Meet the Board - Andrew Little

01 October 2024

Dr Andrew Little has been newly elected to the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) Board for the next three years as Regional Rep for Northern Ireland. Andrew qualified from Queen’s University Belfast in 2008 with a BDS honours degree; he then completed his vocational training and returned to Banbridge where he has worked ever since. Implant dentistry has been a large component of his clinical practice since 2010 and Andrew has undertaken extensive and continuous training in this time, all the while gaining a wealth of clinical experience.

He shares a little bit about himself, and his experience with the ADI:

“I first attended the ADI as a student in 2005, with my father (a dentist at the start of his implant career). I attended intermittently until I qualified, and have been a full member since around 2011. Over the last 10 years, I have barely missed a local event, and tried to attend at least one of the bigger UK events each year. My overall experience of the ADI has been excellent. I have felt, especially in the last three to four years, that the events have offered a lot to clinicians, providing knowledge from world-leading clinicians as well as guidance, advice, tips, and tricks. Social events have also facilitated interaction with peers.

“I think the best part about the ADI is the organisation. The team behind the ADI choose good topics for events, are well organised, and attract a quality of speaker that we don’t see anywhere else in the UK. Being an ADI member has given me high value CPD in an area I have a passion for – dental implants – in a very accessible format that I would have struggled to find elsewhere. I admit that I probably do not make full use of the discounts offered by the ADI, but I have regularly used the member benefits including the patient booklets, guidance documents, and clinician-based literature.”

On why Dr Little has taken on his new role on the ADI Board, he comments:

“I have attended lots of events and meetings over the years, and I was aware that the current representative for my region was stepping down. After consideration, I felt it would be good to be involved, and to help maintain a Northern Ireland connection – it is a small region and it is important for clinicians here that we can continue to attract speakers and educational events. I also felt it was important to give back to an organisation from which over the years I had gained so much.”

Dr Little shares his top tip for career development in dental implantology:

“My top tip for colleagues in dentistry is listen to your peers, interact with other like-minded clinicians, go to meetings, and become involved in group chats. I often learn more from talking to clinicians over a coffee or WhatsApp/Facebook than I do from a textbook or journal article. Dentistry can be a lonely place, and it is important to interact with peers and seek advice – never be afraid to ask for advice. If you’re at the beginning of your career, seek a good mentor, but learn from more than one clinician. Go to as many meetings, courses, and events as you can – have a thirst for knowledge and do not have tunnel vision with one method or one system.”

He shares his final thoughts on the ADI, and it’s benefits for clinicians:

“I think the ADI offers clinicians at all stages of their career an excellent platform to learn, develop, and maintain a high level of dental implant knowledge. It keeps you, as a clinician, at the forefront of patient care. The events are sociable, members are welcoming and inclusive, and they are very good value for money.”

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