Oxford Section and Oxfordshire LDC - Restorative, Periodontology and Oral Cancer Screening Study Day

John qualified in 1980 from Leeds School of Dentistry and worked, until 2022, as a General Dental Practitioner in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with a special interest in orthodontics.  For eight years, John was the senior national dental adviser to the Care Quality Commission, a role he held until March 2023. In recognition of his services to dentistry, John was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2015.

This experience of engaging with stakeholders who influence dentists' livelihoods was one of the factors that John brought to the BDA's General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC), where he has been a member for almost 30 years: he was elected by his peers to serve two terms as chair of GDPC (2009-2015). During this time, John played a leading role in driving contract reform, first as a member of the NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for primary and community care, and then for 11 years (2010-2021) as a member of the National Steering Group for Dental Contract Reform.

Don McGrath is the DPB Chair for Greater Manchester and a GDPC Representative for Greater Manchester. He is Chair of Manchester LDC and one of the Principal Dentists at Glen Maye Dental Practice in Northenden, Manchester.

Raj Virdi is a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the John Radcliffe Hospital. He works within various multidisciplinary teams and aims to deliver an exceptional standard of care for his patients who are affected by complex restorative challenges.

His primary focus of interest includes patients affected by Head and Neck Cancers and their rehabilitation. This has spurred on his utilisation of Digital Technology to plan and restore composite flap graft sites with dental implant treatment to significantly decrease rehabilitation times with improved outcomes.

In addition, he also manages patients affected by Hypodontia, dental-anomalies including Amelogenesis/Dentinogenesis Imperfecta, dental trauma, and those affected by advanced Periodontal, Endodontic, and Prosthodontics challenges.

In 2022, Raj Virdi joined the John Radcliffe Hospital as a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, where he also oversees training for the Dental Core Trainee’s as an Educational Supervisor, where their training has assisted them in attaining specialist training roles or advances to their clinical practice.

Jennifer Graystone has been a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals since 2011. She has had a special interest in Head and Neck Oncological Surgery and Reconstruction throughout that time. She is currently the Clinical Director at Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, which is an organisation which brings together a range of local organisations within NHS England plus charities and patient groups with shared goals of delivering high quality cancer services across community, primary and secondary care. She is also one of the National Clinical Leads for the NHS England Getting it Right First Time project on Head and Neck Cancer looking at best practice and treatment variation across England in Head and Neck Cancer.

Joel Thomas graduated from Bristol University following which he worked as a general dentist in Worcestershire. During this period he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, gaining his MFDS post graduate qualification.

Joel quickly developed a particular passion for surgical dentistry, prompting him to pursue and advance these skills in the hospital environment. 

He gained two years experience as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Senior House Officer, working in both Worcester and Bristol. Joel then began his four year Periodontal Specialist training (MClinDent) at Guy's Hospital London. During this time he also enjoyed teaching undergraduate students at Kings College London.

Joel has published numerous articles in both national and international journals as well as presenting his work at multiple national conferences. He is fast becoming a prominent name in the South West region due to the passion and perfectionism he shows towards his work, with a particular interest in soft tissue enhancement around both teeth and implants.