The dental elective day was a huge success with 19 presentations from the year.  This was the first elective day to take place in the new building.  The lecture theatre was packed as students were treated to an impressive range both local and international dental projects.  The students made it extremely hard for the judges to make a decision.   However after careful consideration the judges have decided that:

• The Sands Cox Society John Rippin Memorial Prize for the Best Elective has been awarded to Stephanie Agar
• The Dental Student Society Prize for the Best Overall Elective Presentation has been awarded to Andrew Kalli
• The Dental Student Society Prize for the Best Overall Elective Presentation Certificate of Merit has been jointly awarded to Talveen Koner and Sonia Soopen
• The Sir Arthur Thomson Trust  has been awarded to Bethan Pritchard and Raj Shah
• The Gabrielle Stanley Prize for Paediatric Dentistry Elective has been awarded to Samantha Cottam

Congratulations to all the students and well done.

A list of all the presenters and their topics is shown below :-

Elective Day Presentation
9th November 2016
LT1 & LT2

OPEN PROCEEDINGS – Dr Kirsty Hill (Chief Elective Co-ordinator)

Session One Chair – Dr Ben Scheven (Elective Co-ordinator)

• Taranjit Sangar – Oral Health in Tanzania: A comparative study of oral hygiene encompassing patients’ perceptions and dental student observations
• Shah Raj – The comparison of oral hygiene in physically disabled women in Shanzu, Kenya before and after tailored preventative intervention
• Roxanne Dean-Arshadi – An Investigation into Public Perception of Dentists with Visible Tattoos
• Shivani Patel – A study into the prevention of complications of surgical lower wisdom tooth extraction and preferred analgesics prescribed post operatively
• Razia Butt – The management of patients prescribed anti-resorptive and anti-angiogenic medication requiring dental extractions: a literature review
• Rahul Savjani – A Cross Sectional Study of the Demands for Dental Treatment & the Reasons for those Demands amongst Patients in Tanzania
• Samantha Cottam – The Multidisciplinary Management of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients from Birth to Adulthood
• Talveen Koner – Investigating Changes in a Neutrophil Derived Protein (MPO) and a Neutrophil Activating Protein (ENA-78) in Obese Patients Undergoing Gastric Band Bariatric Surgery
• Andrew Kalli – Complete denture impressions: first-choice materials taught in undergraduate dental courses across Europe
• Dhrushvi Devji – What makes up a “beautiful smile” and how do the perceptions differ in England and India?
• Jeremy Boyles – Does student debt impact upon dental students and newly qualified dentists’ self-perceived stress levels at the University of Birmingham?

Session Two Chair – Dr Vahid Ravaghi (Elective Co-ordinator)

• Ashiv Mehta – A Review and Discussion of trends and reasons as to why Dental Professionals are summoned for misconduct
• Daisy Wye – Do clinical dental care professional students at the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry have sufficient education and skills to deliver diet advice for the adult dental patient as part of routine dental care as determined by student questioning?
• Natalie Turton – A Clinical Audit Of Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocks On Undergraduate Oral Surgery Clinics At Birmingham Dental Hospital, With An Investigation Into Local Anesthesia Education At The University Of Birmingham And The Arthur A. Dugoni Dental School In San Francisco, USA
• Bethan Pritchard – Assess opinions on testing for general medical conditions in dental and pharmacy settings plus validation of Vitamin D finger prick equipment: City Assays 25-hydroxy Vitamin D2 and D3
• Sonia Soopen – A micro-CT analysis of root canals filled with BioRoot RCS using three obturation techniques
• Helen Vincer – A Comparison of the Use of Oral Soft Tissue Biopsies in Ashford, Kent and Birmingham
• Gurvinder Bhandal – How Oral Healthcare is Provided in Remote Locations in Central Vietnam
• Stephanie Agar – Developing an Online Study Support Resource for University of Birmingham Dental Students to assist with Clinical Dentistry Techniques

Picture of Joy Harrild taken from the following news article
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/she-brightest-kindest-family-tribute-12288098

The following is written by Professor Iain L C Chapple, Head of the School of Dentistry
Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical & Dental Sciences.  Please contact the school for any further details

Dear Colleagues

It is with deep sadness that I have to inform you of the death of one of our former students, Joy Harrild, who graduated in 2013 and was only 26 years of age. Joy was killed in a car crash on Tuesday 6th December. She was my personal tutee and so I can share with you that she was one of the sweetest, kindest and most professional of students I have had the pleasure of teaching and working with. She graduated with honours and a clinical distinction, testimony to her fantastic qualities.

