Faculty of Dentistry

Report by Professor Chris Lynch Dean, Faculty of Dentistry

The Faculty of Dentistry was founded in 1963 to advance the science, art and practice of dentistry by promoting education, study and research. Today, the Faculty has approximately 6,000 Fellows, Members, Diplomates and Affiliates globally.

We offer postgraduate general dentistry and specialist fellowship examinations as well as lecture-based and hands-on courses for dentists undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) and/or structured postgraduate training.

The Faculty maintains longstanding specialist training collaborations with prestigious organisations overseas, including Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar, as well as colleagues in Jordan (Jordan University and Jordan University of Science and Technology), Bahrain and Ajman in the United Arab Emirates.

Popular online CPD lectures continue to be delivered throughout the year, available to our Fellows, Members, Diplomates and Affiliates in Ireland and overseas.

In October 2024, the Faculty held its Annual Scientific Meeting themed ‘A day in the life of a Dentist’, welcoming more than 200 delegates each day. Professor Alastair Sloan, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, delivered a presentation and was awarded the prestigious Edward Leo Sheridan Memorial Medal. The Faculty’s Annual Dinner concluded this very successful two-day event.

February 2025 saw a return visit to HMC in Doha, Qatar, where a five-day intensive course was delivered to residents preparing for the Specialist Fellowship Diploma of the Faculty of Dentistry (FFD RCSI) examination in Paediatric Dentistry. The programme concluded with a day-long paediatric dentistry conference, held by the Faculty on ‘Innovation and Excellence’, which was open to both paediatric and general dentists.

In May, the Faculty held its Fellowship examinations in RCSI Bahrain for the first time. This proved to be a successful visit, with further Fellowship exams expected to be delivered there in 2026.

The conferring ceremony in July 2025 will see us welcome 633 new Fellows, Members and Diplomates.

As Dean, I am very grateful for the brilliant teamwork of the Faculty Board, the administrative team and colleagues from around the world. We are also extremely grateful for the excellent support from our colleagues across RCSI.