This year’s Black Dental Network Excellence Conference 2025 shows why the group is only going to get bigger and better, writes Gaby Bissett.
Taking place at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Saturday 5 April, the sun was beaming down on the city as I made my way to the Black Dental Network’s Excellence Conference 2025.
But the rare early April sunshine had no bearing on the attendance of the day, which was packed with clinicians, from fresh graduates to experienced specialists. What stood out this year, however, was the jump in student numbers, all keen to throw themselves into the day’s offerings.
For the first time, the conference was split into three parts – a morning of lectures, an afternoon of practical workshops and an evening gala of dancing, raffles and a celebration of Discover Dentistry 2025, part of the Black Dental Network’s grassroots campaign.
‘[The on-stage panel discussion] was a really different way of engaging the audience, so that they felt that they were treating the case with me, rather than just listening to what I did. I think there are so many more learning points in this engagement’
Martin Wanendeya, implant dentist
‘Inspiring’ celebration
Kicking off the day was Martin Wanendeya an implant dentist with a focus on reconstructive and aesthetic dentistry. Presenting a case to the room, he had an on-stage expert panel discuss the case and the steps they would take to treat it.
As Martin said: ‘What was really interesting was how the talk was structured. The panel gave their opinions, followed by a lot of discussion and questions from the audience. Only after that did I reveal what I had actually done in the case.
‘This was a really different way of engaging the audience, so that they felt that they were treating the case with me, rather than just listening to what I did. I think there are so many more learning points in this engagement.’
The same structure characterised the talk of aesthetic and cosmetic dentist Chris Orr, with delegates engaging with the case presented and the comments from the panel. This newly-introduced approach meant high audience engagement – provoking thoughtful questions, and encouraging variety and creativity in treatment planning multi-disciplinary cases.
Educational weekend
The audience interaction did not go unnoticed. Jessica Onwubiko, a third-year dental student at the University of Manchester, said: ‘I was honoured to be a student ambassador for the BDN conference 2025. From start to finish, the event was an inspiring celebration of excellence, diversity, and community within the dental profession. I particularly enjoyed the panellists’ discussions on cases that nicely linked to my dental studies at university.
‘It was a successful and educational weekend and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for next year!’
The morning also saw some relevant presentations from key sponsors, headlined by Bupa Dental Care as the platinum sponsor. Bupa’s talk on the vital ‘mouth-body connection’ reinforced the idea of holistic, connected care and set a strong tone for the day. The session also featured engaging contributions from 32co, which explored why collaboration is the future of dentistry, and Kiroku, which delved into the transformative use of AI in the field.
After a buffet lunch, the afternoon kicked off with a series of workshops, of which delegates had to choose in advance of the conference. From ridge and socket preservation facilitated by Azim Malik of Edudent Academy to the piezo technique led by Faye Donald and EMS, there was a range of breakout rooms for attendees to choose from. This move towards an afternoon of practical sessions – with a limited number of attendees in each – made the day stand out as a conference with room for individualised instruction.
The spirit of connection
While the conference wrapped up at 5pm, the delegates still had a night of celebrations ahead of them at the group’s gala evening. With welcome drinks, a three-course meal, raffle and DJ, it was the perfect opportunity for the group to unwind and continue the day’s conversations into the evening.
Joe Lovett, owner of Catalyst Sales and Marketing, said: ‘Events like this are really, really important. Why? Because Black dentists make up around 1% of all dentists in the UK, certainly less than 2%.
‘For young Black students, they don’t necessarily see dentistry as a viable career option because they don’t get to always see representation. When they go to the dentist, it’s often a white or Asian practitioner. The Black Dental Network is not only empowering its members, they are also empowering generations of people to see dentistry as a career option.
‘I’d also add that there seems to be a misconception that this event is just for Black dentists. There’s lots of people here from all different backgrounds and parts of the UK because, ultimately, it’s a really good place to learn, network and connect. And to top that off, you have fun in the evening too. It’s such a positive to be a part of it.’
Evolving with the Black Dental Network
Dr Dammy Awe, the BDN executive chair, said: ‘Beyond the educational content, what stood out most was the spirit of connection. BDN Excellence Conference is about more than CPD hours, it’s about building a supportive and genuine dental community. This was on full display throughout the day, with spontaneous conversations, networking and plenty of laughter filling every break. In fact, it was a challenge to get delegates back into the sessions; a problem we were more than happy to have!
‘A personal highlight was hearing from school leavers who attended our Discover Dentistry Grassroots event earlier this year. Their stories of how BDN has helped inspire their pursuit of a career in dentistry was heartwarming.’
Having attended last year’s conference too, it is clear the group is keen to evolve, grow and deliver for its members. The hands-on, practical sessions were evidence of its ability to understand how to maximise the clinical benefits for the day’s delegates, and consider how the conference can continue to bring value in an ever-changing dental landscape.
Dammy added: ‘We’ll continue to grow the network, build on this year’s success, and explore smaller regional events to keep momentum and engagement going throughout the year. The future is bright and this is just the beginning!’
With the buzz of excitement never dropping in the room, for me, the conference marks a big step forward for the Black Dental Network. Looking ahead, I see it only gaining momentum.
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