Kevin James Lewis FCGDent (1949-2025): "A true friend of dentistry"

A spokesperson for the College of General Dentistry remembers Kevin James Lewis, a former Trustee, Ambassador and Founder of the College.

Born in Hounslow, Middlesex, in May 1949, Kevin qualified BDS from The London Hospital in 1971 and LDS in 1972, worked full-time as a general dental practitioner and practice owner for 20 years, then part-time for another ten years while he developed his interests in the dento-legal field.

In 1989 he began a 27-year career at Dental Protection, initially as a member of the Board of Directors, then as a dento-legal adviser, and as Dental Director between 1998 and 2016, serving on the Council and Executive of the Medical Protection Society.

In the 1980s and 1990s he was involved in broadcasting, being the monthly dental contributor on a BBC Radio 2 programme and a regular contributor on both BBC and commercial local radio in the East Midlands and East of England. He also gave a number of TV interviews, participated in dentistry-related documentaries and was the host of The Dental Channel.

Better known to many now for his writing, he was a long-serving Associate Editor of Dental Practice, Consultant Editor of Dentistry from 2006 and a contributing author to The Technologist since 2018, providing the profession with contemporary, insightful political commentaries, editorials and dento-legal articles for over forty years. He also wrote two textbooks on dental practice management and guest chapters in several others.

He enjoyed some part-time teaching and supervision of undergraduate students, and lectured throughout the UK and internationally, presenting at seven FDI World Dental Congresses as well as regional or national conferences in almost 30 countries, including regular lectures in Australia, New Zealand, North America and South East Asia.

In the early part of his career, he was heavily involved in the British Dental Association up to Branch Council level and in Local Dental Committee matters, and for some years was a Vice President of the British Association of Dental Therapists. He was a Trustee of the Oral & Dental Research Trust and a past Trustee of the Cordent Dental Trust, a Special Consultant to BDA Indemnity and he provided consultancy and advisory services to a variety of organisations in dentistry and wider healthcare.

In 2017, following the decision of the national board of the former Faculty of General Dental Practice UK (FGDP) to build an independent college for general dental practitioners and the whole dental team, he was appointed a founder member of the Transition Board tasked with creating what became the College of General Dentistry. He subsequently served as a Trustee of the College until 2022, then as a College Ambassador. He was a College Fellow, College Founder and College Donor, presented College webinars on dento-legal topics, and wrote for the Primary Dental Journal.

He was also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, achieved the Diploma of Fellowship of the former FGDP, and was awarded Honorary Membership of the British, Irish and New Zealand Dental Associations. He was an Honorary Member, and past Council Member, of the British Society for Restorative Dentistry.

Last month he was awarded the College Medal, the College of General Dentistry's most prestigious honour, in recognition of his consistent championing of general dental practice during a career spanning over half a century, and for his contributions to the establishment and development of the College from its formative stages.

He passed away peacefully in Peterborough Hospital, with his family around him, on Wednesday 30 July, aged 76. He is survived by his wife Rhiannon (formerly Head Dental Nurse of the Department of Periodontology at The London Hospital), son Nick (a College Fellow and former Course Director of the FGDP Diploma in Restorative Dentistry), daughter Angharad Sian (a solicitor in Hong Kong) and daughter-in-law Jane (a GDP in Hampshire).

Warmth and Wealth of Knowledge

Tony Griffin MBE said on behalf of the Dental Technologist Association (DTA): "Kevin provided so much support to the various oral healthcare professions throughout the UK over so many years. His regular articles in The Technologist for the DTA members have always been focused on supporting our newly established professions.

"His CPD articles demonstrated his wealth of knowledge and were made more accessible thanks to his wit and clever articulation, and a profound level of insight which made the content relevant in support of DTA members, helping them to gain a further understanding of the legal implications of our professional duties and how such matters related to the GDC's Standards for the Dental Team.

"For many years the thought provoking CPD articles written by Kevin have enabled our members to undertake credible peer reviewed CPD directly related to their personal development in their Dental Technician and also Clinical Dental Technician roles.

"Kevin was most helpful to DTA and I had the pleasure of liaising with him in supporting lifelong learning for registrants. As a Director of the DTA and Council member, mine and my colleagues' thoughts are with his family at this sad time and we offer them our condolences."

The Technologist editor Derek Pearson added: "I've valued Kevin as a contributor for nearly two decades, both with the DTA and Dental Practice. His warmth, intelligence and humour will be greatly missed, and I will remember his quiet courage in the latter days. He was a friend."

A True Gentleman

Responding to news of the death of Kevin Lewis, British Dental Association Chair Eddie Crouch said: "It is with great sadness we share news of the passing of Kevin Lewis, a much-loved friend, colleague and champion of dentistry.

"Kevin was pivotal in developing BDA Indemnity and the values on which it is based. He was instrumental in devising the building blocks that has made it such a success from its inception in 2019.

"Always a lifelong supporter and member of the BDA since he graduated from the London Hospital (as it was then), he joined us as a consultant after he retired from Dental Protection Limited (DPL) where he was Dental Director.

"He steered DPL into being the largest provider of indemnity services for UK dentists whilst also building the organisation's profile across many jurisdictions across the world.

"Throughout his career he fought tirelessly for the profession and the "troops in the trenches" delivering dentistry at the tooth face. He wrote copiously with an erudite skill and style, publishing seminal pieces in the BDJ, gave many presentations with a wicked sense of gentle humour, delivered with a chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. There are so many people whose careers were shaped by him and whose advice and support they depended on, always given selflessly and with no expectation of anything in return. A rare quality these days.

"Kevin was a true gentleman - the kindest soul. Dentistry has lost a true friend."

Deeply Saddened

Commenting on the passing of Kevin Lewis - Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague. Kevin was a visionary dentist in his practising days and a greatly respected figure in the field of dentistry. His inimitable writing style and excellent presentations, amongst many other talents, engaged and inspired and left a lasting mark.

"Kevin spent 27 years with the Medical Protection Society (MPS) in various capacities. He was first a Board member, then a dentolegal adviser and then Dental Director between 1998 -2016. He also served on MPS Council. His contribution and commitment to dentistry was exceptional; he was a true champion of the profession in every sense.

"I am immensely proud to have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Kevin. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time and both myself and my colleagues at Dental Protection, offer our sincere condolences."