Joy entered the Community Services and was based at Brookfields Hospital in Cambridgeshire where she was able to provide the highest levels of care to those most in need, a reflection of her personality and values.

We have written to her parents and if we receive details of funeral arrangements we will make those available through the School of Dentistry Office to anyone who knew her well and wishes to pay their last respects to her.

Very best wishes

Iain

Professor Iain L C Chapple
Head of the School of Dentistry
Institute of Clinical Sciences,
College of Medical & Dental Sciences

Do you dance, sing or play a musical instrument? Or are you an undercover magician, actor or comedian? Whatever it may be we want you to showcase your talent at this year’s talent show on the 26th January 2017! It is an opportunity not to be missed and prizes are up for grabs. We have some exciting performances lined up for you and some lovely treats with the first ever great dental bake off themed talent show so make sure you come along. We will start selling tickets shortly! I performed last year and it was such a good laugh. If you would like to participate please do not hesitate to contact anyone on the PAS committee or you can drop me an email nxp357@bham.student.ac.uk.

Mohammed-Jaffer Ismail spent his summer dental elective in Greece and we asked him to provide an article for the blog?  Jaffer was working with the charity, Health Point Foundation, who are looking for support and volunteers throughout the year to give assistance to the refugees. Here is Jaffer’s account

——
Getting out of the air-conditioned taxi at Diavata refugee camp, I caught my first glimpse of a Greek refugee camp. I remember immediately seeing clusters of white tents with the words UNHCR inscribed on them for the first time. It was a sight that I remember seeing on news reports about refugee camps in what, from the comfort of my home, seemed like far-flung abstract places around the world. It was then that I realised the reality of the situation: being in a refugee camp within Europe and only a short 3-hour flight away from home. Diavata, an ex-military barracks, is approximately 10km away from Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Ahead, in the distance, was a wall with a mural with the words “only love” and “save Aleppo”- the city which has come to symbolise the crisis in Syria.

The vast majority of refugees in the camps are Syrians. They are attempting to seek safety from the war and destruction that has plagued their homeland for the past five years. In doing so, they are a part of the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, creating an unprecedented challenge for the continent. The perilous 4-mile sea crossing from Turkey into Greece has become part of the established Eastern Mediterranean migration route, placing Greece as one of the nations at the heart of the crisis. In March 2016, the EU and Turkey negotiated a deal that saw any refugees and migrants crossing the Aegean Sea into Greece being sent back to Turkey. For every Syrian refugee readmitted into Turkey, the EU would agree to resettle another from camps within Turkey. This deal, along with Macedonia’s closure of its border with Greece, resulted in tens of thousands of refugees and migrants being stranded within Greece. Many of these refugees are in temporary camps in the North of the country. Health Point Foundation (HPF), a non-profit organisation, operates within the refugee camps in Northern Greece. The charity focuses on providing much-needed dental aid to refugees and is currently the sole provider of emergency dental care within the camps. During the summer of 2016, I had the privilege of volunteering with HPF as part of my university elective project.

The charity’s base was at Diavata camp. At the time, HPF were operating from a metal shipping container with 2 massage chairs acting as dental units next to each other at one end (HPF has since moved into a larger purpose built clinic in Diavata). The heat when first entering the container was intense, as the metal walls would radiate heat from every side. Thankfully, there was a single air conditioning unit at one end providing some respite. As we walked towards the container, an elderly man approached me speaking Arabic. Not understanding Arabic, I had no clue what he was asking but it was clear it had something to do with pain from his teeth- already, within minutes of arriving, the demand for dental care was presenting itself, foreshadowing the rest of my experiences in Greece.

The first day was to be spent on outreach at another camp, Nea Kavala. After organising the autoclaved instruments and packing all the equipment we thought we would need (plus more!) we made the one-hour drive through the picturesque Greek countryside to the huge sprawling camp. We were led to our tent for the day – a blank canvas with a rocky ground that we had to convert into a functioning dental clinic. With no AC units but rather fans blowing hot air, we got to work. After ensuring we had established clear clean and dirty zones, organising all the equipment to maximise efficiency, and attempting to get the mobile dental unit to function, we were ready to start seeing the first patients.

