Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), has been awarded an OBE in Queen’s birthday honours.
The award recognises Dr Carter’s services to dental and oral health.
Dr Nigel Carter, has been chief executive of the BDHF since 1997, and was previously chairman and trustee. He has an association of more than 35 years with the Foundation.
Nigel trained as a dentist at Birmingham University, and as well as having his own practice in Birmingham. he also ran a company training dental nurses and dental technicians.
The BDHF is an independent charity that, along with its global arm, the International Dental Health Foundation, is dedicated to improving the oral health of the public by providing free and impartial dental advice, by running educational campaigns and by informing and influencing the public, profession and government on many issues including mouth cancer awareness and fluoridation.
This year, the British Dental Health Foundation celebrates its 40th Birthday.
Overseeing the Foundation’s work including National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month, Nigel works with health departments, representatives of major health, cancer, dental and medical organisations.
Nigel is also Trustee and treasurer of the Royal Society for Public Health and takes a strong interest in Public Health, the current NHS reorganisation and the social determinants of health.
Dr Nigel Carter said: ‘It is a tremendous honour to have been nominated for this OBE. This award recognises not only me but also the work of British Dental Health Foundation and I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 40 years.
‘Dentistry has made great strides over the years and patients have benefitted greatly from the innovations and improvements in treatments. There is still however an important role to be done through education. Not only to improve oral health but also to help people gain a better understanding of associated diseases including mouth cancer.
‘Our aim is to spread the word on the benefits of good oral hygiene as far as we can. We are currently planning to roll out the concept of National Smile Month to as many countries as we can.’
John Siebert, president of the BDHF, said: ‘We would like to congratulate Nigel on his OBE. It is very well deserved and is a testament to the hard work, time and passion that he has dedicated to the British Dental Health Foundation.
‘Nigel is a great advocate for the dental health profession, and he has helped to shape and challenge the way we think about oral health in this country. Thanks to his work with the Foundation, many more people have benefitted from having better oral health and therefore less treatment.’
Roger Farbey, head librarian of the British Dental Association, was also honoured in the Queen’s birthday list and receives an MBE.
