
Profiles
Dr Ian Mills
Associate Professor of Primary Care Dentistry
Peninsula Dental School (Faculty of Health)
- Dentistry
- Primary care dentistry
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
Dental surgeon with over 30 years experience across a wide range of dental disciplines including general dental practice, secondary care, education and research. Currently a partner at Torrington Dental Practice, Associate Professor of Primary Care Dentistry and Past Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK). Ian has represented the dental profession on various local, regional and national boards and committees, including NHS England Advisory Board for Dental System Reform, CQC Dental Reference Group, Advisory Board for Delivering Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in Dentistry, General Practice Committee of BDA, Advisory Board for Sedation Training in Dentistry, SDCEP Advisory group on AGPs, FGDP(UK) COVID Guidelines Committee. Ian was previously Chair of the Examinations Committee at FGDP(UK) and an examiner for the Fellowship Assessment at FGDP(UK). He was previously on the Trustee Board of both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the College of General Dentistry.
Qualifications
FICD Fellowship of the International College of Dentists (2021)
FCGDent Fellowship of the College of General Dentistry (2021)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy, Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry (2018)
FHEA Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2015)
MJDF RCS Membership of Joint Dental Faculties, Royal College of Surgeons of England (2013)
MFDS RCPS (Glasg) Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (2013)
FDS RCPS (Glasg) Fellowship of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (2013)
FFGDP (UK) Fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (2012)
Adv Cert Imp Dent Certificate in Advanced Implant Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons of England (2008)
Dip Imp Dent RCS Diploma in Implant Dentistry, Royal College of Surgeons of England (2008)
BDS Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of Glasgow (1987)
Professional membership
Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow
College of General Dentistry
British Dental Association
Association of Dental Implantology
British Society for Oral and Dental Research
International Association for Dental Research
Roles on external bodies
2021 – present Member of NHS England Advisory Board for Dental System Reform
2018 – 2021 Dean of the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK)
2018 – 2021 Trustee of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
2018 – 2021 Trustee of the College of General Dentistry
2013 – 2017 Examiner for the Fellowship of FGDP (UK)
2013 – 2016 Chair of Examinations of FGDP (UK) at Royal College of Surgeons of England
2015 – 2018 National Representative on Care Quality Commission Dental Review Group
2006 – 2018 Elected Representative on General Dental Practice Committee of the BDA
1998 – date Elected Representative on Devon Local Dental Committee
Other past committees include:Joint Committee of Postgraduate Training in Dentistry
COVID-19 National Stakeholders Group
COVID-19 Forward Planning Group for Dentistry
Advancing Dental Care Stakeholders Group
Improving Oral Health in Children & Young People with Additional Needs
Oversight Committee for Delivering Better Oral Health
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
2018 - 21 Partial sabbatical from teaching in view of role as Dean of FGDP(UK)
Previously contributed to undergraduate training as:
- Clinical Supervisor for final year dental students
- EBL Facilitator(3rd year dental students)
- Workshop lead on Shred Decision Making for dental students
- Honorary Lecturer delivering plenaries on variety of topics
Research
Research
Research interests
Focus on primary care based research with particular experience in the use of qualitative methods:
Current research interests in:
- Challenges of recruitment & retention of dental workforce in rural and coastal areas
- Mental health and well-being in general dental practice
Other research
- Person-centred care in general dental practice
- Shared decision making
- Environmental sustainability with particular focus on waste management in general dental practice
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
2. Witton, R., Plessas, A., Wheat, H., Baines, R., Delgado, M. B., Mills, I., Paisi, M. (2021) The future of dentistry post-COVID-19. Perspectives from Urgent Dental Care Centres staff in England. British Dental Journal, (accepted for publication).
3. Asimakopoulou, K., Scambler, S., Mills, I. J., Neville, P. (2021) COVID-19 presents an opportunity for dental teams to become ready for person-centred. British Dental Journal, (accepted for publication).
