Crowning glory

Run by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (www.rcsed.ac.uk) and Dentsply (www.dentsply.co.uk) the competition was won by 25 year old James McParlane, who grew up in Leicester and is now studying at the dental school of the University of Central Lancashire, after a gruelling series of tests designed to push the finalist's skills to the maximum.

"The importance of winning this amazing competition hasn’t really sunk in yet.” said James. “I would definitely recommend any of my colleagues to join the competition next year as it really challenges you to strive for perfection.

“Arguably one of the most important aspects of dental care is to be able to demonstrate technical and communication skills – this competition focuses on those skills and the delivery of excellent dental treatment.”

Each of the finalists from the first round of the UK's 16 dental schools undertook a series of challenges devised to test a wide range of clinical skills in dentistry.  The tests ranged from suturing and fracture restoration, to communicating with patients and tooth shade matching.