.  He now runs a theatre list carrying our dento-alveolar procedures in Walsall Manor Hospital and he is a practice principal in a multi-disciplinary private practice in Northampton. 

Chandan's Practice is now limited to oral surgery, periodontal surgery and dental implants.

Through a selection of clinical slides, animations and diagrams the presentation explores why all implants don't integrate at the same rate and how to predict failure of integration. 

In particular we examine the different responses of cortical and cancellous bone to loading of implants, and factors that will affect that response; the importance of the quality of soft tissue around dental implants, and why proper evaluation of the patient is essential to avoid the expense of failure in both financial and reputational damage.

Learning Objectives

• Timings of hard and soft tissue healing around dental implants.
• Factors affecting the metabolism of bone and soft tissue.
• Factors liable to lead to bone loss around and failure of dental implants.

Nigel has been planning, placing, restoring, and maintaining dental implants at his practice in Abergavenny for over twenty years.

Combining the knowledge gained from the RCS diploma in dental implants, his Msc in implantology, and teaching on the implant diploma course with his own documented experience, he has refined his thinking and clinical practice to enhance his success rates and outcomes for his patients.

Nigel and Sarah have four children, two grand-children and the life of Riley

To identify the best surgical treatment protocol in the management of peri-implantitis. To review the latest randomised controlled trials that compare different interventions in the surgical management of peri-implantitis.

Methods: A PubMed search was conducted. The following criteria were used: Human studies only, randomised controlled trials only, follow up for a minimum of 12 months. Articles were divided into two groups: trials that compared the use of augmentation techniques and those that compared antimicrobial and decontamination techniques alone.

Outcomes: Most randomised controlled trials had a narrow confidence interval study, the most frequently occurring outcome measure was probing depths and bleeding on probing. Providing open flap debridement and implantoplasty is likely to improve the survival of implant restorations, however treatment is unlikely to lead to disease resolution. Recession, exposure of the implant fixture and possible implant removal are still a possibility.

Learning Objectives

• A brief background to peri-implantitis, diagnosis and its management

• Discuss the updated evidence with respect to randomised controlled trials for the surgical management of peri-implantitis

• Discuss the measures used to determine treatment outcomes

• Discuss the future implications of peri-implantitis and it management

Hemash Shah qualified from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2010. Following Foundation and Core Training he worked as a Specialty Dentist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Brighton and Sussex after which he successful in being awarded The Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners of The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Hemash currently works in South East London in general practice as well as managing patients under referral for Oral Surgery and Intravenous Sedation.