4. Mills, I., & Neville, P. (2021). COVID-19, Leadership and Gender Equality: Preparing for the Challenges Ahead. Primary Dental Journal, 10(2), 23-27. doi:10.1177/20501684211013265
5. Trivedy, C., Mills, I., & Dhanoya, O. (2020). The impact of the risk of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) members of the UK dental profession. British Dental Journal, 228(12), 919-922. doi:10.1038/s41415-020-1781-6
6. Wilson, N. H. F., & Mills, I. J. (2020). Dentistry: Time for a New Meaning?. Primary Dental Journal, 9(1), 19-20. doi:10.1177/2050168420911015
7. Bartlett, D., Dattani, S., Mills, I., Pitts, N., Rattan, R., Rochford, D., . . . O’Toole, S. (2019). Monitoring erosive toothwear: BEWE, a simple tool to protect patients and the profession. British Dental Journal, 226(12), 930-932. doi:10.1038/s41415-019-0411-7
8. Mills, I. (n.d.). Through the patient's eyes - the importance of person-centred care in oral cancer. British Dental Journal. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.923
9. Burns, L., Grose, J., Mukonoweshuro, R., Richardson, J., Mills, I., Nasser, M., & Moles, D. (2018). Developing sustainability in a dental practice through an Action Research approach. British Dental Journal, 225, 409-413. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.738
10. Mills, I. J., Barker, S., & Renton, T. (2017). The importance of recording mental health history – a case report. Dental Update, 44(10), 922-934. doi:10.12968/denu.2017.44.10.922
11. Mills, I. (n.d.). A person-centred approach to holistic assessment. Primary Dental Journal. doi:10.1308/205016817821931006
12. Tanja-Dijkstra, K., Pahl, S., White, M. P., Auvray, M., Stone, R. J., Andrade, J., . . . Moles, D. R. (2017). The Soothing Sea: A Virtual Coastal Walk Can Reduce Experienced and Recollected Pain. Environment and Behavior, 001391651771007. doi:10.1177/0013916517710077
13. Grose, J., Richardson, J., Mills, I., Moles, D., & Nasser, M. (2016). Exploring attitudes and knowledge of climate change and sustainability in a dental practice: A feasibility study into resource management. British Dental Journal, 220(4), 187-191. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.136
14. Richardson, J., Grose, J., Manzi, S., Mills, I., Moles, D. R., Mukonoweshuro, R., . . . Nichols, A. (2016). What's in a bin: A case study of dental clinical waste composition and potential greenhouse gas emission savings. BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL, 220(2), 61-66. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.55
15. Richardson, J., Grose, J., Manzi, S., Mills, I., Moles, D. R., Mukonoweshuro, R., . . . Nichols, A. (2016). What's in a bin: A case study of dental clinical waste composition and potential greenhouse gas emission savings. British Dental Journal, 220(2), 61-66. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.55
16. Mills, I., Frost, J., Kay, E., & Moles, D. R. (2015). Person-centred care in dentistry - the patients' perspective. British Dental Journal, 218(7), 407-413. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.248
17. Mills, I., Frost, J., Moles, D. R., & Kay, E. (2014). Dental patients: Delivering PCC. British Dental Journal, 217(11), 614. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.1065
18. Mills, I., Frost, J., Cooper, C., Moles, D. R., & Kay, E. (2014). Patient-centred care in general dental practice - a systematic review of the literature. BMC Oral Health, 14(1). doi:10.1186/1472-6831-14-64
19. Tanja-Dijkstra, K., Pahl, S., White, M. P., Andrade, J., May, J., Stone, R. J., . . . Moles, D. R. (2014). Can virtual nature improve patient experiences and memories of dental treatment? A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 90(15). doi:10.1186/1745-6215-15-90
20. Kay, E. J., Mills, I., Tredwin, C., Lambe, P., & Nassani, M. Z. (2014). Comparison of utility weighted DMFT with patient-reported oral well-being. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 41(2), 155-161. doi:10.1111/joor.12117
21. Mills, I., Frost, J., Moles, D. R., & Kay, E. (2013). Patient-centred care in general dental practice: sound sense or soundbite?. British Dental Journal, 215(2), 81-85. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.684
22. Mills, I., & Batchelor, P. (2011). Quality indicators: the rationale behind their use in NHS dentistry.. Br Dent J, 211(1), 11-15. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.521
Kay, E. ed., 2016. Dentistry at a Glance. John Wiley & Sons. - contributed 4 chapters
Personal
Personal
Reports & invited lectures
Married with 2 grown up children. Son is still at home, daughter is currently following in her parent's footsteps and is studying dentistry at another dental school, who's name we won't mention.
Outwith dentistry and family, life revolves around sport and music. Played and coached rugby for many years, now a season ticket holder at Exeter Chiefs.