Pictured:Joining the team - Kevin Harrison BDS, MFDS RCSEd, Dip Rest Dent RCSEng, FFGDP (UK), with Parkside Dental Practice principal Jonathon Pugh

A dentist awarded one of the profession's most prestigious honours for helping establish a new national training model for his profession has joined a Wolverhampton practice.

Kevin Harrison, who at the age of 31 is the youngest UK practitioner to be granted a fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practice, joins the team as lead dentist at Parkside Dental, Park Road West.

Mr Harrison BDS, MFDS RCSEd, Dip Rest Dent RCSEng, FFGDP (UK) will deal with all aspects of restorative dentistry, including implant work with principal dentist Jonathon Pugh BDS MSc.

Graduating from the University of Birmingham in 2003, Kevin combined extensive dental postgraduate training with both NHS hospital and consistent private sector roles.

Recognised in the profession as a general dental practitioner with a special interest in advanced restorative work, he will oversee root canal treatments and other advanced restorative-based procedures in his new role.

Kevin was awarded his fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners by assessment (correct definition) at the Royal College of Surgeons partly for pioneering a new career path model for dental practitioners who wished to develop a recognised specialist interest whilst maintaining their commitment to patient-focused general practice.

He said: "I spent three years working in a restrictive hospital setting and had some advanced exposure to the limitations in restorative dental care delivery in these environments. 

"My contribution to dentistry, which has proven worth to all patients in everyday dental practice, centred around those issues and this brand new training model is now being successfully implemented nationwide."

The keen tennis player, who has two daughters, and is married, added: "I love meeting people. Coming to a great practice in Parkside enables me to further follow my career interest in advanced restorative work." 

"It's the perfect opportunity for which I've patiently waited. The patients I have met have been very welcoming. 

"It's also stimulating to be part of a practice which has a culture that embraces a holistic approach to patient care and encourages the pursuit of recognised specialist interests within dental practice."

Mr Pugh said: "It's great to welcome Kevin. He is a proven, forward-thinking practitioner who has a wealth of post-graduate training to add to Parkside's patient-focussed skill base."