Dr Minesh Patel, 54, from Bedford has been awarded the highest mark for a complex clinical case in the University of Manchester’s Masters programme in restorative and aesthetic dentistry.
The award is bestowed upon a dentist that shows the highest degree of complex restorative skill.
Dr Patel, who beat of competition from 60 other candidates to win the award, said: ‘This was the pinnacle of my career and this means so much to me, as the award was bestowed by eminent clinicians at the University’.
Award-winning case
The 60 entries for the award were from highly skilled and experienced restorative dentists from throughout the world, including Australia, India, the Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil, Dubai, and Canada, as well as a large number of entrants from the UK.
To win the highest mark, Dr Patel presented a complex bridge case, which replaced almost all of the patient’s the upper front teeth and included complex gingival surgery and root canal treatments.
‘This was a total surprise as there was so much competition’, continued Dr Patel.
‘The best thing also was that my family were all there to see me receive this award.’
The case also exhibited large white fillings, and crowns on posterior teeth.
Dr Patel’s winning case comprised 80-90 pages of detailed presentation and took over a year to complete.
According to the judges, this made his stand out from the other candidates.
Esteemed programme
The University of Manchester, which awarded the qualification to Dr Patel, is a long-established centre for teaching and researching dentistry.
To enter the programme, candidates had to pay fees of over £20,000 and were required to provide evidence of a primary dental qualification from a recognised institution, as well as have two years’ experience in general professional practice.
Dr Patel has been a vocational trainer for 19 years and also a principal dentist at Chrysalis Dental Centre for 27 years.
He has now also accepted a position as course director for restorative dentistry at Warwick University.
