Dr Upen Patel
Dr Upen Patel is an Associate Clinical Professor and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at Birmingham Dental Hospital & School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham. He is Director of the BDS Dental Degree Programme and NHS Service Lead of the largest dental undergraduate teaching placement service, Clinical Practice, for Birmingham Community Healthcare Foundation Trust. He is also currently the academic lead for Prosthetic Dentistry at the University of Birmingham.
Upen graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2006 and after completing vocational training and a maxillofacial senior house officer job, returned to the University as a Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry. He has since been actively involved in research completing his PhD studies in 2016 on the effects of ultrasound on dental regeneration and has presented his research at conferences nationally and internationally. His research interest focuses on the application and the effects of therapeutic ultrasound on the repair mechanisms of the dental pulp; education, specifically assessment and feedback in clinical education and clinically, the rehabilitation of partially dentate and edentulous jaws using removable prostheses.
Upen teaches undergraduate dental students in all five years of the BDS degree programme. Since his appointment at the University of Birmingham he has been heavily involved in the delivery of both pre-clinical and clinical dental education. Upen takes great pride and enjoyment in the practice and teaching of Dentistry to those willing to learn with the goal of producing safe, responsible and efficient Dental Practitioners. He is member of the Association for Dental Education in Europe Executive Committee and has delivered numerous courses over the years nationally and internationally for qualified dentists. He was awarded the Early Career Educator Excellence in Dental Education Award from the Association of Dental Education in Europe, one of the few opportunities for international recognition of excellence in dental education.
His clinical interests are within the specialty of Restorative Dentistry and with a particular interest in the management of tooth loss and the rehabilitation of edentulous mouths with implant stabilised prostheses. He combines his clinical and teaching interests and supports the clinical training and education of undergraduate students, dental core trainees and specialty registrars as a Consultant in the Prosthetic Dentistry Service at Birmingham Dental Hospital.
Upen has been a continuous member of BSSPD since 2008 and is honoured and proud to be the President for this society.