DTA's tribute to Dame Margaret Seward, 1935 -2021

26 July 2021

Dame Margaret Seward was an inspirational woman who championed the team approach to dental care. She showed immense support and guidance to both dental technology and clinical dental technology during her lifetime. As one time President of the BDA, GDC President and then Chief Dental Officer Dame Margaret along with numerous journal editorships she always looked for improvements to support dental care.

It was Margaret Seward who set up the Dental Technicians Education and Training Advisory Board (DTETAB), under the auspices of the General Dental Council, in support of the under recognised UK dental technicians. The first meeting of this new group took place in January 1986 and was chaired by Margaret, and it quickly become the recognised body for dental technicians. The GDC was actively involved for the first three years as then DTETAB became an independent professional body in 1989. Her foresight was instrumental in developing the organisation that represents dental technicians today as the Dental Technologists Association.

Tony Griffin, former President and Chair of DTA said:

"Dame Margaret continually strove to improve UK dentistry and in that to support the Dental Technicians role within the Oral Health Care team. She inspired and encouraged all those in Dental Technology and Clinical Dental Technology to develop their profession to meet the future needs of our communities".

End.