Devon dentist claims dentistry’s top honour
A dentist from North Devon has been awarded dentistry’s most prestigious honour.
Ian Mills, founding partner of Torrington Dental Practice, has been awarded the highest honour in the profession. Mr Mills is the first recipient of the College Medal, which is bestowed by the College of General Dentistry, formerly the Faculty of General Dental Practice UK.
The award recognises Ian’s outstanding contribution to the profession over the course of several decades and pays tribute to the incredible work he undertook during the pandemic.
Ian joined an NHS England group, which was instrumental in drawing up contingency plans and implementing measures to protect staff and patients during peak periods when infection rates were high, and the virus was spreading quickly. He led calmly and played a critical role in communicating with dental teams to help them manage Covid cases.
Ian has had an illustrious career. After graduating in 1987 from Glasgow University, he spent his early years working in maxillofacial surgery. He moved to Devon in 1994 and co-founded Torrington Dental Practice, which is now an eight-surgery practice that provides NHS and private dental care to thousands of patients.
Ian is an ambassador, founder, fellow and former trustee of the College of General Dentistry, a fellow of the International College of Dentists, Education Academy and the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He became the first ever dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice from the South West in 2012.
In 2006, Ian took up a post a Peninsula Dental School and gained a PhD for research into patient-focused care in general dental practice in 2018. He is currently an Associate Professor in Primary Care Dentistry.
For more news click here.
Join this Discussion