Registering the first patients in line using a ticketing system, it was clear that language was going to be an obstacle. Whilst registering the details of those waiting, I was able to talk to some of the refugees about their experiences. One man brought his 6-year-old daughter who he said was in pain and unable to sleep at night. I distinctly remember her vacant expression as she stood waiting, staring into the distance- a girl her age must only have lived through war and conflict. Her father explained to me a story that would become a common tale during my time in Greece: he had paid 700 Euros per person in his family to the people smugglers in Turkey. Expecting a boat to cross the waters, they found a rubber dingy instead – overcrowded and dangerous. Another woman, a teacher in Syria, explained that her family had hid in an empty oil tanker in Syria to reach the Turkish border, followed by the perilous sea crossing. It was clear that many had spent their life savings to make this journey into Europe, not expecting to be held up in refugee camps where, as we would later see, they would have to queue daily for their water rations.

During the day, a doctor from the Finnish Red Cross, operating in a nearby facility, entered the clinic. She expressed her relief at seeing a dental team as many people she saw in the camps were suffering severely from dental pain and there was very little they were able to do for them. Having worked in conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq, she explained that the refugee camps in Greece were one of the most challenging environments she has worked in. Many of the people were relatively physically well, however they required significant psychosocial support which was proving a major challenge to obtain.

Many of those we saw, however, held onto the hope that they would be leaving imminently for countries such as Germany and Sweden. When offered treatment involving extractions, some would be extremely hesitant, saying they would wait until they got to Germany as they would be there soon. It was hard to imagine at the time how soon that would be. Most patients presented in pain- it became clear that when it came to clinical decision-making, the focus of the dentists throughout was on pragmatic and reliable treatment options as the priority. Rapid (almost immediate) setting of glass ionomer cements due to the heat did not make matters any easier! Whilst untreated caries and dental infections were common, many of the refugees had clearly spent time and effort on their teeth in the past – bridge and crown work was fairly common to see, and many had an awareness of the importance of oral hygiene.

As the first dental team left, another team arrived. Again, several outreach clinic visits were planned with a similar setup- arriving at each location to set up a 2-dentist clinic in an empty tent or, in some cases, empty small rooms which were a part of an abandoned factory or military barracks. The demand for care became more evident as we began to visit camps that HPF would see fortnightly as opposed to weekly. Registering patients and attempting to triage was part of my focus on these busy days. Having picked up a few Arabic phrases (unable to understand many of the replies, however!) my task became somewhat easier. However, on occasions, many displayed frustration due to waiting long periods of time, a reflection of the demand. Unfortunately, on some of the days we were unable to see all the patients and had to employ a priority system of treating those with large diffuse swellings and children in pain as the clinic ended and sterile supplies ran low. Turning people away at this point was extremely difficult, however providing safe care was the ultimate priority. Seeing the demand for care underlined to me the debilitating nature of dental pain. Indeed, some patients I saw had opted to leave their appointments at the Red Cross tents in order to see the dentist due to the extreme discomfort they were in.

One major hurdle faced throughout the experience was the language barrier and limited availability of translators. In order to ensure that informed voluntary consent was given, it was crucial that the dentists were able to communicate effectively with the patients. Thankfully, we would come across some refugees able to speak excellent English and they would be all too happy to assist in translating. At one point, a somewhat complicated translation system was set up from Kurdish to Arabic, followed by Arabic to English! Access to Whatsapp also proved invaluable, as HPF had set up during the week a translation group where requests could be messaged followed by prompt phone calls from volunteers across the globe. Clearly all these workarounds present challenges and are not as effective as someone on the ground; however, they served as a helpful backup. Moreover, some of the team at the end of the week had picked up enough phrases that would surely qualify them for a new diploma in Dental Arabic!

Throughout the trip, the determination and willpower of the dentists, nurses and other volunteers working in the extremely difficult conditions could not be doubted. When it came to the patients, the work of the dental team symbolised the phrase we are all used to: putting patients’ interests first. Working hours on end with only a few minutes’ break during the day, and with such limited equipment and facilities, their resolve was truly inspirational.

