More about Dr Ali

I am a Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the Leeds Dental Institute and the lead for Oral & Dental Rehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancer patients. I have over 20 years experience in Dentistry having commenced my dental degree in Leeds in 2001. I have sought extensive training leading to my entry onto the GDC specialist register for Restorative Dentistry in 2019. My roles include the assessment, planning and treatment of complex multi-disciplinary cases spanning implant dentistry, periodontics, endodontics and fixed & removable prosthodontics. As well as consultant work I am the Training Program Director for Dental Core Training (Dental Specialties) in Leeds and wond the Middle Years Trainer of the year in 2023. I have supervised many trainees through their core training years and am involved in Restorative specialty training for trainees seeking to become specialists. 

Outside of dentistry I enjoy spending time with my family and try to keep myself fit. 

More about me:

Qualifications:

  • Undergraduate Dental Degree: BChD, University of Leeds 2006
  • Royal College Fellowship Examination (Specialist Exam): FDS (Rest Dent) Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh 2018
  • Royal College Membership Examination: MFDS Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh 2009
  • PhD University of Sheffield 2018, Thesis title: “Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Partially Dentate Patients” – Link to Thesis  
  • Masters Degree: MSc in Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics, University of Manchester, Pass with Distinction, 2013

Other Postgraduate Studies: 

  • PG Diploma in Health Research, University of Leeds, Pass with Merit, 2011
  • PG Certificate in Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry, University of Central Lancashire. 2010
  • Certificate in Advanced Bone Grafting and Sinus Lifts, Implant Centre of Excellence, 2022

Peer Reviewed Publications 

1. McCaul L et al. “Oral prehabilitation for patients with head and neck cancer: getting it right – the Restorative Dentistry-UK consensus on a multidisciplinary approach to oral and dental assessment and planning prior to cancer treatment.” British Dental Journal, November 2022; 233: 794-800.
2. Strain KJ, Hoyle P, Ali Z, Bonsor SJ. “The Use of a Gothic Arch Tracing to Record Centric Relation in the Construction of Complete Dentures.” Dental Update 2022; 49: 40-45.
3. Barraclough O, Patel J, Milne S, Ho M, Ali Z. “Pathways for the rehabilitation of resection defects in the maxilla.” British Dental Journal, Jun 2022; 232(11): 783-789.
4. Gray D, Barraclough O, Ali Z, Nattress B. “An update on indirect prosthodontic materials and their manufacturing techniques.” Dental Update, September 2021; 48(8): 699-705
5. Gray D, Barraclough O, Ali Z, Nattress B. “Modern partial dentures – part 2: a review of novel metal-free materials and innovations in polymers.” British Dental Journal, June 2021; 230(12): 813-818.
6. Barraclough O, Gray D, Ali Z, Nattress B. “Modern partial dentures – part 1: novel manufacturing techniques.” British Dental Journal, May 2021; 230(10): 651-657
7. Zaid Ali, Duncan Wood, Abdulrahman Elmougy, Paul Kelleher, Nicolas Martin. “Laboratory evaluation of production efficiency for removable partial denture frameworks using in-house casting versus outsourced additive manufacturing techniques.” International Journal of Prosthodontics, February 2021; online (ahead of print).
8. Ali Z, Baker S, Sereno N, Martin N. A pilot randomised crossover-controlled trial comparing early OHRQoL outcomes with cobalt chrome versus poly-ether-ether-ketone as removable partial denture frameworks.” International Journal of Prosthodontics. International Journal of Prosthodontics, Jul/Aug 2020;33(4):386-392.
9. Ali Z, Baker S, Shahrbaf S, Martin N, Vettore M. “Oral health-related quality of life after prosthodontic treatment for patients with partial edentulism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2018, 121(1) 59-68.
10. Ali Z, Baker S, Barabari P, Martin N. “Efficacy of Removable Partial Denture Treatment: A retrospective Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Evaluation.” European Journal of Prosthetics and Restorative Dentistry, June 2017. 25(2) 101-107.
11. Ali Z, Roudsari RV, Satterthwaite JD. “Clinical scenario-based assessments to measure reasoning in complex cases: Are we fully realizing their potential in specialty training?” Faculty Dental Journal. 2016; 7: 28-33.
12. Ali Z, Vere J, Eliyas S. Choosing the right material and making sense of the options. Evidence and Clinical Recommendations. European Journal of Prosthetics and Restorative Dentistry. 2015;23:150-62.
13. Eliyas S, Vere J, Ali Z, Harris I. “Microsurgical Endodontics” British Dental Journal 2014; 216: 169-177
14. Ali Z, Ashley M, West C. “Factors to consider when treatment planning for patients seeking comprehensive aesthetic dental treatment” Dental Update  2013 Sep;40(7):526-8, 531-3
15. Ali Z, Keshani D.  “Indications for Surgical Endodontics and Findings of an Audit into Referrals.” Dental Update, 2011; 38:610-614.
16. Ali Z, Keshani D.  “Fronto-temporal swelling: case report of an unusual presentation of primary, extra-pulmonary tuberculous infection.”. Oral Surgery 2010; 3: 29-3

Other Roles 

  • Examiner work: I am currently an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on the Diploma in Implant Dentistry and the Specialty Membership Examination in Prosthodontics. I am an external examiner for the Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics MSc in the University of Manchester and an examiner for Membership of faculty of Dental Surgery for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow. 

Society Memberships:

  • British Association of Head and Neck Oncology (BAHNO) 
  • Restorative Dentistry UK, (RD-UK) (formerly Association of Consultants and Specialists in Restorative Dentistry
  • British Society of Prosthetic Dentistry (BSSPD) 
  • Hospital Consultants and Specialist Association (HCSA)

Training Background: 

I qualified as a dentist in 2006 and completed my foundation training in Barnsley in 2007. I did a few middle-years training posts (Senior house Officer jobs) in Restorative Dentistry and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery around Yorkshire in 207-2009. I completed some post-graduate studies in 2013 from the University of Manchester. I completed a specialist training program in Restorative Dentistry centred around rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer, developmental defects and trauma with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in 2019 and commenced a Consultant post in Leeds Teaching Hospital later the same year. I have also completed a PhD in restorative Dentistry which looked at the oral health quality of life impacts of tooth loss which I completed with the University of Sheffield in 2018.