Prof. Avijit Banerjee is new editor-in-chief for BDJ

Iveta Ramonaite, Dental Tribune International

Mon. 20 January 2025

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LONDON, England: As Dr Stephen Hancocks, OBE, is concluding his 20-year tenure as editor-in-chief of the British Dental Journal (BDJ), Prof. Avijit Banerjee will now be the new editor-in-chief of the BDJ Portfolio, which includes six journals: the BDJ, BDJ Open, Evidence-Based Dentistry, BDJ In Practice, BDJ Team and BDJ Student. Prof. Banerjee brings valuable experience to the BDJ’s editorial board and hopes to make a meaningful impact on the journal’s continued success.

The new editor-in-chief of the BDJ Portfolio, Prof. Avijit
Banerjee. (Image: Matt Writtle)

Dr Banerjee is professor of cariology and operative dentistry in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London and an honorary consultant and clinical lead for restorative dentistry at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. He holds numerous senior positions in UK dentistry, including honorary consultant advisor to the chief dental officer of England, president-elect of the British Society for Oral and Dental Research (2024–2025) and chair of the Faculty of Dentists at the College of General Dentistry (2024–2027). Prof. Banerjee has served on the BDA’s Health and Science Committee since 2012 and is the deputy national lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Research Delivery Network.

“I am very fortunate to have been chosen to follow on from the wonderful Dr Stephen Hancocks and to work with an excellent editorial team at Springer Nature and the British Dental Association (BDA). I have had experience on the BDJ editorial board and as an associate editor for a number of years, and to now be given the chance to help develop and mould the portfolio of journals is an exciting opportunity moving forward,” Prof. Banerjee told Dental Tribune International (DTI).

Discussing his vision for the portfolio and his objectives for his new role, he commented: “I hope to help drive the upward trajectory of the BDJ Portfolio both nationally and internationally, catering to a diverse range of professional interests, including updates in clinical practice, team/workforce management, evidence-based dentistry, scientific research developments, policy and student issues. I aim to strengthen connections with other professional stakeholders in the UK and internationally, including policymakers, professional associations and clinical societies within the oral healthcare workforce. My goal is to create a more cohesive and inclusive framework that benefits the entire oral healthcare team.”

Prof. Banerjee emphasised the importance of agility for the BDJ Portfolio to stay aligned with the evolving trends in oral healthcare provision. While recognising the challenge of staying attuned to the diverse aspects of the profession, he highlighted the editorial board’s commitment to engaging its readership. The BDJ Portfolio’s collaborative effort with readers seeks to enable its journals to effectively evaluate and address these ongoing changes.

“I hope to help drive the upward trajectory of the BDJ Portfolio both nationally and internationally, catering to a diverse range of professional interests.”

In discussing the significant challenges facing dental publications today, he told DTI that maintaining quality and consistency in professional publications presents numerous technical hurdles. However, he stressed that overcoming these challenges is essential to preserving brand integrity. “The increasing use of artificial intelligence to ‘author’ papers, competition from paper mills and the sheer volume of publications of varying quality, many of which are not peer reviewed in any form, are all factors that challenge publishing houses. Publishers must be flexible in adapting to these factors while continuing to prioritise quality and embracing such changes in the future. Publishers should also work with authors to help them better showcase their work and talents,” he said.

Recognised globally, Prof. Banerjee received the William H. Bowen Research in Dental Caries Award in 2022 from the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the John Tomes Medal in 2024 from the BDA for his contributions to minimally invasive dentistry. He has authored five textbooks and over 175 papers, supervised 50 postgraduate students and held various editorial roles, including associate editor of the BDJ Perspectives section of the BDJ.

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