About the BSP Early Career Group

As a member of the ECG, and with the guidance of the BSP, we hope to support and engage you to meet the challenges you are likely to face in the formative years of your career.

Education plays a key part in the ECG and we support Undergraduate and Postgraduate education and training in perio. We also have strong links with relevant professional groups and affiliated societies and organisations related to periodontology and implant dentistry.

We are keen to support the aims of the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, who work tirelessly to promote the art and science of these areas of dentistry. Each year the ECG organise a short-course, details of which will be shown on the Events page of the website. We also hold a social meeting at the Annual Conference, which is a great opportunity to network and get to know the Committee and fellow members.

We welcome all BSP members (including students, non-specialists and those not yet on specialist training pathways).

ECG Masterclass Events

The Chair of the ECG organises an annual course, aimed at inspiring the younger generation of practitioners working within the field of periodontology and implant dentistry. The courses are designed to help them to develop their clinical and management skills.

Tissue Matters: A Hands-On Masterclass in Mucogingival Surgery 2026

In March 2026, the ECG hosted the BSP Masterclass, Tissue Matters: A Hands-On Masterclass in Mucogingival Surgery, presented by Dr Boota Ubhi. The course was fully booked and proved to be a highly successful event, attracting delegates keen to develop their knowledge and practical skills in soft-tissue periodontal surgery.

The masterclass combined focused lectures with supervised hands-on training, providing participants with a comprehensive introduction to the biological principles and clinical techniques of mucogingival surgery around natural teeth. Delegates developed their understanding of case selection, surgical planning, flap design, grafting procedures, and soft-tissue handling, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice and microsurgical precision.

Through practical exercises, attendees gained experience in performing key mucogingival procedures and managing potential surgical complications. The course successfully bridged the gap between theory and clinical application, increasing delegates' confidence in delivering predictable soft-tissue treatment and reinforcing the importance of mucogingival surgery in achieving long-term periodontal and implant success.

The excellent feedback received and the course's sell-out status demonstrated the strong demand for high-quality, hands-on postgraduate education within the specialty.

Minimally Invasive Non-Surgical Technique (MINST) Masterclass 2024

In 2024, the Early Career Group (ECG) organised two Minimally Invasive Non-Surgical Technique (MINST) Masterclass events, held in Manchester and London. Both courses sold out, attracting a multidisciplinary audience of dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), combined with effective oral hygiene instruction, remains the cornerstone of periodontal treatment. Over recent decades, NSPT has evolved towards a more minimally invasive and patient-centred approach. Advances in our understanding of periodontal wound healing, together with the development of state-of-the-art instrumentation, have led to the emergence of Minimally Invasive Non-Surgical Therapy (MINST). Clinical studies have demonstrated that MINST can achieve significant clinical and radiographic improvements, even in patients presenting with advanced intrabony periodontal defects.

The courses were delivered by Professor Luigi Nibali and Dr Claire McCarthy, internationally recognised experts in the field. The programme provided delegates with an evidence-based update on contemporary non-surgical periodontal therapy, including current treatment protocols, modern instrumentation and clinical techniques. A key focus was the application of the MINST approach for the management of intrabony defects, with the faculty presenting a clear treatment algorithm supported by the latest clinical evidence.

A substantial proportion of the day was devoted to practical, hands-on training, enabling delegates to develop proficiency in minimally invasive instrumentation and refine the techniques required to deliver predictable, high-quality non-surgical periodontal care. The combination of expert lectures, clinical demonstrations and practical workshops was exceptionally well received, with delegates reporting increased confidence in incorporating MINST principles into everyday clinical practice.

Crown Lengthening Masterclass 2023

In May 2020, Dr Mitul Shah presented an extremely popular hands-on course in Birmingham.

The aim of the course was to help delegates improve their knowledge and clinical proficiency when managing patients with an excess gingival display.

During the first part of the day, delegates participated in lectures and case-based discussions which explored the fundamentals of a facially driven aesthetic assessment and the treatment planning of complex cases. Later, they had the opportunity to actively plan surgery for a real-life case using PowerPoint/Keynote, Photoshop and Digital Smile Design software. Dr Shah worked with the group encouraging them to assess the rationale behind different surgical techniques and key surgical decision making. The hands-on element of the course provided the delegates with the opportunity to develop their skills in performing crown lengthening surgery, including flap management, bone removal with rotary/piezoelectric instruments and advanced suturing techniques.

Dr Shah was delighted with the excellent feedback from the course and extended his personal thanks to the surgical team who assisted him on the day, Dr Viren Vithlani, Dr Mital Patel and Dr Devan Raindi.

Peri-Implantitis Masterclass 2022

In June 2022, Prof Nikos Donos presented a very successful hands-on course in London.

The first part of the course was classroom based with lectures and case-based discussions around the classification of peri-implant disease and related risk factors. Different non-surgical and surgical treatments were evaluated and critically appraised for efficacy.

The second part of the masterclass was a hands-on workshop on pig jaws where participants practiced: Resective flap, GBR with the use of a bone graft and a collagen barrier, reverse torque technique (demonstration) and explantation with the use of piezosurgery.

Mucogingival Surgery Masterclass 2020

In January 2020, Dr Paul Baker and Dr Ian Dunn presented an extremely successful hands-on course in Manchester.

The Masterclass was also supported by two dedicated pre-course webinars, allowing the speakers to maximise the hands-on element on the day of the course. This offered the delegates an excellent educational experience for a very reasonable cost and the course quickly became oversubscribed. The course covered various mucogingival techniques including Free Gingival Grafts and root coverage procedures.

The event was a huge success with Dr Baker and Dr Dunn remarking on the fantastic group of delegates. They also extended their personal thanks to Dr Bobby Varghese and Dr Mitul Shah for their excellent assistance on the day during the surgical tasks.

Regenerative surgical techniques Masterclass 2019

In January 2019, Dr Richard Tucker and Dr Hassan Maghaireh presented a fantastic hands-on course in London.

This course was aimed at dentists with an interest in periodontics, restorative and periodontal specialty trainees, and qualified specialists.

Offering close-up tutoring on a range of periodontal regenerative surgical techniques, as well as use of a variety of regenerative materials. The course proved extremely popular and quickly sold-out. The delegates had the opportunity to practice key clinical treatment techniques for the treatment of infrabony and furcation defects in more advanced periodontal patients.

ECG Leadership Course 2017-18

The ECG Leadership Course was a structured comprising three full days and was designed to inspire the younger generation and help them to develop their leadership skills.

The first two days were led by Peter Lees, Chief Executive and Medical Director, UK Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. The sessions reflected on what leadership meant and what makes good leaders. It was a gentle introduction to the concept of leadership and one that is key for members of the ECG going forward. Delegates noted the stand-out quote of the day was:

“Good leaders create followers. Great leaders create leaders.”

The final day of the course was presented by Executive Coach and NLP Master Practitioner, Dave Thornton. He provided the delegates with entertaining and thought-provoking sessions on building relationships, understanding different viewpoints, and working with various interaction models to positively influence communications with others.

This event was generously subsidised by BSP Council and kindly sponsored by Oral-B.