Leaving Greece, on the flight back, I couldn’t help but think of the individuals I met during my time in the camps. The experience in Greece highlighted to me how desensitised I had become to watching world events unfold on TV from the comfort of my living room. By being on the ground in the refugee camps, where sanitation and amenities are often poor, and interacting with people who have been through traumatic events, the refugee crisis suddenly became a more ‘real’ event to me. My attention turned in particular to one patient we saw a few days earlier: after he sat down, he promptly self-diagnosed himself as having ‘mesial caries’- it rapidly became clear he was a first-year dental student from Syria, fleeing the conflict. He explained his decision to leave Syria was based on the choice he had if he remained: “kill, or be killed.” It was only then, as I was flying back home, that it struck me – had fate placed me 3000 miles away in the other direction, it could have been me sleeping in a tent that night.

A special mention for the volunteers below who were present during the period of my elective:

Dentists- Judith Husband, Kyriacos Hajikakou, Jaffer Kermalli and Kat Fisher
Assistants/Nursing: Julie Brunswick, Michelle Chagpar and Harry Fisher
Ground co-ordinator: Faizan Brosefzai

In particular, a special mention to Dr Ola Hassan who is the dental lead at Health Point Foundation, putting in tremendous effort to ensure the charity is able to provide the much-needed care. For more information see http://healthpointfoundation.org or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/healthpointfoundation/

The School was pleased to welcome back, Dr Yusuke Takahashi who is Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University, Japan.  Yusuke stayed in Birmingham for a year in 2009 and worked with Prof Tony Smith and Prof Paul Cooper.  He is visiting Birmingham as well as linked research groups in Dublin and Belgium.  Yusuke brought over Motoki Okamoto who is also a clinical teacher in Osaka University and studying for his PhD.  Yusuke’s lecture was on “Development of a truly-biological pulp capping material – based on the healing process of pulp tissue“.  This cutting edge research on Endodontics is part of Yusuke’s on going research in this area and there are joint collaboration with Paul Cooper’s research laboratory.  Motoki will be staying to learn research techniques in regeneration of the tooth pulp and will be observing teaching  in the clinical areas.  The Picture shows Prof Tony Smith, Gay Smith and Michelle Holder, Paul Cooper, Yusuke and Motoki.

This picture is from 2009 and shows shows Professor Tony Smith, the then Director of Dental Research with Yusuke Takahashi and Jack Ferracane. At the time of the visit in 2009, Yusuke Takahashi was a young Assistant Professor at the Institution Osaka University Graduate school of Dentistry and Jack Ferracane who was Professor and Chair, Biomaterials & Biomechanics at Oregon Health & Science University was also visiting at the same time.

Dimitri Mulkern BDS3 (first on the left with other dental students) is a student representative for the British Fluoridation Society and was part of a team that presented at a BFS event that took part at Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament in February. Speakers included Sir Paul Beresford and Professor Mike Lennon who outlined the work of the society and how to take the positive message of the benefits of water Fluoridation forward. Dimitri talked about how to involve students in the work of the British Fluoridation Society and how dental students working together could make a real difference in changing the gap in health inequality.  The students were also fortunate to be able to attend a live parliamentary session, as guests of Lord Hunt.  The pictures show Dimitri with other dental students who attended the day at the House of Commons.  Dimitri became involved with the British Fluoridation Society over a year ago and attended their meetings where the idea of a student chapter to the organisation was raised.  If you wish to get involved then email Dimitri.

There was a great turn out by dental researchers at the International Association for Dental Research which was held in San Francisco in 22nd to 25th September. The School of Dentistry , the University of Birmingham was there as well and we presented our internationally renowned research to the 6,000+ delegates. There were both oral and poster presentations by dental researchers from the School.

The number of presentations and their timing made it difficult to attend all of the Birmingham presentations but they included work on

• light curing of composites
• industrial research on toothbrushing
• removal of biofilm by ultrasonic scalers
• materials used by UK dentists
• Periodontal Health and its global impact
• Markers of Periodontal disease
• Post operative dental pain management

The standard of our presentations was commented on by many delegates.

A special mention goes to Jeremy Boyles (BDS5) who presented a poster on “Does student debt effect dental students and dentists stress levels”.  Well done to Jeremy on his presentation and I know that he gained much experience from meeting clinicians and researchers both Nationally and Internationall

Another special mention goes to Isabel Lopez-Oliva who is one of our PhD students. Isabel won the President’s Award of the IADR Periodontal Research group for best paper. Her presentation is entitled “Circulating antibodies to citrullinated proteins in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Periodontitis “. Congratulations to Isa. This is the 3rd time the University of Birmingham has won this award in the last 7 years, so Isa has done us proud.

