Professor Paul Coulthard

  • Dental Practice Director.
  • Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Consultant Oral Surgeon.
  • BDSRCS(EDS, MDS, MFGDP(UK), FDSRCS(Eng), PhD, FDSRCS(OS), FDSRCPS(Glas), FFDTRCS(Ed), Fd)

Professor Paul Coulthard is an experienced Consultant Oral Surgeon. Paul has placed over 4,000 implants during his career and he is world-renowned for his role as an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon. He is Dean & Director of the ‘Institute of Dentistry’, and Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, at Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Professor Coulthard is a Consultant in Oral Surgery at Barts Health NHS Hospital Trust. He is a Consultant Advisor to the ‘Office of the Chief Dental Officer’, NHS England and NHS Improvement, until 2024. He was President of the ‘British Association of Oral Surgeons’ 2019 to 2021 and is now Immediate Past President during 2023. Professor Coulthard is also a Medico-Legal Expert Witness.

Professor Paul Coulthard undertook General Clinical Training as a General Dental Practitioner in Manchester and Sheffield. His Basic Surgical Training took place in Manchester, Carlisle and London and he undertook a resident training post in Anaesthesia. He also spent a short time working overseas. Professor Coulthard completed Higher Specialist Surgical Training in Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Manchester in 2000. This training included surgery of the mouth, surgery for facial injuries and fractures, surgery for facial disfigurement, and surgery of the salivary glands and jaw joint. 

Professor Coulthard had an established private clinical practice at the BMI Alexandra Hospital Cheadle from 2001, when he was first appointed Consultant at Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, until 2020. He subsequently continues private practice at 94 Harley Street London and with admitting rights to the Weymouth Street Hospital London.

Alongside surgical training, Professor Coulthard undertook research training leading to the award of an MDS in ‘Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery’ and a PhD in ‘Neuroscience’. He has published over 200 scientific papers and has an international research reputation in the fields of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Implantology, and the Control of Pain and Anxiety. Professor Coulthard is an Editor with the Cochrane Oral Health Group, was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Oral Surgery for 5 years and is on the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Surgery.

Professor Coulthard was Principal Investigator for international studies showing the benefits of tissue adhesive compared to traditional alternatives such as sutures for the skin closure of long surgical incisions. He designed, validated and introduced the Indicator of Sedation Need (IOSN) tool to support individual clinician decision making and determine population need for clinical service planning. Professor Coulthard has undertaken e-referral management research and Chaired committees for NHS England publishing guidance for Commissioners and bringing about change in the delivery of dental services across England. He is currently leading research to facilitate a global change in the practice of health professionals and their teams regarding identification and referral of patients who present with physical injury or other signs that might indicate Domestic Violence and Abuse. In 2021 Professor Coulthard together with British Dermatologist Professor Irene Leigh created the Barts Centre for Squamous Cancer funded by Barts Charity – a centre of excellence dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and quality of life for patients with squamous oral, oesophageal and skin cancer.

Professor Coulthard is actively involved in teaching and learning. He is passionate about Evidence-Based Practice and teaching this concept to students. He is principal author of a textbook Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Radiology, Pathology and Oral Medicine (Master Dentistry Volume 1), 4th Edition published 2022, and he has also authored chapters for six other textbooks.

  • GDC Registration: 55471
  • Specialty: Oral Surgery
  • BDS, University of Manchester, 1981
  • MDS, University of Manchester, 1991
  • MFGDP, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1992
  • FDS, Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1993
  • PhD (Neuroscience), School of Biological Science, University of Manchester 1999
  • FDSRCS(OS), Specialty Fellowship in Oral Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons Intercollegiate Board, 2000
  • Membership, Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILT), 2002
  • Diplôme D’Honneur, Lille University Medical School, France, 2006
  • FDSRCPS(Glas), Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow for contribution of distinction to specialty and dental profession, 2019
  • FFDTRCS(Ed), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh for commitment to excellence in education and training, 2020
  • FDSRCS(Ed), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Awarded Fellowship in Dental Surgery without examination 2021