Rate My Professor B. P. J. Pearce

Brynley Paul Pearce, professionally known as B. P. J. Pearce or Paul Pearce, was a Senior Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Oral Rehabilitation at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry Te Kaupeka Pūniho. Originating from Wales, he trained as a dental technician at the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff following a careers evening introduction to dental mechanics. After graduation, he worked in dental laboratories across Europe before relocating to New Zealand in 1985 at age 29 to join the prosthetic department at the University of Otago School of Dentistry. Initially fabricating partial denture metal frameworks and assisting in glaucoma drain implants, he began teaching second-year dental students despite lacking prior experience. Pearce pursued further education, earning a City & Guilds Final Certificate in Dental Technology, Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dental Technology, Postgraduate Diploma in Tertiary Teaching, a diploma in adult teaching, and a degree in clinical dental technology. His career spanned nearly 40 years until retirement in 2024, during which he taught undergraduate courses DENT 261 Prosthodontic and Tooth Morphology and DENT 402 Clinical Dental Technology, conducted clinical teaching and patient practice focusing on implant overdentures and removable partial dentures (RPD), and coordinated dental education modules.

A member of the New Zealand Institute of Dental Technologists (NZIDT), Pearce emphasized lifelong learning amid rapid advancements in dentistry including CAD/CAM, AI, and specialized materials. His dedication to teaching earned nominations for the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) Teaching Awards in 2005 and 2017. Key publications include Pearce, B. P. J., Jackson, A. P., & Kieser, J. A. (2004). Replication of cranial gunshot wounds. Journal of Forensic Odonto-Stomatology, 22(1), 9-12; Pearce, P. (2008). Learning experiences of undergraduate dental students while participating in peer assessment (conference abstract); and Egan, J., Pearce, P., & Payne, A. G. T. (2008). Trouble-shooting for clinical dental technicians treating implant overdenture patients (verbal presentation). Post-retirement, he continues limited teaching and assessment.