Finally everyone enjoyed the City of San Francisco which provided a beautiful backdrop to the conference. Next year the IADR is in London and we look forward to more Birmingham research being highlighted at this conference.

Dr Patel and Prof Walmsley returned from a 2 day Global conference on dental education between Europe and USA (ADEE and ADEA).  There were also the Presidents and delegates from Brazil, South East Asia and Japan.  There were 270 delegates from 49 countries.  The conference was held on the Kings Campus, London Bridge, London

The details are here http://www.adee.org/meetings/london2017/index.html

Professor Walmsley was chair of the Science and Technology in Dental Education group and one of the initial organisers of this global conference

Dr Upen Patel was rapporteur in the assessment group led by the Medical Education guru Cees van der Vleuten, PhD, from University of Maastricht in The Netherlands.  Upen contributed but also picked up some fantastic ideas and has further enhanced his international standing in the area.

http://www.adee.org/meetings/london2017/rapporteurs.html

It was a high profile international education conference and there were so many positives and networking opportunities that came out of it.  Deborah White was there too in her role as Journal Editor of the European Journal.  There were Deans and other influential dental figures from USA and European dental schools.  This was seen as a very important dental education conference that will be an instigator of change in future years.  There will be several publications arising from it and just to say Birmingham was well represented.

Back to normal teaching tomorrow but a very uplifting experience on dental education and we will pass on the experiences to the students.

Birmingham was at the British Dental Association Conference that was held at the end of May in Manchester.  The conference was held in the same week where the terrible atrocity of the Terrorist bomb at the Manchester Arena.  The delegates were determined to make sure it was business as usual and were ready for the increased security.  There was a minute’s silence held on the Thursday during the conference.

There were many of our ex-students there, both vocational trainees and others who had qualifies through the years.  It is always fun to catch up with them and hear about their professional and personal successes.  There were several talks that featured Birmingham academics including Professor Trevor Burke and Louis MacKenzie.  Cristina Parenti featured in a panel discussion that was one of the highlights of the meeting.  Jo Batt featured as one of the faces of dentistry, a social media campaign run by the BDA.

The conference is an excellent venue for networking and also obtaining your essential CPD.  Although it was quiet, the City provided an excellent venue for the social events of the conference as well.  Here are some pictures of the event.

The conference is an excellent venue for networking and also obtaining your essential CPD.  Although it was quiet, the City provided an excellent venue for the social events of the conference as well.  Here are some pictures of the event.

Professor Walmsley was awarded the British Dental Association John Tomes medal at the Honours and Awards Gala Dinner held at Manchester Town Hall at the BDA conference.  The John Tomes Medal is awarded “in recognition of scientific eminence and outstanding service to the Dental Profession”.  Here we see Damien collecting his medal and scroll from Peter Dyer (L), President of the BDA and Mick Armstrong Chair of the Principal Executive Committee (PEC).

Jo Batt, Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry, is featured in the British Dental Association Campaign “We are Dentistry”  Jo tells of her love of dentistry especially as a teacher and researcher.  The BDA media came up to Birmingham to film Jo in one of her teaching classes.  During the BDA conference, Jo’s face and video was seen doing the start of sessions and along with the other 5 dentists seen in the video below has promoted Dentistry in the Profession and also nationally.

The staff student cricket took place at the Tally Ho police training centre, a stone’s throw away from the Edgbaston stadium. The Tally Ho pitches are next to the Pershore Road and within walking distance of the dental school.  A new venue for this annual match.
It was a fiercely competitive match and the staff batted first.   They amassed a large total and capitalised on some poor fielding by the students.  However the final total was achievable and the students despite loosing early wickets batted well rushing towards the staff total. However in the final over, the students fell short giving victory to the staff.  Until next year for a keenly anticipated rematch……

Well done to Nasser Patanwala for organising the match and here are a few pictures of the game.

It is amazing to think we have been in the Dental School and Hospital for over a year and we we are loving the new surroundings.  It seems that everyone else is too!!!  The Building was won a an award from the West Midlands Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).  It came first in the category “Innovation through Design”  The judging panel liked the functionality and layout of the building. They highlighted the welcoming atrium, the open clinics and the world class research laboratories.

The Birmingham Dental Hospital & School of Dentistry will now go forward to represent the West Midlands in the national RICS Grand Final on 2 November 2017, competing against other projects from across the UK.

