Dr Paul Averley

Paul qualified from Newcastle University, School of Dental Sciences in 1990. Following his vocational training, Paul has been involved for many years with innovating, leading and delivering services in primary care at Queensway Dental Clinic. In 1995 Paul completed his extended training in conscious sedation at Newcastle University. By 1997 he had completed his diploma in conscious sedation. Additionally, in 1997, Paul obtained the Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of General Dental Practitioners’ Diploma in General Dental Practice.

Since 1997, Paul has been involved in establishing conscious sedation services in primary care to reduce dependency on hospital based general anaesthesia. This involvement led him to develop the evidence base for new conscious sedation techniques resulting in him achieving a Master of Philosophy in 2003 followed by a Doctorate of Philosophy in 2005 from Newcastle University. Following his PhD, Paul was invited to become a visiting academic for the University where he contributes regularly to the training of postgraduates completing the Diploma in Conscious Sedation.

In 2008, Paul completed his extended training in implant dentistry at the University of Warwick Medical School where he gained Master of Science in implant dentistry. From 2009 to 2013 Paul was a regional tutor of implant dentistry for the University of Warwick.

As a result of his pioneering primary care based research in paediatric conscious sedation, Paul has been involved in drawing up national guidance on conscious sedation, working with the Standing Dental Advisory Committee on Conscious Sedation producing guidelines for “Standards for Conscious Sedation in Dentistry – A report from the Standing Committee on Dental Sedation, alternative techniques 2007”. In 2010 Paul was involved with a national guidance development group for the NICE, producing guidelines for the use of sedation in children during therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

From 2004 until 2014 Paul was a Trustee and Board Member of the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD). This Society is the second largest dental society in the UK and is at the forefront of sedation. Through this involvement Paul has been instrumental in the development of a “Safe Sedation Practice Scheme” which benchmarks sedation practice through an inspection based quality assurance programme. This scheme is currently being rolled out in the UK. Since 2011 Paul was involved in a SAAD working group to fund a paediatric based conscious sedation PhD. In addition Paul was also a member of the SAAD editorial Board for the Journal of Conscious Sedation.

From February 2012 to September 2013 Paul was appointed as a member of the General Dental Council (GDC) which is responsible for patient safety and regulation of the dental profession in the UK.

Paul’s most recent academic and professional development, which began in April 2012, involved him visiting Seattle, USA to study with one of America’s most eminent dentists, Dr John Kois. Paul successfully graduated from the Kois centre in November 2014 after studying on the eight module advanced dentistry programme. The programme, which follows clear protocols for managing complexity in dental care, has provided Paul with the skills needed to carefully manage some of the most challenging reconstruction of patients’ dental health.

What makes you smile?

My dog Archie running across beaches or fields; going out in a sailing boat to catch mackerel by the double dozen off the coast of Amble; the sun on my face and the wind at my back; a new project with my dad (in fact anything where I get to spend time with my dad); woodworking in my shed; sharing news and successes of my three daughters; enjoying the endeavours of nephews/nieces and godchildren; a day of 20 degrees (no hotter), fresh rain; finishing a book!; holidays based around skiing and sailing; barbecuing fresh fish, harvesting potatoes from the ground and buying fresh food in a market.