The Institute of Clinical Sciences and has the following mission taken from our Web site.
“The education and training we provide transforms students into professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver top-rate, 21st-century healthcare and carry out life-changing medical research. This is informed by pedagogy and by research in the fields of dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and medical and life-sciences.”

The second Institute of Clinical Sciences Away Day was held in the splendid surroundings of Birmingham Town Hall.  Professor Prem Kumar, Head of the Institute, opened the day and introduced the line up.  First off Prem, Paul Cooper (Research), John Skelton (education) and Helen Matthews (Institute Manager) gave presentations of the activities of the Institute over the last year.

Following this, Prem and the team took questions both from the floor and over the Internet. Then there was a great session on meeting the new staff of the Institute.  Each member had to introduce themselves talk about the research and education plus add a few unknown bits about themselves.

In the afternoon there was a highly interactive session putting words against objects on the table and then lining these words up against prepared statements.  The final session was an opportunity for Institute staff to inform others about their teaching and learning projects.  This was a highly productive day and most delegates stayed at the end for refreshments and networking opportunities.  There was also the delights of the Birmingham Food Festival for those people who chose to make a night out in Birmingham.

The Open Wide project goes from strength to strength and there was an an open workshop associated with the current Open Wide exhibition ‘Microbe Mouth’.

Many staff, students, patients and visitors took part in painting a porcelain tooth followed by a short talk and discussion about the work. The event is free, no need to book just drop in on the ground floor. There will be some light refreshments with the talk.

The day started dull and overcast but we knew that the sun would eventually win through. Students were excited as they put on their gowns to be ready to receive their University degrees. The ceremony is always an uplifting occasion and the speech from the Vice Chancellor set the optimistic tone for the graduates as they left the great hall. The sun was there waiting and the good times began.

There were lots of hat throwing and these were all duly recorded on Instagram for the world to see. Official and unofficial photographs followed. The Distance Masters students in General Dental Practice graduated for the first time and there was also several successful PhD graduates from Dentistry who were very happy about life as the picture gallery shows.

The lecture theatre on the first floor was full to capacity when Prof Chapple stood up to welcome everyone to the annual prize giving.  Dr David Attrill, Head of Education announced the prize winners from both Biomaterials and Dentistry.  Prof Chapple then introduced the Guest of honour, Prof Philip Lumley, who stepped down last year as Head of School and is now Deputy Head of the College of Medicine and Dentistry. His speech gave advice to the new graduates on how to use a range of life skills which will help them as they embark on their forthcoming careers. Prabjot Garcha, Chair of BUDSS, gave a vote of thanks to Prof Lumley for his speech.  Professor Chapple then gave his annual report on the successes of the staff and students in the School of Dentistry.

At the end of the formalities Prof Chapple invited family, friends, students, staff to the Hospital refectory where there were refreshments for everyone.  The day ends with a tinge of sadness as the final year of students now leave us.  Also whilst the School still has another week of teaching to go there is the expectation of the summer recess which is nearly upon us.

Mr Tom Addison, senior clinical tutor gets married on Saturday 5th August. Dr Attrill hosted a small celebration to wish him and Hannah all the best for the future. Hannah his bride to be was unable to attend but an able deputy was found. We wish Tom and Hannah all the best for their wedding and future married lives.

St George’s Hall, Liverpool was the location for the 2018 British Society of Prosthodontics (BSSPD) annual conference; Achieving Favourable Outcomes: Contemporary Practice. Lectures were delivered in the magnificent Concert Hall and the meeting was well attended by Birmingham Dental School and Hospital staff presenting a total of 8 posters in the Grand Hall of the venue. Two Birmingham graduates, James Chesterman and Funmi Oluwajana, were also in attendance and it was a great opportunity to catch up and chat about their careers after Birmingham. Dr Upen Patel was voted in as a BSSPD council member and will be working with the council to navigate new policies on Data Protection and eCPD for the BSSPD and its members, as well as continue to provide high quality webinars and dental education for the coming year. Mr Dominic Laverty, Specialty Registrar in Restorative Dentistry at Birmingham, won the BSSPD In-Training Award allowing him to carry out further study in Edmonton, Canada. Overall an excellent conference and a good opportunity for us to update ourselves with the most recent evidence and contemporary practices in Dentistry. Hope you enjoy the pictures.  The BSSPD President, Dr Phil Smith, commented on the high turn out of delegates from Birmingham.